SFO to SAN day trip?

Hi guys,

On an upcoming trip to San Francisco I'm toying with the idea of taking a day trip down to San Diego flying with Virgin America. Aside from the fact it would help my endeavours to reach VS Gold, I like the idea of seeing somewhere else in CA (have been to SF several times -- though it is an awesome city).

Just wondered your thoughts -- aside from the obvious as to whether it's crazy to do this in a day (the flight times seem reasonable enough...) any tips as to things to do in ~10hrs in San Diego? How easy is it to reach the city centre from the airport?

Thanks

Welcome!

San Diego is worth a poke around and SeaWorld.

Visited San Diego in 2008 and we had a couple of days there. There is the USS Midway Museum if you like that sort of thing. Balboa Park is worth a visit if you like fauna. Also - Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. La Jolla Cove is good for snorkelling and swimming.

The city itself is worth visiting in itself. The old lighthouse is cool - Old Point Loma Lighthouse.

We drove into SD so I can't help on distances from the airport but I would imagine it's well linked up. There is the huge convention centre there so I would imagine regular and easy transport.

I say go for it!

SAN Airport is unnervingly close to the city centre, and it feels as though you are weaving through the skyscrapers on the final approach. There is a bus from the airport to the city centre which takes no more than 10mins but the sights are quite spread about and you need a car or sightseeing bus to see the city properly. San Diego is a great city, with a mixture of beaches parks,zoo and some good out of town shopping malls and three are four days are needed to do it justice.

Did this trip last year - 3 day conference in SAN and then weekend in SFO on way back.

Suggest get to SAN as early as you can and late flight back. The VA flight is very good.

Try the Gaslamp quater, a stroll along the marina by the convention centre, nice outdoor restaurants.
Hire a car and drive over the Coronado bridge to Coronado Island. Coronado beach is amazing - have a drink at the Hotel Del Coronado.

Then back to the airport!! It's very close to downtown San Diego and do-able I think.

I loved San Diego, the sunniest place in the US. Take a look at google maps - you will see how compact a place it is.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys-much appreciated. I had a look on Google Maps and the airport did look very conveniently located. If I had hand luggage only, in reality how much time do you think I should allow prior to departure to be back at the airport for the return flight?

Getting there an hour before should be fine, especially if you have no bags to check. Have a look at The VAmerica website for check in times.

I love San Diego too, completely different city to San Franciso and Los Angeles. I would definitely go to the marina and have a wander around the Gas Lamp quarter.Enjoy !

With the amount of stuff you'll have for a day trip security *should* be a breeze in the evening, beyond that it's what you're comfortable with.

My fave thing whenever I'm down there for work and BH joins on a weekend is to spend the day hanging out around Balboa Park in general (not so much the zoo). The southeastern tip of the airport is a road called Laurel, which climbs up the hill and drops you right in the middle of the park where all the museum buildings and some of the nicer landscaped areas are. Very easy cab ride, and not too long of a walk back, doable in about an hour. Hillcrest is probably my favorite area in San Diego, right between the park and the airport, lots and lots of restaurants and bars and many other funky stores, kind of a cross between Castro and the Haight, if a bit more toned down.

There's also a lot going on in terms of food & drink recreation in the area east of the Gaslamp quarter, above the new baseball park, the area was a bit run down, but is changing much in the same way SOMA has in SF, if about 10 years behind. Not as much of a sightseeing destination, but if you're hanging around the Gaslamp Quarter I'd encourage the detour for any meal or drink you might be inclined to sample. The craft cocktail craze has reached SD too, now, and there really are some terrific options.

I love spending time in SD, would definitely recommend it even for a quick day out.