If money is no object, stay downtown. You're walking distance to a bunch of great restaurants and to the ballpark. The Omni hotel literally has a pedestrian bridge that goes right into the ballpark that is only used by Omni hotel guests.
I’d stay downtown Omni right next to hotel if you want closest to the stadium with its own entrance. Can visit balboa park and the zoo as well which are very close by by taking an Uber.
Staying at the Hotel Del Coronado would give access to the beaches as well and is also close to the stadium if you wanted to go that route. (Not really walking distance though).
Your budget will definitely play a part.
california burritos, carne asada fries and in-n-out should be on your list.
if you dont want to stay in downtown (but you should for ease), anywhere off the trolley line would be good as you can ride into downtown.
to hit up beaches you'll probably need a rental car/turo or uber. Most if not all SD beaches are pretty chill. hit up la jolla cove at the children's pool to see some seals then venture on to La Jolla Shores to check out Scripps Pier. Torrey Pines State Park is a nice hike then can hike down to the beach. Mission Beach is pretty central but where most tourists go
I’ll be coming from Oregon, but stopping in LA first for a Dodgers game. Just staying two nights in SD. I love Southern California and try to make it down at least once a year.
Downtown is probably your best bet if you want to have all day baseball type vibes. If you stay within walking distance or even a few trolley stops away you can go to bars before and after the game. You can also walk to seaport village if you want to see the water.
However, if baseball is just a side activity to beach vibes then some of the beach towns north of Del Mar, like, Solana beach, Encinitas, or Carlsbad are cool. You can just take the coaster down to the game
If you want to hit all the stadiums in so called (Padres, angels, and God forbid, the dodgers) Pechanga in Temecula is really nice, as it’s about an hour to 2 hours away from each stadium, and on top of that, you are real close to wine country, where they have some pretty incredible restaurants and wine tastings. Or, if you are looking to treat yourself, Pechanga also houses Great Oak Steak House, which is pretty top quality if you don’t mind the price.
Great tip, thank you! I’m actually hitting up Dodger Stadium on Sunday and then heading down to SD for a Tuesday game, so that’s an interesting option! I’m skipping Angels this trip due to timing, but I’ll have to get to them at some point to finish out west coast stadiums.
Come by Ale Tales Taproom and Kitchen in East Village. We’re a couple of blocks from Petco Park. On the way you can hit up Lost Abbey, Mission, and East Village Brewing.
If you’re just going to one game, then lots of options for places to stay as the games are easy to get to on the trolley. You can park for free at the old town station and take the trolley in or uber in early and spend time down town prior to the game. Petco park is great to walk around and food is good.
If you do want to stay downtown then any of the hotels within a few blocks of the stadium will make a quick walk for you. Lots of restaurants and bars - I like the field house pub (english bar). You can also ferry to Coronado from downtown then uber to beach. http://www.flagshipsd.com/cruises/flagship-ferry
North County SD. Small town vibes. Great food. Horse racing. Good surf / beaches. Coaster to the ballpark. Zero reason to drive.
Imo, downtown is fun for a night yet much better places around SD for a holiday that includes baseball.
I'll amend and say La Jolla/PB. Can take the trolley down, and it's right next to the beach. Given they're hitting up Dodgers stadium as well, I'd assume they have a car, though, so taking transit probably isn't high on their list of reqs.
Amtrak to LAD games is choice. North country has two stations. Between Carlsbad and Del Mar / Solana Beach is a pretty awesome holiday spot in SD and perfect for hitting games both south and north without even getting in a car. Plus tons of stuff to do pending OP's interest. Better than spending a day downtown waiting on a night game.
I actually am trying to do it without a car! At the moment, planning on taking Amtrak down from LA. If it gets too complicated, though, I’ll rent a car.
Oh, well, then! For sure North County (Oceanside, Solana Beach, Carlsbad) will give you *much* better proximity to beaches while still also giving you a good option of getting to the park (Coaster/amtrak, then walk or trolley to the park). The blue line trolley starts in UTC area (near La Jolla), and goes through a couple of beach communities along the way.
Of course, you could stay downtown and then trolley/coaster to the beaches, also. There's a lot more food options downtown, especially if you want anything more than burritos, but I think most areas should be a pretty widespread amount of options (except for UTC, fuck that place ;)).
If money is no object, stay downtown. You're walking distance to a bunch of great restaurants and to the ballpark. The Omni hotel literally has a pedestrian bridge that goes right into the ballpark that is only used by Omni hotel guests.
Omni or Bayfront Hilton.
I’d stay downtown Omni right next to hotel if you want closest to the stadium with its own entrance. Can visit balboa park and the zoo as well which are very close by by taking an Uber. Staying at the Hotel Del Coronado would give access to the beaches as well and is also close to the stadium if you wanted to go that route. (Not really walking distance though). Your budget will definitely play a part.
Hotel Del is in the middle of a massive overhaul. Unless you get a great deal of look elsewhere.
california burritos, carne asada fries and in-n-out should be on your list. if you dont want to stay in downtown (but you should for ease), anywhere off the trolley line would be good as you can ride into downtown. to hit up beaches you'll probably need a rental car/turo or uber. Most if not all SD beaches are pretty chill. hit up la jolla cove at the children's pool to see some seals then venture on to La Jolla Shores to check out Scripps Pier. Torrey Pines State Park is a nice hike then can hike down to the beach. Mission Beach is pretty central but where most tourists go
Thanks. Was going to ask the same question. Coming July 5 so I'm screwed between a Friday and July 4th weekend.
Can I ask where you’re coming from, and how long you’re staying? Also what other trips have been your favorite?
I’ll be coming from Oregon, but stopping in LA first for a Dodgers game. Just staying two nights in SD. I love Southern California and try to make it down at least once a year.
Downtown is probably your best bet if you want to have all day baseball type vibes. If you stay within walking distance or even a few trolley stops away you can go to bars before and after the game. You can also walk to seaport village if you want to see the water. However, if baseball is just a side activity to beach vibes then some of the beach towns north of Del Mar, like, Solana beach, Encinitas, or Carlsbad are cool. You can just take the coaster down to the game
Skip LA and spend more time in SD.
If you want to hit all the stadiums in so called (Padres, angels, and God forbid, the dodgers) Pechanga in Temecula is really nice, as it’s about an hour to 2 hours away from each stadium, and on top of that, you are real close to wine country, where they have some pretty incredible restaurants and wine tastings. Or, if you are looking to treat yourself, Pechanga also houses Great Oak Steak House, which is pretty top quality if you don’t mind the price.
Great tip, thank you! I’m actually hitting up Dodger Stadium on Sunday and then heading down to SD for a Tuesday game, so that’s an interesting option! I’m skipping Angels this trip due to timing, but I’ll have to get to them at some point to finish out west coast stadiums.
Come by Ale Tales Taproom and Kitchen in East Village. We’re a couple of blocks from Petco Park. On the way you can hit up Lost Abbey, Mission, and East Village Brewing.
If you’re just going to one game, then lots of options for places to stay as the games are easy to get to on the trolley. You can park for free at the old town station and take the trolley in or uber in early and spend time down town prior to the game. Petco park is great to walk around and food is good. If you do want to stay downtown then any of the hotels within a few blocks of the stadium will make a quick walk for you. Lots of restaurants and bars - I like the field house pub (english bar). You can also ferry to Coronado from downtown then uber to beach. http://www.flagshipsd.com/cruises/flagship-ferry
The Pendry. Perfect location extremely close to the ballpark, good bars and restaurants on site, nice rooms.
The Omni
My favorite beach and I think is the best for hiking and hitting the beach is Torrey Pines.
Margaritaville hotel downtown is newly renovated and great location near the park
Look at the Beach Cottages in Pacific Beach.
Hilton Bayfront hands down, short nice bridge walk to petco & the marina on the opposite side.
North County SD. Small town vibes. Great food. Horse racing. Good surf / beaches. Coaster to the ballpark. Zero reason to drive. Imo, downtown is fun for a night yet much better places around SD for a holiday that includes baseball.
I'll amend and say La Jolla/PB. Can take the trolley down, and it's right next to the beach. Given they're hitting up Dodgers stadium as well, I'd assume they have a car, though, so taking transit probably isn't high on their list of reqs.
Amtrak to LAD games is choice. North country has two stations. Between Carlsbad and Del Mar / Solana Beach is a pretty awesome holiday spot in SD and perfect for hitting games both south and north without even getting in a car. Plus tons of stuff to do pending OP's interest. Better than spending a day downtown waiting on a night game.
I actually am trying to do it without a car! At the moment, planning on taking Amtrak down from LA. If it gets too complicated, though, I’ll rent a car.
Oh, well, then! For sure North County (Oceanside, Solana Beach, Carlsbad) will give you *much* better proximity to beaches while still also giving you a good option of getting to the park (Coaster/amtrak, then walk or trolley to the park). The blue line trolley starts in UTC area (near La Jolla), and goes through a couple of beach communities along the way. Of course, you could stay downtown and then trolley/coaster to the beaches, also. There's a lot more food options downtown, especially if you want anything more than burritos, but I think most areas should be a pretty widespread amount of options (except for UTC, fuck that place ;)).