April 2 – 6, 2026

San Diego

A long weekend on the coast, planned for two.

4 Nights No Car Needed 66 – 68 F ~$1,800 Total

Your Accommodation

Fairfield by Marriott

Pacific Beach, right on Mission Bay Drive. Free breakfast, pool, confirmed 18+ check-in.

Confirmed 18+ Free Breakfast $168/night $751 w/ tax

View hotel details

Your Itinerary

Four Days in San Diego

Beach towns, sea caves, island ferries, and the best tacos on the West Coast.

Day 1 — Thursday

Arrive, Beach & Balboa Park

Fly in, hit the boardwalk, explore 1,200 acres of gardens, dine in North Park.

Day 2 — Friday

La Jolla & Sea Caves

Kayak through sea caves, meet sea lions, hike Torrey Pines, sunset at the cliffs.

Day 3 — Saturday

Coronado & Downtown

Ferry to Coronado Island, Hotel del Coronado, Gaslamp Quarter, waterfront dinner.

Day 4 — Sunday

Last Morning & Home

Morning walk along Mission Bay, Belmont Park, fly home to Chicago.

Budget

Trip Cost Breakdown

Category	Item	Cost (for 2)
Flights	ORD/MDW to SAN, round trip x 2	~$450
Hotel	Fairfield Marriott, 4 nights x $168 + 11.75% tax	$751
Food	6 meals out (breakfasts free at hotel)	$255
Kayaking	La Jolla sea caves, 2 single kayaks + tax	$192
Coronado	Ferry $9/pp each way, round trip x 2	$36
Transit	PRONTO card ($2) + rides, 4 days x 2	$52
Rideshare	Uber: Torrey Pines to Sunset Cliffs	$20
Misc	Sunscreen, snacks, tips	$40
Estimated Total		~$1,796

All prices include estimated tax where applicable. Free breakfast at the Marriott saves ~$80-100 over the trip. San Diego hotel tax is 11.75% in Pacific Beach. Kayak tour tax is ~8%. Restaurant tips (~18-20%) are included in the food estimates above.

Quick Actions

Book Your Trip

Book this week — you're 2 weeks out and prices will climb.

1

Flights — ORD/MDW to SAN, Apr 2-6

Google Flights · Southwest (MDW)

~$450

2

Hotel — Fairfield by Marriott, Pacific Beach

Book on Marriott.com ($168/night + 11.75% tax)

$751

3

Kayak Tour — La Jolla, Friday Apr 3

Everyday California ($89/pp single, $109-129 tandem)

~$192

Your Accommodation

Fairfield by Marriott

4345 Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109

← Back to overview

Confirmed 18+ Check-in Free Breakfast $168 / night

4 Nights: $751 (with tax)

$168/night x 4 = $672 + 11.75% San Diego TOT tax ($79) = $751 total.

April 2 – 6, 2026. Check-in 3:00 PM, check-out 11:00 AM.

Score: 8.6 (Very Good) on Expedia. "Super clean, new-feeling hotel."

Located on Mission Bay Dr — 10 min walk to the bay, Route 30 bus stop nearby

🍳

Free Breakfast

Saves ~$60-80 over the trip

🏊

Pool & Hot Tub

Outdoor, open daily

📍

Great Location

10 min walk to Mission Bay

🚌

Transit Access

Route 30 bus stop nearby

🔋

EV Charging

On-site stations

✓

Age Policy

Adults 18+ with valid ID

The Marriott sits on Mission Bay Dr between I-5 and Mission Bay. Route 30 bus stops nearby — PB boardwalk (5 min), La Jolla (30 min), Old Town Transit Center (15 min) for trolley connections downtown.

View on Google Maps Book on Marriott.com

Day 1 — Thursday, April 2

Arrive, Beach & Balboa Park

Fly in, hit the boardwalk, explore the park, dine in North Park

← Back to overview

MORNING

Fly ORD → SAN

FLIGHT Nonstop, ~4 hrs. San Diego is 2 hours behind Chicago — a 7 AM departure arrives ~9 AM Pacific.

Airport → Marriott: Route 992 bus to Old Town Transit Center ($2.50, every 15 min), transfer to Route 8 or 30 toward Pacific Beach, get off at Mission Bay Dr. Total ~50-60 min including wait. Or Uber direct to 4345 Mission Bay Dr (~$25-32, 15-20 min).
Route 992 Schedule

11:00 AM

Check In at Marriott & Pacific Beach

FREE Drop bags at the Fairfield (early check-in from 3 PM, but they'll hold luggage). The boardwalk is a 10-15 min walk west from the hotel to the ocean. Crystal Pier, surfers, beach volleyball. Three miles of oceanfront. Water is 60 F (chilly for swimming, perfect for walking).

Pacific Beach — three miles of oceanfront boardwalk along the coast

1:00 PM

Fish Tacos at Oscar's

~$22 Oscar's Mexican Seafood — 746 Emerald St, Pacific Beach. Fish tacos $3.75, shrimp $4.75 (menu). Thursday = weekday, so Mon-Thu happy hour applies: battered fish tacos $1.99, 2:30-5:30pm. 4-6 tacos + drinks for two runs about $20-25.
Google Maps

3:00 PM

Balboa Park

FREE ~45-75 min by bus from PB Route 8 from PB to Old Town, transfer to Route 7 or trolley to Balboa Park. 1,200 acres of gardens, Spanish Colonial architecture, 17 museums. Don't miss:

Botanical Building & Lily Pond — free, 10am-4pm, iconic photo spot.
Timken Museum of Art — always free.
Spanish Village Art Center, Japanese Friendship Garden exterior, El Prado walkway.
Google Maps

Balboa Park — 1,200 acres of gardens, Spanish Colonial architecture, and the iconic Botanical Building

Oscar's Mexican Seafood on Emerald St — the go-to for fish tacos in PB

6:30 PM

Dinner at Colima's, North Park

~$35 ~20-25 min walk from Balboa Park Walk east from Balboa Park along University Ave to North Park's 30th Street — San Diego's food capital.

Colima's Mexican Food — 2302 University Ave. California burrito $13.49, combo dinners $7.99. Open 24hrs. The carne asada fries are legendary. Two burritos + drinks + tip = ~$35. Menu · Maps

Colima's on University Ave — open 24 hours, legendary carne asada fries

Day 1 Estimated Spend

Transit (airport bus + all day rides)$12

Lunch at Oscar's (2 people)$22

Dinner in North Park (2 people + tip)$35

Total$69

← Overview Day 2: La Jolla →

Day 2 — Friday, April 3

La Jolla & Sea Caves

Kayak sea caves, meet sea lions, hike clifftop trails, sunset

← Back to overview

8:00 AM

Free Breakfast at Marriott

FREE BREAKFAST Hit the complimentary breakfast. Grab coffee, fuel up for a big day.

ROUTE 30 · ~25-30 min Walk to the bus stop on Mission Bay Dr, take Route 30 north toward La Jolla. ~25-30 min ride. Get off near La Jolla Shores Dr. Friday is a weekday, so Route 30 runs the full route.
Route 30 Schedule

10:00 AM

Kayaking La Jolla Sea Caves

$89/PERSON (single) or $109-129 (tandem) Paddle through 7 sea caves carved into sandstone cliffs. See sea lions, leopard sharks, and garibaldi fish up close. 90-min guided tour, all equipment included.

Meet at: 2261 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla. Arrive 30 min early.
For 2 people: ~$178 (2 single kayaks) or ~$109-129 (1 tandem kayak). Plus ~8% tax. Budget ~$192 for singles, ~$130 for tandem. Check Groupon for deals from $35/pp.

BOOK IN ADVANCE Sells out on weekends.
Book Everyday California Meeting Point

La Jolla Cove and kayaking through the sea caves — crystal clear water all year

12:00 PM

La Jolla Cove & Sea Lions

FREE Walk the coast after kayaking. Sea lions lounging on the rocks (get within 10 feet). Children's Pool has a whole colony. Check tide pools at low tide.
Google Maps

1:30 PM

Lunch at The Taco Stand

~$22 The Taco Stand — 621 Pearl St, La Jolla. Baja-style street tacos $2.69-3.49 each, California burrito $7.89 (menu). 5,336 Yelp reviews. Lines get long 4-8pm so go at lunch.
Google Maps

3:00 PM

Torrey Pines State Reserve

FREE BY BUS ~50 min from La Jolla by bus Route 30 to UTC Transit Center, transfer to NCTD Route 101 northbound. Short uphill walk from the bus stop to the reserve entrance. The $15-25 vehicle fee doesn't apply if you arrive on foot or by bus. Fully reopened March 2, 2026 after construction. All trails open.

Guy Fleming Trail (0.7 mi) — easy, panoramic ocean views.
Razor Point Trail (1.4 mi) — walk along 300-foot sandstone cliffs.
Free guided walks at 10 AM on Fri/Sat/Sun at Visitor Center.

NCTD ROUTE 101 from UTC Transit Center (connect via Route 30).
Google Maps Visitor Info

Torrey Pines State Reserve — clifftop trails 300 feet above the Pacific

5:30 PM

Sunset Cliffs

FREE UBER RECOMMENDED · ~$20 · 20 min from Torrey Pines Best sunset in San Diego. Dramatic sea cliffs, crashing waves. April sunset: ~7:15 PM. Get there by 6:30. Transit from Torrey Pines is 1.5-2 hours with multiple transfers (not worth it). Uber from Torrey Pines is ~$20, 20 min drive.
Google Maps

Sunset Cliffs — the best sunset spot in all of San Diego

7:30 PM

Dinner in Ocean Beach

~$45 10-15 min walk from Sunset Cliffs Right next to Sunset Cliffs. Hippie beach town vibe. Walk north along the coast.

South Beach Bar & Grille — mahi fish tacos $5.59 each, lobster taco $9.95. Happy hour 3-6pm. Taco Tues/Thurs: $3.95 tacos. 5059 Newport Ave. Menu · Maps
Blue Water Seafood — fish sandwiches $11.75-21, plates $20-32. Rated #24 in all of SD. 5083 Santa Monica Ave. Maps

Day 2 Estimated Spend

BreakfastFREE (Marriott)

Transit (PRONTO, all day)$12

Kayak tour (2 single kayaks + tax)$192

Lunch at Taco Stand (2 people + tip)$22

Uber: Torrey Pines → Sunset Cliffs$20

Dinner in Ocean Beach (2 people + tip)$45

Total$291

← Day 1 Day 3: Coronado →

Day 3 — Saturday, April 4

Coronado & Downtown

Island ferry, top-10 beach, historic hotel, Gaslamp Quarter

← Back to overview

8:00 AM

Free Breakfast at Marriott

FREE BREAKFAST ~40-60 min to Broadway Pier Fuel up at the hotel. Saturday = weekend, so Route 30 only goes to Old Town (not downtown). Take Route 30 to Old Town Transit Center (~15 min), then trolley Green Line to Santa Fe Depot (~10 min), walk 10 min to Broadway Pier.

9:00 AM

Ferry to Coronado Island

$9/PERSON EACH WAY Broadway Pier to Coronado. 15-min crossing with stunning skyline views from the water. Departs hourly 9AM-9PM (extra 10PM Fri/Sat). Price increased to $9/pp in June 2024 (source).

Round trip for 2: $36
Ferry Schedule & Tickets Broadway Pier

10:00 AM

Coronado Beach & Hotel del Coronado

FREE Top 10 US beach. Wide, flat, white sand. Walk the Hotel del Coronado grounds (free — it's a National Historic Landmark from 1888). Rent bikes ($10-15/hr) or walk 1.5 miles along Orange Ave.

Coronado Beach and the iconic Hotel del Coronado — a National Historic Landmark since 1888

12:30 PM

Lunch at Clayton's Coffee Shop

~$38 Clayton's Coffee Shop — 979 Orange Ave, Coronado. Historic diner since 1939. Ranked #4 in Coronado. Omelets $14.49-16.99, sandwiches $14.99-16.99 (menu). Two entrees + coffee + tip runs ~$38.
Google Maps

2:00 PM

Ferry Back + Gaslamp Quarter

FREE Walk the Gaslamp Quarter — 16 blocks of Victorian buildings, shops, and restaurants. Seaport Village waterfront and the Embarcadero. Great for just wandering.

Gaslamp Quarter — 16 blocks of Victorian buildings, restaurants, and nightlife

4:00 PM

Cabrillo National Monument

$10/PERSON UBER REQUIRED ON SATURDAY · ~$15-20 each way Route 84 only runs weekdays. No bus service to Cabrillo on weekends. You'd need Uber both ways (~$30-40 round trip). Consider swapping Day 2 and Day 3 to do Cabrillo on Friday by bus, or skip it to save ~$50.

Tide pools, WWII bunkers, panoramic views of the city, ocean, and Mexico.
Google Maps NPS Info

7:00 PM

Dinner at Puesto

~$70 Puesto at The Headquarters — 789 W Harbor Dr. Award-winning upscale tacos. Filet mignon tacos $25 (3-piece), chicken $19-20, guac $11-13 (menu). Two taco orders + an appetizer + drinks + tip for 2 runs ~$65-75. 5,587 Yelp reviews.
Google Maps

Day 3 Estimated Spend

BreakfastFREE (Marriott)

Transit (PRONTO, all day)$12

Coronado ferry (2 people RT, $9/pp each way)$36

Lunch at Clayton's (2 people + tip)$38

Dinner at Puesto (2 people + tip)$70

Total (without Cabrillo)$156

+ Cabrillo add-on (entry + Uber RT)+$60

← Day 2 Day 4: Fly Home →

Day 4 — Sunday, April 6

Last Morning & Home

Morning walk, one last look at the bay, fly back to Chicago

← Back to overview

7:30 AM

Last Free Breakfast + Check Out

FREE BREAKFAST One last Marriott breakfast. Check out by 11 AM — they'll hold bags at the front desk if your flight is later.

9:00 AM

Morning Walk at Mission Bay

FREE Walk from the Marriott to Mission Bay shore (5-10 min walk). The hotel is right on Mission Bay Dr. Beautiful morning light on the water. Or walk west to PB boardwalk (10-15 min) one last time.

10:00 AM

Belmont Park (Optional)

FREE TO WALK ~20-25 min walk south along Mission Blvd, or Route 8 bus (4 min walk from stop). Beachside amusement park on the boardwalk. Giant Dipper roller coaster (built 1925), ~$8/ride. Or just walk the boardwalk one last time.
Belmont Park Info

12:00 PM

Head to Airport

FROM MARRIOTT Uber from 4345 Mission Bay Dr to SAN airport (~$25-32, 15-20 min). Or bus: Route 8/30 to Old Town, then Route 992 to airport (~45-55 min, $2.50). Fly home, arrive Chicago ~9-10 PM Central.

Mission Bay and the San Diego skyline — one last look before heading home

Day 4 Estimated Spend

BreakfastFREE (Marriott)

Transit to airport (bus)$5

Airport food (2 people)$20

Total$25

← Day 3 Food, Transit & More →

← Back to overview

Reference

Food, Transit & Essentials

Everything you need at a glance. All restaurants verified open, all addresses confirmed.

Getting Around

Transit Cheat Sheet

PRONTO Card — $6/day cap

Buy a PRONTO card ($2) at any trolley station or use the app. Tap on every ride ($2.50). After 3 rides you hit the $6 daily cap and ride free the rest of the day. 4 days for 2 people: ~$52.

Fare Info

Key Routes from the Marriott

Route 992 — Airport to Downtown. Every 15 min. Both terminals. $2.50. Schedule

Route 30 — Downtown / Old Town / PB / La Jolla / UTC. ~35-45 min to La Jolla. WEEKENDS: only goes to Old Town Schedule

Route 101 — UTC to Torrey Pines to Oceanside. NCTD (not MTS). Schedule

Route 8 — Old Town to Mission Beach (boardwalk area).

Route 84 — To Cabrillo National Monument. WEEKDAY ONLY Schedule

Trolley — Green/Blue/Orange lines cover downtown, Old Town, inland areas.

Coronado Ferry

$9/person each way (increased June 2024). Broadway Pier (1050 N Harbor Dr). Hourly 9AM-9PM, Fri/Sat extra at 10PM. 15-min crossing.

Ferry Schedule

Dining

Verified Food Guide

All restaurants verified open as of March 2026. Addresses confirmed on Google Maps.

Oscar's Mexican Seafood 4.5

746 Emerald St, Pacific Beach

$ · Mon-Thu & Sun 8am-9pm, Fri-Sat 8am-10pm · Fish tacos $3.75, shrimp $4.75. Happy hour Mon-Thu 2:30-5:30pm: battered fish taco $1.99. Taco Tuesday: fried fish $1.60 (dine-in, max 4).

Maps

South Beach Bar & Grille 4.1

5059 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach

$$ · Tue-Sun 12-10pm · Mahi fish tacos $5.59, lobster $9.95. Taco Tues/Thurs: $3.95 (excl. lobster). Happy hour 3-6pm weekdays.

Maps

Blue Water Seafood 4.5 · #24 in SD

5083 Santa Monica Ave, Ocean Beach

$-$$ · Mon-Sat 11:30am-8/9pm · Fish tacos $6-12, sandwiches $11.75-21, plates $20-32. Mahi sandwich $16.25, seared ahi plate $30.

Maps

The Taco Stand 4.8 · 5,336 reviews

621 Pearl St, La Jolla (also: North Park, Downtown)

$ · Mon-Sat 9am-9/10pm · Tacos $2.69-3.49 (carne asada $3.29, fish $3.39). California burrito $7.89. Long lines 4-8pm.

Maps

Puesto at The Headquarters 4.7 · 5,587 reviews

789 W Harbor Dr, Downtown

$$-$$$ · Mon-Sat 11am-9/10pm · 3-piece taco orders $19-25 (filet mignon $25, chicken $19). Guac $11-13. Meal for 2: ~$65-75 with drinks + tip.

Maps

Colima's Mexican Food 4.0

2302 University Ave, North Park

$ · Open 24 hours Mon-Sat · California burrito $13.49, combo dinners $7.99, nachos $5.49.

Maps

The Friendly 4.6 · 1,380 reviews

4592 30th St, North Park

$-$$ · Mon-Sat 11am-10pm/12am · Smash burgers & NY-style pizza. Dive bar vibe.

Maps

Clayton's Coffee Shop 4.4 · #4 in Coronado

979 Orange Ave, Coronado

$-$$ · 6am-9pm daily · Omelets $14.49-16.99, sandwiches $14.99-16.99. Historic diner since 1939. Pie, jukebox.

Maps

PB Fish Shop 4.5 · 2,949 reviews

1775 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach

$$ · Sun-Sat 11am-9:30/10pm · Build-your-own taco/plate. TKO taco is the move.

Maps

Essentials

Packing List

👕

Light Layers

65 F days, 55 F nights

☀️

Sunscreen SPF 50+

Even on cloudy days

👟

Walking Shoes

Lots of walking planned

🩱

Swimsuit

Pool, beach, kayaking

🧥

Light Jacket

For evenings and ferry

🔌

Portable Charger

Long days out

📷

Camera

La Jolla, Sunset Cliffs

🕶️

Sunglasses

California sun

Good to Know

Price Notes & Corrections

Kayak tour: $89/pp (single kayak) or $109-129 (tandem for 2). Plus ~8% tax. Source

Coronado Ferry: $9/person each way (increased June 2024, previously $7). Source

Hotel tax: San Diego TOT tax is 11.75% in Pacific Beach (Zone 1). $168/night becomes ~$188/night after tax. Source

Oscar's happy hour: Battered fish tacos $1.99, Mon-Thu 2:30-5:30pm only. Regular price $3.75. Menu

Tipping: Budget 18-20% tip at sit-down restaurants. All food estimates above include tip.

Uber pricing: San Diego Uber X averages $1.16/mile + $0.15/min + platform fees. Airport rides run $25-32. Source

Cabrillo on Saturday: Route 84 bus is weekday only. You'll need Uber ($15-20 each way) or swap Day 2/3 to visit on Friday.

Route 30 weekends: Only goes to Old Town Transit Center on weekends. Need trolley transfer to get downtown.

Lolita's Gaslamp: Permanently closed. Puesto is the replacement (verified open).