La Jolla Tour FAQ

Absolutely! Just ask the staff and volunteers at the Visitors Centers in Downtown San Diego or La Jolla. Most of them are natives or have lived in San Diego for years and know a lot about the touristy things to do in San Diego. Even with all their knowledge of the area, they LOVE the tour. They all comment about learning so many new things and even seeing awesome viewpoints they were not aware existed. I’ve even had local tour guides and destination planners say it’s been the best tour they’ve taken in their long careers in the travel business.

Absolutely Guaranteed. Your guide is the owner of the tour business. If you don’t enjoy the afternoon, don’t hesitate to ask for a refund.

However, it’s better to figure out if you will enjoy the afternoon with the guide ahead of time by reading the guest reviews. You will see in the reviews, guests comment on the well-paced, calm delivery of the interesting information I share with them. Some have been even kind enough to say in their review that taking this tour is like having a friend taking you around.

I’m not one to give corny jokes. I’m also not someone who is bouncing off the walls with too much energy nor someone who talks in monotone boring people into wishing the tour was over. The good energy I strive to provide results in an enjoyable afternoon that some say passes too quickly and is reflected in the guest reviews I receive.

Print out the attached Map of San Diego Train Station Parking within easy walking distance of the main train station in San Diego, which is at 1050 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101. Both street parking and parking lots are available.

Although most previous guests with cars have gone to the parking lot mentioned in the last bullet point below, I would recommend looking for street parking first, which costs less than $5 and can be paid by credit card. From the train station, start by driving south on Kettner Boulevard from Broadway.

• Look for parking along Kettner between Broadway and G street. If none,
• Turn right on G Street and continue to look for parking. If none,
• Turn right on F Street and continue to look for parking. If none,
• Turn left, drive through Office Depot parking lot to the parking lot that is between E Street and Broadway. Parking in the lot will cost approximately $13 and can be paid by credit card. You will be less than a block away from the train station.

I look forward to seeing you on the San Diego to La Jolla and Torrey Pines Sightseeing Tour!

Absolutely. It is common for guests staying at hotels in the La Jolla area to drive, take a taxi, or ride MTS bus #30 from La Jolla to Downtown San Diego. Some tour guests have been visiting La Jolla every year for several years. They not only enjoy learning about the fascinating history of La Jolla on the tour but the significant history of national importance for the San Diego area.

Since the tour goes from 12PM to 5PM, some guests go downtown early to visit one of several attractions within a few blocks of the tour starting point at the Santa Fe Train Depot. Others stay downtown after the tour to enjoy dinner in the Gaslamp Quarter or Little Italy.

For those who take a bus or taxi downtown, you are provided the flexibility to stay in La Jolla instead of returning downtown for the last part of the tour.

Easy. Take the San Diego Trolley (Blue Line) from the Old Town Transit Center to the Santa Fe Train depot. It is a 9 minute ride.

To get to the Old Town Transit Center from Mission Valley Hotels and a few Hotel Circle locations, take the San Diego Trolley (Green Line) to Old Town.

To get to the Old Town Transit Center from all other Hotel Circle locations, take Bus #88.

Most tourists will buy the $5 Day Pass, which is good for buses and trolleys.

I look forward to seeing you on the San Diego to La Jolla and Torrey Pines Sightseeing Tour!

There are two options for guests staying at hotels in Coronado. I’d recommend the first option.

First Option. Make your way to the Coronado Ferry Landing Marketplace. Many guests like to walk through Coronado. However, you can use bus #904. Be sure to allow some time for enjoying the views of the spectacular downtown skyline and browsing through the shops and cafes at the Ferry Landing.

Then, take the 15 minute ferry ride to the downtown Broadway Pier. The ferry departs at 9:30AM and 10:30AM giving you time to take a walk along the harbor. You could also catch the 11:30AM ferry but would be cutting it close in making it to the train terminal on time.

The train station is two long blocks east of the Broadway Pier. The train station has two large campanile domes on a Mission Revival style building. On the way, you will pass the International Visitor Information Center where you can get additional assistance if necessary.

Second Option Get on Bus #901 north, which will take you over the Coronado Bay Bridge and into Downtown San Diego. The last stop is at ‘State & B Street’. From here, continue farther down B Street going west 3 blocks to reach Kettner Boulevard. Turn left and you will walk alongside the Contemporary Art Museum before reaching the Santa Fe Train Depot on your right side.

I look forward to seeing you on the San Diego to La Jolla and Torrey Pines Sightseeing Tour!

Most Mission Bay Hotels, including the Catamaran, Bahia, Hyatt, Dana Inn, and Paradise Point, are served by either MTS bus #8 or #9. These buses take you south to the Old Town Trolley Station, where you can catch the Blue Line as described below.

For guests staying at hotels in Pacific Beach, including the Cyrstal Pier, Tower 23, and Pacific Terrace, you can take MTS bus #30 to the Old Town Trolley Station. These guests also have the option of being dropped off near their hotels when the sightseeing tour returns through Pacific Beach on the way back to Downtown.

From Old Town, take a 9 minute ride on the Blue Line Trolley south to the Santa Fe Train Depot.

Most tourists will buy the $5 Day Pass, which is good for buses and trolleys. The total trip time, including transfer, ranges from about 25 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on the location of your hotel.

I look forward to seeing you on the San Diego to La Jolla and Torrey Pines Sightseeing Tour!

Yes! Most guests staying at downtown hotels will walk to the train station. It is a nice, pleasant walk with no hills. Others that are short on time will take a taxi or the Orange Trolley Line to ‘One America Plaza’, which is across the street from the Santa Fe Depot. After the tour, we can generally drop you off at or near your hotel.

For guests staying at the Hilton Bayfront, Marriott Marquis, Hyatt, and Embassy Suites convention hotels along Harbor Drive, make your way to Kettner Boulevard and take it north to Broadway. The typical walk time takes 20 minutes from the Hilton Bayfront to less than 10 minutes from the Embassy Suites.

For guests staying at hotels in or near the Gaslamp Quarter, it is generally easiest to make your way to Broadway and then walk west on Broadway towards the harbor until you reach the Santa Fe Train Depot on your right. The typical walk time ranges from 15 minutes from 4th Avenue to less than 5 minutes from the Westin San Diego on Broadway.

Print out the downtown map I provide for guests who drive downtown.

I look forward to seeing you on the San Diego to La Jolla and Torrey Pines Sightseeing Tour!

Most guests join me for the full tour. If you do, it will be a little after 2:30 before we get a bite to eat. Some guests have no issue with that since they enjoyed a nice big breakfast after sleeping in a little bit. Others bring a light snack to hold them over. Sandwiches and snacks are available inside the train depot and across the street (across Kettner Boulevard).

For guests who use the free time to wander around on their own in La Jolla, you will be able to enjoy lunch as early as 1PM. There are many restaurants to choose from in La Jolla. I can provide some recommendations or point you in the right direction based on what you would like to eat. Some restaurants offer great ocean views. There are also several choices if you are just looking for simple treats such as ice cream, gelato, pies, cupcakes, and fancy desserts.

I look forward to seeing you on the San Diego to La Jolla and Torrey Pines Sightseeing Tour!

Sunshine – La Jolla has a tendency to attract some fog and ‘marine layer’ during the early morning and evening. It’s not nearly on the scale of what one experiences when visiting San Francisco during the summer but it is best to visit during the afternoon when you have the best opportunity for comfortable temperatures and spectacular views.

Coastal Breezes – Light coastal breezes arrive during the afternoon hours giving us the best chance (about 90%) of watching paragliders soar off 300 foot / 90 meter ocean cliffs.

How to maximize your day – Some guests, especially those arriving the night before like to sleep in. Others take a morning tour over to Coronado, visit the nearby Maritime Museum, or stop by the adjacent Contemporary Art Museum before heading over to the Santa Fe Train Depot by 11:45AM for the start of the tour.

After the tour ends at 5PM, guests are back in downtown just as the dinner scene and night life heat up in the Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, and nearby Old Town.

I look forward to seeing you on the San Diego to La Jolla and Torrey Pines Sightseeing Tour!