Getting Into Town

If you're flying in...

• The most convenient option is definitely to fly into the San Diego Airport. Once you arrive, you can drive or rideshare to your hotel, or you can take the free San Diego Flyer shuttle to the Old Town Transit Center where there are multiple public transportation options. Make sure one of these options goes to where you're staying though, as public transit doesn't reach everywhere! To find the San Diego Flyer shuttle at the airport, follow the signs for the shuttles and then look for the specific San Diego Flyer sign. The shuttle comes every 20-30 minutes with the first arriving at the airport around 4:45am and the last arriving at the airport around 12:30am.

• You can consider flying into LAX (the LA Airport) if there's a significant price difference from where you're coming from. SAN (the San Diego Airport) will be much more convenient but we recently heard of the LAX LINQ shuttle that can take you from the LAX Airport to Downtown San Diego for a reasonable price. We've never used it so we can't speak to it, but wanted to give you options!

If you're driving in...

• There's not much we need to tell you other than watch out for LA traffic if you're coming through that way!

Getting Around Town

• If you want to use public transit, the San Diego MTS has an extensive trolley and bus system. They do have a mobile app, but we've found it can be hard to scan your ticket barcode at the stations when it's sunny out, even if your phone brightness is at its maximum. However, the app is very useful for finding stations, routes, seeing live updates to the schedules, and loading funds onto your card. For the tickets, we've found it better to use a physical PRONTO card that can be bought at the trolley stations or buy paper tickets at certain locations - see THIS link on the MTS website for more details.
• Another option is to rent a car or use rideshare while you're here. The public transit system doesn't go everywhere in San Diego and won't take you to our venue either. Having a car will give you the most flexibility. See more details on our FAQ page about the venue and getting there.

We have courtesy rates at two hotels:

• Best Western Island Palms Hotel & Marina - click HERE for details on a discount for the room of your choice. Please note, the link doesn't automatically take you to October and may say rooms are unavailable until you change this.
• Courtyard Marriott San Diego Airport/Liberty Station - click HERE for our room rate, or call (800) 321-2211 and reference Group Name: Montoya Leger Wedding or Group Code: MLW. They will also help with transportation to and from the San Diego Airport! If arriving before 9pm, call the front desk for instructions. After 9pm you can take a cab, Uber, or Lyft to the hotel and if you keep and present your receipt they will reimburse you up to $20. You can contact the front desk one day prior to leaving to schedule a pick up to take you back to the airport.

San Diego has lots of great food options depending on your taste, but here are a few of our favorites!

• Hodad's - a Classic Burger Joint with Surfer Vibes
• Board & Brew - a Southern California Sandwich & Beer Restaurant
• Pappalecco - Italian Pizza, Paninis, Espresso, & Gelato
• Old Town Mexican Cafe - Authentic Mexican Food based in Old Town San Diego
• Seasons 52 - an Upscale Special Occasion Fresh Grill & Wine Bar

Museums, Zoos, & Aquariums

• Balboa Park is a huge nearby park with lots of trails, museums, attractions, events, restaurants, and more. We'll highlight a few super fun things in Balboa Park on this page but the whole park is worth checking out and will likely have something that interests everyone! Fun note - our Save the Date photos were all taken here.

• The Natural History Museum is a favorite of the bride and is located within Balboa Park. Check out their "Unshelved: Cool Stuff from Storage" exhibit - the bride has been behind the scenes herself and they have some amazing things!

• The San Diego Zoo is a world–renowned conservation hub located in Balboa Park and a great place to visit. The couple recommends taking the free bus tour as your first stop right inside the gate to see some sights while saving energy for the rest of the large park!

• The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is "the sister park" of the San Diego Zoo. It's a bit farther away but a great place as well. With more space, they focus on sprawling areas and bigger animals in more natural environments. The free Africa Tram is a must and the extra paid safaris are worth looking into. Random tip - love platypuses? The Safari Park is the only place you can see them outside of Australia itself.

• SeaWorld San Diego is a smaller park than the Zoo & Safari Park (and not related to them either) but a great place to see marine animals. This year is their 60th Anniversary Celebration so they may have some special activities or events going on!

• Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, part of UC San Diego, is a smaller yet wonderful aquarium and home to the adorable Little Blue Penguin family. They are the world's smallest penguins and this is the only place on the West Coast where you can find them! Ticket prices are great and the view from their back patio is incredible - one of the bridesmaids actually had their wedding here (and the bride was in her wedding party)!

Shopping & Dining

• Seaport Village is the perfect way to spend a few hours and is accessible by the trolley system. Whether you're shopping, dining, or enjoying the view, Seaport Village offers a charming blend of entertainment and relaxation for all with its cobblestone pathways, harbor views, and diverse shops and eateries. Note that they will likely tear down the existing Seaport Village in the next few years to rebuild a mixed-use development area; so this may be your last chance to see it as it is now!

• UTC is in the La Jolla area of San Diego, and is quite large with lots of shopping and dining opportunities. The couple really enjoys going with friends to a speakeasy in the mall called Raised by Wolves. One of our favorite restaurants for special occasions is also located here, called Seasons 52.

• Liberty Station is very close to our venue, also located in the Point Loma area. It's a great place to walk around and explore, with shops, restaurants, open park space & walking paths. The couple's favorite spots include Liberty Public Market (great for lots of dining options) and Sea Hive Station (a collection of goods sold by local artisans, vendors, and small artists). Note that the Marriott Hotel where we have a courtesy rate is located here - check the Lodging section for more details.