I am planning a trip to San Diego. We're not doing zoo or seaworld. What shouldn't we miss? What area to stay?

The best place to stay in San Diego is downtown, It's where all the action is and it's centrally located near all of what San Diego has to offer. I recommend the Hyatt or the Marriott on the bay near seaport village or the Westin on Broadway. If you want more of a luxury/ boutique type hotel, check out the Ivy or the Keating in the gaslamp district, they just opened a new Hard Rock Hotel in the gaslamp also, my favorite hotel is the W, but it's expensive. Downtown San DIego is very safe, most of the demographic is young professionals, older wealthy people and tourists. You should definitely check out the gaslamp district on a busy night, it's the historic center of San Diego and all of the buildins are really old. Have a nice dinner down there and go get some drinks somewhere, all of the rooftop bars are really cool, check out Altitude, Jbar, or the rooftop bar at the Ivy, there's also a really nice lounge called "Top of the Hyatt" which has beautiful views of downtown and the San Diego bay, and is, oddly enough, located at the top of the Hyatt. Make sure and check out Little Italy, it's an are of downtown with a ton of Italian restaurants, shops, and Italian style condos. You can take the trolley up to old town and have yourself a nice Mexican meal. You can take a ferry from downtown over to Coronado and see the Hotel Del Coronado which was built in the 1880's. If you have a car you should take a little drive up to La Jolla, it's beautiful up there. The old lighthouse in Point Loma is worth seeing. I can go on and on but I think you can find a way to have a good time, hope this helps!

San Diego is a great place to visit because there is such a variety of things to do based on what you like to do. When I visit San Diego I like to stay either on the beach or in the Gaslamp Quarter. Hotel Circle is also a good central location with almost every hotel chain having a hotel there.

Gaslamp Quarter is a vibrant downtown area with lots of live entertainment, dining, shopping, art galleries, and hotels. For info on hotels in this area visit: http://www.sandiego-romantics.com/san-diego-lodgin...

Coronado Island, Pacific Beach, Mission Bay, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla are all great places to find a hotel right on the beach. For info on San Diego beach hotels visit: http://www.sandiego-romantics.com/san-diego-beach-...

Have a great time!

Second that - actually anywhere in downtown is good, or if you have a car, Hotel Circle in MIssion Valley is great. Access to Balboa Park and museums, (must see) and hot spots are minutes away; as for safety, just stay away from southeast San Diego and you should be fine. To see, Ocean Beach is good if you like beach culture, La Jolla if spending money is your thing, (the Scripps Birch aquarium is really nice, and UCSD is right there), Coronado for the Hotel Del and beach, or you could take the trolley to Tijuana. There is no lack of alternates to choose from - something for everyone here. (except rain - Gawd how I miss REAL rain!) Hope that helps.

You are already ruling out two of the 'best of San Diego' things to do. Maybe you should stay at Mission Bay and rent a jet ski. Or go to Coronado and chill at the Del. Check out Balboa Park for museums. Or head up to Escondido for the Wild Animal Park. You won't get bored.

the center of it by the beach where the city town is....central san diego

Anywhere downtown, near the Gaslamp District would be safe and also right in the middle of things.