1. The Dana On Mission Bay
City: Mission Bay, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (619) 222-6440, (800) 445-3339
Address: 1710 West Mission Bay Drive
Description: Once a pleasant, modest family hotel, the Dana is now a full-scale resort with 270 rooms and suites, a conference center, marina and boat launch, fitness center, two pools, and a bayside wedding site. Sleek teak and mahogany furnishings, granite countertops, and plantation shutters give rooms a modern, airy feel; some have balconies overlooking the bay. Free shuttles to the airport, SeaWorld, and Mission Beach are a major plus, and you can spot the summer nightly SeaWorld fireworks from the property. Facilities include a water sports center, a private marina, and bicycle rentals (biking is the perfect way to tour Mission Bay). The casual Blue Pearl restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers children’s menus.
2. Hilton San Diego Resort
City: Mission Bay, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (619) 276-4010, (800) 445-8667
Address: 1775 East Mission Bay Drive
Description: The Hilton San Diego is an oasis of palm trees and sand with a mirage-come-true in the form of beautiful Mission Bay right alongside the hotel. The Mediterranean-style resort has 357 rooms. Standard guest rooms have courtyard and garden views; suites have expansive bay views.Activities galore await you at the Hilton. Take a walk down to the bay, which is just steps away, or play tennis on the lighted courts. Maybe you’d like to swim in the hotel’s huge pool or hot tub—both have a bay view. The excellent activity center has bikes, catamarans, and other water toys for rent. Bayside Terrace Grill, which serves all meals, has outdoor seating.
3. Paradise Point Resort & Spa
City: Mission Bay, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (858) 274-4630, (800) 344-2626
Address: 1404 West Vacation Road
Description: For the best combination of luxury and a beach vacation, Paradise Point Resort is a great choice. The 462 single-level bungalow rooms have a variety of layouts, and all have patios and a spectacular garden, lagoon, or bay view. Studio and one-bedroom suites are also available.The resort is perfect for quiet strolls, where you’ll find surprises at every turn: lagoons with water lilies, fountains, waterfalls, bridges, and botanical treasures. For more active pursuits, try one of five pools or swim and sunbathe on the mile of sandy beach surrounding the resort. Tennis, sailing, volleyball, and bicycling are available, and an 18-hole putting course will help you refine your stroke. Paradise Point also has a fully equipped fitness center and Spa Terre, which incorporates an Indonesian style of relaxation treatments along with sports massage and other traditional treatments. Be sure to stop in at the Barefoot Bar, a legendary hangout for locals. Also on the premises is the excellent Baleen Restaurant & Bar, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an emphasis on fresh seafood.
4. Seaforth Sportfishing
City: Mission Bay, CA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (619) 224-3383
Address: 1717 Quivira Road
Description: Seaforth has half-day, full-day, and twilight trips and is conveniently located at Mission Bay Park. The company has tackle and bait for sale, and equipment can be rented. Specialty trips include shark and rock cod in season. For the partial-day trip, 6:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., the cost is $90 for adults and $80 for children age 15 and younger. For the one-and-a-half-day sportfishing trip, 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. the following day, the cost is $305 per person and includes sleeping accommodations.