My family and I are always more than ready to ditch our car after a bumper-to-bumper drive to San Diego. On three recent trips we did just that, trading our car for the city's Green Line trolley to visit Old Town, Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter and more.
Traveling by light rail is easy here. Arrival times are posted electronically, and we found the trolley cars convenient, clean and brightly illuminated at night.
Reusable Compass Cards, $2 each, can be loaded with a one-day pass for $5 at any trolley station or online (sdmts.com). A three-day pass costs $12. On Saturdays and Sundays, up to two children, 12 and younger, may ride for free when accompanied by a paying adult. For information on other discounts, check the Metropolitan Transit System's website, lat.ms/sdmtsfares.
We twice set up base camp near the transit center at Old Town State Historic Park. Not only did we save on room rates, but hotel parking also was cheaper ($20 and $18) than what we could find in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Last year a good rate lured us farther away to the Marriott Mission Valley (8757 Rio San Diego Drive; (619) 692-3800, www.lat.ms/marriottmissionvalley). The Rio Vista trolley stop is next to the hotel, and Old Town is just minutes away.
Here are some places to go without your car:
