San Diego--Part Three

On Sunday, May 1, we checked out of the Gaslamp Plaza Suites and headed to the Westin (we switched hotels because as much as we loved the Plaza Suites, it didn't have a pool, and since I was going to be at the conference for the next three days, we wanted my mom and Kate to have a pool to keep her entertained). The Westin was very nice too; definitely a lot more modern than the Plaza Suites, but still very nice. Our room had a gorgeous view of the bay.

We then took the 11:00 ferry to Coronado Island. The ferry was about four blocks away, and the guy at the front desk told us he didn't think we would make it in time (it was about 10:50). Ha! He doesn't know how fast we can walk! Well, and it helped that there was a huge line. But we did indeed make the ferry, and as soon as we got on the island, we got sucked into some gift shops (this is not exactly a surprise, if you know my mom). We got some cute stuff (I actually had to buy a shirt and shorts because I was way too hot in the clothes I had brought. It had been so cold in Wisconsin that even though I thought I was bringing warm-weather clothes, they apparently weren't "warm-weather" enough!

We wanted to see the Hotel Del Coronado, but that was a couple miles away, so we rented a surrey bike. We had a blast. It was so fun biking across the island and seeing all the beautiful houses (if I ever win the lottery, I'm buying a winter home on Coronado Island). The hotel was really cool, too; very 1920s-esque. We ate at a delicious Italian restaurant across the street, and then went to the beach behind the hotel. I thought I would just take Kate in to get her feet wet, but she dropped down and began crawling in the ocean, even though she didn't have her swimming suit on! Oh, well; she loved it, and it was very warm, so she was dry within 10 minutes of getting out of the water.

We then biked back to the ferry landing, returned our surrey bike, and then looked in some of the shops while waiting for the ferry. We bought three cupcakes from the Coronado Cupcakery, and we were kicking ourselves that we didn't try them until we got back to the hotel, because they were amazing. Hands down the best cupcakes we've ever had. A little pricey, yes ($3.25 or so a cupcake), but they were so worth it! We got one that was chocolate with cream cheese frosting, and another one that was white with a raspberry cream cheese filling and a buttercream frosting. Can't remember the third one, but man... those things were good! Good thing we biked around the island before eating them.


Kate and Nana planning out our day before we check out of the Gaslamp


Kate in the very cool elevator


Gorgeous lobby, isn't it?


Kate, Nana & the surrey bike


Too adorable!! Her helmet had kittens on it, since she loves kitties


Outside the Hotel Del Coronado. Kate was too enthralled by Nana's jewelry to take a good picture, apparently!


At the amazing Italian restaurant










Loving the water, even though she is swimsuit-less


I'm so glad I bought these shorts and shirt; I would have been dying in my jeans and black shirt I originally wore!


Such a good walker!


I want to stay in this hotel sometime... too bad it's quite pricey!


At one of the shops below the hotel that bears Kate's name














The view from the ferry landing