Hop on Hop off Bus Tour around San Diego

On Saturday, January 17th, we went on the hop on hop off tour around different parts of San Diego.  There was a bus stop right behind our hotel at Seaport Village, so it was easy to do.  We started at 9am after getting breakfast at the Club in our hotel.  We used the City Go pass for tickets to the Zoo the day before, the bus tour, and tickets to the USS Midway.

On the open bus, ready to go!

The first stop we were going to get off at was Coronado Island, across the bridge.

Going across the bridge to the island.

We made it to Coronado Island and hotel.

The boys were excited to play in the sand!

So fun to be by the ocean!

There was a gold shimmer in the sand; it was so pretty! Nyles and Steve found hermit crabs.

Pretty ocean and waves.

Hudson holding a hermit crab.

And we found lots of seashells and clamshells.

We even saw a group of dolphins swimming by.

Dolphins swimming in front of us

And a fighter jet kept going by us.  Carter's sand structure.

After a couple hours we got back on the bus and went back over the bridge.

We then got off at Balboa Park, which is right next to the San Diego Zoo.

There was a cool tree and lots of neat buildings and museums.

The kids were pretty hungry by this time, so we didn't stay very long.

We then got back on the bus and went over to Old Town.

Fire station along the way in Little Italy.  Hudson then fell asleep, as did Carter.

We then ate lunch at Cafe Coyote, a Mexican Restaurant.  

I ate there when I was there w/ my team last May.  Yummy chips and salsa.

People come and buy just their tortillas from the street, which is pretty cool.

The food was super yummy!

We then walked up to the Mormon Battalion Museum and got a tour.  We thought it was just going to be artifacts to look at, but they actually walk you through what happened and why.  It was really neat.  It's interactive as you watch videos, and the characters come to life.  The boys got to dress up w/ the supplies they had while marching in the battalion.  When we were done the kids mined for gold.  Sister Missionaries help w/ the tours.  They are called to serve there 6 months, then are reassigned to another proselytizing mission, which is neat.

At the Mormon Battalion Museum.

Signs around Old Town.  We got a picture at the Mormon Battalion Museum.  We just barely made it back in time to get back on the bus, back to our hotel.

Seagull on a light post, cool ship on our way back to the hotel.  The boys each got a glow-in-the-dark 3D dragon w/ a blue light in Old Town at the markets.  Coming back to our hotel.

The boys wanted to go swimming again.  The boys glow-in-the-dark 3D dragons.  

Cute Carter w/ his milk mustache after desserts at the Club.

Boys swimming

We had another great day w/ thankfully warm sunny weather again.  We only got off at 3 stops on the tour and it took all day!  We were w/in walking distance to the USS Midway though, so we decided to just go there the next day before we had to fly home.

San Diego Zoo Day

Friday morning, January 16th, we had free breakfast at the Club in the hotel.  As we were walking back to our room to get our stuff before leaving for the day, we stopped to check out the pool area.

Funny seagull at our window in the morning.

More seagulls by the pool area.

Nyles brought a bagel from breakfast and set it down so he could look through the binoculars.  The seagulls quickly swooped it up and ate it!  He learned not to set his food down :)

We then got a Lyft over to the San Diego Zoo.  It was our 2nd time there.  We were there last in February 2023, before we left on a Disney cruise to Mexico.  Thankfully, the weather was beautiful this time, about 70 degrees.  Last time we were here it was pretty cold, around 50 degrees, and it was raining.  The weather sure makes a difference in the experience.

We made it to the zoo!

Pretty American Flamingoes, totem poles and a hibiscus flower.

We went to see the new baby giraffes first.  One was just born 6 weeks before, and the other in July.  They were so cute!

Porcupine, kookaburra bird, bird of paradise flower, and the rhinoceros.

Koala bears and monkeys.

More birds.

Cool plants, cheetah, and fish.

Lemurs, a waterfall, and a pretty "giant pink ball tree" or tropical hydrangea.

Another pretty hibiscus flower, African penguins, and a cool plant. 

We then went to see the pandas.  We waited in line a little bit, but then got to see it!

Apparently the panda came back to the zoo in 2024.

Panda bear!

The cute red panda.

More of the giant panda.

Hippos, and pig.

Family pics.

Flashback comparison:

Maned Wolf from South America.  We saw the mom and dad, but not the 3 pups they just had.  

Family picture on the bridge.

The lions.

Elephants.

More elephants and a lizard.

Fun w/ the statues, and a silly meerkat enjoying the sun.

We then walked back to the other side of the zoo to get lunch at the same spot we did last time.  

We were all definitely hungry by this time.  Then the American Flamingoes again.

We then took the bus tour of the zoo, which allowed our legs to rest a while.

The leopard, monkeys and sleepy lion.

We had basically seen the animals, so the kids wanted to play for a little bit, then they were done.

We then got a Lyft back to the hotel, where the kids wanted to swim in the pool.  Steve and I just enjoyed the hot tub.  

Fun in the pool, a pretty sunset, and we finally got the C4 elevator that Nyles wanted.

We then got some dessert back at the club, yummy :)

Steve and I then went for a walk by the hotel and shoreline.

A view of our big hotel, the Manchester Grand Hyatt (the 2 towers).  It's definitely grand!

Blue Herron, pretty skyline at night, Steve and I w/ Christmas lights behind us.

Looking up at the boys in the hotel room on the 8th floor, coming back from our walk.

We had a great first full day in San Diego.  The weather was warm, and we really enjoyed the zoo. The kids also enjoyed swimming, and Steve and I enjoyed taking a walk.  It was a great day!  We were excited for the next day!

2025 Recap

Steve, Hudson (5), Penny, Nyles (13) and Carter (9).

Steve: Has been busy taking the boys to school and activities.  In his free time, he likes to duck hunt and fish. He is a master at smoking foods.  He helped the boys make smoked chili for our neighborhood cook-off and won 1st place, 2nd year in a row.  He's also the Deacon’s Quorum Adviser.  Steve also helped the boys cut firewood again this Spring and they sold it through early winter when they ran out of wood

Penny: Has been at Fidelity Investments 18 years now and has been a Managed Solutions Consultant for 2 years now.  She was called as the Stake Primary Secretary in March.  In 2024, Penny lost 20 lbs and started weight lifting. In 2025, she lost 50 lbs and has continued weight lifting all year.

Nyles: 13 years old, 7th grade at Jordan Middle School.  7th year of Spanish Dual Immersion.  President of his Deacon’s Quorum.  He enjoys doing baptisms for the dead with Steve every month.  He drew out on a deer tag for the muzzleloader and shot his first deer.  He also enjoys duck hunting with Steve and fishing.  2nd year of playing the flute, in Advanced Band.  Elected as a Student Body officer, and the National Junior High School Honor Society.  He played in Beetlejuice Jr at school, and will be in Beauty and the Beast.  He became officially taller than Penny early in the year.

Carter: 9 years old, in 3rd grade at Altara Elementary, in his 3rd year of Spanish Dual Immersion.  He enjoys puzzles, Rubix Cubes, magic tricks, music, playing at playgrounds, and riding on boats.  He’s learning to play the piano and ukulele.  He did gymnastics earlier, basketball, and will play flag football.

Hudson: Turned 5 in August.  He is going to a new Pre-school, 4 days/week this year.  He is a social butterfly and enjoys making new friends.  He’s very active and loves to give hugs and kisses.  He enjoys drawing, coloring, singing, swinging, trucks, the sandbox, and just playing, along w/ trying to keep up w/ his brothers.  He played T-ball this fall. 

All 3 boys enjoy playing with Legos, jumping on the trampoline and playing with their stuffed animals.  Nyles and Carter started rock climbing this summer and are now in the advanced class, which meets 2xs/wk for 2 hours each. 

We went on a Disney cruise this year to the Western Caribbean in the Spring and the Bahamas in September.  We also enjoy hiking, being outdoors, and kayaking.  We’ve been going camping more: Uintas, Bear Lake, Payson Lakes.  We feel so blessed for all that we have, for our family, and to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.  We wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!