Amenity highlights: The lobby features views of the golf course and ocean, is furnished with Morris chairs, and warmed by a fire. A spacious outdoor terrace right off the lobby affords the same views. The deluxe spa provides facial and body treatments in private rooms, and houses a sauna and steam room. A “family room” features pool, backgammon, dominoes, and other games. The lodge is next to 2,000 acres covered by the protected and distinctive Torrey pine tree.

Insider tip: Two polished black towncars are on hand to whisk guests into downtown La Jolla, Del Mar, Torrey Pines Beach, or other sights within a 5-mile radius, for free. The front desk also provides free bottles of water for hikers and beachgoers.

Amenity highlights: This hotel is justly proud of its art collection that includes works by Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Peter Max. The spectacular Starlight Ballroom, with a sliding roof that allows dining under the night sky, is available for private parties and business functions.

Insider tip: San Diego's picturesque waterfront and the Embarcadero, where boats leave for harbor excursions and Coronado, is a cheap cab ride from the hotel, or a nine-block walk down Broadway.

Amenity highlights: This property will open a new waterside spa and health club on June 24, 2005. The Spa features an outdoor whirlpool with 360-degree views of Mission Bay. The health club features state-of-the-art training equipment on an outdoor patio as well as in elaborate indoor facilities. Fresh-air yoga and Pilates classes are offered on a secluded lawn adjoining one of the area’s sandy beaches.

In addition to its sandy beach, the resort offers gardens filled with nearly 100 species of palms and about 1,000 varieties of plants, including many rare specimens from other parts of the world. Koi and other fish swim in the many ponds, while colorful macaws and other parrots squawk overhead. Children also are provided with a video game room. Complimentary high-speed Internet access is available in all accommodations.

Insider tip: This resort is situated on what is reputedly the world’s largest aquatic park. In fact, Mission Bay offers a host of water diversions including pedal boats, kayaks, waverunners, ski boats, sailboats, and catamarans (most equipment can be rented at the resort). Free clinics as well as for-fee lessons are available for most activities. The hotel concierge can assist.

• This hotel is five miles from Mission Bay and 20 miles from downtown San Diego and the airport.
• Guestrooms provide complimentary high-speed Internet access, coffeemakers, and balconies or patios with landscape views.
• The resort offers an 18-hole, par 72 golf course, as well as a fitness facility, two outdoor pools, and a basketball court.

Amenity highlights: The hotel offers extensive fitness facilities, featuring indoor and outdoor swimming pools and two lighted tennis courts. Private spa services can be scheduled for a fee, including facial and body treatments. Guests can access the Internet in the pool-view lounge via a wireless high-speed network (surcharge), or enjoy California coastal cuisine at the Fountain Cafe.

Insider tip: The San Diego Trolley stops directly across the street from the hotel, offering connections to such major attractions as Qualcomm Stadium, historic Old Town, downtown San Diego, the San Diego Convention Center, and the international border. Trolley tickets can be purchased in the hotel's gift shop.

Amenity highlights: An indoor pool, sauna, and fitness center are complemented by an outdoor spa and sundeck. High-speed wireless Internet connection is available throughout the hotel, for a fee.

Amenity highlights: The soaring, 12-story atrium is filled with ponds and waterfalls, home to colorful koi and turtles. In this lush setting, guests can order breakfast each morning, and return for the daily manager’s reception (5:30-7:30 PM) for complimentary cocktails, other beverages, and snacks. Also onsite are a 1940s-style seafood restaurant, corner bar with sushi and wide-screen TV, indoor pool, outdoor spa, and fitness center.

Insider tip: The business center, on the mezzanine level, is staffed from 7 AM until 4 PM. However, guests can get to the equipment 24 hours a day by asking the security guard to open the door, even in the middle of the night.

Amenity highlights: Adults 17 and older can use the peaceful, Olympic-sized swimming pool with an ocean view. Children and families can use the outdoor pool that features interactive water toys, plus an adjacent game room and activity center. Planned activities include such eclectic offerings as wine and jazz nights, beauty workshops, bubble gum-blowing contests, hula-hoop contests, and ping-pong tournaments.

Insider tip: Although the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch is famous for its dazzling spring displays of ranunculus (a buttercup relative with showy, rose-like blooms) and other flowers, it also shelters an All-American Rose Selection (AARS) garden, only one of 130 AARS accredited public rose gardens in the nation.

• This large family resort, next to Legoland®, offers fully-equipped one-bedroom condominiums.
• All 138 condos offer a kitchen, a private balcony or patio, and views of the ocean or park, or the flower fields (seasonally).
• Amenities include an Olympic-size pool, a family pool and water play park. There is also a fitness center and a game room.

Amenity highlights: Guests have access to the Torrey Pines Golf Course next door (advance arrangements necessary), and to numerous other area courses. Guests also have access to neighboring Shiley Sports Center (passes at nominal charge), and The Lodge at Torrey Pines, which features a full-service spa. The pool-level restaurant offers American cuisine, along with an exhibition kitchen, a cocktail lounge, pools, and waterfalls.

Insider tip: Guests looking for a special souvenir may want to take note of the paintings, sculptures, and other artwork in the hotel’s Torreyana Grille. On loan from local galleries, these exhibits rotate quarterly, and everything—from post-modern paintings to whimsical wooden figures—is available for purchase.

Amenity highlights: The pillared lobby features a light- and plant-filled restaurant at one end, and a step-down lounge with fireplace and TV at the other. A coffee bar, adjoining the gift shop, offers muffins and specialty coffees. A fitness room is located near the pool and spa, which are set within a courtyard splashed with chaise lounges and umbrella-covered tables.

Insider tip: Guests have more dining options than meet the eye. Although Silk’s Restaurant and Polo Lounge are at opposite sides of the lobby, guests who prefer the lounge ambience, or who want to watch TV, can sit in the lounge but order from the restaurant menu. The same goes for terrace, poolside, or room service dining—the restaurant comes to you. Silk’s sometimes offers great all-you-can-eat nights.

Amenity highlights: When it's time to relax, the hotel's 4,500-square-foot Artesia Day Spa offers massages and facials with European skin care products. Soft chaises surround the outdoor pool, which is flanked by a 24-hour fitness center. A business center is equipped with fax and copy machines, and computers with high-speed Internet access.

Insider tip: The San Diego trolley is a charming way to get around the city and stops 100 feet from the hotel's front door. It serves downtown, Old Town, Qualcomm Stadium and even Tijuana (a 40-minute trip from downtown). Horse-drawn carriages and pedicabs can be hailed on 5th Street, a half-block away.

Amenity highlights: A wall painted with swaying palm trees gives the second-floor pool patio a tropical feel. The hotel's fitness center is equipped with cardio machines and free weights. A complimentary shuttle is available upon request to take guests to the trolley stop and shopping malls. Business travelers appreciate the hotel's menu planning service, audio-visual rentals, and 20,000 square feet of meeting space.

Insider tip: Two malls are across the highway from the hotel. Fashion Valley Center offers such stores as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Williams-Sonoma. Next door, the older Misson Valley Center has Loehman's, Nordstrom Rack, and a 20-screen movie theater. Guests may take the hotel's complimentary shuttle there, but walking is preferable on weekends, when traffic around the malls is heavy.

Amenity highlights: The"Del" (as it's known by locals) pampers guests with cabanas, poolside dining, and luxury health spa services, including in-room massages complete with candlelight and wine. There's also a fitness room, tennis courts, bicycle-, boat-, and jet ski rentals, and special programs for children.

Insider tip: Curious about who some of your fellow guests have been? Marilyn Monroe filmed Some Like It Hot here. Frequent guest and Wizard of Oz author Frank Baum designed the chandeliers in the spectacular Crown Room. Also as guests, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz concocted their I Love Lucy personae. There's even a resident ghost—Kate Morgan.