Accommodations
This year’s Gatlinburg Conference will be held on the beautiful premises of the Catamaran Resort and Hotel. You can reserve your room at our group rate by following this link Catamaran Resort Hotel in San Diego or by calling in your reservation at (858) 488-1081 and letting them know you’re with the Gatlinburg Conference.
Share a Room: If you would like to divide hotel costs with another attendee, we also have a hotel room-sharing form to help facilitate connections.
Parking: Catamaran Parking is $38 per day for self-parking and $44 per day for valet.
If you need any assistance you can contact us for help at gatlinburg@ku.edu
Transportation Options in San Diego
Rideshare Service
The San Diego International Airport has 2 terminals. For both terminals basic-level ride-share pick-ups occur on “transportation islands.” See below for details.
Uber
For UberX, UberXL, and Comfort, pickups occur at the transportation islands.
- Terminal 1’s pickup location is at the transportation island closest to the terminal.
- Terminal 2’s pick up location is the transportation island farthest from the terminal (Lane 2) on the arrivals level.
Uber Black does curbside pickup outside either of the two terminals at the San Diego Airport.
Lyft
For Lyft, Lyft XL, and Extra Comfort, pickups occur at the transportation islands.
- Terminal 1’s pickup location is at the transportation island closest to the terminal.
- Terminal 2’s pick-up location is the transportation island farthest from the terminal (Lane 2) on the arrivals level.
Lyft Black and BlackXL do curbside pickup outside either of the two terminals at the San Diego Airport.
Rental Car Service
All car rental pick-ups and drop-offs for rental car companies serving San Diego International Airport occur at the Consolidated Rental Car Center. Free dedicated shuttle buses run continually to ferry customers between the airport terminals and the Rental Car Center.
San Diego International Airport has car services for Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar Car, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty Car, and ZipCar.
Taxi Service
Many companies provide taxicab service at San Diego International Airport. If you need a taxi, simply follow the signs leading to the Transportation Plazas. A Customer Service Representative will place you with the first available taxi, unless you specify a particular taxicab company.
The guide below lists taxicab radio/dispatch services in San Diego. Call directly or use the Web links to find the taxicab service that best suits your needs. Please refer to a San Diego phone book yellow pages for a complete list of taxicab services.
| Name | Payment | Street | Phone |
| Yellow Radio Service | All major credit cards accepted | 3473 Kurtz St. San Diego |
619.444.4444 858.444.4444 |
| American Radio Service | All major credit cards upon request | 433 10th Ave. San Diego |
619.234.1111 |
| Orange Radio Service | All major credit cards upon request | 3911 Pacific Hwy. #208 San Diego |
619.223.5555 |
| San Diego Dispatch | Major credit cards upon request | 3485 Kurtz St. San Diego |
619.226.8294 / 800.368.2947 |
| USA Radio Dispatch | All major cards upon request |
2660 Imperial Ave. San Diego |
619.231.1144 |
Public Transit
Amtrak Intercity and COASTER commuter trains link communities and travelers from as far away as Los Angeles and Orange Counties to downtown San Diego and coastal North County and, includes stops in Old Town, Sorrento Valley, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside.
Travelers headed to and from San Diego International Airport can connect with Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and the COASTER at Amtrak’s Santa Fe Depot train station downtown by using Metropolitan Transit System Route 992, which operates between 5:00 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends and holidays.
The COASTER operates 365 days a year, seven days a week, with trips throughout the day to Old Town and North San Diego County. Tickets may be purchased at ticket vending machines on the Santa Fe Depot station platform, online at GoNCTD.com, or via the COASTER Mobile App.
For additional information on connecting transit, fares, personalized travel planning and accessibility services, call 760-966-6500 or visit www.gonctd.com/coaster.
For additional information on Amtrak service in San Diego, visit the Santa Fe Depot train station, telephone 1-800-USA-RAIL, or visit Amtrak or Amtrak California.
The closest public transportation routes to the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa are Cable Car BLUE at stop Balboa Ave Station [29 min walk] and Buses 30 at stop Mission BI & San Rafael PL [5 min walk] and 8 at stop Grand Ave & Cass St [11 min walk.]
Sport Equipment Rental Services
Bicycle, Beach, and Surf Rental Services
Currently, the city of San Diego does not have an official bike share program. However, there are a multitude of small-business bike rental programs near the Catamaran Hotel. These businesses also rent beach lounging equipment, surfboards, and more. Check them out or book a tour with them below!
Shopping and Local Attractions
San Diego’s mild year-round Mediterranean climate has made it a well-known hub for outdoor activities like surfing, cycling, running, watersports, and sightseeing. Along with the perfect weather, you can enjoy learning about San Diego’s naval history by taking a tour on the USS Midway, learn about various wildlife at the San Diego Zoo or SeaWorld, or take a stroll through Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, or along Mission or Pacific Beach, both of which are less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel. To explore some of San Diego’s best cultural attractions and plan your visit, visit SanDiego.org.
Attractions in Close Proximity
- Closest to the hotel in Mission and Pacific Beach. Along both, you can bike, skateboard, rollerblade, or simply take a stroll on the boardwalk. You can also rent beach chairs and umbrellas from many different vendors, lounge on the beach, and enjoy the ocean horizon. Feeling brave? Mission and Pacific Beach are well-known for their surfing and there are many vendors along the beach where you can book a lesson to learn how to surf!
- Less than a 5-minute car ride from the hotel is the historic Belmont Park. Established in 1925, Belmont Park is an amusement park full of rides, vintage games, gift shops, and 17 different restaurants inside the park!
- A 10-minute ride from the hotel is a challenging 18-holes at the Mission Bay Golf Course. Many avid golfers will tell you that Mission Bay Golf Course is the best 18-hole executive course in San Diego. This par 3 and 4 course is the only night-lighted golf course in the area. It’s open year-round from 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM, but the lights stay on until 10:00 PM.
- For six decades, SeaWorld has offered its guests an unparalleled combination of fun and enriching experiences through thrilling presentations and shows, up-close animal encounters, and award-winning rides and attractions. Less than a 10-minute car ride from the hotel, visit SeaWorld for an unforgettable animal experience!
Shopping In Close Proximity
- The Pacific Beach Neighborhood, just North of the hotel has a reputation as one of San Diego’s liveliest neighborhoods. It is home to a significant number of local retailers that revolve around two primary shopping destinations: Garnet Avenue and Mission Boulevard.
- Garnet Avenue runs perpendicular to the Pacific Beach boardwalk and is lined with an array of clothing, accessories, souvenirs, and gift shops.
- Mission Boulevard runs parallel to the boardwalk and is home to an assortment of surf shops and big-name brands like Brandy Melville and Urban Outfitters.
Dining in San Diego
There is no shortage of great restaurants in San Diego. Known for its fresh seafood and produce, you’ll undoubtedly eat well during your stay. Below are some dining spots at or near the hotel and along Mission Beach and Pacific Beach.
Oceana Coastal Kitchen and Moray’s are both on property at the Catamaran Hotel.
Oceana is the Catamaran’s signature restaurant and offers chef-driven California cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all perfectly paired with panoramas of sparkling Mission Bay.
The tropically-themed Moray’s surrounds you with tiki torches, palm trees, and fire pits. It is a relaxing environment to enjoy a craft beer, cocktail, or casual meal with friends and colleagues.
Olive Café is a daytime venue located down the street from the Catamaran, by foot it’s about 15 minutes, by car 7 minutes. The café offers a cozy vibe and serves hearty breakfasts, sandwiches, salads, coffee and pastries.
La Playa Taco Shop located on the same corner as the Catamaran Hotel is a festive taqueria serving familiar Mexican dishes including carne asada, carnitas, and fish tacos.
The Mission at Mission Beach located down the street, 12 minutes by foot, 7 minutes by car, is an Asian-Latin fusion eatery known for brunch in a laid-back setting.
Rosemarie’s Buns and Brews is a local favorite and was recently voted the best burger sliders in San Diego. A 10-minute walk from the hotel, this burgers and brews joint is a must-try for the area!
World Famous, 8 minutes by foot, 4 minutes by car from the hotel is an inventive mix of surf, turf, and pub grub in a cozy wood-paneled setting or on the oceanfront patio.
Woody’s Breakfast and Burgers, in the same building as World Famous, is a laid-back beach restaurant with outdoor seating, sandwiches, tacos, and smoothies.
Luigi’s at the Beach is known for its big, NYC-style pies, Italian basics, and vast draft beer menu. This local favorite is a 30-minute walk from the hotel or just 9 minutes by car.
For BBQ and sports fans, the breezy Coaster Saloon, draws crowds for its beer selection, unique pub fare, beachfront patio, and of course Bar-B-Q. Further from the hotel than the rest, 30 minutes by foot, 9 by car, the food along with the setting makes it worth the trip!
Mizu is a mix of classic and fusion dishes plus sushi options in a casual setting looking out over Mission Bay. It’s a local favorite but further from the hotel, a 30 minute walk or 9 minute car ride.
Accessibility
Creating an accessible Gatlinburg conference for everyone is our priority. If you have any concerns, questions or requests for accommodations please email us at gatlinburg@ku.edu.
The San Diego visitors information guide has also compiled a list of accessibility resources.
If you would like to speak about accessibility resources at the resort, please reach out to the Catamaran at (858) 488-1081. You can also learn about their accessible accommodations at Catamaran Accessible Rooms.
If you require Communications Access Realtime Translations (CART) or ASL interpreter for the conference sessions please email us at gatlinburg@ku.edu so that we can make arrangements.
