Travel Advisor & La Jolla Mom Owner
Favorite Place in San Diego
La Jolla Cove area
Favorite theme park
San Diego Zoo (Disneyland, a close second)
Favorite hotel
Four Seasons Hong Kong
Hi, I’m Katie Dillon. I’ve lived in beautiful La Jolla, California, for a long time, dating back to when I was a student at UC San Diego.
I’ve left only a few times (once to live in Del Mar). My husband and I were expats in London and Hong Kong for seven years. My daughter was born in Hong Kong. We bought and renovated our house in La Jolla while overseas (I don’t recommend this) and then eventually moved in. Each of these moves has defined this site.
I started La Jolla Mom as a place to write about lifestyle and motherhood topics to keep my brain active. It evolved into a travel business after I began covering tips for flying with kids and reviewing hotels we stayed in.
Living in a hotel apartment in Hong Kong is not unusual, so that’s what we did, and we stayed a lot longer in the hotel than most people do. It just happened to be Four Seasons Hong Kong. I’m very loyal to the brand because of our over four years in that fabulous property. And, I know a lot about hotels.
Eventually, readers started asking me for advice on San Diego travel. I added tips and things to do — becoming a resource for visitors and locals. (I’m a certified San Diego destination specialist by our tourism board.) San Diego has four of the nation’s best theme parks, so people started asking me for ways to buy discounted tickets.
I partnered with aRes Travel in Pacific Beach, down the hill from my house, to offer people cheaper tickets. I also aligned myself with Cadence Travel in La Jolla (where I am in the top 20% of advisors for 2024, 2023, and 2022) to bring travelers VIP hotel perks in San Diego and beyond.
That’s how I wound up covering our three main topics: San Diego, theme parks, and hotels. I want you to get the most out of your trip—whether by saving on tickets, enjoying added hotel perks, or using our resources to self-plan—so you always feel your vacation or day out is worth your time and money.
Recent Writing
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A guide to San Diego outlets including malls and stand-alone stores that offer discounts on brand name and designer clothes, shoes, accessories, and housewares. Learn where to go.
Everything you need to know before visiting Westfield UTC mall near La Jolla, from a local who’s been shopping here for decades.
The best hotels near UCSD in La Jolla on the beach, with kitchens, closest to the campus, and discounts for families, alumni, and medical center patients.
It’s a very different summer than usual. The best activities in San Diego with kids right now are outside and at home. Here are some ideas.
We love visiting Tokyo Disneyland when in Japan! Here’s what to know before you go including how to tickets, best rides, hotels, FastPass, dining reservations, and more.
My guide walks you through the Zoo’s dining options from sit-down spots and snack stands with Instagrammable desserts to where to find a drink or coffee along the way.
These 8 ways to buy discount SeaWorld San Antonio tickets from trusted authorized ticket sellers are cheaper than gate pricing.
What to know before going to Windansea Beach, La Jolla including surfing, parking, directions, lifeguards, amenities and more at this sacred local spot.
Japanese Friendship Garden San Diego offers a way to get outside and experience another culture without traveling beyond Balboa Park. Here’s what you can do there.
