San Diego is a great place to visit in California. All types of accommodations are available here in all price ranges. The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay and Hampton Inn SeaWorld/Airport are good, moderately-priced hotels in San Diego.
Lou and Mickey's is a good choice. Also think about the Top of the Market. I hosted a group of doctors there a few years ago and it was nice-different from seafood in Boston but still nice.
It is on the bay and close to the hotels. I think $20-30 excluding booze would work. They also have the old standbys like Ruth's Chris and Morton's downtown but only if you have to.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.