Must Visit Attractions (my Top 5)
- The San Diego Zoo is family-friendly and one of the country’s top-rated places to see rare animals.
- See fighter jets and more while you’re on board a real aircraft carrier at the USS Midway Museum.
- Relax and enjoy the scenery at Balboa Park, surrounded by more than a dozen museums and other educational attractions.
- Take in the ocean view at picturesque La Jolla Cove.
- Enjoy miles of trails and breathtaking views at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, one of the only places on earth with naturally occurring torrey pine trees.
***If you’re planning on visiting a bunch of attractions during your visit, I HIGHLY recommend a Go San Diego Card. This is a pass that includes admission to dozens of the most popular San Diego and nearby area attractions all for a discounted price.
Museums
- See fighter jets and more while you’re on board a real aircraft carrier at the USS Midway Museum.
- Relax and enjoy the scenery at Balboa Park, surrounded by more than a dozen museums and other educational attractions.
- Travel through history with the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s collection of old sea vessels.
- Immerse yourself in the region’s rich scientific history and stroll through aviation history at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
- Visitors of all ages can enjoy the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, in close proximity to other museums and attractions.
- Immerse yourself in prehistoric times at the San Diego Natural History Museum, home to real fossils and numerous educational exhibits.
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego boasts a huge collection of some of today’s most peculiar artwork from around the world.
- Connect with your earliest ancestors and take a walk through centuries of human history at the San Diego Museum of Man.
- San Diego Museum of Art has offerings for art connoisseurs and casual observers like.
- See rare, original works by famous historical artists at the Timken Museum of Art.
The Zoo, Aquarium & Amusement Parks
- The San Diego Zoo is family-friendly and one of the country’s top-rated places to see rare animals.
- Get up close and personal with SeaWorld San Diego’s family of sea creatures.
- Ride all the classic carnival rides and enjoy traditional carnival food throughout the year at Belmont Park.
- Spend hours exploring the Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
- Petco Park is home to Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres.
Parks & Outdoor Activities
- For the ultimate view of the ocean, take to the skies on a glider at the Torrey Pines Gliderport.
- Relax and enjoy the scenery at Balboa Park, surrounded by more than a dozen museums and other educational attractions.
- Take in the ocean view at picturesque La Jolla Cove.
- Enjoy miles of trails and breathtaking views at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, one of the only places on earth with naturally occurring torrey pine trees.
- Learn the history of San Deigo’s earliest inhabitants at the Cabrillo National Monument.
- Take a selfie with Sunset Cliffs Natural Park’s epic backdrop.
- Visit the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial, a tribute to those who have fought for our country
- Honor our veterans and learn our national history at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery.
- For another epic view of the bay, visit Point Loma and check out the historic lighthouse.
- Witness one of California’s greatest engineering marvels, Coronado Bridge.
- Get a taste of yesterday at the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.
- Get active in the huge Mission Bay Park, which is set aside specifically for recreation.
- A favorite picnic spot for locals and travelers, Ellen Browning Scripps Park boasts beautiful landscaping and a view of the ocean.
- Put your walking shoes to good use at the Mission Trails Regional Park, where you’ll find informational placards along the route, detailing some of the natural landmarks.
Popular Beaches
- Catch some sun and gentle waves at La Jolla Shores’ mile-long beach.
- Set aside time to enjoy the sunset at Windansea Beach.
- Pacific Beach is in close proximity to a variety of shops for travelers on a budget.
- Enjoy the ocean breeze and take a long walk on Mission Beach.
- Run, rollerblade or just sunbathe at the Mission Beach Boardwalk.
- Another great spot to take in the ocean views, Torrey Pines State Beach.
- Observe the Ocean Beach neighborhood’s unique and diverse architecture and landscaping.
- Whether you’re a dog-owner or just a dog-lover, check out Ocean Beach Dog Beach to spend an hour or two in the sand with a four-legged friend.
- A great place to see local surfers in action is Black’s Beach.
- Shell Beach Tide Pools is one of the best beach walks in the area, if you catch it during the right tide.
Other Fun Stuff!
- Connect with the area’s religious history during a tour of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site.
- Dip your feet in the tide pools scattered around the Old Point Loma Lighthouse.
- Check out some of the area’s most unique landscaping and public art installations along the San Diego Bay Walk.
- See the Botanical Building and Lily Pond’s more than 12,000 varieties of flowers and plants.
- Take a ride on the Coronado Ferry.
- San Diego Convention Center is home to major events throughout the year and some of the area’s most impressive architecture.
- Enjoy dining and shopping with an ocean backdrop Seaport Village.
- A short walk from the coast, Little Italy is known for authentic cuisine.
- Catch funky shops and street displays around Old Town San Diego.
- Take a hike at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
- Get an underground look at California’s natural heritage throughout La Jolla Caves.
- Get a glimpse of seagulls and seals at the Children’s Pool.
- Las Americas Premium Outlets has a variety of popular stores all within walking distance.
- Patronize one of the most expansive shopping and dining hubs in the San Diego area at Fashion Valley Shopping Center.
- Modeled after William Shakespeare’s historic venue, the Old Globe Theatre produces shows throughout the year as one of the country’s leading theaters.
- Catch the hustle and bustle of the nearby shipyards on Harbor and Shelter Islands, accessible by car.
- Learn more history at the Mission San Diego de Alcala, one of the best-preserved religious sites in the area.
- The Unconditional Surrender is an eye-catching statue, a short distance from many other attractions.
- Have a beer alongside the locals at Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits, one of the area’s most successful brewing operations.
- Admire the diverse architecture and vibrant student life surrounding the University of California San Diego campus.
- For an upscale shopping experience, visit the stores and restaurants on Girard Avenue and Prospect Street.
- Taste dozens of local offerings in close proximity at the Liberty Public Market, specializing in trendy snacks and meals.
- Honor the area’s rich military history with a visit to the National Salute to Bob Hope & the Military.
- Only members of the church have full access, but the San Diego Mormon Temple welcomes visitors to take in the awe-inspiring exterior, especially beautiful when it’s illuminated at night.
- Get an up-close look at the brewing process when you take a tour of the Green Flash Brewing Company.
- Enjoy one of the free weekly concerts hosted by the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
- Witness some of the area’s most unique natural features at the Cabrillo Tide Pools.
- Getting around the city is made easier with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, which is an impressive engineering marvel in itself.
- La Jolla Playhouse hosts plays and other theatrical productions throughout the year, hosted on the University of California San Diego campus.
- You can literally get a taste of history at Bernardo Winery, a historic vineyard operating to this day, along with a restaurant and museum.
- Find unique, hand-crafted gifts from local artisans at the Spanish Village Art Center.
- Visit the site of some of the world’s most cutting-edge medical and biological research, the Salk Institute, known around the world as a major hub for scientific projects.
- Wander along the harbor and visit a local eatery along the Embarcadero waterfront walkway.
- Reconnect with an old childhood hobby when you stroll through the Old Town Model Railroad Depot, home to one of the country’s most impressive model locomotive tracks.
- Enjoy the architecture and learn a little history at Liberty Station.
- Get a drink recommendation from the knowledgeable staff at AleSmith Brewing Company.
- Get lost in a book or enjoy the huge multimedia offerings available at the San Diego Central Library.
I am constantly looking to add to this list, so please contact me if you think you should be included on my Top Fun Stuff to do in San Diego.