Favourite things to do in San Diego?

[Aims]

Speaking as a local, these are the things I enjoy doing in San Diego.

San Diego Zoo tops my list. It is such beautiful place with so much going on, and you can easily spend a full day here.

Balboa Park- you don’t like doing park strolls but Balboa Park is really lovely and has some great museums (if your family likes those). I would recommend the Natural History museum, the Reuben H Fleet Science center and IMAX dome theater, the model railroad museum, and the international cottages. The Prado is a good restaurant to have lunch at in Balboa Park. There is a visitor’s center in the House of Hospitality (where the Prado is located) where you can pick up maps, San Diego souvenirs, snacks and get local recommendations from the staff of volunteers that work there.

Sea World is a fun day out and can fill a day up. Mission Beach is close by and has a beachside amusement park called Belmont Park with a variety of carnival type rides, mini golf and a historic wooden rollercoaster.

Take a walk through Seaport Village which is downtown on the bay. It’s easy to walk there from the USS Midway and there are some interesting sights along the bay.

Take a harbor cruise- they do 1 and 2 hour cruises. The 2 hour cruise will show you the whole bay.

The SEAL tours are popular and you can pick it up in Seaport Village trolleytours/san-diego/seal-tours

Take a drive up to the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma and see the old lighthouse museum there. It is high on a bluff overlooking the ocean and the views are stunning. This is a national park and a quick drive from Shelter Island and the airport area.

Old Town State Park is a favorite area of mine too. It is the oldest and most historic locale in San Diego, being the site of the first city settlement. You get a taste of Mexican culture and atmosphere, there are a few of the original adobe buildings still there and I love to go for Mexican food at one of several restaurants in the park. The infamous, reportedly haunted old home, The Whaley House, is a museum there that you can check out. I would also recommend taking the Old Town Trolley tour from Old Town. It is a guided, narrated tour of San Diego that covers the city and goes over the bridge into Coronado. You can hop off at any of the numerous stops it makes, or just stay on for the duration which is about two hours. trolleytours/san-diego

Take a drive out to the city of La Jolla and see the sea lions at La Jolla cove, go to the Birch Aquarium or spend some time at the very nice beach, La Jolla Shores.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a nice day trip to make. It is located about 30-40 minutes from San Diego. It is the sister zoo to the San Diego Zoo but has a different layout and atmosphere. It is located in a more rural setting and in the summer months it can get pretty hot there, so be advised to prepare for the heat if you want to visit at a warm time of year.

Lastly, we are going into baseball season soon. Consider going to a Padres game if they are playing at home while you here. There is always a fun atmosphere, the stadium Petco Park is located downtown and has a lot of good food options around too. Sunday afternoon games especially are favorites of mine to attend.

[cornishfrogboy]

Originally Posted by Aims

Speaking as a local, these are the things I enjoy doing in San Diego.

San Diego Zoo tops my list. It is such beautiful place with so much going on, and you can easily spend a full day here.

Balboa Park- you don’t like doing park strolls but Balboa Park is really lovely and has some great museums (if your family likes those). I would recommend the Natural History museum, the Reuben H Fleet Science center and IMAX dome theater, the model railroad museum, and the international cottages. The Prado is a good restaurant to have lunch at in Balboa Park. There is a visitor’s center in the House of Hospitality (where the Prado is located) where you can pick up maps, San Diego souvenirs, snacks and get local recommendations from the staff of volunteers that work there.

Sea World is a fun day out and can fill a day up. Mission Beach is close by and has a beachside amusement park called Belmont Park with a variety of carnival type rides, mini golf and a historic wooden rollercoaster.

Take a walk through Seaport Village which is downtown on the bay. It’s easy to walk there from the USS Midway and there are some interesting sights along the bay.

Take a harbor cruise- they do 1 and 2 hour cruises. The 2 hour cruise will show you the whole bay.

The SEAL tours are popular and you can pick it up in Seaport Village trolleytours/san-diego/seal-tours

Take a drive up to the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma and see the old lighthouse museum there. It is high on a bluff overlooking the ocean and the views are stunning. This is a national park and a quick drive from Shelter Island and the airport area.

Old Town State Park is a favorite area of mine too. It is the oldest and most historic locale in San Diego, being the site of the first city settlement. You get a taste of Mexican culture and atmosphere, there are a few of the original adobe buildings still there and I love to go for Mexican food at one of several restaurants in the park. The infamous, reportedly haunted old home, The Whaley House, is a museum there that you can check out. I would also recommend taking the Old Town Trolley tour from Old Town. It is a guided, narrated tour of San Diego that covers the city and goes over the bridge into Coronado. You can hop off at any of the numerous stops it makes, or just stay on for the duration which is about two hours. trolleytours/san-diego

Take a drive out to the city of La Jolla and see the sea lions at La Jolla cove, go to the Birch Aquarium or spend some time at the very nice beach, La Jolla Shores.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a nice day trip to make. It is located about 30-40 minutes from San Diego. It is the sister zoo to the San Diego Zoo but has a different layout and atmosphere. It is located in a more rural setting and in the summer months it can get pretty hot there, so be advised to prepare for the heat if you want to visit at a warm time of year.

Lastly, we are going into baseball season soon. Consider going to a Padres game if they are playing at home while you here. There is always a fun atmosphere, the stadium Petco Park is located downtown and has a lot of good food options around too. Sunday afternoon games especially are favorites of mine to attend.

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I am surprised you didn’t mention the Airspace Museum in Balboa Park, Aims. It is one of the better Aircraft museums in the United States. Certainly worth a look as a ‘freebie’ on the Gosandiego card.

Truth is that in your wonderful city, you really are spoilt for choice.

[pinktraceb]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I'm now worried 4 nights wont be enough!

[Vinniecat]

San Diego zoo is a fantastic day. I thought my teenagers might be a bit bored at a zoo but they absolutely loved it and would have happily returned for another visit.

[Aims]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

I am surprised you didn’t mention the Airspace Museum in Balboa Park, Aims. It is one of the better Aircraft museums in the United States. Certainly worth a look as a ‘freebie’ on the Gosandiego card.

Truth is that in your wonderful city, you really are spoilt for choice.

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Ahhh, yes! That is the one I missed. I kept thinking there was another one I wanted to mention but it just wasn’t coming to me. The Aerospace museum is fantastic, well worth a visit- it’s quite unique among other museums.

You’re right though, we are a bit spoiled here- never at a loss figuring out how to spend a weekend! 😄

[Buzz242]

Another vote for San Diego Zoo, we went there with our teenage boys and loved every minute. We arrived at opening and left at closing time, we felt like we still hadn’t seen everything as it’s huge so returned a few years later.
San Diego is an amazing place to visit, so much to see and do.

[LLKJDisney]

Originally Posted by Aims

Speaking as a local, these are the things I enjoy doing in San Diego.

San Diego Zoo tops my list. It is such beautiful place with so much going on, and you can easily spend a full day here.

Balboa Park- you don’t like doing park strolls but Balboa Park is really lovely and has some great museums (if your family likes those). I would recommend the Natural History museum, the Reuben H Fleet Science center and IMAX dome theater, the model railroad museum, and the international cottages. The Prado is a good restaurant to have lunch at in Balboa Park. There is a visitor’s center in the House of Hospitality (where the Prado is located) where you can pick up maps, San Diego souvenirs, snacks and get local recommendations from the staff of volunteers that work there.

Sea World is a fun day out and can fill a day up. Mission Beach is close by and has a beachside amusement park called Belmont Park with a variety of carnival type rides, mini golf and a historic wooden rollercoaster.

Take a walk through Seaport Village which is downtown on the bay. It’s easy to walk there from the USS Midway and there are some interesting sights along the bay.

Take a harbor cruise- they do 1 and 2 hour cruises. The 2 hour cruise will show you the whole bay.

The SEAL tours are popular and you can pick it up in Seaport Village trolleytours/san-diego/seal-tours

Take a drive up to the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma and see the old lighthouse museum there. It is high on a bluff overlooking the ocean and the views are stunning. This is a national park and a quick drive from Shelter Island and the airport area.

Old Town State Park is a favorite area of mine too. It is the oldest and most historic locale in San Diego, being the site of the first city settlement. You get a taste of Mexican culture and atmosphere, there are a few of the original adobe buildings still there and I love to go for Mexican food at one of several restaurants in the park. The infamous, reportedly haunted old home, The Whaley House, is a museum there that you can check out. I would also recommend taking the Old Town Trolley tour from Old Town. It is a guided, narrated tour of San Diego that covers the city and goes over the bridge into Coronado. You can hop off at any of the numerous stops it makes, or just stay on for the duration which is about two hours. trolleytours/san-diego

Take a drive out to the city of La Jolla and see the sea lions at La Jolla cove, go to the Birch Aquarium or spend some time at the very nice beach, La Jolla Shores.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a nice day trip to make. It is located about 30-40 minutes from San Diego. It is the sister zoo to the San Diego Zoo but has a different layout and atmosphere. It is located in a more rural setting and in the summer months it can get pretty hot there, so be advised to prepare for the heat if you want to visit at a warm time of year.

Lastly, we are going into baseball season soon. Consider going to a Padres game if they are playing at home while you here. There is always a fun atmosphere, the stadium Petco Park is located downtown and has a lot of good food options around too. Sunday afternoon games especially are favorites of mine to attend.

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I cannot add anything to everything Amy has mentioned here - Aims is the fountain of knowledge in the area but i can recommend everywhere she has suggested.

We also went to the Corvette Diner for dinner which i would give a thumbs up too

We went for a week and still needed longer

[redemma13]

Originally Posted by Aims

Speaking as a local, these are the things I enjoy doing in San Diego.

San Diego Zoo tops my list. It is such beautiful place with so much going on, and you can easily spend a full day here.

Balboa Park- you don’t like doing park strolls but Balboa Park is really lovely and has some great museums (if your family likes those). I would recommend the Natural History museum, the Reuben H Fleet Science center and IMAX dome theater, the model railroad museum, and the international cottages. The Prado is a good restaurant to have lunch at in Balboa Park. There is a visitor’s center in the House of Hospitality (where the Prado is located) where you can pick up maps, San Diego souvenirs, snacks and get local recommendations from the staff of volunteers that work there.

Sea World is a fun day out and can fill a day up. Mission Beach is close by and has a beachside amusement park called Belmont Park with a variety of carnival type rides, mini golf and a historic wooden rollercoaster.

Take a walk through Seaport Village which is downtown on the bay. It’s easy to walk there from the USS Midway and there are some interesting sights along the bay.

Take a harbor cruise- they do 1 and 2 hour cruises. The 2 hour cruise will show you the whole bay.

The SEAL tours are popular and you can pick it up in Seaport Village trolleytours/san-diego/seal-tours

Take a drive up to the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma and see the old lighthouse museum there. It is high on a bluff overlooking the ocean and the views are stunning. This is a national park and a quick drive from Shelter Island and the airport area.

Old Town State Park is a favorite area of mine too. It is the oldest and most historic locale in San Diego, being the site of the first city settlement. You get a taste of Mexican culture and atmosphere, there are a few of the original adobe buildings still there and I love to go for Mexican food at one of several restaurants in the park. The infamous, reportedly haunted old home, The Whaley House, is a museum there that you can check out. I would also recommend taking the Old Town Trolley tour from Old Town. It is a guided, narrated tour of San Diego that covers the city and goes over the bridge into Coronado. You can hop off at any of the numerous stops it makes, or just stay on for the duration which is about two hours. trolleytours/san-diego

Take a drive out to the city of La Jolla and see the sea lions at La Jolla cove, go to the Birch Aquarium or spend some time at the very nice beach, La Jolla Shores.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a nice day trip to make. It is located about 30-40 minutes from San Diego. It is the sister zoo to the San Diego Zoo but has a different layout and atmosphere. It is located in a more rural setting and in the summer months it can get pretty hot there, so be advised to prepare for the heat if you want to visit at a warm time of year.

Lastly, we are going into baseball season soon. Consider going to a Padres game if they are playing at home while you here. There is always a fun atmosphere, the stadium Petco Park is located downtown and has a lot of good food options around too. Sunday afternoon games especially are favorites of mine to attend.

See more...

Aims,
I remember you from 2014 when we were planning our trip to San Diego and your help was invaluable. We loved the city and there was so much to do. I never got a chance to thank you as due to personal circumstances that came about while we were out there we had to cut our honeymoon short and fly home but we did get to enjoy our full time in San Diego and we loved it. Thank you Aims.

We stayed on Coronado Bay and it was beautiful with loads of good restaurants - I would recommend a trip there.

Em
xxxx

[Aims]

Originally Posted by redemma13

Aims,
I remember you from 2014 when we were planning our trip to San Diego and your help was invaluable. We loved the city and there was so much to do. I never got a chance to thank you as due to personal circumstances that came about while we were out there we had to cut our honeymoon short and fly home but we did get to enjoy our full time in San Diego and we loved it. Thank you Aims.

We stayed on Coronado Bay and it was beautiful with loads of good restaurants - I would recommend a trip there.

Em
xxxx

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Thank you, Em! That was really sweet of you to post that. I do remember talking to you, and I’m so happy to know you had a wonderful time here.