If you are visiting or planning a vacation to San Diego, this is a good place to start. We'll take you on a tour and give you hints on the all the best places to go and things to do on your vacation.
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For visitors and tourists in San Diego, there are so many places to stay, from camping, hostels, inexpensive or as some would say, cheap hotels all the way up to luxury hotels. And for families on vacation, of course there is SeaWorld, the World Famous San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park and Lego Land, but there are also many other places to go and things to do.
San Diego has something for everyone here on vacation, adults as well and children. As a tourist, you can start the morning at the beach, go hiking or in the winter sledding in the mountains and a little later and be back at the beach for sunset. There are hotels everywhere. There are also lots of San Diego theme parks. Three of them focus on animals, the World Famous San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Wild Animal Park and SeaWorld. Other San Diego theme parks include Legoland and Knott's Soak City. There are theatres, parks and clubs and more.
San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park
The World Famous San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park, just north of downtown. It is one of the largest urban zoos in the world, and a great place for families. The zoo was started following the Panama-California International Exposition in San Diego's Balboa Park. Many foreign animals were brought to San Diego for the Exposition and put on display at the park. Those animals formed the basis for the collection. The zoo is operated by the San Diego Zoological Society, which also operates the Wild Animal Park. At the San Diego Zoo, you'll find polar bears, elephants, assorted apes and monkeys, hippos and various other critters. The stars of course are the pandas. There are usually at least two on display at anytime. Plan to spend a full day if you are going to the zoo. It's a big place a requires a lot of walking, up and down hills, to see everything. Here's a little tip that will save you money. If there are at least three in the family, then becoming a member of the zoo is a better deal than just paying regular admission. You get free passes for two extra people if you buy a duel membership. That can save you about $30. If you also plan to go to the Wild Animal Park then get the Diamond membership. It comes with passes to both places plus free parking at the Wild Animal Park. You could save up to $123 for a family of 4. With all memberships you get a subscription to ZOONOOZ, the zoo's monthly magazine. The kids, and you, will have reminders of your San Diego trip every month.
The San Diego Zoological Society also runs the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Located in the San Pasqual Valley about 30 miles north of the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Wild Animal Park opened in 1972 and takes in about 1,800 acres. There are thousands of animals at the park, not all of them on display. The park has played a major role in the revival of the California condor. At one point the condor was down to 22 individual birds. They were all taken into captivity and bred. Today there are hundreds and many are soaring in the skies of California again. The San Diego Wild Animal Park gives you a chance to see the animals in a natural setting and also let's you get a sense of how they live in the wild. As with the San Diego Zoo there a few ways to save money, become a member. For a full explanation see the information about the zoo above.
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SeaWorld Theme Park
SeaWorld is located in Mission Bay park. This theme park has been a San Diego institution since 1964. Here you can see marine creatures of all types. The star of the place is, of course, Shamu. Shamu is the name given to the top performing Orca. Orcas are also called killer whales. Make sure you take in a show at Shamu stadium, but be warned the first few rows are called the splash zone for a reason. At SeaWorld, there is also a wonderful shark exhibit were you and your family are in a tube and the sharks are swimming around you. Dolphins and seals are also performers at the park. For a price, there is the opportunity to swim with the dolphins. SeaWorld also has other programs that let you get a behind the scenes look and even lets you become a trainer for a day. Call SeaWorld for more information. There are also ways to save money at SeaWorld. If you want to go back more than once a Fun Card or a Passport gives you access for up to a year.
LEGOLAND
Located in the North County in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND is the youngest of the theme parks. LEGOLAND is a great place for the younger kids, but don't worry, you won't be bored and believe it or not neither will your older kids. If you can imagine it they have probably built it out of Legos. You know those little plastic bricks that lock together. There are lots of things to see and rides to have fun on but make sure you take the time to really look at the displays at LEGOLAND. Be sure not to miss Miniland. It is eight areas in the United States, in miniature; Washington D.C., New Orleans, New York City, Florida, San Francisco, Las Vegas and the Southern California coastline.
Other attractions
About an hour north of San Diego, you'll find a number of wineries in Temecula. The quality has drawn raves. You can visit the wineries. better yet, book a limousine winery tour so you can really travel in style.
Belmont park is located right on the water at Mission Beach. It fell on hard times in the 80's but has bounced back. It has a number of amusement park rides, crowned by the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster. This old time wooden coaster was almost torn down but was saved and is one of only two oceanfront coasters still operating on the west coast. The newest rides at Belmont are the artificial waves. You can try your hand at riding the waves without ever going in the ocean. You'll also find at the park the largest indoor swimming pool in San Diego. It's tough to describe just how big it is, but 6 swim lanes take up only about a third of the pool. There is also a huge whaling wall painting by Wyland. One of only 100 in the world. The centerpiece of Belmont is the Wavehouse. Here you'll find an easy breakfast on the beach and you can climb into a lifeguard chair to watch the sunset with a glass of wine.
There is so much you can do all along the coast in San Diego. For one of the most spectacular views you can find, go to Cabrillo National Monument. It is at the end of Point Loma at the entrance to San Diego bay. From there you get a magnificent view of downtown San Diego and the mountains beyond. On most days, you can see all the way to Mexico. Visit the restored Point Loma Lighthouse or walk down the trails to the ocean. In the winter, you can often spot a migrating California grey whale.
There are many fine beaches along the coast, perhaps one of the most notorious is, Black's Beach. Just north of La Jolla and south of Del Mar, it is reachable by either a long walk or a dangerous climb down the cliffs. But for naturists, it's the place to be. It's not legal to go clothing optional here, but many do.
Above Black's beach is the San Diego glider port. On days when the winds are right, the sky will be filled with hang gliders soaring on the wind after taking off from the glider port. You can take a lesson here and even go for a ride while attached to an experienced flyer.
Nearby, and a little to the north is the Torrey Pines Reserve. This is one of two places in the world where there is a large stand of Torrey Pines. There are hiking trails and terrific views of the Pacific.
South of here, in La Jolla, there are a couple of interesting sights. California seals have taken up residence in what is called Children's Pool. They come and lay out on the beach behind a seawall. You can walk right out on a seawall and view them. There is a lot of controversy about allowing the seals to stay here and the city is under a court order to dredge the beach, but for now, it's a great place to see them up close. Also nearby are the La Jolla caves. There are two great ways to see them. The first is to rent a kayak at La Jolla shores and paddle across the cove to them. The other is to visit the Cave Store, which has a tunnel down through the rock to one of the caves.
Balboa Park is the crown jewel of the parks in San Diego. At over 1,000 acres it is home to not only the San Diego Zoo but to a number of museums. Here's a tip to save you some money. Each Tuesday the museum offer a deal, and it doesn't get any better than this, some of them are free. They rotate each week so check ahead to see which ones are free when you are here. Many of the buildings in the park were built for the Panama-California Exposition in 1915. Two of the more impressive structures are the California Tower, which is part of the Museum of Man, and the Spreckles Organ pavilion, which houses the largest outdoor organ in the world. There are many delights to be found in the park. Right next to each other are the cactus garden and the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden. They are across Park Boulevard from the fountain. Other gardens in the park include the Japanese Friendship Garden and the Alcazar Garden. The botanical building is also a delight. This domed building houses thousands of tropical plants. Balboa Park is also home to the World Famous San Diego Zoo.
There are many other parks in and around San Diego. One of the largest parks in the city is called Mission Trails. It is 5,800 acres on the western border of the city. The San Diego River flows through the park. There are a number of hiking trails, including one that goes to the top of Cowles Mountain. At over 1,500 feet it is the highest point in the city. You can see all the way to the ocean.
Presidio Park, Heritage Park and Old Town State park are all next to each other. Presidio Park is on the location of the first European settlement on the west coast of the United States. Heritage Park contains a number of old dwellings from around San Diego. Some of them were moved here, and restored. Old Town State Park is located on what was once the main settlement of San Diego. It attempts to depict what life was like in the 1800's.
San Diego is full of museums. One of the more interesting and different is the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad. It traces the history of the making of musical instruments in this country. At the end there is a room filled with instruments that you can play.
One of the largest San Diego museums is the Midway. A retired aircraft carrier, it sits on the waterfront downtown. You can board the ship and see just how these floating cities were run. The deck is filled with various aircraft. Just north along the waterfront, is the Maritime Museum. It is a collection of vessels from various times and of various uses. The Star of India is considered the oldest active ship in the world. The Berkeley is a turn of the 20th century steam ferry. Also at the Maritime Museum is the flagship used in the Russell Crowe movie, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. It is a replica of an 18th century British Navy frigate.
The Museum of Contemporary Art has two locations in San Diego. The downtown location is adjacent and across the street from the Santa Fe Railroad station. The other location is overlooking the ocean in La Jolla. Balboa Park is jam packed with museums. Here's a list: San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Museum of Man, San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego Air and Space Museum, San Diego Automotive Museum, San Diego Model Railroad Museum and the Museum of San Diego History. You'll also find the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum and the Mingei International Museum, with art from all over the world.
One of the best deals, is on Tuesdays, a number of the museums in balboa Park are free. They rotate through the month, so check when you get to the park. Always free is the Timkin Museum. You can see there Russian icons and European old master paintings. Some of the artists include Rembrandt and Rubens.
You can always catch a concert somewhere in San Diego. During the summer months there are a number of outdoor venues along the waterfront. The Symphony Pops is usually house at the Embarcadero South, behind the San Diego Convention Center. Some of the other venues around town include: 4th and B, Belly Up Tavern, Copley Symphony Hall, Cox Arena, Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, House of Blues, Humphrey's Half Moon Inn, which is also an hotel, RIMAC Arena - UCSD, San Diego Sports Arena, SDSU Open Air Theatre and the Spreckels Theatre. Even Petco Baseball Park is used for concerts, as well as sporting events. Petco has hosted both the Rolling Stones and Madonna.
If you want to get out on the water, you can always go sportfishing. There are many boats that work out of areas along the coast. San Diego Bay, Mission Bay and Oceanside Harbor all host boats that go out to sea from anywhere from a half day to a week or more. The long-range boats are known for seeking tuna and other large sports fish. From December to about March some of the sportfishing boat switch over a provide whale watching tours. The California Gray Whale migrates just off the coast, traveling from Alaskan waters to Baja Mexico and back.
You can't take in an NBA game, as there is no NBA basketball team here, but there is - for now - NFL football with the Chargers.
Because of the climate just about anything can grow in San Diego. There are a number of gardens and nurseries that will astound you. In the middle of the city of San Diego, you'll find City Farmers Nursery. It's an organic acre of plants, ponds and animals, just a few minutes from downtown. The Quail Botanical Gardens, about 20 minutes north in Encinitas, is 35 acres of gardens. Yes, plural, gardens. There are rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, California native plants, Mediterranean climate landscapes, a tropical rainforest, the succulent garden, landscaping for fire safety and a subtropical fruit garden, all at Quail Botanical Gardens. There is also the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College. Want to learn about herbs, try Pearson's Gardens & Herb Farm in Vista. Or for a quirky little place try Buena Creek Gardens in San Marcos. Even the major nurseries, Armstrong Nursery and Anderson Nursery are a good place to while away the hours.
There is much more to do in San Diego. Perhaps you'd like to surf. There are plenty of breaks along the coast. Some are gentle and good for beginners, some a little more challenging. If you are a beginner, there are a number of surf schools where you can get lessons on how to get up. When the wind is right, you'll also see wind surfers off the coast and in the bays. If you're intrigued, you can rent windsurfing equipment and take a ride yourself.
Other water sports are easy in San Diego as well. You can rent a sailboat, motor boat and even a personal watercraft for a day on the water. Water skiing and windsurfing are another possibility, particularly on Mission Bay.
Trail riding is another activity that many people do in San Diego. There are many trials and canyons around the county. Stables are located all over the county where you can rent a horse.
If shopping is you thing then San Diego has got plenty of places to go. The major player in San Diego county is Westfield. The shopping center giant operates Horton Plaza downtown, Mission Valley Center, in of course Mission Valley, Shoppingtown UTC in University City, North County Faire on the southern border of Escondido, Parkway Plaza in the east county, Plaza Bonita in the south county and Plaza Camino Real I the north county costal area.
Other high end places to shop are the village area of La Jolla with many shops and galleries. Fashion valley Mall in Mission Valley has high end retailers such as Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and
Saks Fifth Avenue.
Other shopping areas include: Otay Ranch Town Center, the newest mall in the county, Grossmont Center and Chula Vista Center. One of the more unique shopping areas is Seaport Village, which is along the waterfront downtown. It is the perfect place to go for a day down by the water. It has some nice restaurants, including the Pier Café, which is right over the water. It is close to the cruise ship terminal so often has cruise ship passengers stopping by for the day.
