San Diego, is the Pacific Ocean coast located in Southern California, close to the US and Mexico border. City defined by its rich culture and charm. Such a rich history and traditional oriented vibrant and diverse city that offers something for every type of traveler. San Diego includes stunning beaches, perfect weather, and plethora of outdoor activities, therefore it is paradise for surfers, sunbathers, hikers and adventurous seekers.
We never forget to include a rich cultural scene, with world-class museums like the San Diego Museum and of Art and Zoo and the USS Midway Museum. However, such a popular American city is even well known for its culinary scene featuring delicious seafood and Mexican cuisine. It is not a big matter if you are looking to relax on the beach, explore the city’s historic neighborhoods, or enjoy some family-friendly attractions. San Diego offers incredible opportunities for backpackers.
Top 10 Things to in the San Diego
Under that we are going to explain about the top most travel things offered by one of the World famous cities called San Diego, California.
1. Visit the San Diego Zoo
San Diego zoo is considered as the one of the most famous zoos in the world, which consist of around 3,700 sorts of animals and more than 650 species and subspecies. If you want to explore this zoo starting from the end it requires a whole day. San Diego zoo which was divided into areas that stimulates the animal’s natural habitats. Zoo offers safari rides to visitors who want to get a close-up feeling of animals like giraffes, elephants, tigers, rhinos and cheetahs.
Animals covering areas are simply large and some even being part of the incredible safaris you can sign up for in the zoo. Approximately 100 acres of land, the zoo holds more naturalistic habitants along with lush greeneries and prominent botanical collections more than 7, 00,000 plants. Family friendly zoo which offers strollers, snack food, glass views and water and a bus tour are perfect things to enjoy here in this zoo.
2. Explore Balboa Park
Balboa Park contains a total 1,200-acre urban cultural park, renowned for its Spanish Colonial revival architecture and green gardens. In Spite of that, Balboa Park is home to 17 museums, gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Such a massive park where we can find Fleet science centers on the first Wednesday of each month to explore the night sky. Along with the fleet science center, museum of natural history, the San Diego museum of art and the museum of man are located in this park.
Park much more convenient for stargazing and astronomy, with the help in order to bring big telescopes. Visitors can watch incredible views of the stars, planets and galaxies. Under the Balboa Park, 18 museums and gardens are included, which all are world famous. Today Balboa Park gives more push for San Diego’s uniqueness and popularities. Likewise the park exhibits San Diego’s past and future historical, cultural and natural experiences.
3. Relax at La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is a small beach nestled in the sandstone cliffs. Such an extraordinary and beautiful Jolla Cove well known for its beautiful beaches, caves, and sea cliffs. La Jolla Cove is an ideal destination for snorkelling, kayaking, and enjoying the stunning coastal views. Cove has more photographic beaches in Southern California, includes water visibility excess up to the 30 feet of height. Snorkelling is more popular which exhibits stingrays, schools of bright orange fish and occasional leopard sharks.
La Jolla Cove lies within the San Diego La Jolla underwater park ecological reserve, which helps us to ensure richness of marine lives. There are numerous guidelines implemented to protect the natural and unlawful activities, including fishing and removal of objects are strictly prohibited here. Importantly, today La Jolla Cove is one of the 9 beaches that has permanent lifeguard stations protected by the San Diego lifeguards.
4. Take a Brewery Tour
More than 100 breweries throughout California and nearby with beer snobs and casual drinkers. San Diego region has special classic IPAs and extra hoppy flavour Breweries along with innovative and experimental concoctions. Here you can taste some of the favourite Brewery flavours like watermelon chai, Mexican chocolate and peanut butter. Since 2007, Brewery tours have become so successful in this region with their knowledgeable staff and unique historical backgrounds. Everyday award winning beers are made here, which you can taste or sample while visiting there.
With over 100 craft breweries in San Diego County, and they take pride in their craft beers. Through enthusiast beer culture, the Brewery tour offers a more fun and safe way to taste award-winning breweries/beers. Never miss to visit IPA at Ballast Point Brewing Company, tasting room at Ale Smith Brewing, Stone Brewing world Bistro and Karl Strauss Brewing Company.
5. Wander around Gaslamp Quarter
Gaslamp quarter is a nationally recognized historic district filled with Victorian-era buildings, bustling nightlife, and a variety of restaurants and shops. Gaslamp Quarter is also well known for the center of San Diego’s downtown areas. There are plenty of landmarks and attractions available under Gaslamp quarters including Davis Horton House. It is the oldest and most surviving 1850 structure in the district, brought from Maine. Flame Flower is also included, which is a renowned sculpture situated in the entrance of the Westin Hotels. However, Petco Park, recognized as the top most ballpark in the entire America.
Apart from that, Gaslamp quarter offers most adventurous travel things like nightlife’s, reastaurants, get a drink at a bar, and hundreds of entertainment activities held by the entertainment venues at Gaslamp quarters. As a traveller it is important to visit Gaslamp quarters during the evening to explore the light shoes. These light shoes are created by street lamps, gas lamps, and nearby boutiques.
6. Visit the beaches
San Diego has the greatest numbers of the beautiful beaches in the US, including Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and Coronado Beach. Each beach here offers charm and soft sands which all are perfectly helpful for surfing and water activities. La Jolla beaches, Mission beach, Torrey Pines beach, The Children’s pool and Windansea. Total 70 miles of coastlines always offers year round sunshine and mild temperatures along with California coastal cities in some of the best beaches in the world. We can see beaches in San Diego divided into 6 beach regions including Harbors Island and Shelter harbor.
Beaches here in San Diego fulfil dreams of every backpacker including surfing, worshipping and salt water love. If you are looking for a stress free place to take kids or family for seaside dinner or shopping, Beaches here are popular. Its calm water with the city ‘s most popular buildings and restaurants are next level to family travelers in order to offer Kayak, Volleyball, lounge chair, and dog spaces.
7. Take a trip to Cabrillo National Monument
No such landmark like Cabrillo National Monument offers panoramic views of San Diego, as well as an opportunity to learn about the area’s history and explore the Point Loma tide pools. Today this national monument commemorates Cabrillo’s Voyages and cultural interactions that occurred between the American Indians and Spanish and Portuguese explorers. Visitors can visit Old Point Loma Lighthouse and even learn about how the military used and nature exploration.
Cabrillo National Monument commemorates Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s who find the west coast explorations, Point Loma’s lighthouse, and San Diego’s WWII Coast defenses and protect sensitive tide pools and coastal sage scrub habitat. Interestingly Cabrillo National Monument Park is kids friendly offering walking, or biking adventurous activities moreover Junior Ranger Program. Never miss to take the tide pool, an area which lauded best in California plus both to the residents and visitors.
8. Hotel de Coronado
Hotel de Coronado is the tourism friendly landmark to explore outside San Diego but close enough to warrant a visit. Hotel gets popularized its name called Coronado, just because of its location. Never forget to bring a camera or perfect camera oriented phones to capture its beautiful hotel architectures with bright walls and striking red roofing. Apart from the hotel, it is even well known for being one of the most beautiful beach resorts in the US and is an incredible tourist destination. Interestingly, the founder of Coronado Island wanted tourism to be at the center.
Keep in mind that Hotel de Coronado is so expensive and it is affordable to allied peoples. Its shops and restaurants are breath taking in nature along with panoramic views of San Diego. We always recommended eating and exploring the hotel instead of staying in hotels in order to escape from heavy bills. It is a hotel which always pushes travelers to indulge themselves in seaside community focused tourism.
9. San Diego’s Sea World
SeaWorld in San Diego offers very close proximity to the Dolphins, penguins, and sharks. You can spot awe inspiring shows with incredible shows with killer whales, playful dolphins, and humorous sea lions plus on beautiful pet shows. Take a dive under the sea at explorer’s reef and touch a crab, shark and playful cleaner’s fish. As an adventurous seeker, you can take exhilarating rides, roller coasters and water rides in order to explore the numerous attractions. While experiencing the beautiful park nestled in the mission bay you can taste fresh California cuisine.
Sea world is the most popular tourist landmark which is considered as the top most rated and all age attraction by the travelers. Irrespective of age and gender SeaWorld can be unforgettable fun that drives passion for wild animals and wild places. Never miss the Turtle reef tour (including hawksbill and green sea turtle) and Shark encounters, a 57 foot acrylic underwater tunnel. Along with you will be surrendered by the several species of shark swimming in a 3, 00,000 gallon lagoon.
10. Visit the Maritime Museum of San Diego
One of the world-class collections of historic sailing vessels, including the iconic Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship. Located on the downtown of San Diego’s Embarcadero, where the museum has collections of seafaring vessels, large sailing ships and Navy submarines. Museum potential goal is the historic ships, the Star of India. Which was opened during 1948, with 11 permanent exhibits and rotating exhibits. It is one of the oldest and active ships in the world and even an iron hulled 1863 sailing ship with state and national landmarks.
Museum is the collection of a series of excursions that the museum is billing as Pacific Heritage Tour 2023. During your cruises on board historians will add fascinating historical context, and guests can even learn how to steer a gallon with whip staff while assisting the sail crew. Museum includes USS Dolphins, U.S Navy submarines and Medea, a stretch yacht from the gilded age.
Above 10 things are the major highlights of the things to do in San Diego. Apart from that, you can also make a lot of adventurous activities with its own unique experience. However there are countless more options for visitors to explore in this vibrant city. Never miss to enjoy such a vibrant city like San Diego.
Q: Is San Diego a big or small city?
A: Due to 1.3 million of total population, San Diego considered as 8th largest city in the United States. Apart from, diverse populations, largest military community and workforce makes city even much bigger.