Planning a trip to San Diego and wondering what to do? I have the privilege of getting to call San Diego home. Here are 15 things to do in San Diego.
1. Visit Balboa Park
Balboa Park is a massive park just minutes from downtown San Diego. Much of the present day architecture was constructed in the early 1900s in preparation for the World Fair. It is home to several museums such as the Natural History and Model Railroad museums.
There are also theatres, gardens, and endless picnic spots. A few of my favorite spots are the Sculpture Garden behind Panama 66, the lawn near the botanical building, and the Alcazar garden.
The museums tend to have an entrance fee (look out for free days!), but wandering the grounds is free. You can always count on entertainment from local musicians and artists. The park is particularly special during Christmas with a giant Grinch themed Christmas tree and lights strung all over the park.
2. See the Animals at the San Diego Zoo
The World Famous San Diego Zoo is located within Balboa Park. Here you can see everything from polar bears, to camels, to red pandas, and anacondas. The best way to see the park is by walking around, although I highly recommend taking the Skyfari Aerial Tram which provides awesome views. During the holidays the Zoo puts on ‘Jungle Bells’ with festive lights and fun activities.
3. Take a Safari at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park was formerly known as the ‘Wild Animal Park’, but was rebranded in the past 15 years. The Safari Park is located about 45 minutes north of downtown San Diego in Escondido.
This park is a must visit. What makes it unique is that many of the animal enclosures are very large and often have multiple animal species living in the same space. There are various tours including the Wildlife Safari where you get up close to the animals and feed the Giraffes. There is also the Flightline Safari where you zip line over the Savanna. Additionally there are many shows, one of which is the Cheetah Run where you watch a Cheetah run from 0 to 60 mph in a matter of seconds.
I had the pleasure of working at the Safari Park in high school and had a very positive experience. I feel that the organization really does prioritize conservation, sustainability, and education.
4. Take a Hike at the Torrey Pines Natural Reserve
Torrey Pines Natural Reserve is the picturesque place in San Diego. What makes it special are the miles of undeveloped cliffs along the beach.
There are many great hiking trails- I recommend walking up Torrey Pines Park Road, hiking down the Beach Trail, and then walking back along the beach. Check out the tide pools at Flat Rock and stop at all view points!
Be prepared to walk a ways from your car if you want to avoid paying for parking in the lot.
5. Kayak at La Jolla Shores
La Jolla has a lot to offer including one of the best kayak spots in San Diego because of the protected cove. There are kayak tours out of La Jolla Shores, or you can bring your own and launch from the beach. There is a cave which you can pay a small fee to walk down and explore, or depending on the tide, can kayak through it.
La Jolla is also home to many seals and sea lions which can be found at the Children’s Pool and along the cliffs by the cave. Further south are tidepools to explore, and there are endless restaurants and shops in the Village of La Jolla.
6. Enjoy a Beach Day
California is known for it’s beaches, and San Diego’s got some of the best. You can’t go wrong with any of the beaches in San Diego, but some cater better to different interests.
From Oceanside to Encinitas you will find nice, big beaches that cater to anyone. Moonlight Beach beach in Encinitas has fire pits, but get there early to reserve one!
Further south is Black’s Beach which is clothing optional, and Pacific and Mission Beaches which are both known as party areas. Even further south is Ocean Beach which has a Dog Beach and is generally known to have a ‘hippy’ vibe.
7. Go to an event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds
The Del Mar Fairgrounds host various events throughout the year. The San Diego fair takes place here in June, and later in the summer are horse races and a concert series. More recently, the music festival Kaaboo has been hosted at the fairgrounds. Other events include conventions, sports training, and holiday exhibits.
8. Watch Hang Gliders at the Torrey Pines Glider Port
The Torrey Pines Gliderport is located just south of the Torrey Pines Reserve. Here you can watch Hang Gliders and Paragliders launch off the cliff, or sign up yourself! There is free parking in the massive dirt parking lot.
Important to note that this is also the parking lot for Black’s Beach, which as I noted in the Beach section, is clothing optional.
9. Watch the Sunset at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is located west of downtown San Diego with the bay in-between. It is named perfectly as it is a great spot to picnic and watch the sunset.
10. Take a Hike
Hiking is a popular activity in San Diego thanks to it’s many great trails. I have already mentioned hiking at the Torrey Pines Natural Reserve, but let’s turn inland. A couple well-known hikes in San Diego are ‘Potato Chip Rock’ aka Mt. Woodson (~8 mi round trip from Poway or ~3 from Ramona) and ‘Devil’s Punchbowl’ or Cedar Creek Falls (~6 mi roundtrip + need a reservation). These two are popular for a reason, they are awesome!
Other cool hikes are Iron Mountain in Poway, Olivenhain Reservoir and Daley Ranch in Escondido, Cuyamaca Peak (1.5 hours inland), Volcan Mountain in Julian, and Palomar Mountain.
11. Gamble at a Casino
San Diego County is home to several casinos such as Viejas and Valley View.
12. See a Baseball Game at Petco Park
Petco Park is home to the San Diego Padres and is located in Downtown San Diego. Watch a baseball game then go out in Gas Lamp.
13. Have a Picnic at Kate Sessions Park
Kate Sessions park is located just north of Pacific Beach and is the perfect spot for a picnic with an ocean view.
14. Drink Your Way Through San Diego’s Breweries
San Diego has over 150 breweries making it one of the (or the) craft beer capitals in the US. Not only does the beer taste great, but the taprooms are a lot of fun to explore.
Stone Brewery in Escondido is one of my favorites with it’s massive gardens and fire pits. Ballast point has a few locations, one of which is in Little Italy and has planes flying overhead. Other favorites are Green Flash, Mission Brewery, Karl Strauss, and Nickel Beer Co.
15. Go Wine Tasting
While San Diego is no Napa, there are many wineries scattered throughout the county, especially in Escondido and Ramona. Cordiano Winery is my favorite with views of San Pasqual Valley and their fresh pizzas. Orfila is another winery in Escondido with a big grassy lawn and live music.
Like this post? Share it on Pinterest!
