Introduction
San Diego is a city full of beauty, culture and history. From the historic sites of Balboa Park to the beaches by the Pacific Ocean, San Diego has something for everyone. Here are some of our favorite places to visit in this beautiful city:
The San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is more than just a place for kids to see animals. It's one of the largest zoos in the United States, with more than 5,000 animals including endangered species like pandas and koalas.
You can explore the zoo on your own or take a guided tour. There are many different kinds of tours available, including animal rescue tours where you'll learn about how they take care of injured or sick animals before releasing them back into the wild (the zoo has an extensive conservation program).
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego is a marine life theme park owned by SeaWorld Entertainment. It has been voted the best theme park in the United States. The park has over 100 attractions and almost 22,000 animals. It's home to many famous shows like Shamu and Beluga whales, dolphins and sea lions. You can also get up close with sharks at their Shark Encounter tanks. The park has a lot of rides for all ages, including roller coasters that take you upside down in the dark!
LEGOLAND California Resort
LEGOLAND California Resort is a theme park in Carlsbad, California. It is owned by Merlin Entertainments and has over 50 rides and attractions. The park is located on 113 acres next to the San Diego Zoo and the water park, LEGOLAND Water Park.
The park features many roller coasters that are geared towards kids of all ages. Some of them include:
LEGO Ninjago - Ride on top of your own motorbike while shooting at enemies!
LEGO Technic Test Track - Take a ride on this classic roller coaster! It's one of the tallest coasters in the world!
Dragon's Apprentice Roller Coaster - Race through a castle built out of LEGOS while trying not to fall off during your journey down below!
Balboa Park
If you're looking for a great place to explore in San Diego, this is the place for you. Balboa Park is a large urban park in San Diego, California, United States. In addition to open space areas and gardens including natural vegetation zones, gardens and museums it contains museums (many of them free), several theaters, and the San Diego Zoo.
Balboa Park was developed as a public park as part of a project designed by landscape architect William Hays in conjunction with John D. Spreckels' Panama-California Exposition held during 1915–16. The area was enlarged during the 1950s due to construction of new facilities within its boundaries; it now contains more than 1,000 acres (4 km²).
USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum is a museum ship in San Diego, California, United States. It was the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the history of the United States Navy. The ship was taken out of service in 1992 and placed into reserve. In 2004 she was inscribed as a National Historic Landmark. Today, the Midway is drydocked at NTC San Diego as part of Naval Base San Diego (not to be confused with Naval Air Station North Island).
It has been restored to its appearance during Operation Desert Storm/Shield and is open for public tours as part of Independence Day celebrations each year. Check out the museum as part of our Sights of San Diego Harbor Smartphone Audio Walking Tour!
Hotel del Coronado
Built in 1888, the Hotel del Coronado is a National Historic Landmark and has been welcoming guests for over 120 years. Famous guests have included presidents, celebrities, and even Harry Houdini!
The hotel's rich history includes hosting Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders during World War I as they trained at nearby Fort Rosecrans Military Reservation (now called Point Loma).
Coronado Beach
There are a lot of things to see in San Diego, but Coronado Beach is one of the best places for a relaxing day on the sand. The beach has volleyball courts and horseshoe pits, along with plenty of space for kids to play in the sand. There's also great views of San Diego from the bike path that runs along its length. If you want to get away from it all while staying close by, this is your spot!
La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The cove is located in the city of La Jolla, in San Diego County. It's also known as "the jewel" or "little gem," thanks to its beauty and serenity.
La Jolla Cove is a popular place for scuba diving, too! The waters are home to plenty of fish species (including the sea lion) that you can watch from your boat or on shore if you're not feeling brave enough to dive into cold water with heavy equipment strapped around your body.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and Presidio Park
Old Town is a historic district that provides the perfect opportunity to experience what life was like in early California. The park contains over forty buildings, including homes, stores and restaurants dating back to the mid-19th century. With its quaint shops and restaurants set in a charming old town atmosphere, it’s easy to imagine yourself strolling down cobblestone streets as pioneers did long ago. Presidio Park offers views of San Diego Bay, Coronado Island and downtown from one end of a hilltop park where you can picnic or play on the playground with your family.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
This is a very popular spot for hiking, climbing and cycling. The area is accessible via Highway 101 and the Pacific Coast Highway. There are over 80 miles of trails that can be accessed by foot or bicycle. Most of these routes tend to be strenuous and challenging but there are also easier ones for beginners who want to get into shape slowly (or not at all!).
The trails range from 2-5 hours long so you can enjoy what you want without pushing yourself too far out of your comfort zone. If you're looking to walk through nature without getting too dirty or sweaty, there are plenty of options available; if you want a challenge that will push your limits physically, mentally and emotionally, head up into the mountains where there are challenging climbs with breathtaking views at every turn!
You will enjoy all of these places.
The best way to see San Diego is to take a leisurely stroll through Balboa Park. You can do this in under a few days and it's free, so you should definitely go there if you want to enjoy yourself!
Or better yet, enjoy our Smartphone Audio Walking Tour at San Diego Harbor!
All the attractions are close by and offer something unique—so you can visit them in any order that works for you!
Conclusion
Hopefully, we’ve convinced you to visit San Diego!. We know it’s not easy to leave your home and start over somewhere new, but we think it’s worth it. We love this city and everything it has to offer. If you do decide to make the move, let us know how it goes!
