Location: San Diego
Top Things to do in San Diego
The 10 Best Nature & Parks in San Diego, California (CA)
San Diego embodies laid-back California culture, complete with a Boardwalk, surfing communities, and outstanding Mexican food. Breathe in the fresh ocean air at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, then gobble down a fresh fish taco at a La Jolla seafood joint. The naval aircrafts at the USS Midway Museum will have you standing at attention. A free Sunday concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion is the perfect way to unwind after a Saturday night bar-hop in the thumping Gaslamp Quarter.
Restaurants in San Diego
1. Balboa Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,833 reviews
One of the most popular urban parks in the United States, this bucolic paradise is packed with an array of attractions, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Reviewed By noeadventures - Los Angeles, United States
Who knew Southern California had an international-like escape. Old buildings and churches, open city squares for dining under umbrellas with fountains and birds, vendors, huge outdoor piano organ, church bells ringing, museums, botanical gardens, bridges, zoo, on and on and on and on...you could spend a whole day here easily. I felt moderately like I was back in Prague or Guatemala. Such a cool place.
2. San Diego Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27,804 reviews
The world famous San Diego Zoo is a non-profit wildlife sanctuary home to more than 3,500 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies, and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants. It is located just north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park. San Diego Zoo Global is a not-for-profit organization that operates the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, and the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy. The Zoo was founded on October 2, 1916, by Harry M. Wegeforth, M.D. It currently has an 11-member Board of Trustees headed by Steven G. Tappan; and Paul A. Baribault is the president/CEO.
Reviewed By 333josephd - San Diego, United States
Great place to go for the day there is so much to see and do here lots of animals recommend definitely take the sky tram also take the bus to her first just to see where you want to go there are lots of cool shows to see we will definitely cover 12 miles or more walking around
3. Mission Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,029 reviews
Along with Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach, Mission Beach forms the coastline of San Diego.
Reviewed By Gofifh
Nice board walk and Beech for people watching and walking love picking up the shells and sand dollars on the beech!
4. Mission Bay Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 600 reviews
A 4,600-acre aquatic park dedicated to leisure and active sports.
Reviewed By OnAir58032540252 - San Diego, United States
Mission Bay is the place to be if yo are looking for beautiful beaches and attractions. You have the options to be on a grassy area or right in front of the water on the sand. Barbeque during the day and relax next to the bomb-fire at night while watching the fireworks from SeaWorld!
5. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,643 reviews
Historic site in downtown San Diego that recreates life in the Mexican and early American periods of 1821 to 1872.
Reviewed By Enjoy4790 - San Diego, United States
I love Old Town San Diego I've been going to Old Town since I was a couple weeks old we have always had our family parties in Old Town even when I moved far away whenever I would come back to visit San Diego I would go to Old Town there's so much to do so much to see many different men Mexican restaurants lots of shops on the weekends they have the craft festivals they have live music in Old Town free live music shows they also have a live theater called the Signet they have many surrounding hotels or you can just stay in Hotel Circle and then you will be really close to Old Town actually there's hundreds of hotels that are very close to Old Town San Diego but in Old Town you really want to experience the Mexican food not every Mexican restaurant is good my top recommendations are going to Casa Guadalajara or El Agave Mexican Restaurant there's a few other good ones but then there are many that are well below average as far as the shopping there's a lot of cute unique boutiques and then there's many Mexican owned little shops that have some fabulous jewelry stores old town is in the center of San Diego just about 8 minutes from SeaWorld, it's about 8 minutes from the airport it's about 8 minutes from downtown San Diego it's about 11 minutes from La Jolla it's about 16 minutes from Del Mar so it's really Central....... Another really nice thing about Old Town is many of the people that work in the shops around the Old Town Park and in the restaurants wear "time period Clothing" which is really special and then in the restaurants they wear authentic true Mexican dresses and clothing and then they have a "live show" in "fiesta de los Reyes" so it is live Mexican style dancing and singing and the show is seven days a week and it's free and so that's really enjoyable but the restaurant it's connected to called "fiesta de los Reyes" is really bad as far as the food and the service is even worse but if you are willing to put up with that it's in a beautiful setting so if you don't really care about service and you don't really care about having a nice meal then go ahead and eat there because there's so much to do right around that area but then over at Casa Guadalajara where I recommended for you to go to lunch or dinner the shopping over there will blow you away ats, some of the best shopping in all of San Diego and the lady that owns Casa Guadalajara she owns all the shops around it, it's called "Bazaar del Mundo" and it's a two-level shopping area it's so worth seeing, the most beautiful clothing and true authentic elegant Mexican apparel and dishes and Gourmet Foods and material and shoes and jewelry it's really worth seeing✨
6. Point Loma
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,920 reviews
A lookout point above San Diego Bay and home of the Cabrillo monument.
Reviewed By jwnowak - San Diego, United States
Living in Point Loma i have Liberty Station , Shelter Island at my door step with excellent food and views of the city and bay right there.If you're looking for a relaxed atmosphere locals spot to eat I recommend Point Break, my favorite local place for good food, nice portions and friendly atmosphere at a reasonable price and where you're made to feel welcomed by the staff and owners like you're family this is the place to go
7. Windansea Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 578 reviews
A famous beach for surfing.
Reviewed By 453karinl - Doha, Qatar
A must when you visit La Jolla or the San Diego area ... a beautiful and serene beach filled with surfers and sunbathers .. you'll spend a most relaxing and enjoyable day!!!
8. Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,899 reviews
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the aquarium features more than 60 habitats of fishes and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and the Caribbean. An interactive museum showcases research discoveries by Scripps scientists on climate, Earth and ocean science.
Reviewed By brodger - Philadelphia, United States
This is not an aquarium with dancing dolphins and masses of fish--it's an educational and research facility with excellent exhibits for public consumption. One side has a first rate series of well-labeled tanks for the PNW and tropical environments and wonderful seahorses (the aquarium has a successful breeding program with daily tours) and the other side has educational exhibits, primarily for children (my opinion, anyway). In between, outside of the exhibits, there are open tanks and volunteers so kids can feel sea cucumbers and the like. Great views. There's a very good gift shop and a snack truck outside the ticketed area. I got there by public bus -- and it's a steep walk of about 1/3 mile to the aquarium. There is parking if you have a car.
9. Cabrillo Tide Pools
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 387 reviews
A short, one mile hike that offers one the opportunity to observe sea life along the shore.
Reviewed By cheese4me - Phoenix, United States
Very easy to access, a short hike from the parking lot and a brief climb down. We brought beach chairs to sit and watch the people pick up little treasures. The volunteers are very helpful and knowledgeable they provide plastic coated guides for the children to assist in looking for their little treasure. They make sure everyone is minding the rules - I was glad to see this. If you are going to walk around in the pool, be very careful as the rocks are covered with moss and are very slippery. My husband did take a tumble and bruised his ego. He was a little sore but managed to continue on with our vacation. Beautiful scenery and the weather was perfect for November at the ocean.
10. Mission Beach Boardwalk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 780 reviews
Biking, jogging and skating on San Diego's scenic waterfront path is popular with tourists and locales alike.
Reviewed By dougwalcott - Zeeland, United States
This was a great place! We spent a week right on the beach boardwalk. It’s a beautiful location right along the ocean. It’s great for walking, bike riding and scooter rentals. Belmont park right on the boardwalk is a fun place to visit.
