Location: San Diego
Top Things to do in San Diego
What to do and see in San Diego, California (CA): The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day
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. Africa and Beyond
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 27 reviews
Africa and Beyond™ was situated in La Jolla since 1989 and as of June, 2020 has moved online. Africa and Beyond is one of the country's leading galleries specializing in traditional African art - KPBS. They offer the finest collection of contemporary and traditional African art and jewelry .Enjoy a wide array of hand-selected fair trade items and affordable contemporary crafts to extraordinary collector pieces. Each piece is accompanied by information pertaining to its history and function, providing a deeper appreciation and understanding of each inspirational work. This adds another dimension to the artworks' aesthetic beauty and bring it to life in your imagination.An extraordinary cultural arts and shopping experience not to be missed!Let the adventure begin. ..Go Wild!
Reviewed By jillr275 - Grandview, United States
This shop is full of fantastic items and numerous collectors pieces. I visited this shop twice. Well worth the visit.
2. Map and Atlas Museum of La Jolla
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 44 reviews
A private collection sampling 500 years of cartography. Over 200 items on display, many one of a kind. Free admission, no donations expected and we do not sell anything except the enjoyment of some of the rarest maps in the work and that is at a price of Zero dollars. In addition to our Wednesday and Thursday open days, we are also OPEN the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month 11-4
3. Beyond Babel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 59 reviews
Beyond Babel is a new dance show created by and starring Keone & Mari Madrid. The production is inspired by the classic tale of Romeo & Juliet and current social stories from all over the world. Beyond Babel is told entirely through the style of urban dance in a new custom theater space near Downtown. "A must see show... it could put San Diego on the map, its that good" - San Diego Voice
4. Old Globe Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 504 reviews
The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country’s leading professional regional theatres and has stood as San Diego’s flagship arts institution for over 80 years. Under the leadership of Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein, The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 15 productions of classic, contemporary, and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre and the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, both part of The Old Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, and the 605-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival. More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theatre’s education and community programs. Numerous world premieres such as the 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Bright Star, Allegiance, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,and the annual holiday musical Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs on Broadway and at regional theatres across the country.
Reviewed By boydw180 - Omaha, United States
What a great performance. All the cast was good and Robert Joy played a great Scrooge. Jacque Wilke played several characters and stole the show with her fantastic facial expressions and enthusiasm. What a talent.
5. San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 534 reviews
The San Diego Model Railroad Museum was established in January of 1983. SDMRM has been a resource for model train aficionados, artist, architects, engineers, and families in San Diego for over 30 years. We spark curiosity in San Diego’s youth with educational programming that includes developmental milestones like critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving via our tailored school workshops and summer camps.
Reviewed By blw_at_longwood - Richmond, United States
Many of us have had some experience with model trains, but this takes it to a completely different level! The display, which is really that of a club and not a museum per se, has both quality and quantity. The modeling is top notch, with not one but MANY scenes from Southern California railroading faithfully reproduced. As anyone who's ever done this can attest, it can be tough to keep such things running smoothly, but trains - huge trains, ones that stretch completely out of sight - run perfectly. There's also mind-blowing quantity. A model railroad that fills a garage can be an amazing thing, but this is two full floors of railroading, on a scale that is unrivaled. Railroaders or model railroaders in the know about famous Southern California rail landmarks such as Tehachapi Loop or Chatsworth will recognize the sights instantly. It was like railfanning the real thing, but with a lot less walking! There are actually a number of railroads in the museum. During my visit there were quite a few young kids and they all seemed to be having a grand time. If you or your kids have any interest in trains at all, it's hard to go wrong here.
6. 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.
7. Timken Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 206 reviews
Museum that celebrates the important role of art as a way of enriching lives by featuring American, Dutch and Flemish, French, Italian paintings and Russian Icons.
Reviewed By permia
European Old Masters are to the fore in this gem of a gallery. In the French segment can be seen Christ Healing the Blind by Philippe de Champaigne and more. Rembrandt's Saint Bartholomew is a fine study of human intensity, contemplating his imminent martyrdom, as the account goes, by flaying alive, using the implement in his right hand. Some engaging American works are also on display. The Cranberry Harvest by Eastman Johnson shows a large group of busy harvesters overseen by a lady in all her finery.
8. San Diego Air & Space Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 846 reviews
Museum's emphasis is on the history of flight, from the days of hot-air balloons to the Spirit of St. Louis to today's space shuttles.
Reviewed By JScotG - Fayetteville, United States
This place didn’t look like much on the outside but it was a gem inside. There was so much information about the history of flight from its origin with the Wright Brothers to the Space Shuttle and current Mars missions. I was shocked to see that they had on display the actual giggle that Charles Lindbergh wore on his historic flight across the Atlantic. There was also a piece of the fabric from the Hindenburg Zeppelin. There were actual airplanes from WWI and WWII and there were many interactive stations where you could dock with the space station or land a shuttle. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly and took the time to talk to my kid and explain certain features of the museum. Overall a great visit and I just wish that the outside of the building let people know how great the interior is.
9. Fashion Valley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 598 reviews
San Diego's finest collection of stores in a beautiful outdoor shopping center featuring 200 stores and restaurants including an 18 screen movie theater. Five department stores include: Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomingdale's and JCPenney. Featured stores include: Ted Baker, Omega, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch, Coach, Juicy Couture, Hugo BOSS, Gucci, Henri Bendel and more. Restaurants include: The Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang's China Bistro, California Pizza Kitchen, Stacked Well Built, Love Boat Sushi and twelve bistro cafes.
Reviewed By FredN47 - Walnut Creek, United States
We love this shopping center.. We took our Granddaughter to build a bear. Had a lot of fun building a bear! the other shops were nice also.
10. San Diego Civic Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 114 reviews
Home to the San Diego Opera and Broadway theater.
Reviewed By SANCarolyn - San Diego, United States
We just went to the San Diego Civic Theatre to see the Celtic Women Concert and the seating and also the parking at the Concourse Parking Arcade couldn't be any easier. If you're going to see a show there, be sure to pay the $10 parking fee in advance for the Concourse Parking Arcade. It is right next to the Theatre and access is so very easy. Seats at the Theatre were also excellent. If you forget to get your parking in advance, I think you need to pay with cash, having the exact amount needed at the entrance to that garage.
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