San Diego is one of the best destinations in the United States for a relaxing and fun vacation. Whatever is on your wish list is easily doable in San Diego, a city where attractions, food, and fun are always within reach.
Aside from gorgeous weather pretty much year round, fantastic restaurants, and beaches galore, San Diego is diverse, safe, and a great place to take a vacation.
When planning out your itinerary, you’ll want to save plenty of time for these 11 best things to do in San Diego. If your visit is part of a larger California road trip, you’ll want to prioritize the things you can feasibly see in a day or two. If you’re staying longer, check out our San Diego trip planning guide.
» Looking for more travel inspiration in the United States? See our U.S. Summer Vacation Ideas and 12 U.S. National Parks to Visit. Here are a few more fabulous U.S. Cities to visit.
1. San Diego Zoo
Located in the awesome Balboa Park (see below) is the award-winning San Diego Zoo. Kids never say no to a zoo, especially when it has over 3,700 rare and endangered animals to visit. For those who love botanical gardens, the zoo also features 700,000 exotic plants throughout the 100 acres.
Not only is the zoo pleasant to walk around, there are great – and ever-changing exhibits – including the Skyfari tram that kids and adults both find exciting. The best part is that the zoo is open every day of the year, including holidays, so you never have to worry about fitting it into the schedule. The normal hours are 9am-5pm.
You can get there by car, bus or bike and the parking is free. You can enter via Zoo Place just off Park Boulevard, which is located in Balboa Park, close to downtown San Diego.
»Get your San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass Ticket here.
2. San Diego Safari Park
3. Just a few miles north of the San Diego Zoo in Escondido is another world-class animal kingdom known as San Diego Safari Park. There are over 2600 African animals roaming around.
You can go on an actual safari using the Africa Tram tour or use the Skyline Safari zip line. In the afternoon, be sure to watch the cheetah sprint down a 330-foot long raceway. Plus, there is the educational element.
Not only does San Diego Safari Park have the largest condor breeding program, it also runs educational programs that teach about endangered animal species.
»Get your San Diego Zoo Safari Park 1-Day Pass Ticket here.
4. San Diego Breweries
No trip to San Diego would be complete without a brewery trip or two. With one of the best craft beer scenes in the country, it would almost be a crime not to try something new. There are currently more than 200 craft breweries and tasting rooms in San Diego. This number is on a steady climb and has no signs of slowing down.
If this is your first time in San Diego, there are a handful of breweries that should be on your absolute list. This includes Ballast Point, Stone, Green Flash, Coronado Brewing Company, and Karl Straus. Now, this is just a starting off point; there are MANY more that could be named on this list.
Regardless of how long your San Diego vacation is; you likely won’t be able to try the entire catalogue. However, experiencing the craft beer culture is a must.
5. Eating Fresh Seafood
San Diego is a coastal city with a wide variety of seafood markets and restaurants. Freshness is key here, especially at Tuna Harbor Dockside Market and El Pescador Fish Market, where you can pick up fish straight from the boat. Most everything you’ll eat is caught just a few miles from where you’re ordering it.
Fish tacos are one of the city’s most popular seafood dishes. There are casual taco shops and restaurants all over town serving the traditional version, which is fried or grilled white fish topped with cabbage, pico de gallo salsa, and lime crema sauce.
Be sure to visit the markets listed above, as well as Point Loma Seafoods, when you’re out hiking on the bluff trail.
See Eater’s guide to where to find and eat the freshest seafood in San Diego.
6. La Jolla Shores
Though San Diego has over 70 miles of beaches, some are more welcoming to families than others. The best happens to be La Jolla Shores, where surfers, swimmers, beachcombers, and sunbathers flock throughout the year. Humans aren’t the only ones who enjoy the coastline either.
There are seals and sea lions that gather nearby too. In the early morning, you have visit the protected cove at the northern end of the beach to check out the sea life gathered in the tide pools before the waves roll in.
Afterwards, you can rent snorkel equipment or have a picnic at the nearby Scripps Park, or rent a kayak and take a journey out to see the La Jolla Underwater Park, where brilliantly colored fish swim by underneath you.
7. Balboa Park
Balboa Park is a wonderland. If you go there and can’t find a way to spend three days solid, you’re not doing it right. There are 13 museums in Balboa Park. It’s also home to the famous San Diego Zoo.
Have a child who loves trains? The Model Railway Museum will captivate them. There are miles worth of miniature railroad track inside to explore. There’s also a science center with hands-on displays, a puppet theater, a playground, and even a carousel. Never has a child ever been heard utter the words, “I’m bored” at Balboa Park.
»Get Platinum Balboa Park and Downtown Segway Tour here.
8. Old Town San Diego
If a stroll and the occasional shopping is more your speed, Old Town can give you just that. The buildings that house shops and museums in Old Town take to the architecture of the period of California’s beginnings. A
nd to keep with the tradition of laying back and taking in the scenery, it is best to set aside a day to just explore and enjoy the town. Old Town can be reached using the San Diego Trolley that are marked red or take 10 short minutes from the Gaslamp Quarter.
»Get your Hop-on Hop-off Trolley ticket here.
9. Gaslamp Quarter
What used to be an area you didn’t want to be in after dark is now a safe and fun place to spend both the day and night. The Gaslamp Quarter is the result of San Diego City taking charge and saving a community from being run down. Now even the San Diego Repertory Theater calls this part of the city home.
Enjoy the place by just walking around and taking in the local color. You can even take a horse-drawn carriage or ride the San Diego Trolley. If you are in the area some time September, then you might want to check out the “Street Scene” which is a music, food and drinking festival that lasts for three days.
10. SeaWorld San Diego
We’re not really big supporters of attractions like SeaWorld, but it is one of the main family attractions in San Diego and we don’t want to exclude it from the list for those who do want to visit. The park has a lot of special attractions, like a behind-the-scenes tour, a roller coaster, a Sesame Street play area for the little ones.
You can take a tour through the aquarium, get up close with killer whales, join in the trainer-guided dolphin experience, and watch the various animal presentations.
11. Hiking in San Diego
San Diego offers a bevy of interesting hikes. One of my favorites is the Point Loma coastal trail. It’s a 1 mile path Cabrillo National Monument that’s an easy walk. There are a lot of stairs and steep cliffs on the edge of the trail, but it’s not a difficult path and the views are worth it. You can also check out the Point Loma tidepools here at low tide.
For picturesque sunsets and “tasty waves”, the beach between Cardiff to Carlsbad can’t be beat. I typically start this hike by parking just south of restaurant row in Cardiff, to the north of the lagoon between Cardiff and Solana Beach on Highway 101. Parking is located on the side of the road, which is right up against the beach.
The Cardiff to South Carlsbad hike is about 5 miles in each direction. The walk is flat and quick and suitable for older children, or for pushing an outdoor stroller.
Where to Stay in San Diego
With so many things to do here, you’ll want to stay for at least 2-3 days. We recommend staying right in the center of the action downtown, so you can walk to many of the attractions. However, there are fun places to stay on the beach and even some rooms with private hot tubs in San Diego. Here are our top recommendations:
DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO
- Hotel Indigo (see on Trip Advisor)
- Manchester Grand Hyatt (see on Trip Advisor)
GASLAMP QUARTER
- Hard Rock Hotel (see on Trip Advisor)
- Residence Inn by Marriott (see on Trip Advisor)
LA JOLLA
- Inn By The Sea (see on Trip Advisor)
- Empress Hotel (see on Trip Advisor
CONCLUSION
San Diego has something for every kid and kid at heart, whether you want to spend your time downtown or lounging on the beaches. Get the family ready. It’s time for an amazing vacation in one of the most family-friendly cities in the United States!
Quick. Check these necessities off your prep list!
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- The right luggage can make or break your trip. These luggage sets make traveling a breeze.
- Find your rental car on DiscoverCars.com. They search all major rental companies to find the best deal.
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Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.