San Diego, California is a vacation destination known for its year-round warm weather, miles of beautiful beaches, and a variety of exciting activities. There’s so much to do in San Diego, from visiting theme parks to exploring historic sites to enjoying great food.
Things to do in San Diego on your next trip
![San Diego, California, USA - Topiary elephants greet visitors outside the San Diego Zoo on September 22nd.](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/slike-2023-08-28T014629.802.jpg)
You may be familiar with famous attractions like the San Diego Zoo and Legoland, but there are countless other things to do and see while in San Diego, as well as some outdoor activities. Here are the top 10 things to do in San Diego during your vacation.
Explore Balboa Park
Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre urban park with several gardens, performing arts venues, and 18 world-class museums.
Catch shows at the Tony Award-winning Old Globe featuring classic and contemporary works in the 580-seat flagship Old Globe Theatre, the outdoor Lowell Davis Festival Theater, or the intimate Sherrill and Theater in the Round Theater can. Harvey White Theater.
Be sure to visit several of Balboa Park’s museums, including the Comic-Con Museum, the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum, and the Fleet Science Center with over 100 interactive exhibits. Inside the park, you can enjoy outdoor activities in beautiful gardens such as the Ines Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, Veterans Memorial Garden, Botanical Garden, and lily pond.
Visit the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
Be sure to check it out when you visit Balboa Park. san diego zoo, has been hailed as one of the best zoos in the United States and is home to more than 14,000 rare and endangered animals. From clouded leopards to three-toed sloths, see and learn about the zoo’s more than 700 species and subspecies. The San Diego Zoo features a 4D theater, botanical tours, guided bus tours, wildlife presentations, and more.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido is an 1,800-acre wildlife park where you can encounter a variety of animals in a vast savannah habitat. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park offers a variety of activities, including the Africa Tram, which takes you on a 25-minute tour of the savannah habitat to get up close and personal with wildlife, a children’s play area, and the Journey Into the Tour. A wild presentation where you can meet multiple wildlife ambassadors and more.
If you want to get even closer to the action, you can also choose from one of the park’s special experiences and tours, such as the 90-minute Deluxe Wildlife Safari, where you can get up close and personal with giraffes and rhinos. , and other species. If you are an animal lover, visiting one or both of these places during your vacation is a great activity.
See the USS Midway Museum
During your vacation, you can see the USS Midway, the longest-operated aircraft carrier of the 20th century. This is one of San Diego’s most popular tourist attractions and one you definitely don’t want to miss. After her decommissioning in 1992, Midway was donated to the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum organization, and in 2004 she opened as the USS Her Midway Museum.
Midway has an extensive and interesting history that you can learn about during your visit. On board, you’ll see more than 30 restored aircraft and helicopters, watch the multimedia film “Voices of Midway” about the Battle of Midway, and explore the crew’s living quarters, including the dining room, galley, and chapel. , and tour the places where they worked. , laundry service.
To learn more about Midway’s history, take a self-guided audio tour. Hear Midway pilots talk about what it was like to fly the aircraft on the flight deck, and Midway sailors talk about daily life on board.
Go to Belmont Park
Belmont Park, a historic waterfront amusement park in San Diego’s Mission Bay area, is a popular destination with a variety of rides and experiences. From classic bumper cars to the thrilling Giant’s Dipper roller coaster, there’s something for everyone.
Belmont Park is full of fun activities, including a tiki-themed mini golf course, laser tag arena, escape room, zipline, and more. When you’re hungry, enjoy carnival-style fare like hot dogs on a stick and fresh lemonade, or try Sweet Shop’s famous Monster Waffle Cone. Belmont Park offers a variety of amenities and is the perfect place for a day of family fun.
Enjoy authentic Mexican food in Old Town
One of the best things to do in San Diego is to explore Old Town. Old Town is considered the “birthplace” of California, with historic sites, abundant shopping options, entertainment, and great restaurants. Old Town is known for its Mexican cuisine, with favorites like El Agave and Café Coyote.
See restored historic buildings at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, visit the Whaley House Museum (one of California’s two officially designated haunted houses), and enjoy the Fiesta de Reyes Stage Enjoy live musical entertainment.
Explore the beaches of La Jolla
While vacationing in San Diego, you can visit La Jolla Cove, a small, picturesque beach surrounded by sandstone cliffs. It is a popular place for swimmers and snorkelers. Above La Jolla Cove is Ellen Browning Scripps Park, a grassy area with picnic tables and paved walkways that offers panoramic views of the ocean.
You can also visit the children’s pool. This is a protected cove that is home to several seals and sea lions, who can be seen swimming and relaxing on the beach. The wading pool was originally built as a swimming hole for children, but after seals took a liking to the cove, it became a popular wildlife viewing area. Nearby La Jolla Village offers a variety of shopping and dining options.
Have fun at Legoland
in Carlsbad, legoland California offers a variety of rides, shows, and attractions for guests to enjoy between theme parks, water parks, and interactive aquariums. Legoland is home to popular attractions such as The Dragon, an indoor/outdoor roller coaster, and Lost His Kingdom Adventure, where guests battle Lego mummies and skeletons to find hidden treasure.
Legoland Water Park is open seasonally and features fun attractions such as Build-A-Raft River, where you can design and build your own Lego raft, Orange Rush, a giant raft slide, and Soak’N, a pirate-themed play area. You can explore. sails etc.
Legoland California is also home to the Sea Life Aquarium, home to over 350 species and over 6,000 creatures. Attend educational talks and feeding demonstrations to learn about aquarium life and see sea creatures such as seahorses, sharks, and octopuses.
Enjoy nightlife in the Gaslamp Quarter
In downtown San Diego, explore the Gaslamp Quarter, a 16-square-block area of Victorian buildings known for its nightlife. There are over 200 restaurants, bars, nightclubs, lounges, boutiques, art galleries and shops here. Popular bars in the Gaslamp Quarter include Altitude Sky Lounge, a rooftop bar with panoramic views, Fifth & Rose, a classic cocktail bar, and his three-story The Tipsy Cow, where you can dance.
The Gaslamp Quarter has several dining options, from quick bites to fine dining. There are also a variety of entertainment options, including catching a show at the American Comedy Company San Diego and enjoying live music by his performers at The Shout. House.
go to sea world
![10 things to do next time you visit San Diego 3 SAN DIEGO, CA/USA - JANUARY 17: Killer whale show at SeaWorld on January 17, 2016 in San Diego, California. Marine Aquarium and Marine Mammal Park.](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/shutterstock_389372338-scaled-e1685717388908.jpg)
![10 things to do next time you visit San Diego 3 SAN DIEGO, CA/USA - JANUARY 17: Killer whale show at SeaWorld on January 17, 2016 in San Diego, California. Marine Aquarium and Marine Mammal Park.](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/shutterstock_389372338-scaled-e1685717388908.jpg)
During your San Diego vacation, you can also visit: sea world Mission Bay Park offers rides, attractions, animal experiences, and presentations.
Observe a variety of animals such as dolphins, penguins and beluga whales, enjoy interactive exhibits such as the Bat Shoal where you can touch bat rays, and explore special tours and activities like Dolphin Underwater Interactions and Dolphins You can also do this. A close encounter with a sloth. SeaWorld also offers presentations such as Orca Encounters, Dolphin Adventures, and Sea Lion and Otter Spotlights.
SeaWorld is home to thrilling rides and attractions, including Arctic Rescue, the fastest and longest straddle coaster on the West Coast, and the electric eel coaster with multiple inversions. We also offer kid-friendly options such as the Tentacle Twirl Swing Ride, the child-sized shot-and-drop tower Seadragon Drop, and other family-friendly rides.
Hike Torrey Pines State Preserve
If you’re looking for a fun outdoor activity on vacation, explore San Diego’s Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, home to rare Torrey pines. The preserve’s 2,000 acres of natural land include miles of beaches and lagoons important to migratory seabirds and is one of the most natural areas along the Southern California coast.
This is a great place to take nature walks and admire the beautiful sea views. If you’re interested in hiking, there are miles of trails to explore, with options for every experience level. During the gray whale migration period, the reserve is also ideal for whale watching.
Ready for your San Diego vacation?
From admiring the beauty of La Jolla Cove to exploring the history of the USS Midway, there are countless ways to make the most of your vacation. From theme parks to outdoor activities to dining and entertainment options, San Diego is home to a wealth of unique attractions you won’t want to miss. Be sure to explore these 10 things to do in San Diego on your next trip.