Located north of the border with Tijuana, Mexico, in the state of California, San Diego is known nationally and internationally for having a perfect climate, diverse shopping options and for its world famous theme parks. In addition, this city is considered by many to be an ideal place to live, as it has spectacular beaches, a calm but entrepreneurial environment, amazing buildings and skyscrapers and it is possible to drive here comfortably and easily.
Here we will discover together the 20 best things to do and see in San Diego:
1. San Diego Aeronautical and Space Museum
Here you can set your imagination free on a simulated trip to the Moon or explore the various exhibits that are dedicated to aircraft. This museum houses dozens of flying machines; You can see a hot air balloon from 1783 and learn about the command module that was used in NASA's Apollo 9 mission. Admire a bright red Lockheed Vega replica on which pilot Amelia Earhart set two of her aviation records.
You can also choose to tour the exhibits dedicated to the airplanes used in the two world wars and compare them to the high-tech supersonic rockets of the modern era found in modern jet and space age rooms. Without a doubt, a memorable technological experience. (Source)
2. Balboa Park
Balboa Park is one of the San Diego attractions that you should not miss, and it is located 5 minutes by car from the city center. This park has 15 incredible museums, open-air art exhibition areas, beautiful gardens, and a host of cultural and recreational activities, including the Zoo, one of the largest in the world.
It is one of the largest and most beautiful parks in the United States, with 1,200 acres of lush greenery. Of incredible architecture and great design, it has 2 exhibitions that you have to visit: The Califronia-Panama Exposition of 1915-1916, which commemorates the inauguration of the Panama Canal, and the California-Pacific Exposition of 1935-1936, dedicated to the period after the economic crisis of 1929.
In order for you to be able to tour the park in its entirety, it has a tram that will take you to the museums and attractions for free. (Source)
3.- Visit the Breweries of San Diego
San Diego is the craft beer capital of the United States and probably the world, it has more than 200 breweries, and several of them have many international awards.
Read our guide to the best breweries in San Diego
4. Sea World San Diego
Considered one of the largest tourist attractions in the country, SeaWorld is a marine park where a variety of shows with orcas, sea lions, dolphins and many other sea animals are offered. You can visit Shamu, the killer whale that is taken as the emblem of the park, and if you arrive during feeding time for the animals, you can feed them directly.
In addition to the animal shows, you can enjoy the mechanical games, the simulator or the trip in the rapids of a river. There are plenty of restaurants and rest spots, including the Bayside Skyride ride, where you can appreciate the scenery and relax in one of the cable car cabins.
To end the day, we recommend that you wait with the whole family to appreciate the spectacular fireworks show, with great orchestral music and a pyrotechnic display high in the sky of the park. (Source)
5. USS Midway Museum
A symbol in American history, this is how the USS Midway museum carrier is considered. In it, you will explore a "floating city in the sea", and you will experience almost 50 years of world history. It has a guided audio tour of its more than 60 exhibits and its 29 restored aircraft. You will be able to see the crew's bedrooms, the gallery, the engine room, the ship's jail, the post office and the pilots' rooms.
What will make your visit unforgettable will be the museum teachers who are found throughout the ship. Each of them is willing to share a personal story, anecdote, or surprising statistic with you. The museum also has family-oriented activities for all ages: two types of flight simulators, short films, getting on board airplanes and cabins, interactive exhibits and the Seat Ejection Theater, among others. (Source)
6. San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Located in the San Pasqual Valley area, covering 1,800 acres, the park is home to 3,000 animals of more than 400 species and more than 3,500 unique plant species. Among the attractions of the park are, the tram of the trip to Africa, in which you can explore extensive exhibits of that continent; the Sumatran tigers, where you can ask the guardians about their habits; the small animal pen, where children can interact with little goats; and the land of the parakeets, where you can buy food and enjoy a feathered company.
To spend a relaxing afternoon you can choose to take the balloon ride, which lasts approx. 10 minutes and you will be able to appreciate the lands of the park from the heights. (Source)
7. Seaport Village
If you want to spend the day shopping and with a variety of restaurants at your fingertips, the Seaport Village shopping complex is for you. With a beautiful view of the San Diego Bay, this site has more than 71 stores, a ship that was used in World War II, and many restaurants with ocean views.
What you can find in the local stores ranges from postcards of San Diego to take to your family and friends, to restaurants with a beautiful view of the sea. There is a store where they only sell hot sauces (you must sign a document in which you agree to take it at your own risk). In this place you can rent your bike to tour downtown San Diego.
8. Maritime Museum of San Diego
The San Diego Maritime Museum has an international reputation for excellence in the reconstruction, maintenance and operation of historic ships. Here you will find one of the most amazing collections of historic ships in the world, the centerpiece of which is the Star of India iron barge, built in 1863. Inside the Berkeley ship, built in 1898, the museum maintains the MacMullen Library and Research Archives. .
If you are a ship fanatic or have a spirit hungry for history, this museum will be a great experience for you. In addition to those already mentioned, other ships that you will see here are: the Californian, a replica built in 1984 of the C. W. Lawrence; the America, a replica of the America yacht, which won the trophy of what is known as the America’s Cup; and the Medea, a river yacht that served in both world wars. (Source)
9. Birch Aquarium
Marine life is something you should not miss on your trip to San Diego. The Birch Aquarium is a public center of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, which offers more than 3,000 animals representing 380 species. The top of the site offers a great view of the Institute's campus and the Pacific Ocean.
Among the attractions that you can enjoy here are the Fish Room, with more than 60 tanks of Pacific fish and invertebrates, which inhabit from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and the Caribbean. Another attraction is the Shark Reef, with house tanks that contain more than 49,000 liters of water, through which sharks that live in tropical areas swim. The tanks have information panels on shark biology and its preservation. (Source)
10. Torrey Pines State Nature Reserve
Located in the San Diego city limits, this nature preserve is one of the few remaining stretches of wilderness on the southern California coast. In order for you to enjoy a day abroad, this reserve has 2000 acres of land, beaches and a lagoon to which thousands of seabirds migrate year after year.
In order to be prepared, we recommend that you do not bring food or pets, since it is not a park, but a protected area, only water is allowed, and the introduction of food is only allowed on the beaches. However, as for thousands of travelers from all over the world who come to this wonderful natural space, for you it will also be an experience that you will remember for the magnificent landscape of the place. It is ideal for a quiet walk or to exercise in a clean and beautiful environment. Remember that places like this must be respected and preserved, so that future generations can enjoy them too. (Source)
11. San Diego Old Town State Park
This park will provide you with the perfect opportunity to experience the history of San Diego, offering you a connection to the past. You will learn about life in the Mexican and American periods between 1821 and 1872, showing how the transitions of customs between both cultures took effect. You can also find out that San Diego was the first Spanish settlement in California when a mission and a fort were established in 1769. Later, the territory passed into the hands of the Mexican government, before being incorporated into the United States, at the end of the War. Mexico united states.
You will be able to marvel at the architecture of the reconstructed buildings and sites, which are the basis of the charm of this place. In addition, this park has several museums, unique souvenir shops and many restaurants. (Source)
12. Belmont Park
At Belmont Park you can spend a fun day with your family, as it has a variety of rides, activities and shows for people of all ages. Without a doubt, the most representative attraction of this place is the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, a wooden roller coaster, considered by the United States National Register as a historical monument.
Enjoy arcade games, challenging your friends; test your balance on the wave generator to surf; enjoy one of the rides that the park has, or relax on the carousel. The place has a wide variety of restaurants and food stands, from hamburgers, pizzas or hot dogs, to more traditional meals. (Source)
13. San Diego Museum of Natural History
Currently located in Balboa Park, this museum has fascinating exhibits on the fauna and flora of the California region. Among the exhibits to enjoy is that of the whales, where you can interact and learn everything about these cetaceans. You will end up fascinated and children will be greatly surprised to see these elusive creatures. The Coast to Cacti exhibit will take you on a journey through Southern California habitats, from coastal lands and urban canyons to great mountains and desert.
In addition, the fossil room will show you the mysteries that were hidden under the earth, dating back 75 million years, from dinosaurs to mastodons. (Source)
14. La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is San Diego's favorite spot for kayaking, scuba diving, and snorkeling. The waters of the place are calm and ecologically protected, offering a safe place for the colorful and varied species that inhabit them.
Visually, it is a paradisiacal gem that will take your breath away with its beautiful hidden caves, attributes that have made it the most photographed beach in San Diego. The place has picnic areas, daytime lifeguards and a small building with restrooms and showers. (Source)
15. Point Loma
Point Loma's beaches are not made for swimming, but they make up for that with a large number of reefs in the rocks, where you can marvel at the marine life of this beautiful peninsula. Relaxation and peace is what you will find in this coastal neighborhood of San Diego, from watching a beautiful sunset on top of the cliffs, to meditating listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks.
You can drive to the top, where the Cabrillo Lighthouse is located, and marvel at its stoic infrastructure. If your thing is surfing, we recommend the areas frequented by local connoisseurs, with great possibilities of good waves. (Source)
16. San Diego Museum of Man
This anthropology museum, located in Balboa Park, has permanent collections and exhibits that focus on the pre-Columbian history of western America, with materials from Amerindian culture, Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Maya, and Andean cultures such as the Moche. With more than 72,000 pieces in all collections, this place will leave you in awe, including the more than 37,000 historical photographs. The site also features an Ancient Egyptian exhibit and many other displays from around the world. (Source)
17. The Embarcadero
The San Diego Embarcadero is located along the boardwalk and extends to San Diego Bay. Composed of commercial complexes and residential condominiums, hotels and restaurants, this place is the perfect place to vacation. In addition, you can find wonderful opportunities to sail, as there are cruise trips and events at sea, which you cannot miss.
We recommend visiting this site in November, when the San Diego Bay Food and Wine Festival takes place over three days, offering the largest culinary and wine festival in the region. (Source)
18. Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
Known for being the first science museum to combine interactive technology with exhibits of a planetarium and a dome of an IMAX theater, setting the standards that most major science museums follow today.
A trip to space, a tour of Jerusalem, exploring the national parks of the United States, exhibits on science fiction and science in the future, all this you can enjoy in this museum, giving you an experience that you would not even see in your imagination. The museum has 12 permanent exhibits, in addition to those that are scheduled month by month, scientific and educational events.
19. Aquatica San Diego
The best spa experience you'll find in this region, without a doubt. At Aquatica you will enjoy a mix of calm and extreme waters, experiences with animals and a beautiful beach. Rivers of crystalline waters that meander through hidden caves; Refreshing waterfalls and beautiful vegetation surround the charming beach. You can also interact with tropical birds and turtles in the water park. Private cabins and a variety of restaurants will make you and your family have an unforgettable stay. (Source)
20. San Diego Model Train Museum
This museum is the largest of its kind in operation today. In the permanent exhibition you will be able to appreciate all the variety of trains that have been throughout history, in different scales. The toy train gallery is a delight for children and why not, also for adults, because of the interactive possibilities with the pieces.
For collectors, the museum makes available temporary exhibits with components from old railways that have survived the years. (Source)
21. Museum of Photographic Arts
After opening its doors in 1983, over the years this museum has increased its collection with thousands of photos that currently reside in its permanent collection and cover the entire history of photographic art. You will get to know the work of the filmmaker and photographer Lou Stoumen and the famous photographic documentation of Nagasaki, made by Yosuke Yamahata one day after the Japanese city was destroyed by the atomic bomb.
The museum always has something new and entertaining to show its visitors and every month there are temporary exhibits that offer a different facet of the world of visual arts. (Source)
I hope you enjoyed this tour as much as I did, we would like to know your opinion. See you soon!
