Things To Do
Ocean Beach
Our first date was here (Raglan's), we fell in love here, and we live here. It's a laid-back, funky beach town, and—in our biased opinion—the best beach neighborhood in San Diego. Here are some of our favorites: Coffee/pastries: Azucar (must try the Cubano pie), Coffee and Plants, OB Beans (see if you can find Sandra's street tile in front!) Tacos/burritos: Mike's Tacos (trifecta taco), Nico's (Cali burrito), City Taco (Mexicali taco) Dining: OB Noodle House, Blue Water Seafood, The Holding Company, The Joint, Rosemaries burgers, Wonderland, Surf Lodge, South Beach Bar & Grill Things to do: Browse the shops on Newport Ave, walk south from the pier for tidepooling and a walk along the cliffs, watch the happy dogs at Dog Beach
Sunset Cliffs
As the name implies, you should check this place out at sunset! You can also spend a day or half day here exploring the cove beaches, sea caves (be aware of the tides - many caves are only accessible during low tide), or enjoying the view as you stroll along the top of the cliffs. Some of the cove beaches require a little bit of climbing down the rocks; if you don't want to climb down, there are stairs to access one of the beaches at the corner of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and Ladera Street. Once down the stairs, continue to walk south along that beach for great cliff and ocean views, and maybe to find an abalone shell along the rocks. The further you walk, the less people there will be. However, again be aware of the tide times as access is limited once the tide comes in.
Mission Beach Boardwalk
The Mission Beach Boardwalk is a beachside concrete walkway that runs approximately 3 miles from South Mission Beach to North Pacific Beach. It is a bustling area lined with tons of great restaurants, shops, and bars. Belmont Park, an old school amusement park, is also located along the boardwalk. For folks staying at the Hyatt Regency in Mission Bay, we recommend renting bikes from the hotel and biking there. It is less than 10 minutes from the hotel along a bike path onto the boardwalk area. Access the boardwalk from Belmont Park and continue to bike north along the boardwalk towards Pacific Beach. Check out Crystal Pier and grab ceviche at Oscar's Mexican Seafood (On Emerald Street).
La Jolla
La Jolla is gorgeous and we highly recommend spending some time here. Check out La Jolla Cove, a small scenic cove beach that's perfect for swimming, snorkeling and viewing seals and sea lions (remember to keep your distance!). You can also rent kayaks and take a guided tour of the sea caves (lajollakayak.com). Speaking of snorkeling, August is leopard shark season in San Diego, start in front of the Marine Room at La Jolla Shores Beach to see some leopard sharks. Don't worry - they're peaceful creatures who stay close to the ocean floor and won't bite humans. For hiking, check out the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve for some epic views. The Torrey Pines Beach Trail loop trail is an easy 2.3 mile loop that travels along the top of the cliffs and finishes with a nice stroll on the beach. Lastly, go to Black's Beach, a gorgeous cliff side beach (just be forewarned it's a clothing optional beach). After adventuring, there are plenty of food, ice cream, and beverage options around.
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is a cultural oasis filled with museums, gardens, and attractions. It is one of the largest parks in the country, (bigger than New York's Central Park and Chicago's Millennium Park combined!) with miles of trails, gorgeous architecture, museums, and the San Diego Zoo. Our favorite within the park are the Botanical Building and Lilly pond, the Japanese Friendship Garden, the San Diego Natural History Museum, and the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden.
Coronado
Coronado is the city on the peninsula in San Diego Bay. It is home to the Hotel Del Coronado which is famous as the site where 'Some Like it Hot' starring Marilyn Monroe was filmed. Grab a drink or a bite at the Hotel Del and check out Coronado Beach. If the tide is low enough, you can view the shipwreck site of the SS Monte Carlo. On the ferry landing side of Coronado, there is an unbeatable view of Downtown San Diego. Grab some pizza at Village Pizzeria for lunch with a view. If driving, stop at Chicano Park on your way in or out of Coronado. It is a park full of murals located under the Coronado Bridge that tell the story of Chicano history and its impact on local culture.
Cesarina
We love this restaurant so much that it gets its own heading. Incredible Italian food! You must get the tiramisu for desert and a tiramisini to drink. You will need to make reservations in advanced.
San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is a world renowned zoo. Typically, when people hear that you have visited San Diego one of their first responses is "did you go to the zoo?" It is well worth the visit if you have time. It is located inside Balboa Park so it can be combined with a trip to the park. It is also one of the only zoos in the U.S. with giant pandas.
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego is a marine life zoo, aquarium, and amusement park located in Mission Bay. It has fun rides, shows, and exhibits, and a focus on marine conservation.