Things To Do
Balboa Park
Where culture, science, and nature collide, Balboa Park is home to more than 16 museums, multiple performing arts venues, lovely gardens, trails, and many other creative and recreational attractions, including the San Diego Zoo. With a variety of cultural institutions among its 1,200 beautiful and lushly planted acres, there is something for everyone.
San Diego Zoo
Immerse yourself in the animal kingdom at the 100-acre San Diego Zoo, home to more than 4,000 animals across 800 rare and exotic species. Spend quality time with giant pandas, New Zealand kiwis, endangered sun bears, and Galápagos tortoises—the zoo’s oldest residents.
La Jolla Cove
Beautiful area for walking and enjoying the view.
Soledad Mountain
This special place not only boasts beautiful views that allow you to appreciate the sea and mountainside, but also serves as a memorial honoring veterans. Try to spot the plaques for the Bride's grandfather and uncle, Lloyd and Lonnie Green.
Gaslamp Quarter
The Gaslamp Quarter is a district of San Diego, California. It is a 16½ block historical neighborhood in Downtown San Diego, and is the site of several entertainment and night life venues. Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, is located one block away in downtown San Diego's East Village. The Gaslamp Quarter extends from Broadway to Harbor Drive, and from 4th to 6th Avenue, covering 16½ blocks. It includes 94 historic buildings, most of which were constructed in the Victorian Era, and are still in use with active tenants including restaurants, shops and nightclubs.
Torrey Pines State Park/Beach
The reserve consists of a plateau with cliffs that overlook Torrey Pines State Beach, and a lagoon that is vital to migrating seabirds. Many different kinds of wildlife and flora are found within the reserve, including bobcats, foxes, skunks, raccoons, coyotes, rabbits, cacti, coastal chaparral, and the rare Torrey pine. The eight miles of trails within the park offer an attraction for hikers and beach-goers, and a small museum sits at the top of the hill.
SeaWorld
Let your inner marine biologist draw you to the park's animal exhibits, like the touch pools of Explorer's Reef, where you can have your fingers tickled by cleaner fish and discover what a bamboo shark feels like. Check out playful bottlenose dolphins, barking sea lions, and waddling penguins in expansive exhibits, watch sharks glide through the water at Shark Encounter's underwater viewing tunnel, and don't miss the opportunity to get splashed by orca whales leaping out of the water during the One Ocean show.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Explore natural habitats and get up close and personal with more than 400 species of animals—from African elephants to zebras—at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The park is divided into regions, boasting ecosystems that simulate these real-world habitats of more than 3,200 animals. Get a look at the rhinos bathing in their oasis, lions snoozing in the sun, and meerkats diligently keeping watch over their burrows.
The Beach
Any beach. You can never go wrong with a San Diego sunset.