San Diego On Your Own

The 10 Top Things to do in San Diego

There's seemingly no shortage of fun things to do in San Diego.

1. Take a Safari to the San Diego Zoo. One of the best zoos in the world, and set in a great location in Balboa Park.


2. Explore Balboa Park. It's 1,200 acres of parkland, gardens, museums, recreational and cultural facilities, making it one of the premier urban parks in the world.


3. Work on your tan on a San Diego beach.. There's miles of them to choose from.


4. Visit the Hotel Del Coronado. Enjoy a drink at the bar or on the beach in this icon of San Diego.


5. Exercise your shopping gene. You could easily spend the entire day at Horton Plaza or in the Gaslamp District.


6. Enjoy a great meal. It's only a mile up the road from downtown Avalon, and you can learn a bit about the flora and fauna of the island.


7. Rent a boat and take a sail on Mission Bay. When the breeze comes up, there's nothing like commanding a Hobie Cat.


8. Climb aboard the USS Midway Museum. This aircraft carrier served from 1945 to 1992.


9. Take a bike ride from La Jolla to Pacific Beach. It's mostly downhill, and you'll pedal through several interesting neighborhoods.


10. Spend an afternoon in La Jolla. Plan time for lunch and take a stroll around the town.

Getting Around

Orientation

Cruise ships dock at the San Diego B Street Cruise Terminal, which is conveniently located at the west end of Broadway, a major downtown thoroughfare.

The city of San Diego and the surrounding area is made up of several distinct districts. These include:

Downtown
San Diego's downtown area stretches from the airport east, and south of Interstate 5. With the Horton Plaza shopping mall at its center, downtown continues east through the Gaslamp District, filled with shops, boutiques and restaurants. The downtown also encompasses the Embarcadero, the Convention Center, Petco Park and Seaport Village, a shopping and dining complex next to the bay.

Coronado Island
Across the channel from downtown San Diego lies the City of Coronado. While Coronado is not part of San Diego proper, it shares much of the larger city's heritage. It is actually a sandy peninsula where you'll find the historic Hotel del Coronado and the beach.

Balboa Park
The Balboa Park area is just north of Interstate 5, and comprises 1,200 acres of parkland, gardens, museums, recreational and cultural facilities as well as the San Diego Zoo. Balboa Park is one of the features of the town that makes San Diego a great place to visit.

Old Town
San Diego's Old Town will take you back to the city's early years. This was the site of the first European settlement in California, and it retains its heritage with Mexican restaurants and shops selling Mexican goods. The Presidio, built by the Spanish in 1769, the same year the Franciscan friars built the first mission in California.

Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach (the locals call it PB) lies just north of Mission Bay, and is a large residential community. On Mission Blvd., which lies between Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean, you'll find a good collection of surfers, bohemian shops and good restaurants.

La Jolla
La Jolla, a district of San Diego, is a beautiful, well to do town just up the coast from Pacific Beach. La Jolla has a quaint beach, currently being invaded by sea lions, and plays host to the University of California San Diego and the Birch Aquarium.

North County
Further north from La Jolla you'll find some quaint seaside towns, including Del Mar, Carlsbad and Leucadia. Del Mar's racetrack plays host to a summer horse racing season, while Carlsbad is where you'll find LEGOLAND California. The San Diego Wild Animal Park can be found near the inland town of Escondido.

South Bay
Going south from San Diego, you'll find the industrial town of National City, and Chula Vista and Imperial Beach. Interstate 5 takes drivers directly into Mexico via Tijuana.

Renting a Car

To truly enjoy your time in San Diego, you need to rent a car.

San Diego Trolley

If you want to hoof it around the town, the city's light rail San Diego Trolley will take you to neighborhoods throughout the city. Here is a link to their route map.

Shopping

San Diego Area Shopping Malls

To see the locations of the recommended shopping malls listed below, see our Map of San Diego Shopping Venues.

Horton Plaza
Downtown San Diego
Horton Plaza is a five story outdoor shopping mall located in downtown San Diego. When it was built, it was considered remarkable for its bright colors, architectural tricks and odd spatial rhythms. With over 130 shops, several restaurants and a Cineplex, Horton Plaza stands on 6 and one-half city blocks, and is adjacent to the city's historic Gaslamp Quarter. It is currently anchored by Macy's and Nordstrom.

Fashion Valley Shopping Center
Mission Valley, San Diego
For serious shopping in San Diego, there's no better place to go than the outdoor Fashion Valley Shopping Mall. With over 200 stores, seven restaurants, a food court and a movie theatre, Fashion Valley is the city's main hub for upscale and designer shopping. Two of the major stores include Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Located on Friars Road just of Highway 163, in Mission Valley. Open Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am to 7:00 pm

Other Shopping Venues

Gaslamp Quarter
Downtown San Diego
The Gaslamp Quarter offers a vibrant atmosphere with an architectural mix from the turn of the century with today's gaslamps, brick sidewalks, landscaping, galleries, theaters, hundreds of boutiques and shops, more than 100 restaurants, bars and nightclub. The Gaslamp Quarter is where San Diego's colorful past comes alive and exists hand in hand with modern development and commerce in an active urban setting.

Carlsbad Premium Outlets
Carlsbad
Located in Carlsbad, about 30 minutes north of the downtown area, Carlsbad Premium Outlets is am outlet mall with such stores as Banana Republic, Barney's New York, Calvin Klein, Coach, Crate and Barrel, Juicy Couture, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and many more. If you're looking for that last minute buy before your cruise, Carlsbad Premium Outlets will fill the bill.

Cedros Design District
Solana Beach
More than 85 shops, each with their own personality, display one-of-a-kind items you could only dream of finding in the department store daze. Saunter instead through studios, small houses converted into stores and attractive boutiques that make you feel like you're lost on European side streets.

Restaurants

Recommended restaurants in the San Diego area

To see the locations of the recommended restaurants listed below, see our Map of Recommended San Diego Restaurants.

Carlsbad:

Fish House Veracruz
Seafood
Large selection of very fresh mesquite grilled fish and seafood. Wine and beer. Accepts Amex, Visa and MasterCard.
417 Carlsbad Village Drive, in Carlsbad
Additional locations in San Marcos and Temecula
Open daily from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
(760) 434-6777

Del Mar:

Bully's
Prime Rib
Serves large portions of perfectly cooked prime rib and steaks. Has a mostly local crowd. Accepts Amex, Visa and MasterCard.
1404 Camino del Mar, Del Mar
Open daily; lunch 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; dinner 4:30 pm to midnight
(858) 755-1660

Sbicca
Neighborhood bistro
Modern American cuisine served in a seaside village setting, with ocean view terrace dining.
215 15th Street, Del Mar
Open for lunch Monday - Friday 11:30 am to 3:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm; dinner nightly from 5:00 pm
Tel: (858) 481-1001

Rancho Santa Fe:

Mille Fleurs
French/Seafood
An oasis for gourmands, Mille Fleurs offers French-inspired meals that extend far beyond the ordinary.
6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe
Open for lunch Monday thru Friday 11:30 - 1:45 pm; dinner nightly from 6:00 pm
Tel: (858) 756-3085

Coronado:

Primavera Ristorante
Italian
Authentic Italian cuisine in a pleasantly intimate atmosphere.
932 Orange Avenue, between 9th and 10th Streets, Coronado
Open daily 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Tel: (619) 435-0454

San Diego:

Anthony's Fish Grotto
Seafood
Located right on the harbor, Anthony's is consistently rated as one of the best seafood restaurants in San Diego.
1360 North Harbor Drive, San Diego
Open daily from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Tel: (619) 232-5103

Prado
Latin/Italian
Excellent fusion food in the heart of Balboa Park.
1549 El Prado, Suite 12, San Diego
Located in the House of Hospitality in Balboa Park
Open for lunch Monday - Friday 11:30 am to 3:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday 11:00 pm to 3:00 pm; dinner Tuesday to Sunday from 5:00 pm
Tel: (619) 557-9441

Bella Luna
Italian
Upscale Italian in a romantic atmosphere. Ask to sit on the patio so you can do some people watching. Full bar. Accepts Amex, Visa and MasterCard.
748 5th Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
Open Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 am to 11:00 pm, and Friday and Saturday: 11:30 am to 11:30 pm
Tel: (619) 239-3222

Trattoria La Strada
Italian
Serves Tuscan specialties; rated one of the top ten of Italian restaurants in the U.S. Accepts Amex, Visa and MasterCard.
702 5th Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
Open: Monday to Thurs 11:30 am to 11:00 pm, Friday and Saturday, 11:00 am to 1:30 am
Tel: (619) 239-3400

Croce's Restaurant and Jazz Bar
American
Owned by the wife of late singer Jim Croce, this eatery serves great food accompanied by live music in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
802 5th Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
Open daily 5:30 pm-midnight; breakfast and lunch served on weekends, 10:00 am to 2:30 pm
Tel: (619) 233-4355

Candela's
Mexican
Mexico City-inspired eatery serving nouvelle Mexican cuisine
416 3rd Avenue, in the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
Open Monday through Friday 11:30 am to 2:00 pm; dinner served daily 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Tel: (619) 702-4455

La Fiesta
Mexican
Elegant dining and authentic Mexican food
628 5th Avenue, in the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
Open daily 11:00 am to midnight; Sunday brunch served 10:00 am to noon
Tel: (619) 232-4242

Hotels in San Diego

High End/Expensive (Over $250/night)

Lodge at Torrey Pines
La Jolla
This Craftsman-style resort features spacious guest rooms and suites, full-service spa, junior Olympic-size pool surrounded by trellised cabanas.
11480 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, CA 92037
Tel: (858) 453-4420

Hotel del Coronado
Coronado Island
The Del offers travelers contemporary luxury in an enchanting Victorian atmosphere. Add the resort's beachfront location, and it's no wonder USA Today calls The Del "one of the top ten resorts in the world." The Del offers a quintessential San Diego resort vacation experience.
1500 Orange Ave
Coronado, CA 92118
Tel: (619) 435-6611

La Valencia
La Jolla
Overlooking the Pacific since 1926, La Valencia is a charming boutique hotel offering a tradition of elegance and unparallel service. If you want to splurge on a unique luxury experience in San Diego, La Valencia will treat you right.
1132 Prospect St
La Jolla, CA 92037
Tel: (858) 454-0771

L'Auberge
Del Mar
Ranked among the best luxury resorts in the country by Conde Nast, L'Auberge Del Mar brings together panoramic coastal views, casual elegance and personalized service to create an outstanding venue for a romantic getaway.
1540 Camino Del Mar
Del Mar, CA 92014
Tel: (858) 259-1515

Mid-Priced Hotels ($100 to $250/night)

The Bristol
Gaslamp District
A chic boutique with contemporary rooms. Located in the heart of the historic Gaslamp District, the Bristol shares sidewalks with fine dining and world-class shopping. The Bristol Experience promises comfort and friendly, efficient service.
1055 1st Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: (619) 232-6141

Bahia Resort Hotel
Mission Bay
Secluded on a 14-acre peninsula, the Bahia Resort Hotel surrounds you with sun-drenched luxury in a year-round Mediterranean climate, and offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. If you're up for some sailing, the hotel rents Hobie Cat catamarans by the hour--great fun on Mission Bay.
998 West Mission Bay Drive
San Diego, California 92109
Tel: (858) 488-0551

Sheraton La Jolla Hotel
La Jolla
Situated amidst 7.5 acres of tropical gardens, the Sheraton La Jolla is just a five-minute drive from spectacular beaches, tide pools, the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course, snorkeling and sunbathing at romantic La Jolla Cove, and shopping in La Jolla's elegant boutiques. Just a short walk to the city's theaters, restaurants and shopping centers.
3299 Holiday Court
La Jolla, CA 92037
Tel: (866) 544-0139

Activities

City Tour Companies

Gray Line Tours offers several tours of San Diego and vicinity.
Tel: (800) 331-5077

San Diego Tours offers a wide variety of sightseeing tours and attractions in San Diego.
Tel: (800) 303-7197

City Sightseeing San Diego offers tours of the area on its double decker bus.
Tel: (619) 296-2400

San Diego Harbor Excursions offers three tours of San Diego Harbor.
Tel: (619) 234-4111

Panorama Balloon Tours offers fun and romantic balloon tours in Del Mar.
Tel: (760) 271-3467 or (800) 455-3592

Pedalpusher Pedicabs offers tours of the Gaslamp District and the greater downtown area.
Tel: (619) 384-2453

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is a unique place to visit, even if you're not going to a museum. It contains the architectural legacy of two great Expositions: the Panama-California Exposition of 1915-16, celebrating the successful opening of the Panama Canal, and the California Pacific International Exposition of 1935-36, celebrating San Diego itself.

You can visit the IMAX Theater, masterpieces of art, model trains, dinosaur fossils, mummies, folk art from around the world, photographs, sports memorabilia, rare aircraft, vintage autos, science and space exhibits, San Diego historical artifacts, and more. You can also take a jog or a pleasant stroll around the grounds of the park, or get your fortune told by one of the palmistry and Tarot card readers near the House of Hospitality.

Beaches in the San Diego Area

• La Jolla Shores: La Jolla Shores (8200 Camino del Oro) is a sandy beach approximately one mile long, adjacent to a residential area. In summer, waves at this beach are usually the most gentle of all San Diego beaches, although rip currents may still be strong at times.


• La Jolla Cove: La Jolla Cove (1100 Coast Boulevard) is a very small beach, tucked between adjacent sandstone cliffs. Due to its extraordinary beauty, La Jolla Cove is one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California. It is within a short walk of the commercial area of the community of La Jolla, but retains a character "all its own."


• Windansea Beach: The rocky shore of Windansea Beach (6800 Neptune Place) is perhaps best known for its beautiful scenery and surf breaks created by underwater reefs. Sandstone rocks act as partitions along the beach offering a secluded atmosphere for sunbathing. Much of the beach at Windansea experiences shorebreak, a condition on steep beaches which results in hard breaking surf right at the shoreline.


• North Pacific Beach: The beach area north of Crystal Pier extends approximately one mile from the north end of the community of Pacific Beach to the south end of the community of La Jolla. This beach is bordered by cliffs up to 75 feet in height. A sidewalk traverses the cliff-top along much of the south end of the beach. In this area, parking is very limited.


• Pacific Beach: The beach area south of Crystal Pier is known as Pacific Beach. This beach continues south for over two miles, becoming Mission Beach and then South Mission Beach, eventually ending at the channel entrance to Mission Bay. This long beach, known as The Strand, lies directly adjacent to the residential and commercial areas of the Pacific Beach and Mission Beach communities. It is the most popular beach in the City of San Diego and draws large crowds in summer.


• Mission Bay Beaches: Mission Bay offers 19 miles of sandy beaches around the bay.


• Mission Beach: Mission Beach is the center of a continuous stretch of beach known as The Strand, which extends over two miles, beginning at the Mission Bay channel entrance and ending at the north end of Pacific Beach. The Strand is the most popular beach area in the City of San Diego and draws large crowds in summer.


• South Mission Beach: South Mission Beach is bordered on the south by the Mission Bay Channel. It has, perhaps, the widest beach in the City. Recently, it has become known as a popular place to engage in sports such as beach volleyball and basketball following an extensive refurbishing of the courts.


• Ocean Beach: Ocean Beach (1950 Abbott Street) is located in the community of Ocean Beach, just south of the Mission Bay channel entrance. This is a wide beach approximately one mile long. A volleyball area can be found near the north end of the beach.


• Coronado Municipal Beach: This is a wide, clean, family-friendly beach. Within Coronado, there are three beach areas. The first is North Beach, from Sunset Park to the North Island Naval Base. The main area fronting Ocean Boulevard to the south end of the Hotel Del Coronado is referred to as Central Beach. The large beach area south of the Hotel Del to Silver Strand is called The Shores. With a more southwesterly exposure, the Strand offers a year-round beachbreak perfect for longboarding and bodyboarding.

Biking

San Diego Bike and Kayak Tours Offering bike tours, kayak tours and snorkeling adventures in and around San Diego County.
Tel: (858) 454-1010

Bike Tours San Diego The leader in Bike Tours in San Diego for over 10 years.
Tel: (619) 238-2444

Hotel del Coronado

The Hotel del Coronado is one of the few surviving examples of the wooden Victorian beach resort. It is the largest beach resort on the North American Pacific Coast.

The Victorian-era hotel was constructed in 1888 at a cost of $1 million, and was built primarily by Chinese laborers from San Francisco. It was built without nails, using wooden pegs instead. It has been rebuilt and added to several times since its inception.

Notable guests have included Thomas Edison, Babe Ruth, L. Frank Baum and Charlie Chaplin. Every US president since Eisenhower has stayed at the hotel. The hotel was also featured in the 1959 film Some Like It Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon.

Sailing

Mission Bay hosts a number of facilities where boats and other watercraft can be rented out on a per hour basis. These include:

• Seaforth Boat Rentals is the largest boat rental company in San Diego. Whether you are looking to go fishing, sailing, power boating, wakeboarding, kayaking, paddleboarding or the best deals on waverunner jetskis, they've got the boat for you. Open weekdays, 8:00 am to 30 minutes before sundown, and on weekends, 7:00 am to 30 minutes before sundown.
  1641 Quivira Rd., in Mission Bay
  Tel: (888) 834-2628


• Pacific Boat Rentals offers affordable, fast, convenient, and high quality San Diego boat rentals. They specialize in wakeboard boats and jetski rentals.
  1700 West Mission Bay Drive, at Quivira Access
  Tel: (858) 361-6839


• Mission Bay Sports Center carries a variety of equipment for watersports enthusiasts, including boating, jet skiing, sailing, windsurfing, wakeboarding and more.
  Open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
  1010 Santa Clara Place, Mission Bay
  Tel: (858) 488-1004

San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is one of the largest, most progressive zoos in the world, with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species. It is privately operated by the nonprofit Zoological Society of San Diego on 100 acres of parkland leased from the City of San Diego.

The San Diego Zoo grew out of exotic animal exhibitions abandoned After the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. A permanent tract of land in Balboa Park was set aside in August 1921, and the zoo began to move in the following year. The San Diego Zoo has been a pioneer in building "cageless" exhibits.

The zoo has focused on designing its exhibits around specific habitats, featuring many different animal species that can be found side-by-side in the wild, along with native plant life. The exhibits range from an African rain forest (featuring gorillas) to the Arctic taiga and tundra in the summertime (featuring polar bears). Some of the largest free-flight aviaries in existence are featured here. Many exhibits feature natural-appearing motifs, with invisible wires and darkened blinds (to view birds) and pools and open-air moats (for larger mammals).

The San Diego Zoo currently has the largest population of Giant Pandas outside of mainland China: Bai Yun (female), Gao Gao (male), two year old Mei Sheng, and a female panda cub, Su Lin, born on August 2, 2005. Bai Yun and Gao Gao's most recent cub--a female--was born on August 3, 2007. She is the fourth giant panda born at the zoo.

Zoo Hours:

• Summer Hours (through September 1):
  9:00 am to 8:00 pm (grounds close at 9:00 pm)


• Fall Hours (September 2 to October 5):
  9:00 am to 4:00 pm (grounds close at 6:00 pm)


• Founder's Day (October 6):
  9:00 am to 5:00 pm (grounds close at 6:00 pm)


• Fall/Winter Hours (October 7 to March 8):
  9:00 am to 4:00 pm (grounds close at 5:00 pm)

USS Midway Museum

The USS Midway Museum. Visitors to the USS Midway Museum enter a floating city at sea and walk in the footsteps of 225,000 Midway sailors who served their country. Guests can spend the day exploring more than 60 exhibits with a collection of 25 restored aircraft. The self-guided audio tour, narrated by Midway sailors, brings the carrier's history to life. Those who dare can "take to the sky" aboard one of three flight simulators. Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day). Last admission is at 4 p.m. Tickets run $18 for adults, $15 for seniors (62+) and students (with valid ID), $10 for retired military (with valid ID) and $10 for youth (ages 6-17). Complimentary admission for active-duty military personnel (including Reservists) with valid ID (daytime admission only).
Located 910 North Harbor Drive, in downtown San Diego, alongside Navy Pier
Tel: (619) 544-9600

Whaley House Museum

According to the Travel Channel program America's Most Haunted, the Whaley House Museum is the most haunted house in the United States. Formally dedicated as a historic house museum on May 25, 1960 and open to the public ever since, it is one of Southern California's most popular visitor destinations; over 100,000 people visit the Whaley House annually. The Whaley House Museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is $6 for Adults, $5 for Seniors (age 65 & over), and $4 for Children (ages 3 to 12). Located at 2476 San Diego Avenue in historic Old Town.