San Diego is a premier vacation destination. Every year thousands of people travel to this sunny coastal city for craft breweries, oceanfront resorts, experiential dining and local cuisine.
It’s also a top destination for celebrating. At any given time you will find large groups out for birthdays, graduations, bachelorette parties, and more! San Diego really has something for everyone and every group, big or small. If you’re looking for family-friendly experiences or large group party events, San Diego is for you.
This post is all about the best things to do in San Diego.
So what does San Diego have to offer? Let’s dive right in! Below you will find a list of the most popular and fun things to do from North County to Downtown San Diego. Enjoy!
#1 San Diego Zoo
An absolute favorite among locals and visitors, the San Diego Zoo is world-famous for a reason. Tour the beautiful grounds full of lush greenery, amazing animals, and tasty treats. You can easily spend an entire day at the Zoo or do a quick few hours. I highly recommend the bus tour or even a private tour. The guides are all knowledgeable and interacting with the animals in a private tour is one of those “best day ever” experiences.
#2 SeaWorld San Diego
Discover new ocean friends at SeaWorld in San Diego. This park is upping it’s game with more roller coasters each year. SeaWorld has made a significant pivot in the right direction – away from animal shows. Over these past few years, they have really added a lot of other activities and rides to the park while maintaining the same ocean education theme. They now offer great events year-round like the Seven Seas Food Festival in the Summer and the Howl-O-Scream event in the Fall. They still offer great exhibits for you to see otters, polar bears, penguins, and more!
#3 Legoland
Grab the kids and head to Carlsbad for some fun in the sun! Every kid (big and small) loves LEGOs. Let your imagination grow wild at this park while you build new memories. Guests can even schedule a stay at one of the two on-site LEGO-themed hotels. The summer is the perfect time to visit Legoland, they even have a Fourth of July event called Red, White & Boom!
#4 Carlsbad Flower Fields
The absolute perfect Spring outing in San Diego is the Carlsbad Flower Fields. Take gorgeous photos at the flower fields, enjoy amazing food from the fantastic vendors that are set up on-site, and even enjoy a little yoga among the flowers. The Flower Fields are open every spring for a few months usually starting in March. This is a local and tourist hot spot. People from all over Southern California come here to view the huge fields of colorful blooming flowers. It truly is a magical experience, a 10/10 must-see while visiting San Diego.
#5 Carlsbad Strawberry Company
Another local favorite is the Carlsbad Strawberry Company. Guests can purchase containers and hand-pick their strawberries in the beautiful San Diego Sun. This location is prime for vacations and is located right off the 5 freeway on Cannon.
It’s just blocks away from the Carlsbad Flower Fields, so if you’re trying to get a few things in one day, you can hit these two and have a great time.
The Strawberry company has music, games, and year-round events on the property. You can check out a full review here of our day at the Strawberry fields.
#6 Carlsbad Village
While you’re in North County, enjoy a meal and a drink by the water in Carlsbad Village. This is a fantastic area for shopping, dining and relaxing with friends and family.
Every Wednesday they have a farmer’s market with amazingly fresh and prepared food, flowers, juices, and gourmet treats for your dogs too.
Our family has spent a lot of time enjoying a walk around the area, enjoying lunch and walking to the beach with a giant scoop of ice cream from Handels.
#7 Balboa Park
Another top-tier location in San Diego. Balboa Park is California’s, Central Park. Balboa Park has museums, gardens, dining, and outdoor events all year long.
It’s located on the same property as the San Diego Zoo and is situated just beyond Downtown San Diego.
Balboa Park is a stunning location for weddings, picnics, parties, and more. You can easily spend an entire day here exploring the gardens, grabbing drinks and a meal and touring the museums. If you’re staying near the airport or Downtown San Diego, I highly recommend visiting Balboa Park.
#8 Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach is the new Venice Beach. If you’re from Los Angeles then you understand what I mean. Pacific Beach is a very relaxed beach city with vintage clothing shops, rows of bars and restaurants, and a large surfing and tourist crowd.
On the weekends you will find a lot of college kids here at the bars and restaurants. It’s a popular nightlife location and a lot cheaper than traveling to downtown San Diego and the drinks are cheaper too.
You can also walk along the boardwalk and enjoy a fantastic brunch at a number of locations.
#9 Petco Park
Home of the San Diego Padres, Petco Park is located in the middle of downtown San Diego and within walking distance of tons of bars, restaurants, and the San Diego Convention Center.
You can often find a music or food festival going on in the Park when it isn’t being used for our San Diego Padres. And during Comic Con, this place is crawling with festivities and cosplayers.
If you’re in town for a game, you will definitely be able to see a lot of what the area has to offer. Local to the Park is Coronado, the San Diego Zoo, Gaslamp District and Balboa Park.
#10 Mission Beach
Known as San Diego’s Boardwalk Beach Town, Mission Beach is a great area for a day at the beach or an afternoon at Belmont Park. Just off the boardwalk, you can find fishing experiences and boating excursions.
This is a very walkable area and great for a relaxing day if you’ve already done your sightseeing. Please note that parking is very tight here. A lot of the streets require permits, so be aware and read all of the signs.
#11 Coronado: Hotel Del
An absolute staple in San Diego, filled with history and beautiful architecture, the Hotel Del is a must-see. We’ve stayed here a handful of times and each time gets better.
For guests, they have amazing pools and beach activities, including bonfires and private beach cabanas. And offered to everyone are the beautiful restaurants and views, ice skating during the “winter” and movie nights during the summer.
The Hotel Del goes above and beyond and truly creates magic for every season. Our favorite time to visit is during the holidays when they decorate giant trees and offer cocoa and cocktails on the patio and Santa visits for photos. You can even rent a fire pit lounge area next to the ice rink that sits right across from the water. It really is amazing.
Be sure to check their website for updated events and hours.
#12 Gaslamp Quarter
The famous Gaslamp Quarter, filled to the brim with craft cocktails, sports bars, clubs, and bottomless brunch. If you’re looking for that downtown experience, this is where you want to be.
Gaslamp is popular among visitors, locals, college students, and convention center attendees. You will find gorgeous hotels in this area too, with rooftop pools and lounges.
If you want the San Diego nightlife scene, this is for you!
#13 Belmont Park
This local favorite is reminiscent of the Santa Monica Pier with rides, games, and fun food. Just like at the Santa Monica Pier, Belmont Park offers free admission and “pay as you play.”
It’s located right along Mission Beach and offers roller coasters, bumper cars, and a tilt-a-whirl. This area is geared towards smaller kids, so if you are traveling with your family this is a great stop on your beach day.
#14 Old Town San Diego
The historic Old Town San Diego offers guests authentic Mexican food, a state park and a haunted house. The Whaley House is one of the oldest and most haunted places in San Diego. Guests can experience this house by signing up for a daytime or evening tour.
You can also visit the State Park and during the month of October, you can visit the cemetery where you can light candels at the alters for friends and family members that have passed on.
This is a beautiful and historic neighborhood with a lot of culture. If you’re looking to experience a bit of the original San Diego and would like to know more about its history, then Old Town is just for you.
#15 Fiesta Island
Is it a beach, or is it a bay? It’s a bay! But locals and visitors spend their “beach days” here, in the water, boating, and Barbequing.
Fiesta Island is a very popular park and beach-type area that is always packed on weekends, especially holiday weekends. It’s also a very popular spot for dogs.
If your family enjoys green parks with an ocean view, then Fiesta Island is for you.
#16 La Jolla Cove
One of the premier destinations in all of San Diego is La Jolla Cove! You can walk along the beach for hours and see seals and tide pools. You can arrange for a private, romantic picnic on top of the cliffs/cove for a special occasion and you can just sit and relax with one of the most beautiful ocean views you will ever see.
People travel from all over the world to visit La Jolla Cove. It’s a stunning location that offers kayak excursions into the caves, gorgeous resorts that overlook the ocean, and amazing local restaurants.
#17 Brewery or Wine Tour
San Diego has become a top destination for breweries and wineries. You can travel up and down the coast and visit a number of fantastic locations like the New English Brewery, Coronado Brewing Company, and Mission Brewery. There are also more well-known locations like Ballast Point, Stone, and Karl Strauss. There are also a number of companies that provide full brewery tours.
If you’re more of a wine person, don’t worry, San Diego has you covered. Tasting rooms are open at the Blue Door Urban Winery, Gianni Buonomo Vintners, and San Pasqual Winery. There are actually a ton of wineries and tasting rooms in the area and that will need to be part of a larger post.
Overview
San Diego has a lot to offer visitors, even if it’s just a day trip or a full week-long vacation. From beach days to hiking, and golfing – San Diego has a lot to offer everyone.
Visiting San Diego can involve a lot of different experiences, so be sure to do your research ahead of time. Check out what great activities are local to where you are staying and maybe try something new.
As always, let me know if you have any questions about your upcoming visit or if you have a great idea to add to the post.
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