What Are the Best Things to Do in San Diego?
Sea Lions enjoying the sun and surf in La Jolla
Finding the best things to do in this Southern California city is going to depend on your particular situation and preferences. Here are some tips on figuring out how to have the best time with your travel plans to “America’s Finest City.”
Overview
There are certainly plenty of fun things to do in Southern California in general and San Diego in specific. First, you have to ask yourself what kind of activities you enjoy. For example, you might like going to SeaWorld or San Diego Zoo Safari Park if you love animals.
USS Midway Museum
If history is more your thing, then one interesting place to go to is the USS Midway Museum in the city. This is a museum that has exhibits of historic aircraft carriers, including those that fought at the historic battle of Midway.
Midway was one of the most significant battles of World War II, where the U.S. fleet had a major showdown with the Japanese fleet at the Island of Midway, which was an important refueling station in the Pacific. Veterans and historians help guide you through each exhibit to show you what the aircraft carriers were like.
This includes letting children check out the airlocks, the bunks, the communication stations, the deck, and much more. There's even an overnight option for children as well. There's a lot to see here from individual aircraft to every room in the carrier. You'll have access, unlike what would've been possible in any other time period.
La Jolla Cove
If nature is your thing, La Jolla Cove is a great pick. It's easily one of the most popular spots in the entire city when it comes to swimming. It's also an ideal spot for snorkeling and diving. There are a lot of animals to watch here, and the cove is protected ecologically. There's a dive site here that's actually world-famous.
There are often sea lions hanging out here. There are a lot of fun caves and coves to check out as you swim around. It's a unique place and not a bad location to spend an afternoon if you're in the area and love swimming and nature.
Many people say it's one of the best diving charter options that you can find period. It's also a good location if you love to Kayak, for example. Photogs will have some amazing opportunities here, as well.
Balboa Park
Another great place to go for nature is Balboa Park. It has quite a spectacular array of things to see from huge pools to trees with fascinating roots and beyond. The area includes the famous zoo in the city so you could make a day of it and visit both places if you so choose.
Petco Park
The price for going to this famous stadium will vary depending on what you plan on doing there. Going to a Padres game will likely be expensive, whereas taking a simple tour will not. In general, people report that visiting the park was a lot of fun and even the simple tour lets you see a lot of the park and its history. You get to see parts you wouldn't be able to see otherwise.
Gliderports
There are places to go in the city where you can take a glider and zoom around in the sky above. You'll have amazing views of the ocean and spectacular sites that you would be unlikely to see from any other vantage point. The price point on this activity is definitely on the high side, often going up to around $100 per person, but it is a unique experience. You will have a big color hang glider holding you up as you float over the shoreline.
Generally, they will hook you up with tandem pilots so that you stay safe and keep heading where you want to go.
San Diego One Hour Harbour Cruise and Sea Lion Adventure
If you want to go out on the open seas, you can choose some cruises for quick trips around the harbor that will also allow you to see sea lions. They are always there, but just hard to see unless you manage to get out there a little way first. So this is a viable option if you love sea life and boats.
This is only around $30 or a bit under per adult, so it's not too bad if you have a small group of people going.
Sailing Excursions
These trips tend to be a bit more expensive per adult. We're talking about three or four times what some of the other ocean excursions cost. However, you get the use of a sailboat and can spend the entire afternoon exploring the waves, so it can certainly be worth it
No matter what you do, it's essential to pay attention to the weather for the day. In general, it's going to be fairly clear and nice in the city, but you shouldn't just automatically assume that this is the case. The weather can change at any time, and you shouldn't just rely on the weather always being beautiful. It's good to check.
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