San Diego’s universal appeal, beautiful climate and laid-back vibes will keep you amazed as you visit this American city. It has a stunning natural harbor which speaks a lot about the enriched military heritage and the USS Midway Museum. This city is also a paradise for surfers because of the coastlines which stretch across miles. The beaches are attractive, especially both the Coronado and La Jolla which are the ideally known as the country’s best family beaches. There are so many things to do in San Diego which includes exploring beautiful monuments, theaters and museums. For the first time visitors to this popular American city, over here is our recommended list for the top ten things to do in San Diego. We have also suggested hand-picked tours and activities that you must book to explore these attractions. Let’s start exploring each of these ten attractions from the beginning.
1. Visit Balboa Park
Balboa Park is one of the most popular family attractions to visit in San Diego. This is 1,200-acre huge urban park with many spectacular things to see and explore. The gardens surrounding the park have got a huge collection of over 350 varieties of plant species. The Botanical Building located inside the park is, however, a spectacular place to visit. It contains over 2,000 varieties of unique plant species of diversified flora and fauna. You can keep yourself busy with your family after visiting the park and enjoying the live shows. The park is easily accessible by walking, so, local walking tours are quite popular among tourists planning to explore this park.
2. Embarcadero
Embarcadero is the beautiful harbor-front in San Diego. This is a great place to stroll around in the evening and enjoy the surrounding beauty. The entire area encompasses popular eateries, shops and stunning sights overlooking the bay. You can also spot the San Diego Maritime Museum over here. The Bay Wine and Food Festival are popular events which are organized over here during November. Thus, it’s a unique time to visit with family and enjoy.
3. Visit Point Loma
Point Loma is a historic site to explore in San Diego. This is a rocky peninsula from where the European first started their expedition date backed in the 15th century. During the 19th century, this place was under the influence of the military and armed forces. This site also has over 100,000 graves that will remind you about the USS Bennington Monument.
4. La Jolla
La Jolla is a beautiful oceanfront community located on the rocky cliff into the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by water on all its three sides which makes it a perfect spot to visit. You can visit this place and spend your day enjoying dining and marveling around the sea caves. During summer evenings the entire area gets vibrant with open-air concerts. It is, therefore, a great way to celebrate and spend time visiting this place.
5. Enjoy Surfing
San Diego is undoubtedly a surfer’s paradise and an excellent place to spend your day. The city has open coastlines that spread over seventy miles. Surfing is the major attractions and therefore a popular place among surfers. The WSL competitions are popular events organized over here. So, if you want to enjoy thrilling water-sports in San Diego, explore its coastlines and surfing spots.
6. Visit Cabrillo National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument is a popular attraction to visit in San Diego. You can find this museum located at Point Loma’s southern tip. The heroic statue of Cabrillo located over here is a replica of the original statue. Once you visit this place, you can enjoy watching a movie picturing the voyage which Cabrillo took centuries ago. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse is now a museum and a great place to marvel around.
7. San Diego Old Town
San Diego Old Town is a historic place to visit. It is the place where European’s first settled date backed in the 18th century. There are beautiful places to visit in Old Town. You can marvel around the stunning 40-acre park and enjoy great Mexican food. The entire area has lots of beautiful shops and galleries for you to marvel around. If you book San Diego Old Town city tour, your local guide will explain you in details about this place.
8. San Diego Zoo
When you are exploring San Diego, you cannot miss visiting the Zoo. The San Diego Zoo is big and is sheltering more than 600 species. It is also recognized as one of the World’s Best Zoo. The Zoo area is divided into various zones where the unique animals are kept. You can find gorillas, polar bears and Giant Pandas. This is a place attracting children and family alike thus remains crowded all the time.
9. San Diego Harbor Cruise
San Diego Harbor Cruise is a beautiful cruise journey along the Embarcadero. As you cruise along the bay water, enjoy the views of the most recognizable landmarks in San Francisco. You can enjoy beautiful views of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. There are lots of wild animals to spot around, and it’s fun watching them around.
10. San Diego Museum of Art
The San Diego Museum of Art is a popular attraction for kids. It was built date backed in 1926 and has an overwhelming collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings. The building’s interior contains unique fresco paintings on its facade. It always remains busy, so better book Skip-the-line tickets before you visit.
Final Verdict
The list of tours and activities to explore San Diego are many. We have however recommended the best tours you should book during your visit. We have also listed down the major attractions and the list of the top ten things to do in San Diego. If you want to check over 500 tours and activities in San Diego, Click Here!