10 Best Things To Do in San Diego

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San Diego has been called “the birthplace of California”, where Europeans first stepped on, in the western United States.

You can enjoy its culture and rich heritage being the home to both Native Americans and the settlers. The beaches are a must, you will have the fun of a lifetime, a great place for adventure seekers.

10 Best Things to Do in San Diego (California)

San Diego is the birthplace of basic comfort food such as California Burrito, this includes French fries and carne asada.

Being the eighth largest city in the U.S and second largest in California, it offers several tourist attractions. Amongst the long list of fun things, here are the 10 best things to do in San Diego.

1. Balboa Park

Balboa has a lot to offer hence you just can’t miss it, from captivating lush green gardens to a variety of museums in refined Spanish revival and grand architecture.

It is spread over a 1200 acre land is the restful cultivated areas also housing the world-class zoo not to confuse with the Safari Park.

There are recreational facilities and gift shops lined up along with variety of restaurants to satisfy your taste bud.

The Botanical House contains 2100 individual plants which is among the largest lath buildings not only in the U.S but in the world.

In front of the building lies a beautiful pond with annual display of lilies and lotuses and is definitely one of the prettiest sights.

Frequent events are held throughout the year in the museums, venues and plazas. The Balboa Park claims to be the intersection of “culture, science and nature”.

2. La Jolla

La Jolla were the original inhabitants of this region whereas now it is the upscale oceanfront community based on a rocky headland poking out into the Pacific Ocean surrounded by water on three sides making it the prettiest sight.

You will see cliffs with sea caves and little coves where seals and sea lions rest on the sand, you don’t have to be afraid of these calm low lying creatures but it is advised to not disturb or instigate them.

The other face of La Jolla proper will show you its cafes, boutiques in a cosmopolitan, European feel.

You can take a detour of the Legends Gallery on Prospect afterwards, if you admire art. It has original art by Theodor Seuss Geisel often called as Dr. Seuss.

Take a kayak or bike tour of the 7 caves of the La Jolla.Another attraction around La Jolla is the La Jolla Cove, surrounded by cliffs this north-facing beauty is one of the most visited and photographed area of the coast.

The natural park is home to sea lions and seals, and around June can be found giving birth on the beach. This time of the year isn’t open to the public or for swimming for the safety of the sea creatures.

3. Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

The Old Town San Diego State Historical Park is situated in the Old Town, although build in the 19th century these are well preserved.

One of the oldest remaining pieces of Spanish architecture in California is the Casa de Estudillo from 1827, you cannot help but drop your jaw when you see this.

This park gives a sense of intersection of cultures and the entry is free to everyone. This gives a clear show of cultures of Mexican pueblo and the later American settlement.

The state historic Park was established in 1967 and has large array of buildings, is a living history museum that commemorates and preserves the old buildings. It’s a great place for a shopping enthusiast as well.

4. Little Italy

Little Italy neighborhood is in downtown San Diego. It has its roots in the city’s once remunerative tuna industry.

Although the last of the canneries closed in the 1980s, but somehow the immigrants from mainland Italy and Sicily managed the boat fleets.

The Embarcadero settled close around 19th century, to what is now a congenial area of fancy restaurants, one-of-a-kind design shops, pizza spots, bodegas and cafes that spill out into patios.

If you somehow happen to be there on a Saturday, you will see the weekend Farmer’s market, it will be your spot to try oysters and freshly caught sea urchin.

The San Diego institution that you will see, was earlier a weekend Saturday “Mercato” street market which shut down years ago.

5. San Diego Museum of Art

Built in 1926 and initially named as the Fine arts Gallery of San Diego, was later changed into San Diego Museum of Art n 1978 houses the magnificent and finest works of Spanish art.

The latest addition include raft of paintings donated from the Symbolist, Expressionist, Agitprop and new Objectivity movements by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Robert Delaunay, Otto Dix and Alexej von Jawlensky.

If you visit it in the month of April, remember to book your tickets online, you will see the “Art Alive’ event

Where real flowers and other organic materials are used to interpret the permanent pieces of the Museum, every year.

The museum hosts fun activities for kids on school holidays making it a great place it visit and have fun. It also does film screenings besides cocktail evenings.

6. Gaslamp Quarter

The Historic Heart of San Diego, dates back to 19th century. The Gaslamp quarter is a waterfront town, known for its vibrant nightlife.

This was done when a real estate developer Alonzo Horton saw the area near the San Diego bay and envisaged a new city.

The 16 blocks are in Victorian-style buildings and you will see a variety of shops, art galleries, theatres and trendy restaurants, not to forget the bars and clubs the area is popular for.

7. Torrey Pines Gliderport

Torrey Pines Gliderport is North America’s top paragliding and hang gliding location. You will find colorful gliders in the air doing tricks over the cliffs and beach.

On the edge of the State Reserve is a platform owned by the city for para gliding and hang gliding posted on the cliffs above the pacific.

No worries if you are a beginner and need training, in that case you can join the tandem hang gliding or para gliding as you wish, starting at a cost of couple of hundred dollars.

8. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

The mesmerizing Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is along the west flank of Point Loma. The rough-hewn ocean bluffs, caves, natural arches and tidepools will take your breath away.

There is no better place within easy reach than this to watch the beautiful sunset. There’s also a chance of spotting gray whales between Decembers to April if you are lucky.

Rent car or taxi and go by road to spot the sensational scenery on the sunset Cliffs Boulevard between Adair Street and Ladera Street.

9. San Diego Zoo Safari Park

One of the largest tourist attractions, the San Diego Zoo Safari houses wild as well as endangered animals.

Species from Africa, Asia, Europe, South and North America and Australia are housed here. The Safari Park hours are from 9 am to 6 pm, you can also buy the tickets online.

You will take a road train and truck caravan rides through the vast landscape spread over 1,800 acres of land, displaying African Plains and Asian Savanna to view wildebeest, springboks, gazelles, giraffes.

Home to a family of 13 lions, is the Lion Camp, here you will see the majestic animal as well as the fast running cheetah at the Cheetah Run, African Outpost.

Take the Flightline Safari, to see the giraffes and rhinos in the park’s African plains.

10. Old Globe Theatre

Modeled after Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, is the Old Globe theatre in Balboa Park in San Diego.

It was established during the California Pacific International Exposition of 1935-36, is considered the pillar of culture in San Diego.

Still in demand, there are two performances a day in the weekdays and three on weekends in this theatre.

Stands tall as one among the top regional theatres in the country, puts on around fifteen productions of classic, modern classic and latest works of new playwright.

Each season, meanwhile never forgetting Shakespeare, who is the soul of the theatre. This institution is the proud winner of the Tony awards.

Conclusion

Apart from the above mentioned places you will also find a few other beaches and parks in the district to enjoy the ocean or take a walk through the gleaming city that is alive both day and night.

Summers are the best time to visit San Diego through March, you can also visit it through September.

Since it rains in winter and you won’t be able to go swimming at the beach or para gliding, it’s advisable to book your tickets for the summer. If you are a beach person, this is going to be your favorite trip.

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