1. San Diego: USS Midway Museum Entry Ticket
Take a self-guided audio tour onboard the world’s longest-serving aircraft carrier, the historic USS Midway....
1. San Diego: USS Midway Museum Entry Ticket
Take a self-guided audio tour onboard the world’s longest-serving aircraft carrier, the historic USS Midway....
2. San Diego: SeaWorld Skip-the-Line Park Admission Ticket
Discover the underwater world at SeaWorld San Diego, with animal encounters, interactive...
3. San Diego: Harbor Sightseeing Cruise
See the sights of San Diego Bay on a fully-narrated cruise. Pass by Seaport Village, Shelter Island, Coronado...
4. San Diego: Harbor Cruise
See San Diego's best sights. Learn about the city and enjoy a cruise on the bay. Depending on the option booked, this tour takes you...
5. San Diego: Sightseeing Dinner Cruise with DJ Music
Enjoy a dinner cruise from San Diego that combines culinary excellence with unforgettable...
6. 90-Minute San Diego SEAL Tour
Splash into San Diego’s most unique sightseeing tour. See the best of San Diego on land and in the water. Take a seat on the...
7. La Jolla: Sea Cave Kayaking Tour with Guide
Discover San Diego's Marine Protected Area, home to a variety of fish, birds, dolphins, turtles,...
8. San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise
Embark on a marine life adventure on a dolphin and whale watching tour off the coast of San Diego. Keep...
9. Sights & Sips 2-hour Sunset Cruise on San Diego Bay
Come aboard the only floating happy hour in San Diego. The Sights & Sips Sunset Cruise on San...
10. La Jolla Underwater Park: Kayak and Snorkel Tour
Kayak out into the reserve with your guides, who will lead the group to the best snorkeling spot...
The must-see attractions in San Diego are:
The best tours and things to do in San Diego are:
The best day trips and excursions from San Diego are:
Tijuana
The best tours and things to do in San Diego with kids are:
These are the best activities when you are visiting San Diego on a budget:
These are the most popular museums and exhibitions in San Diego:
San Diego, the 8th largest city in the United States, is famous for its temperate year-round weather, gorgeous sunsets and lots of fun things to do. The famous San Diego Zoo, beautiful Balboa Park and downtown nightlife make San Diego a favorite destination for families. There is so much to do in San Diego that we enlisted the travel experts at TravelingMom, a leading family travel website, to share their favorite things to do and tips for making the most of a visit, even if you only have a few days. Here you can look into TravelingMom's San Diego guide.
Balboa Park in downtown San Diego is an absolute can't miss. This 1,200-acre mid-city park is fille with gardens, museums, cultural spots, theaters, playgrounds and walking trails. There are plenty of low-cost and free things for families to explore within Balboa Park. The beautiful beaches are another wonderful place to spend a warm day in San Diego. Whether you're looking for tidepooling in Point Loma, boardwalk fun in Mission Beach, or cliffside sunsets in La Jolla, there's a beach that just right for your family.
San Diego is best known for its beaches, but there is so much more nature to discover, including desertscapes and mountain fun. For hiking, fishing and camping, head to the Laguna Mountains to experience unplugged family time.
It is nearly impossible to experience all of the wonders of San Diego in one visit. Consider focusing your visit into one area, starting with either downtown or the beaches. To explore the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Coronado Island and other downtown activities, plan on 4-5 days. A beach vacation to San Diego could be a weekend getaway, by choosing one beach to visit per day depending on your family's favorite acticities -- surfing, boardwalk rides and games, swimming, snorkling or tidepooling.
Tacos are San Diego's best known meal, namely fish tacos made with white fish, usually yellowfin or bluefin tuna. Nearly every restaurant menu will offer a version of this San Diego speciality. Fish tacos are generally breaded and deep fried fish filets, served in a warm corn tortilla with white sauce, chopped cabbage and salsa verde.
While most Californians rely on personal vehicles for transportation, if you don't have a car, the trolley is an easy way to get around in San Diego. A trip on the ferry from downtown to Coronado is an excellent way to reach the Island. Consider renting a bike or scooter to get around the downtown area. The Coaster Train, as the name implies, travels only along the coast. The north/south running commuter line has 8 stops between downtown and Oceanside. If you plan on venturing out to hike, fish and experience nature, you will need a car. Travel freeways between 10 am and 2 pm to avoid the heaviest traffic clusters and worst traffic jams.
The best time to visit San Diego is in September and October. Summer crowds have thinned out but the weather is still very warm for swimming and outdoor activities. With most kids back in school, places like LEGOLAND, SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo are far less crowded. October is ideal for families on a budget, as many popular locations offer kids free admission for the entire month. Aim for early October versus later in the month, when many students are out of school for fall break.
The Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego is known for boutique shopping and family restaurants by day and exciting adult nightlife like bars, live music and dance clubs. The trolley line stops right here so visitors can enjoy without having to find a paid parking lot. The Gaslamp is walkable to area attractions including Petco Park for Padres baseball games, Seaport Village and harbor.
Hillcrest is the heart of San Diego's LGBTQ+ community and offers plenty of outdoor patio dining, craft brewpubs and a weekend farmer's market. There is a variety of foods and flavors within walking distance of each other on University Avenue and sidestreets, including dessert-only hot spots.
For souvenier shopping, visitors can't miss Seaport Village. There are more than 50 unique shops spread out in this bayside location, selling everything from books and toys to art and San Diego-made products. Plus, there are plenty of dining spots and a carousel for the kids!
For Airbnb, look for a walkable neighborhood like South Park. The area is full of historic homes within walking distance of restaurants, parks and breweries. Plus, it's very close to downtown, the airport and the famous San Diego Zoo.
San Diego is known for their many beautiful beaches. Mission Beach and the surrounding bay is a family-friendly hot spot, with ample free parking, grassy picnic areas and play grounds. Belmont Park is a highlight, with a beach-side roller coaster and other amusements. Plenty of sand and waves for boogie boarding and swimming. Those with younger children should visit the bay, with tamer waves for wading. Many areas for dining and shopping along the boardwalk.
To find budget accomodations and dining, move away from the coastal locations. Mission Valley offers lower costs on hotels than beach cities. Drive further east to suburban areas like La Mesa to find unique dining and micro-breweries.
For the ultimate splurge vacation, La Jolla, Del Mar and Torrey Pines. Hotels are swank and upscale dining abounds. Expect designer fashion boutiques, art galleries and a higher price tag for everything in these locations.
Want to discover all there is to do in San Diego? Click here for a full list.
It was great. Kayaking was so fun and had a great view of the caves. The early morning tour was best. I'm sure the current and conditions change, but from 9 am launch to the 11 am return the water got really rough. So happy we left early. Two person kayak was way easier also. Saw some kiddos 7-8ish. The water was way cold for me and the wetsuit made all the difference. This would have been a horrible experience without it. I'm from middle TN and we have 80 degree water temps in summer, this was 68! But the wetsuit made it refreshing and had no issues. They also have a cool store.
We loved our time spent at this very well organized and informative museum. So much to see and learn about- lots of different kinds of presentations and we got the feel of what it might have been like to serve on a navy ship. We felt so proud of our military and the sacrifices made on our behalf then and now! Thank you for such a great tour!
It was fun. We walked around downtown SD learning about the history, while discovering old building that we never knew about, and got to solve riddles too. While on our adventure we stopped and had ice cream and lunch too.
Educational and the little activity for kids to be a junior pilot is a fantastic experience.
Great staff, Great displays. Everything was a positive.
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