San Diego is California’s oldest town, located in Southern California, not far from the Mexico border. A mild Mediterranean climate, with plenty of sunshine and enchanting natural beauty, makes it perfect for outdoor adventures. Some of San Diego’s most popular tourist attractions are its many museums, gardens, and amazing Spanish Colonial-style architecture found in Balboa Park. There is also the world-famous San Diego Zoo and the historical Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum.
You can stroll the streets of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park to experience some history and do the shopping, or check out the Gaslamp Quarter. San Diego beaches are some of South California’s best, having some 68 miles of coastline in and around the city. If you want to enjoy some of the famous year-round sunshine, you can go swimming and surfing, or just get a nice tan on the beach.
Gaslamp Quarter
The Gaslamp Quarter National Historic District is adjacent to both Petco Park and the Convention Center and is the center of the city’s nightlife. If you are looking for something to do in downtown San Diego, particularly after dark, it’s the first place you should check out.
This is a great place to catch some live jazz concerts, comedy, or theater performances in its restored late-19th- and early-20th-century Victorian buildings. They also house loud entertainment venues, art galleries, trendy shops, and restaurants serving every kind of food possibly imaginable, from ethnic eastern food to pizza.
The district’s length is about 16 blocks, it runs from Broadway to San Diego Bay, and it’s easy to walk it from one end to the other. You can also just hop on a bike taxi if your legs need a break.
Thanks to the convenient location in the center of the city, the Gaslamp Quarter is also a popular place to stay. There are many high-end hotels ranging from boutique ones like the Pendry San Diego to big-brand buildings such as the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, located a short walk away from all the action.
Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum
You might be surprised when you run into one of the US military’s largest ships while walking along the San Diego shoreline on the Embarcadero. The demobilized aircraft USS Midway is permanently docked at Navy Pier.
If you’ll decide to visit the USS Midway Museum you will see more than 60 exhibits and 25 restored aircraft. The ship was home to more than 225,000 military service personnel, and there are self-guided audio tours available for you to learn all about its history. There is also a flight simulator onboard which you can try For an additional fee.
San Diego Beaches
San Diego a perfect place to visit for a beach vacation, since it has sunshine all year long and miles of lovely surf-washed coastline make. San Diego’s famous beaches offer conditions for every type of activity, whatever you would like to do.
If your favorite thing to do is surfing, Del Mar is one of the most conformable locations. But there are a lot of other great surf spots, including Pacific Beach, Swami’s, Trestles, and Black’s Beach. The beginner surfers should take a look at Oceanside or La Jolla Shores.
Perhaps the best family-friendly beaches are Silver Strand, Del Mar, La Jolla Shorestake, and Coronado Beach. They would be perfect for taking the kids for a day of sun, sand, and sea. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve offers scenic hiking trails and soaring sea cliffs for those who prefer a wild and rugged piece of coastline.
The best time to visit San Diego for a beach vacation depends on your chosen activity. If you prefer surfing, wait for winter storms which bring big swells. If you like swimming, summer is definitely the best time to take a plunge. But if you’re headed to the beach to take in some sunshine or just walk along the shore, you can do it at any time of the year.
Old Town State Historic Park
You can experience the rich culture from San Diego’s early days at the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. This town grew from a small Mexican pueblo and the park replicates the feel of the Mexican and early American periods, from 1821 to 1872.
There you will be able to visit a working blacksmith shop, browse the art studios, shop for genuine Mexican crafts, enjoy the live music, and eat on a sunny patio at one of the local atmospheric restaurants. Some of the historic buildings have been restored, while others have been constructed later in the same historical architectural style.
The Old Town State Historic Park is currently one of the most visited state parks in the state. Most of the attractions are free, there is no admission fee, and along with it, you can sign up for free walking tours offered twice daily.
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park stretches for 68 acres along coastal bluffs above the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the best places to visit in San-Diego and you will definitely appreciate the awe-inspiring view of a Southern California sunset. The location offers an unparalleled viewpoint for you to take in the ocean panoramas. In evenings the sun turns the horizon from blue to glorious rosy-toned hues.
The Sunset Cliffs Natural Park also offers a chance to spot the gray whales during their migration season and watch these graceful creatures as they move to Baja California in Mexico.
San Diego Museum of Art
If you look for a dose of culture, you should check out the San Diego Museum of Art. Its peculiar facade is done in the so-called plateresque style, with fine terra-cotta work. Busts of Spanish painters decorate the entrance, and you can see their artworks among the many exhibits displayed here.
The museum’s vast collection covers a wide spectrum of works from all around the world, with the oldest pieces date back to 7,000 years. Highlights feature many works by Spanish and Italian old masters, as well as South Asian paintings and art from the Americas, namely 19th- and 20th-century paintings and sculptures.
