Ready to have some fun in San Diego? From the miles and miles of beautiful beaches, to the many historic sites, museums and attractions, there is so much to do and see. Here are some of the most popular things to do in San Diego.
Grab a bite at Seaport Village
Located in downtown San Diego, Seaport Village offers shopping, dining and a host of entertainment in a lovely waterfront setting. The scenic center, with its cobblestone pathways, lakes, fountains and lush landscaping, sets the mood for a relaxing day or evening and includes more than 50 unique shops, 17 restaurants and eateries, as well as live music and special events throughout the year. Click here to visit their new website www.seaportvillage.com.
See the Star of India
The world’s oldest active sailing ship is truly a sight to see. She’s docked at the Maritime Museum of San Diego and offers visitors a chance to walk the decks, explore the ship and learn about her fascinating past. The museum is also home to other of the world’s finest historic ships and has various permanent and temporary exhibits. Learn about San Diego’s maritime history and witness the magnificence of the famed Star of India. The Maritime Museum is located on Harbor Drive and is open every day of the year from 9am to 8pm.
Visit the USS Midway Museum
Located in downtown at Navy Pier, the USS Midway Museum is an incredible tribute to the sailors and military aircraft that have served our country. Walk through 60 different exhibits aboard a floating city at sea and see a collection of restored aircraft. As you take a self-guided audio tour, you’ll hear the voices of the Midway sailors who bring the history of the USS Midway to life. Also, try your hand onboard the museum’s flight simulators. The museum is open from 10am to 5pm daily.
Take a Trolley Tour
San Diego offers 2 different types of trolleys for residents and visitors. The MTS San Diego trolley is used for public transportation and costs $2.50 for a one-way ticket. You can ride this trolley to most places in and around the metro area, but you’ll need to know where you’re going. This is best used for experienced guests and residents. Old Town Trolley Tours is a privately owned hop on, hop off trolley service that offers a variety of narrated sightseeing tours for visitors. You can ride the trolley for about 90 minutes on a consecutive loop or get off at your favorite attractions. Old Town trolley also offers a beach tour and ghost tour. The beach tour takes guests from Old Town to LaJolla and Mission Beach for the day. The ghost tour is a night-time frightseeing adventure that includes a stop at the haunted Whaley House.
Visit the San Diego Zoo
Since 1921, the San Diego Zoo has been a staple of Balboa Park with open-air exhibitions of the world’s most exotic animals. Boasting over 3,000 animals and 500 species, the Zoo is sprawled out over 100 acres and features dedicated exhibits for elephants, pandas, polar bears, gorillas, and much more. In addition to the wide variety of standard exhibits, they also offer interactive experiences like summer camps, sleepovers, VIP tours, and photo workshops. San Diego visitors often travel to America’s Finest City with the Zoo as their number one priority and might spend multiple days exploring everything it has to offer. The new website offers visitors the ability to plan their trip to the Zoo and save a schedule.
Take a journey through history in Old Town
Discover what life was like in San Diego in 1850 at Historic Old Town San Diego. Considered to be the birthplace of San Diego, the park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes numerous ancient buildings that date back to the early to late 1800’s, including five original adobe structures. There are shops, restaurants, museums, San Diego’s first one room schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, San Diego’s first newspaper office and more. Spend an hour or two exploring this popular San Diego attraction and learn about the customs, culture, food and lifestyle of the city’s earliest inhabitants.
An amazing city with so much to experience, San Diego has an abundance of activities for visitors of every age. This is just a guide of the most popular things to do in downtown San Diego. The city also offers 10 other neighborhoods that have their own popular activities and attractions. Be sure not to miss Coronado Island, Mission Beach, LaJolla, and Point Loma. These districts are famous for gorgeous beaches, million-dollar homes, and delicious restaurants.
