San Diego’s weather is certainly epic – with the cool mornings and evenings, pleasant sunshine and warm day temperatures plus sunny blue skies – it makes the perfect place to spend days outside exploring the city.
Epic things to do in San Diego:
1. Visit La Jolla and Mount Soledad
2. Visit Coronado Island and hotel
3. See a baseball game at Petco Park
4. Walk through the different neighborhoods – Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town Market, Balboa Park, North Park, Little Italy, Seaport Village and Mission Beach
5. Visit a museum
La Jolla – Hands down my favorite area. This is how I picture California. Amazing coastline views, big waves and surfers, seals, gorgeous houses and a cute town with plenty of shopping and restaurants.
We started out at La Jolla shores, where we took a bike tour. They took us up to the top of Mount Soledad, where the views are epic! We could see 360 degrees around the area. From the hills and town, to the downtown of San Diego and even an island in Mexico, to the Pacific Ocean. There is also a beautiful Veterans Memorial on the top. You really don’t want to miss this! This is also the area when Dr. Seuss lived and worked and so I was keen to learn more about him. What I learned from my tour guide, and my observations, was how much this area – the cliffs, ocean, landscape and especially the trees influenced his writings. Our bike tour guide even pointed out the “Lorax” tree!
Coronado Island – The Island is accessible by a gorgeous blue bridge and ferries. I recommend taking an uber one way and the ferry the other way to experience both. Once you are on the island, you will want to walk because of all the traffic. The main street, Orange Ave, is filled with shops, restaurants, galleries and theatres. Besides shopping, there is an epic view back on the San Diego skyline. You can rent a bike, enjoy beautiful beaches, loads of water activities and even golf. But no visit to Coronado would be complete without a stroll through, or lunch on the grounds of the famous Hotel del Coronado. I felt like it was a step back into a different time. It would be a perfect place for a romantic or friends’ getaway.
There are so many different neighborhoods throughout the city which means there is plenty to explore.
The Gaslamp – is the heart of the city and in the thick of the hotels and convention center area. There are plenty of options here for picking up a souvenir and eating, drinking and hanging out late into the night.
Little Italy – this neighborhood is packed with restaurants, coffee shops and cocktail bars
North Park – a diverse neighborhood where you can find unique coffee shops, breweries and one of a kind shops
Old Town – this is a historic area, where you can step back into time and explore the first Spanish settlement in California. Plenty of restaurant options here but I loved the little area close to downtown where they had relocated several homes from the past, so you could see them all.
Mission Beach – the beachfront action is here. Restaurants, bars, scooters, bikes, sunbathers, etc.
Balboa Park – This large and beautiful park is a must. It is home to the world-famous San Diego Zoo and loads of museums and theaters.
Seaport Village- is a quaint little shopping area on the bay but check it out and then walk north along the waterfront. Admire all the art, sculptures, boats, and people. There are also several marine and boat museums to visit along the waterfront.
Overall – There is something for everyone in San Diego and you will not run out of things to do or places to explore or restaurants to try. So, don’t pack so much on your ‘to do’ list that you forget to just stop for a coffee and soak in the sunshine and enjoy your surroundings and waterfront views.
