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Things to do in San Diego

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San Diego is the oldest town in California, with lots of sunshine and beaches for an ideal vacation.

This city by the bay offers all kinds of entertainment – history, wildlife, art, thrill, and nature. It is a perfect family destination.

San Diego is an easy city to explore via bicycle or walk.

Don’t forget to mingle with the locals at Balboa Park during your San Diego holiday.

Discover the top tourist attractions in this balmy city with our list of the things to do in San Diego.

USS Midway Museum

USS Midway Museum
Image: Inparkmagazine.com

USS Midway is an aircraft carrier that served in the United States Navy for 47 years, and till 1955, it was the largest ship in the World.

Today, the USS Midway is a museum in San Diego, a tribute to the Battle of Midway in June 1942.

Inside USS Midway Museum, visitors see more than 60 exhibit areas painstakingly restored to their glory days.

From high up on the ship’s bridge to the main engine room below, the USS Midway has 10 acres of exhibits and displays, including 30 restored aircraft.

San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo entry
Image: Earthtrekkers.com

San Diego Zoo is spread over 100 acres with more than 3,500 animals.

Many consider it one of the best zoos in the country for its 700+ unique species, conservation programs, excellent visitor facilities, and friendly staff.

Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo is very kid-friendly. With more than 4 million visitors annually, it is the most visited zoo in the USA.

Since the San Diego Safari Park is also nearby, people wonder, “Should they visit San Diego Zoo or the Safari Park?”

Buy San Diego Zoo and Safari Park at a discounted price and take a safari of the zoo from your comfort.

San Diego Safari Park

San Diego Safari Park
Image: Lajollamom.com

The 1,800-acre San Diego Safari Park houses more than 2,500 animals of 300 species in open field enclosures. 

It is San Diego Zoo’s sister and is often called as San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Animals in San Diego Safari Park are divided into 11 primary habitats, each unique to the animals.

Besides the free 30-minute African Tram Safari, the Safari Park offers 13 other paid safaris.

Find out everything about San Diego Safari Park’s safaris so that you can get closer to wildlife.

SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld in San Diego
Image: Seaworld.com

SeaWorld San Diego is an aquatic theme park with many animal interactions, exciting shows, and some of the world’s most thrilling rides. 

This family-friendly attraction gets around five million visitors annually. 

Most visitors check out the animal encounters, attend animal shows, and then head to SeaWorld San Diego’s rides for their adrenalin rush.

SeaWorld has five high thrill rides, four of which are roller coasters.

San Diego Harbor Cruise

San Diego Harbor Cruise
Image: Travelocity.com

San Diego Harbor Cruise is the best way to explore the San Diego Bay area, a natural harbor, and a deepwater port.

These cruises are professionally narrated tours that take you under the Coronado Bridge, past military ships, waterfront landmarks, etc., for an in-depth look at San Diego’s scenic beauty.

Visitors can choose from numerous options – dinner cruises, champagne cruises, speed boat rides, drive-your-own speedboats, and more.

Whale watching in San Diego

Whale watching in San Diego
Image: Lajollamom.com

Tourists love whale-watching cruises in San Diego, which are both entertaining and educational.

Guided by marine biologists, these tours are an excellent way to explore the beautiful marine ecosystem of San Diego.

Legoland California

Legoland California
Image: Nbcsandiego.com

Over 60 million LEGO plastic bricks make up Legoland California, popular with kids and adults.

Visitors can explore miniature Lego cities, scenes from several Star Wars movies, more than 60 rides, two water parks, and a SeaLife aquarium.

Located in Carlsbad, to the North of San Diego county, this tourist attraction is referred to by many names – Legoland California, Legoland California Resort, Legoland California Theme Park, Legoland Park, etc. 

San Diego Seal Tour

San Diego Seal Tour
Image: SealTours.com

San Diego SEAL tours are a great water and land activity for enthusiasts. 

The activity honors the Navy, who often refer to themselves as SEALs, an acronym for SEa And Land, just like in the Navy.

Speedboat in San Diego

Speedboat in San Diego
Image: Viator.com

The San Diego Speedboat tour is an exhilarating ride where you explore the San Diego Harbor in a thrilling boat ride.

The San Diego harbor is considered one of the best natural harbors on the West Coast, and a visit there promises a unique and unforgettable experience.

The experience is both riveting and spontaneous, with plenty of laughter along the way. 

Patriot Boat in San Diego

Patriot Boat in San Diego
Image: YouTube.com

If you like adventure, water, and the waves, the Patriot Jet Boat thrill ride experience in San Diego is an ideal activity for you.

The San Diego Patriot Boat takes you on a journey along the coast of San Diego and gives you a thrilling experience. 

Fleet Science Center

Fleet Science Center
Image: Wikipedia.org

Science comes to life at The Fleet Science Center, San Diego, a paradise for kids and adults alike. 

Since 1973, this science museum has been a wonder for science enthusiasts, throwing exploration, learning, and fun into the mix. 

San Diego Automotive Museum

San Diego Automotive Museum
Image: BalboaPark.org

Fuel your engines and course through an automobile enthusiast’s dream destination at the San Diego Automotive Museum.

Established in December 1988 as the San Diego Premier Transportation Museum, it is a tribute to the automobile industry and its culture, providing visitors with an immersive experience.

The museum aims to highlight the automobile industry’s evolution and countless milestones achieved over the years. 

Belmont Park

Belmont Park
Image: BelmontPark.com

Belmont Park San Diego is the place to be if the sound of a beachside amusement park sits well in your ears. 

The Belmont Park is an iconic attraction since 1925, perfect for thrill-seekers and family fun enthusiasts alike. 

Balboa Park

Balboa Park
Image: TripAdvisor.com

San Diego’s Balboa Park is 1,200 acres wide, with over 15 significant museums, theatres, and parks. 

Since its creation in 1868, the park has been a major tourist destination for residents and visitors.

Beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival architecture can be seen all across Balboa Park, including the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, and the California Building and Tower. 

Petco Park Tour

Petco Park Tour
Image: Mlb.com

Petco Park is Major League Baseball’s most beautiful ballpark.

The stadium quickly became a fan favorite since its opening in 2004, thanks to its stunning views of San Diego Bay, the Western Metal Supply Co. building, and the downtown skyline.

San Diego Natural History Museum

San Diego Natural History Museum
Image: SDNAT.org

The San Diego Museum of Natural History boasts over 8 million specimens in its collection, which is a lot of natural history to explore!

Unlike regular museums with static displays, the Natural History Museum, affectionately known as the Nat, has an array of interactive exhibits, allowing visitors to get hands-on with them.

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Maritime Museum of San Diego
Image: SDMaritime.org

The Maritime Museum San Diego is widely recognized for its outstanding efforts in preserving historic vessels, making it a must-visit attraction.

There is no better waterfront attraction than this for kids and adults!

The exhibits and galleries await you to wipe off the splash of water and learn about the countless stories associated with historic ships.

iFly San Diego

iFLY Ontario, California
Image: Iflyworld.com

At iFly San Diego, you can experience the unparalleled thrill of skydiving without jumping from a plane.

An ultimate indoor skydiving experience, it is a unique and safe way for all ages to live out their daring dreams.

GoCar in San Diego

GoCar in San Diego
Image: GoCartours.com

GoCar in San Diego is a special and enjoyable way to see San Diego. 

It is a tiny, three-wheeled vehicle with a bright yellow exterior resembling a cross between a scooter and a car.

San Diego food tours

San Diego food tours
Image: Travelchannel.com

San Diego is the city most tourists visit to taste delicious food, which is why San Diego food tours are in high demand.

The variety of cuisines, dishes, and drinks one can try out in this dynamic food hub is a fantastic experience.

From tasting the best wines in the wine country, Guadalupe Valley, to exploring the best eats in Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego is a paradise for those who want to experience different culinary.

# San Diego wine tours
# Dinner Cruise San Diego
# Brewery Tour in San Diego
# Food and drinks in Little Italy, San Diego

Valentine’s Day in San Diego

Couple in love in San Diego
Image: Joshua Resnick

Visitors to San Diego love its harbor, beaches, cruises, food, and history, making it a compelling destination for couples in love. Young and old couples, visitors, and locals love spending their Valentine’s Day in San Diego

Things to do in other cities

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Berlin Boston Budapest
Charleston Chicago Dubai
Dublin Edinburgh Granada
Hamburg Hawaii Hong Kong
Houston Las Vegas Lisbon
London Los Angeles Madrid
Melbourne Miami Milan
Munich Nashville New York
Orlando Paris Phoenix
Prague Rome San Diego
San Francisco Singapore Sofia
Sydney Tampa Vienna

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This article was researched & written by

Edited by Rekha Rajan & fact checked by Jamshed V Rajan

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