Location: San Diego
Top Things to do in San Diego
Countries
Top 10 Things to do Good for Kids in San Diego, California (CA)
San Diego embodies laid-back California culture, complete with a Boardwalk, surfing communities, and outstanding Mexican food. Breathe in the fresh ocean air at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, then gobble down a fresh fish taco at a La Jolla seafood joint. The naval aircrafts at the USS Midway Museum will have you standing at attention. A free Sunday concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion is the perfect way to unwind after a Saturday night bar-hop in the thumping Gaslamp Quarter.
Restaurants in San Diego
1. USS Midway Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24,873 reviews
Located in downtown San Diego, the USS Midway (Museum) was America’s longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century. Today, the interactive museum is an unforgettable adventure for the entire family as guests walk in the footsteps of the 225,000 young men who served on Midway. Visitors explore a floating city at sea, the amazing flight deck and its 29 restored aircraft, flight simulators, and are inspired in the Battle of Midway Theater, included with admission. Admission also includes a self-guided audio tour narrated by Midway sailors in English, Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese, French and German. Visiting Midway is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in San Diego, known around the world as "Navy Town, USA."
Reviewed By NewfiePupLover - Des Moines, United States
We visited the USS Midway on our way to the airport when heading out of San Diego from our Spring Break trip, and I'm glad that we did. Our young kids (8, 8 & 6) enjoyed the airplanes on display and walking through the various decks of the ships, including the internal warfare room, map rooms, etc. The individual audio tour packs (like an iPod) were excellent and allowed each person to listen and learn about all aspects of the ship, the aircraft, personal stories from soldiers who worked on the ship, war stories, etc. There is a great gift shop on the ship, and there is also food available as well as water & soda machines placed throughout the ship. I would highly recommend this site for anyone interested in history, but really for just about anyone of any age. It was a great experience. We were on the ship for about 2 hours, although if you had the time you could spend an entire day looking around and interacting with all of the staff/volunteers and exhibits.
2. Balboa Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,833 reviews
One of the most popular urban parks in the United States, this bucolic paradise is packed with an array of attractions, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Reviewed By noeadventures - Los Angeles, United States
Who knew Southern California had an international-like escape. Old buildings and churches, open city squares for dining under umbrellas with fountains and birds, vendors, huge outdoor piano organ, church bells ringing, museums, botanical gardens, bridges, zoo, on and on and on and on...you could spend a whole day here easily. I felt moderately like I was back in Prague or Guatemala. Such a cool place.
3. San Diego Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27,804 reviews
The world famous San Diego Zoo is a non-profit wildlife sanctuary home to more than 3,500 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies, and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants. It is located just north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park. San Diego Zoo Global is a not-for-profit organization that operates the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, and the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy. The Zoo was founded on October 2, 1916, by Harry M. Wegeforth, M.D. It currently has an 11-member Board of Trustees headed by Steven G. Tappan; and Paul A. Baribault is the president/CEO.
Reviewed By 333josephd - San Diego, United States
Great place to go for the day there is so much to see and do here lots of animals recommend definitely take the sky tram also take the bus to her first just to see where you want to go there are lots of cool shows to see we will definitely cover 12 miles or more walking around
4. Mission Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,029 reviews
Along with Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach, Mission Beach forms the coastline of San Diego.
Reviewed By Gofifh
Nice board walk and Beech for people watching and walking love picking up the shells and sand dollars on the beech!
5. Maritime Museum of San Diego
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,748 reviews
Welcome aboard our floating compilation of adventure and history! Admission to the "Maritime Museum of San Diego" grants you access to one of the world's finest collections of historic sea vessels. Once on board our museum ships, you will find that we offer something for people of all ages. You not only get to explore our ships and submarines, the museum displays permanent and temporary exhibits on art, maritime history, commerce and exploration. Historic bay cruises run daily and can be added on to the price of admission for an extra nominal fee. There is no better way to spend the day than on the bay!
Reviewed By robertcF7289TB
The San Diego Maritime Museum is a national treasure right here in America’s Finest City. Literally, the museum has been ranked as the best in the USA and among the top five in the world. One of the major reasons is that so many of the vessels are kept in sailing condition. You can take rides on a replica of a historic Spanish galleon (the San Salvador), California’s official state tall ship (the Californian), a hundred year old luxury yacht (Medea), or a vintage harbor pilot boat (the Pilot). You can tour the oldest actively sailed tall ship (the Star of India), and if you ate lucky, you might be able to sail on her. The Museum has educational exhibits including many ship models that have been made by expert craftsmen on board the historic Ferryboat Berkeley, which serves as the Museum’s headquarters. Become a member and all the ships are open to you and your family.
6. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,643 reviews
Historic site in downtown San Diego that recreates life in the Mexican and early American periods of 1821 to 1872.
Reviewed By Enjoy4790 - San Diego, United States
I love Old Town San Diego I've been going to Old Town since I was a couple weeks old we have always had our family parties in Old Town even when I moved far away whenever I would come back to visit San Diego I would go to Old Town there's so much to do so much to see many different men Mexican restaurants lots of shops on the weekends they have the craft festivals they have live music in Old Town free live music shows they also have a live theater called the Signet they have many surrounding hotels or you can just stay in Hotel Circle and then you will be really close to Old Town actually there's hundreds of hotels that are very close to Old Town San Diego but in Old Town you really want to experience the Mexican food not every Mexican restaurant is good my top recommendations are going to Casa Guadalajara or El Agave Mexican Restaurant there's a few other good ones but then there are many that are well below average as far as the shopping there's a lot of cute unique boutiques and then there's many Mexican owned little shops that have some fabulous jewelry stores old town is in the center of San Diego just about 8 minutes from SeaWorld, it's about 8 minutes from the airport it's about 8 minutes from downtown San Diego it's about 11 minutes from La Jolla it's about 16 minutes from Del Mar so it's really Central....... Another really nice thing about Old Town is many of the people that work in the shops around the Old Town Park and in the restaurants wear "time period Clothing" which is really special and then in the restaurants they wear authentic true Mexican dresses and clothing and then they have a "live show" in "fiesta de los Reyes" so it is live Mexican style dancing and singing and the show is seven days a week and it's free and so that's really enjoyable but the restaurant it's connected to called "fiesta de los Reyes" is really bad as far as the food and the service is even worse but if you are willing to put up with that it's in a beautiful setting so if you don't really care about service and you don't really care about having a nice meal then go ahead and eat there because there's so much to do right around that area but then over at Casa Guadalajara where I recommended for you to go to lunch or dinner the shopping over there will blow you away ats, some of the best shopping in all of San Diego and the lady that owns Casa Guadalajara she owns all the shops around it, it's called "Bazaar del Mundo" and it's a two-level shopping area it's so worth seeing, the most beautiful clothing and true authentic elegant Mexican apparel and dishes and Gourmet Foods and material and shoes and jewelry it's really worth seeing✨
7. Point Loma
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,920 reviews
A lookout point above San Diego Bay and home of the Cabrillo monument.
Reviewed By jwnowak - San Diego, United States
Living in Point Loma i have Liberty Station , Shelter Island at my door step with excellent food and views of the city and bay right there.If you're looking for a relaxed atmosphere locals spot to eat I recommend Point Break, my favorite local place for good food, nice portions and friendly atmosphere at a reasonable price and where you're made to feel welcomed by the staff and owners like you're family this is the place to go
8. Cabrillo National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,818 reviews
Stately monument honoring Cabrillo, discoverer of San Diego Bay, is located in Point Loma that overlooks the city and the Bay.
Reviewed By randyg280 - Frederick, United States
When we have people visiting, we like to take them to Cabrillo National Monument. On your way to this National Park, you pass by Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery where there is over 100,000 graves. Once you get to Cabrillo, the views are amazing of San Diego, the ocean and the surrounding areas. There is also ample parking, a wonderful historic lighthouse you can visit, exhibits, displays, an interesting monument, a visitor center, walking tours, a gift shop and movies. The movie I would strongly recommend is "In Search of Cabrillo". It is currently shown three times a day at !0:00 am, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. These times could change so you should check the website for current information. This movie is about the explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo who was the first European to navigate the coast of California and is credited with discovering San Diego Bay. There are also Ranger-guided walking tours which are informative and interesting. When you combine the wonderful setting, the amazing views, the lighthouse, the walking tours and all the history you learn, this is a very special place that everyone will enjoy.
9. Coronado Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,758 reviews
A beautiful bridge connecting San Diego to Coronado.
Reviewed By AdvtrTrvlr - Camarillo, United States
We both drove across the bridge and sailed underneath the bridge. If you drive across the bridge there is now no toll to pay but be careful with your speed once you are on Coronado Island. The maximum speed is 25 mph all over the entire island and there are many cops waiting to give you a ticket. By far the best way to see the bridge is by taking a bay cruise; more specifically the one that does the southern part of the bay which goes underneath the Coronado Bridge and also by about 30 Navy ships. We took a Hornblower cruise and the captain explained the Navy ships in great detail. I would also recommend that company. I would only take the one hour southern bay cruise and not the two hour cruise.
10. Windansea Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 578 reviews
A famous beach for surfing.
Reviewed By 453karinl - Doha, Qatar
A must when you visit La Jolla or the San Diego area ... a beautiful and serene beach filled with surfers and sunbathers .. you'll spend a most relaxing and enjoyable day!!!
