San Diego Attractions
The beautiful San Diego weather offers visitors and residents the opportunity to be active year-round. Tourists are often surprised to see so many people in San Diego jogging, walking and biking on any given day. Due to consistently sunny San Diego days (according to the National Weather Bureau, the sun shines here 70% of the time) locals living in San Diego are spoiled with a large variety of outdoor activities at their fingertips. The combination of and the close proximity to the ocean, desert and mountains make San Diego both "America's Finest City" and a perfect vacation spot for those not fortunate enough to call San Diego home.
Whether your interests lead you indoors or out, there are so many outdoor San Diego attractions and activities for everyone in the family.
If you're a history buff, spend your free time exploring California history at Old Town San Diego and Presidio Park. Visit one of the original Catholic missions San Diego founded by Father Junipero Serra in the 18th century. Tour some of the local San Diego landmarks such as the Star of India merchant ship at the San Diego Maritime Museum, Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma, the USS Midway Museum at San Diego Bay, the renovated Victorian buildings in downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, the ornate buildings in beautiful Balboa Park San Diego, or the famous Coronado Victorian Hotel del Coronado.
If you want to be outdoors, the famed San Diego Zoo, Sea World and the Safari Park are among the hottest and best San Diego attractions, but not the only ones by a long shot. A world-renowned Birch aquarium in La Jolla, beautiful San Diego Gardens in Balboa Park, award-winning local wineries and the finest thoroughbred horse racing in Del Mar are all available for your enjoyment during your San Diego visit.
And sports are everywhere in San Diego County! But nowhere more so than Mission Bay which is the perfect place to spend your leisure time enjoying San Diego activities from picnicking to cruising, sailing to jet skiing and everything and anything under the sun. We have put together just a few ideas to help you find the right San Diego attractions to enhance your stay in San Diego.
Activity/Attraction
Directions
Balboa Park
With nine outstanding San Diego museums, art galleries, and one of the largest planetariums in the United States, Balboa Park San Diego is a great place to visit for so many great reasons.
Driving south, take I-5 and exit 10th Avenue. Turn left on A Street and left again on Park Blvd. Follow the signs towards Balboa Park. Driving north, take I-5 and exit B Street/Pershing. Take Pershing and turn left on Florida Dr. Turn left on Zoo Place to Park Blvd and left again on Park Blvd.
Balboa Park Gardens
Balboa Park San Diego boasts 19 beautiful gardens each showcasing various flowers and plants from around the world.
Driving south, take I-5 and exit 10th Avenue. Turn left on A Street and left again on Park Blvd. Follow the signs towards Balboa Park. Driving north, take I-5 and exit B Street/Pershing. Take Pershing and turn left on Florida Dr. Turn left on Zoo Place to Park Blvd and left again on Park Blvd.
Birch Aquarium
Along the La Jolla California coastline sits Birch Aquarium, one of the foremost aquariums and marine research facilities in California.
Driving north on I-5, exit La Jolla Village Dr. Turn left onto La Jolla Village Dr and continue onto N Torrey Pines Rd. Turn left onto Expedition Way. Driving south on I-5, take exit La Jolla Village Dr. Turn right onto La Jolla Village Dr and continue onto N Torrey Pines Rd. Turn left onto Expedition Way.
Cabrillo National Monument and Point Loma Lighthouse
From La Jolla, take I-5 south and exit on Rosecrans. Turn right onto Canon Street and left onto Catalina Blvd. Follow Catalina Blvd all the way to the end.
Carousels
San Diego is lucky enough to boast three classic carousels: the Broadway Flying Horses Carousel Seaport Village, the Balboa Park Carousel, and the Liberty Carousel Belmont Park.
For the locations and more information about these 3 beautiful carousels, click on the more info button
Del Mar Race Track
Located at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the one-mile oval track is operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and is home to San Diego horse racing every summer.
From La Jolla, take the I-5 north and exit Via De La Valle. Turn left onto Via De La Valle and left onto Jimmy Durante Blvd. The racetrack will be on your right.
Mission Bay
Do you want to visit the largest man-made aquatic park in the country? Well you can; it's right here in San Diego, and it's called Mission Bay.
Driving north or south, take I-5 to exit East Mission Bay Drive, Grand Avenue, Clairemont Drive or Sea World Drive.
Mission Of San Diego
San Diego Missions are the best places to explore the history of San Diego and San Diego's Spanish, Indian and Mexican heritages.
There are 3 missions located throughout San Diego. Click on the more info button to the right for addresses and locations of each.
Presidio Park San Diego
Presidio Park San Diego, the Plymouth Rock of the West Coast, is the birthplace of San Diego and all of California. Learn more about why Presidio Park is one of the best San Diego attractions.
From La Jolla, take I-5 south and merge onto I-8 east. Exit onto Taylor Street and turn left on Presidio Drive.
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is the most visited San Diego museum as well as one of the top 10 San Diego attractions for San Diego visitors.
From La Jolla, take I-5 south and exit 10th Ave. Turn left on A street at the first light and then turn left on Park Blvd. Turn left at Space Theater Way.
San Diego Maritime Museum at the Embarcadero San Diego
San Diego Maritime Museum at the Embarcadero San Diego was founded in 1948 and serves as the community's reminder of San Diego's seafaring experience.
From I-5 north or south, take the "Airport" exit. You will see signs that read "Embarcadero-Maritime Museum" which will direct you to the harbor
San Diego Safari Park
In the 1,800-acre San Diego Safari Park sanctuary, where wildlife preservation is a primary goal, animals roam freely in settings similar to their nature homelands.
Driving south, take I-5 and exit at State Route 78 East. Proceed to I-15 south and exit at Via Rancho Parkway and follow the signs to the park. Driving south, take State Route 163 to I-15 north and exit at Via Rancho parkway. Head east and follow the signs to the park.
San Diego Zoo
The world-famous San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park on over 100 acres of beautiful parkland. San Diego Zoo houses more than 4,000 rare and exotic animals of more than 800 species from the jungles and forests around the world.
Driving south on I-5, exit Pershing Drive and follow the signs for the zoo. Or drive north on I-5 and exit State Route 163 north and exit on Richmond Street and follow the signs.
Sea World San Diego
What started out as a failed idea to build an underwater restaurant, Sea World San Diego has become a favorite theme park visited by millions each year.
Take I-5 going either direction and exit SeaWorld Drive. Head West one mile.
Seaport Village
A 14-acre shopping center with restaurants, gift shops, art galleries and events, Seaport Village not only offers a fun day for shoppers and families alike, but also provides a stunning panoramic view of the Coronado Bridge, the San Diego skyline and the San Diego Bay.
Driving south on I-5, exit Front Street and turn right on Ash Street. Turn left on Pacific Highway which ends at Seaport Village. Driving north on I-5, exit 6th Avenue and turn left on 6th. Turn right on Ash Street and left on Pacific Highway which will end at Seaport Village.
Star Of India San Diego
Acquired in 1926 to preserve San Diego's maritime heritage, Star of India is part of the San Diego Maritime Museum which includes other vessels, all of which the San Diego visitors can board.
From I-5 north or south, take the "Airport" exit. You will see signs that read "Embarcadero-Maritime Museum" which will direct you to the harbor
Torrey Pines State Reserve
If a back-to-nature respite is what you need to battle the stress of modern-day life, an afternoon at Torrey Pines State Park, located at 12600 North Torrey Pines Road, might be just what the doctor ordered.
Driving north on I-5, exit Carmel Valley Rd and turn left onto Carmel Valley Rd. Turn left onto S Camino Del Mar and continue onto N Torrey Pines Rd. Driving south on I-5, exit Del Mar Heights Rd and turn right onto Del Mar Heights Rd. Turn left onto S Camino Del Mar. Continue onto N Torrey Pines Road.
Unconditional Surrender Statue
The 25 foot Unconditional Surrender statue towering above San Diego Bay is based on the famous photo of a V-J Day kiss between a sailor and nurse celebrating the August 14, 1945 surrender of the Imperial Forces of Japan.
From La Jolla, take I-5 south and exit Sassafras Street/San Diego Airport. Merge onto Kettner Blvd. Turn right at West Hawthorn Street and left on North Harbor Drive. The statue is to the left of the USS Midway in Tuna Harbor Park.
USS Midway Museum
At the USS Midway Museum, you can tour the sleeping quarters, engine room, the ship's jail, galley, flight deck and so much more. With over 60 exhibits, 25 restored aircrafts, and an audio tour narrated by USS Midway sailors, life on this floating city at San Diego harbor will come alive.
From La Jolla, take I-5 south and exit Sassafras Street/San Diego Airport. Merge onto Kettner Blvd. Turn right at West Hawthorn Street and left on North Harbor Drive.
