San Diego, the second largest city in California, is located in the southwest corner of the state, just 20 miles north of Tijuana, Mexico. The city’s mild climate, with mostly dry, hot days that rarely exceed 90 degrees, keeps tourists coming back to the area year after year. There are plenty of things to see and do while you’re visiting San Diego. In fact, with such a wide array of things to choose from, it will most likely take you more than one trip to experience all that the vast coastal city has to offer.
Historic Highway 101
The historic Highway 101, also called the Pacific Coast Highway, runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean and offers a leisurely alternative to driving on the over-crowded freeways. While you could spend days traveling the entire length of scenic Highway 101, the section that runs through the San Diego area has specialty shops, beach-side restaurants and historic buildings to explore. There are also yellow and blue signs placed along the highway that tell a little about San Diego’s history.
Balboa Park
Located only minutes from the heart of downtown, Balboa Park is home to the San Diego Zoo, lavish botanical gardens, performing arts venues and over 15 museums, making it the largest urban cultural park in the United States. With the San Diego Zoo on-site housing more than 4,000 endangered and rare animal species, Balboa Park is an ideal place to spend the day if you are traveling with children. Adjacent to the zoo entrance sits the Balboa Park Carousel, an authentic 1910 carousel that is comprised of a menagerie of European hand-carved animals.
If you aren’t traveling with children and want to skip the San Diego Zoo, then you should consider visiting the Japanese Friendship Garden. What was originally a tea house during the Panama-California Exposition in 1915 and 1916, has now expanded to encompass two sprawling acres of land. While visiting you can stroll through the Zen garden, relax near the Koi pond and view the Bonsai exhibit. There are also weekend classes offered at the Japanese Friendship Garden where you can learn how to make sushi, care for a Bonsai tree or even learn a little conversational Japanese.
Coronado Municipal Beach
Coronado Beach is recognized by the Travel Channel as one of California’s 10 best beaches. The beach is comprised of three areas, North Beach, Central Beach and the Shores, but the area is very non-territorial, making the three areas essentially one vast beach the runs from San Diego to the Mexican border. The beach offers separate water areas that are reserved for surfing or swimming and life guards patrol the entire beach daily from 9 a.m. until dusk. You will also find various things to keep you busy when you aren’t in the water. There are volleyball courts available, you can fly a kite, relax in the sun or browse some of the beach shops and restaurants.
Old Town San Diego
Old Town San Diego is filled with restaurants, shopping venues, museums and historic tours. When visiting the area you can experience what life was like in the area during the early 1800s by visiting the 1825 Casa de Estudillo, view an original stagecoach at the Wells Fargo museum and sample more than 500 different types of tequila at the Tequila Museum. The eclectic shops are filled with items that make perfect souvenirs and you can find sweet treats, including Salt Water Taffy, at Cousin’s Old Town Candy Shop.
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Emily Retherford - I am a professional freelance writer and a single mom! I love my career because it gives me the time to put my kids first. I like to be ...
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