Planning a trip to SoCal? Check out the five best tourist spots in San Diego and experience the SoCal lifestyle before your trip is over!
1. Seaport Village
Location: 849 West Harbor Drive San Diego, CA 92101
Seaport Village, located on the waterfront of Downtown San Diego, is 14-acres of food, shopping, and entertainment. It faces the San Diego Bay where more than 100 recreational and commercial boats and ships pass through per year and boast views of the island of Coronado. There are 54 different shops located within Seaport Village that vary from handmade soaps to toy shops. Additionally, there are 17 eateries spread apart, four of those being fine dining establishments with unique views of the bay. Enjoy a casual stroll or explore the various shops in Seaport Village for a great time.
Looking for more attractions nearby? Along the stretch of San Diego’s downtown waterfront property is the USS Midway which is a decommissioned aircraft carrier that also serves as a museum. Additionally, the Star of India, among other boats, are docked nearby and offer regularly scheduled tours.
2. Sunset Cliffs
Location: Sunset Cliffs San Diego, CA 92107
As the name indicates, this location is one of the many spots on San Diego’s west coast that showcases the sun setting. The dirt cliffs border the Pacific Ocean, allowing waves to crash below. There are a few undeveloped surfing spots below the cliffs that double as a beach for those who are risk-takers*. Find a buddy and enjoy a picnic at Sunset Cliffs with front-row seats to sunset!
*Warning: it is not recommended to go below the cliffs where it is unmarked.
3. Balboa Park
Location: Balboa Park San Diego, CA 92101
Balboa Park is one of the largest pieces of public land in San Diego reserved for recreational use with just over 1,200 acres. The park contains a variety of museums for all ages including the Fleet Science Center, San Diego Air and Space Museum, and the San Diego Natural History Museum, to name a few. Additionally, there are a variety of gardens set aside for people to walk through and attractions and venues throughout the park to enjoy. Whether you want to learn a new thing at a museum or walk through the flourishing gardens, there is plenty to take advantage of at Balboa Park.
4. San Diego Zoo
Location: 2920 Zoo Dr., San Diego, CA 92101
The San Diego Zoo is a nationally recognized zoological institution with more than 4 million visitors every year. The Zoo houses and cares for more than 3,700 animals and pride themselves on creating cage less and natural habitats for the animals. A few of their highlighted exhibits include the Elephant Odyssey, Panda Trek, Polar Bear Plunge, and the Children’s Zoo. There is a full-day worth of entertainment and activities you can do with the whole family and is often referred to as one of the best tourist spots in San Diego.
5. Belmont Park
Location: 3146 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
Finally, one of the iconic amusement parks set right on Mission Beach is Belmont Park. With over 20 rides and attractions, Belmont Park is one of the best places to ride a rollercoaster, grab an ice cream, and head down to the beach.
