Jeff's List of Things to Do in San Diego


[People] [Bike Trip Photos] [Bike Adventure Text] [San Diego Attractions] [Home]

  • BALBOA PARK
    Hands-on Science Museum and Omni-Max Space Theater, Aerospace Museum, Automotive Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts, Sports Museum, Railroad Museum, Natural History Museum, Art Museum, Museum of Man, Museum of San Diego History, Botanical Gardens, Spanish Village and many more museums, theaters, restaurants, etc. See all 10 museums for $18. Individual prices vary. One is free every Tuesday.

  • BELMONT PARK
    Famous wooden roller coaster ($2.50), other rides and shops. Located at a popular beach with a miles-long sidewalk for roller-blading, biking, or walking. Across the street is a park by the bay with some of the best playground gear in town. Free.

  • BIG ROCK PARK
    Our family's favorite nearby park. Swings, slides, tennis, basketball, pollywog creek. Free.

  • CABRILLO MONUMENT LIGHTHOUSE
    Old 1850's lighthouse turned museum. Reportedly the 2nd most visited monument in the USA, after the Statue of Liberty. Also, nice hiking trail, historical sites, panoramic view of the city, and book shop. $4/vehicle

  • CAVE & SHELL SHOP
    Great bargains on shells. Climb down 100 steps through a tunnel into a sea cave for $1.00.

  • CHILDRENS' MUSEUM
    Hands-on educational museum for kids. Play wheelchair basketball. $5 (not worth it IMHO)

  • COWLES MOUNTAIN
    Climb the trail about 1.5 miles to the highest point in the city of San Diego. Free.

  • CRUISES - OCEAN, BAY, FISHING, FERRY, WHALE WATCHING
    Many types of ocean or bay cruises are available, such as a ferry ride to Coronado ($2), 1 hour harbor cruise ($12). Half-day fishing ($14.75).

  • FRASIER FRONTIER
    Amusement park with mostly little kid rides. Great water slide on the hill, though. $10?

  • GASLAMP QUARTER
    Well preserved, upscale, old-fashioned section of downtown.

  • GRUNION HUNTING
    If the grunion are running and you have a fishing license you can grab them on the beach in the middle of the night. Bring a flashlight and bucket. Only bare hands allowed. Good eating fish.

  • HERITAGE PARK
    Collection of beautiful Victorian style homes converted to stores and businesses. Next to Mormon Battalion Visitors Center. Free.

  • HORTON PLAZA
    Unique and upscale mall downtown in the Gaslamp District. Reminds me of Ghirardelli Square. Get your Wallace & Grommit memorabilia in The Knowledge Store here. Dine with the stars at Planet Hollywood. Free parking if you buy something.

  • HOTEL DEL CORONADO
    Grandiose hotel and restaurant. Visiting presidents always stay here. First wired for electricity by Thomas Edison himself.

  • JACK MURPHY (QUALCOMM?) STADIUM
    Check out the stadium where the Super Bowl and World Series have been played.

  • LA JOLLA COVE
    Best place in town for snorkling. See the orange fish and others. Nearby are rocks where sea lions like to hang out. Free.

  • LAKE MURRAY
    Rent a paddle boat or motor boat or canoe. Or just walk or bike on the trail around the lake. Free. (except rentals or fishing permit)

  • LAWRENCE WELK RESORT
    Have dinner, shop for souvenirs, or just admire his statue. Free.

  • MISSION BAY
    Huge waterfront playground. Miles of meandering bayfront with parks, islands, bike trails, watersports, beaches and hotels. Free.

  • MISSION SAN DIEGO DE ALCALA
    "California's First Church." Founded July 16, 1769. Museum, gift shop, archaeological ruins, church, and gardens. $3?

  • MISSION TRAILS PARK
    Largest park in a US city. Free Visitor and Interpretive Center. Free.

  • MORMON BATTALION VISITORS CENTER
    Fascinating Mormon Battalion museum with tour and shows. Free.

  • MORMON TEMPLE
    Must see. Beautiful.

  • MOUNT PALOMAR TELESCOPE (200")
    Not much to see, but attracts tourists.

  • OLD TOWN
    Take the walking tour and see 19 homes and buildings used in the early 1800's, one of which (Whaley House) is one of the 2 houses certified by the California government as haunted. Includes Mexican Bazaar del Mundo. Adjacent to Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center and Heritage Park. Free.

  • SCIENCE MUSEUM
    Scores of amazing hands-on science experiments. Holograms, Van de Graff generators, giant whisper dishes, optical tricks, etc. Lots of fun. About $5?

  • SCRIPPS INSTITUTE AQUARIUM/MUSEUM
    Largest oceanographic museum in the country. Kids love it. Dozens of aquariums house every kind of fish imaginable. Hands-on learning. Movies. Feel live starfish, and tidepool life. See the giant clam shell and stuffed penguin. $6.50/4.50/3.50

  • SEA WORLD
    Pet the dolphins. Watch penguins. Great shows. Expensive. $26/20 (with discount)

  • SEAPORT VILLAGE
    Ride the carousel, watch the boulder balancing artist, walk the embarcadero (maybe see a kite-flying contest), shop in the unique shops. Beautiful collection of shops on the bay. Parking charge.

  • SERRA MUSEUM IN PRESIDIO PARK
    See this if you are a California history buff. Mormon Battalion monument nearby.

  • SHIP TOURS
    US Navy ships regularly offer free tours.

  • SPANISH VILLAGE
    Shopping area in Balboa Park dealing with Spanish art. Free.

  • STAR OF INDIA
    Oldest sailable merchant ship in the world. Sails occasionally. Usually a museum. $6?

  • TIDE POOLS
    Explore the aquatic life (starfish, anemones, crabs, etc.) that lives in pools created by tides. Free.

  • TIJUANA
    A fairly modern corner of Mexico. Choose old or new Tijuana.

  • WILD ANIMAL PARK
    See wild animals in natural-like habitats from special buses. Or walk. Huge. $14/8.85

  • ZOO
    World famous, enormous zoo. Takes all day to see it all. $15.45/8.20 (with discount)


    DISCLAIMERS: I tried to include prices, but don’t count on them. Some are guesses, some are based on discounts I think I can get. Descriptions are mostly based on my recollection, and my be wrong. Use this information at your own risk. Please email me with corrections or suggestions. I have no affiliation with any of the attractions listed, except as a customer.