What places are a "must see" in the San Diego area?

Question

I will be there later this month for 5 days and am wanting to get everyones opinion on what I must see. I am not a fan of the parks (i.e. Seaworld) and things like that. I love the beach and the environment around it. I will have a rental car so distance is not an option. What are some of the beachs or "breathtaking" sights I have to see while in San Diego?

Answer 1

Mt. Soledad in La Jolla has really nice views from Orange County down to Mexico from the top. Take La Jolla Parkway off of NB I-5 or WB SR-52 and turn left onto Hidden Valley and it will take you up the mountain.

Cabrillo National Monument at the end of Point Loma has the best panoramic views of Downtown SD and the rest of the region. Can't remember the exact directions but if you google map it i'm sure it will show you how to get there.

The Cliffs in La Jolla by UCSD have a great view of Downtown La Jolla, La Jolla Shores, the ocean, and this amazing looking $40 million dollar mansion perched on a cliff. It's on La Jolla Farms Road right off of La Jolla Shores Rd. Right after you turn on La Jolla Farms Rd there will be this gate to the left a few hundred feet after the turn and you can park immediately north of it on the right/eastside of the street. It's also a cool neighborhood to drive through and check out the expensive homes. Also the UCSD Gliderport just a little farther north up Torrey Pines Road is a nice place to watch hangliders and check out the view.

Torrey Pines State Park is a great place to hike around the cliffs and also down to the beach below which is really nice.

Windansea Beach or Marine St beach right next to it in La Jolla are my favorite beaches. Really white sand, clear waters, and not too crowded. There are cool rocks and tidepools to walk around on either side of the beach; kind of reminds me of beaches in Hawaii more so than any other SD beaches. And you can walk along the shore all the way to Downtown La Jolla; it's a great place to spend the day at the beach. And if you drive through the streets just south of Windansea there are reall nice, ornate homes to check out. Windansea is at the end of Nautilus St off La Jolla Blvd and Marine St Beach is at the end of Marine St (obviously) off LJ Blvd too about a .5-1 mile north of Nautilus.

Mission Beach and Pacific Beach have a great beach atmoshphere to it with tons of people there, shops, reasurants and long boardwalk. Rent a beach cruiser and ride all the way to the end of Mission Beach, it's a great way to soak up the scene.

Del Mar also has a nice scene beach around Coast Blvd and 15th St.

Answer 2

The Wild Animal Park is my favorite place to take visitors. It is far different from Sea World or even the zoo. It's breathtaking to me to see wild animals in huge enclosures where they can actually run around and live in their natural groupings.

Balboa Park is another favorite. It's hard to believe a great park like that exists outside of Central Park in NYC. In addition, they have some fun museums.

For views, the Cabrillo Lighthouse on Point Loma is awesome. Mt. Soledad, Mt. Helix, Cowles Mountain, KumeyaayPeak, and Palomar Mountain are also very good.

Answer 3

Hi there. Some of the other posters provided some great ideas. For ideas of "must sees" that aren't the usual, you might check out the web site for a local NBC news show here called "Ken Kramer's About San Diego." He takes viewers to interesting places that you might not ever hear about in brochures. I've included the link below.

Other ideas:
La Jolla Caves
Cabrillo National Park
USS Midway
Julian (best known for its apple pie/apple cider and tourist shops)
Hotel Del Coronado Tour (learn about the history, architecture, haunted room, famous guests, etc)
Marston House Tour in Balboa Park (see link provided for details)
Old Town Trolley Tours (takes you all over San Diego to see the variuos sites while the driver offers commentary and you're able to get off/on; see link)
Morrison Hotel Gallery in La Jolla (SD photographer shows off his montage of photography of famous rock stars/bands including the Beatles, The Doors and so many others; see link)

OK... this isn't everything but hope this gets you going in the right direction. Enjoy San Diego--it's a fantastic city!

Answer 4

La Jolla Cove would be a great one for you I think.

http://www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/cove.shtml

If you are up in Northern San Diego Oceanside Harbor is fun.

Also Seaport Village is right on the Harbor and has lots of little shops and restaurants, it's also close to the Embarcadero where you can see the historical ships including the Star of India and the USS Midway Ship and Maritime Museum.
http://www.seaportvillage.com/

Answer 5

Humfrey's in the Marena, ( blues/jazz music)
PB or Pacific Beach, ( always nice )

You could literaly drive 10-min, park and walk over to Tijuana Mexico, cool stuff / shopping You name your price, nothing is beyond your negotiation skills, I was in sales Ring ( Pink Sapphire (sp) $30.00 in the states Worth over $300.00. If you like bargains and making a possible nice profit at it, I myself wear the ring, I love the compliments I always get. Go Horseback riding on the beach, Actually did this at sunset it took our breath away on the Beaches in Tijuana

Answer 6

this isn't really an answer just a thank you for posting. There is a lot of good info in your answers that I too will use for touring San Diego.

Answer 7

All good ideas; I think Jerzeygirl was trying to refer you to Humphrey's on Shelter Island, an outdoor performance space adjacent to their hotel and restaurant. Top acts this summer; Stevie Wonder is going to be playing there later this month (if you're old enough to know who he is). Concert schedule: http://www.humphreysconcerts.com/schedule_glance.cfm

Here are some suggestions:

Day 1: Downtown/Embarcadero area, some suggestions: Take the harbor excursion cruise. Visit the Maritime Museum, a collection of historic sailing vessels, including the oldest still-functional sailboat in the world (Star of India), as well as almost a dozen other interesting boats (several tall ships, historic tug, a Russian sub you can board and tour, the tall ship replica used in the Russell Crowe movie Master and Commander). Sometimes at night during the summer they show movies on the huge sails of Star of India...catch it if it's happening. Go to a Padres game in the downtown stadium if the team's in town. Not too far away is the Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma. Visit the lighthouse, view the harbor, if you come at the right time, you can also go tidepooling. For a pleasant lunch go to the Anthony's Fishette on the Embaradero and grab a seat harborside to munch it down. At night go to the Gaslamp for restaurant, movies, wine bars, entertainment. If something's playing at the San Diego Rep theatre downtown in Horton Plaza that could be fun. I don't think the Rep's going on right now but they let other theatre groups use their space.

Day 2. Balboa Park. See the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Natural History Museum...people are coming from all over the western US to see it. Also there's an auto museum, airplane museum, sports museum, photography museum, several other art museums, anthropoloy museum (Museum of Man), model train museum (hope I didn't forget someone) plus lots of gardens; international houses and organ concerts open Sundays only. Japanese Friendship Garden there is restful. Frequent free concerts in the evenings during summer months. Great place to eat or have a drink in the park: the patio at the Cafe at the Prado (sit on the outdoor patio in back). This time of year you'll need a reservation in advance. You could see a play at the Old Globe Theatres there: Usually a Shakespeare play in the outdoor theatre or a contemporary play in one of the indoor theatres. Tickets sell out fast. If Starlight Theatre is active, they have outdoor Broadway-type musicals, also in the park. See, lots to do in Balboa Park, and you haven't even gone to the zoo.

Day 3: Visit beaches (your pick of one or more):

Silver Strand in Coronado (south of the Hotel Del) for a wide, beautiful beach.

Mission Beach Boardwalk for the old roller coaster and walking (or using rented bike or skates) to cruise the boardwalk, which goes for miles up toward Pacific Beach. Major good people watching area.

WindanSea Beach and/or Tourmaline in Pacific Beach...watch the surfers, enjoy some beautiful beach.

La Jolla...La Jolla cove. Rent a kayak to explore the caves there (kayak rental places close by). See the seals in the cove. Visit the San Diego Museum of Modern Art...first class modern art in a museum perched on the cliff above the beach. Have a drink at the La Valencia Hotel patio and look for tv/movie stars (seen several there) along with beautiful ocean view. Window shop at pricy stores there. Great place for Mexican food there: Alphonses. High end dining, and an outstanding view: George's California Modern (use to be called Georges at the Cove).

Day 4 How about some more La Jolla area activities? Visit Birch Aquarium (call ahead of time to find out when they're feeding the fish). Might want to take in a play or musical at La Jolla Playhouse on the UCSD campus. Play golf? Try to get tee time at Torrey Pines. See if anyone's playing at the Anthaneum (small library/performance place in LJ). If you liked the LJ Cove area, go back and do some snorkeling there.

Day 5 North County Beaches Day: Go to Torrey Pines State Park and pack yourself some lunch and liquids (and wear your bathing suit under your clothes). Lots of cool trails among the rare Torrey Pines trees. One trail goes down the cliffs to the beach, where you can walk up and down the beach for miles in each direction. This area has limited access so you have fantastic panoramic views with not too many people. I call this a "must see". Be sure to check the tide table before you go as some areas you walk thru upon your return will be flooded over at high tide. Another nice spot is the Meditation Garden at the Self Realization Fellowship Retreat on Coast Highway in Encinitas. Beautiful. Watch the surfers at Swami's below. Great place to eat lunch or dinner is the beach patio at restaurant The Beach House in Cardiff. Get there near sunset for awesome view. Get there before 6:30 for early bird specials.

Some other ideas, if you like microbrews are Pizza Port restaurants in either Solana Beach or Carlsbad for excellent pizza and excellent draft beers or Stone Brewery in Escondido for their tour and samples afterwards.

Answer 8

um
house of blues
just drive around, walk in the shops
u know
casual stuff