Top San Diego Attractions

The Top 7 

...for a full week of fun here in sunny San Diego, California!

The San Diego Zoo

It's a huge cliche, but if you only do one thing here in San Diego you need to see the Zoo. And, if you only do one thing at the Zoo you need to see those exceedingly cute giant pandas.

San Diego Beaches

Unless you come from a great beach town, you need to spend time on at least one beach here in San Diego. Some beaches here are quiet and great for families (Torrey Pines, Coronado, La Jolla Cove) and some are much more lively (Pacific Beach, Mission Beach), but all are beautiful in their own way. Don't burn yourself out at an amusement park every day, take a quiet day for the beach.

SeaWorld Adventure Park

Seaworld has all kinds of sea life - Dolphins, Killer Whales, Penguins, and some fantastic shows featuring the aquatic mammals. They also have this really nifty flume ride.

San Diego Wild Animal Park

In any other city this would be higher up on the list, but with the San Diego Zoo and Seaworld here I have the Wild Animal Park at #4. The park is run by the San Diego Zoo (see #1), and is every bit as nice. There is a great safari type ride, a herd of elephants, and a pride of lions. No pandas, though...

Legoland California

Legoland has kind of a rap for being for younger kids, or kids who are obsessed with Lego. I've heard this enough times to think that it is probably true. They do have lots of cool Lego models, a bunch of rides (nothing too scary), and a gift shop with an insane amount of (you guessed it) Lego at discount prices.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park, right in downtown San Diego, has a whole bunch of cool museums, gardens, a carousel, a small railroad, and an arts village. On Tuesdays there is usually one museum open with free admission. The San Diego Zoo is right in the park, but the Zoo should really be seen on it's own day, and the park on another.

The Olympic Training Center

Do you have Olympic fever? Then why not check out the beautiful Olympic Training Center here in San Diego. (If you don't have Olympic Fever, maybe another day at the beach is for you.)

Old Town San Diego

Here is an 8th spot for you - Old Town. I wouldn't necessarily make a day of Old Town, but Old Town is packed with excellent Mexican Restaurants, so hitting this one evening for a stroll and a meal is a nice idea. While it is a little touristy, local San Diegans really do go here for the many restaurants.