All San Diego Travel Guide

San Diego's not just a city with a warm year round climate and an ocean view, no way! There is so much to see and do. San Diego's communities are lined with world famous museums, national monuments, breathtaking beaches, science and art centers and of course the well know San Diego Zoo. There's a lot of history that was made in San Diego, but you have to see it to appreciate it. So don't forget to bring your camera and extra rolls of film.

Balboa Park | Coronado | Downtown / Gaslamp
Old Town | Mission Bay | North County

Balboa Park

Alcazar Garden - The beautiful lush garden surrounds the Alcazar Castle in Seville. The tiles fountains and the ever-changing horticultural exhibits is what makes this garden such a peaceful experience. The Alcazar Garden is located off of El Prado next to the Mingei International Museum. Balboa Park, San Diego

Carousel- The Carousel is an antique merry-go-round that is well know through-out San Diego. You can earn a free ride on the merry-go-round by removing brass rings an arms length away. Located at 1889 Zoo Pl. behind the zoo parking lot. Balboa Park, San Diego

Mingei International Museum- Exhibits from around the globe are offered at the museum. All ages will enjoy the colorful and historic pieces like toys, pottery, tiles, costumes and many other interesting things from Japan to Germany to England. Located at 1439 El Prado (619)239-0003 Balboa Park, San Diego

Museum of Photographic Arts- Photographers from around the world are represented in the museum. You will see photos from photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams and Imogen Cunningham to name a few. Located at Casa de Balboa, 1649 El Prado (619)239-5262 Balboa Park, San Diego

Museum of San Diego History- The Museum is run by the San Diego Historical Society and is located in the Casa de Balboa. Their research library is located in the basement of the building and they organize shows on the first floor. Most of the exhibits are of local urban history after California became part of the United States in 1850. Located at 1649 El Prado (619)232-6203 Balboa Park, San Diego

San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum - The museum celebrates local athletes, heroes of the past. On exhibit are collections of memorabilia, uniforms, paintings, photographs and even video displays. Located at Casa de Balboa, 1649 El Prado (619)234-2544 Balboa Park, San Diego

San Diego Museum of Art- Custom design a tour of San Diego's most comprehensive art gallery with the IMAGE (Interactive Multimedia Art Gallery Explorer), a system that allows people to locate the highlights of the museum's collections on a computer screen and create a custom tour. The museum is mostly know for its Renaissance paintings and Spanish Boroque, but also displays Southeast Asian Art, Indian Miniatures and contemporary California paintings. Located at Casa de Balboa, 1450 El Prado (619)232-7931 Balboa Park, San Diego

San Diego Museum of Man- This highly popular museum sets its main focus on Southwestern, Mexican and South American cultures. See exhibits and demonstrations, also a new add on is the Children's Discovery Center which makes the museum interesting for the whole family. Located at California Building, 1350 El Prado (619)239-2001 Balboa Park, San Diego

*San Diego Zoo- By far the most popular attraction in San Diego next to "Sea World" and well know all over the world. The zoo is about 100 acres and holds nearly 4,000 and 800 diverse species. See animal demonstrations and shows all day long. This is a must see when your in San Diego. $21 per person: Located at 2920 Zoo Dr. (619)234-3153 Balboa Park, San Diego

go to top

Coronado

Ferry Landing Marketplace- This is the location where the ferries disembark. Many of the buildings resemble the gingerbread domes of the Hotel Coronado. Browse a collection of shops before you set sail to your next destination. Located at 1201 1st St. at B Ave. (619)435-8895 Coronado, San Diego

Hotel del Coronado- Many do not know this, but the Hotel del Coronado was the first electrically lighted hotel in the world and Thomas Edison himself threw the switch. The hotel was built in 1888 and is now a National Historic Site. To this day still has the same ambiance as it did back then. The Del as natives call it, defines glamour and is rich with history. Red carpets, a central courtyard and gazebo, oak pillars and a Grand Ballroom that overlooks the ocean. The Hotel del Coronado, it is certainly worth a tour through history. Located at 1500 Orange Ave. (619)435-6611 Coronado, San Diego

go to top

Downtown San Diego

Gaslamp Quarter- The Gaslamp Quarter, a national historic district, is the social hub of downtown. Its 16½ blocks are crowded with more than 60 restaurants - many of them choice - between Fourth, Fifth and Sixth avenues from Broadway to Harbor Drive.

Maritime Museum- The museum houses three restored ships that visitors can tour. The 1898 ferryboat located at the foot of Ash Street is the main headquarters. There is also a small 1904 Scottish steam yacht which may be toured, but does not offer any displays. The Star of India, a windjammer built in 1863 is probably the most popular of the three. The ship has travel around the world 21 times, was used to shuttle immigrants from England to New Zealand and was also used in the Alaskan Salmon trade. This museum is another must see for the whole family, especially children. Located at 1306 N. Harbor Dr. (619)234-9153 Downtown, San Diego

U.S. Grant Hotel- If historic hotels interest you, then you've got to visit this place. One of the more elegant of the downtown hotels. Built in 1910 and still running strong today with marble lobby floors, gleaming chandeliers, white gloved doormen and 5 star service. Many Presidents have stayed at the U.S. Grand Hotel making it a very popular place to stay the night. Located at 326 Broadway-Downtown, San Diego

Seaport Village- This is no place for a local during the turista-crunch (summers and weekends are the worst), but don't write off this place. Arrive early for a pastry and tea at the Village Cafe and breakfast in inexpensive, uncrowded comfort.

go to top

Old Town

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park- Six square blocks in the heart of San Diego's Old Town houses many historic buildings from the 1800's. You can pick up a tour map that give the details and locations of the buildings, at the Robinson-Rose House which is the office of the Historic Park. Located at 4002 Wallace St. (619)220-5422 Old Town, San Diego

Thomas Whaley Museum- The museum belonged to a New York entrepreneur that came to California in the 1800's. He wanted to give his wife the comforts of home, so he built the first two story brick building in Southern California. Later in the 1870's the house was used as the county court house and now in the present it is the Thomas Whaley Museum. The museum contains furnishings such as a piano from singer Jenny Lind, a sofa from Andrew Jackson's White House and historical artifacts like one of six life masks of Abraham Lincoln, plus much more. Located at 2482 San Diego Ave. (619)298-2482 Old Town, San Diego

Presidio Park- Presidio Park is a secluded and uncrowded escape. Even if you choose to ignore its historic aspects, the park is a great site for a group get-together, a blanket for two or a solitary refuge.

go to top

Mission Bay

Belmont Park - Belmont Park offers a variety of shops and restaurants. The main focus is the old-style amusement park which was renovated in 1990 to the delight of locals and tourists alike. Belmont Park's wooden roller coaster Giant Dipper, a national historic landmark, has thrilled visitors since 1925. Definitely worth a visit!

Mission Bay Park- Mission Bay Park is the focal point for sports and recreation in San Diego. It's 27 miles of beaches, public boat launches, picnic areas, campgrounds, playgrounds and coves provide an arena for the sporting lifestyle.

Sea World - Over 100 acres houses one of the world's largest marine-life amusement parks. Sea World is definitely San Diego's most popular attraction. See show after show after show and still want to see more. Sea World is home to the very popular Shamu show with giant killer whales, also see shows with dolphins, sea lions, water ski stunts and much more. Check out the Mission: Bermuda Triangle show which replicates the thrills of a submersible dive to the ocean floor. $30.95 per person: Located at 1720 South Shores Rd. (619)226-3815 Mission Bay, San Diego

Harbor Island- In 1961 1.5 miles of sand and mud dredged from San Diego Bay created a peninsula which is now called Harbor Island. Today Hotels and Restaurants line the inner shores of Harbor island.

Sunset Cliffs- The 60 ft high cliffs are located on the western side of Point Loma just south of Ocean Beach. The cliffs are a perfect spot to watch the San Diego sunset over the ocean. You can descend down a staircase at a point on the cliffs and watch the tidal pools along the shore.

go to top

North County

La Jolla Cove- The Cove is La Jolla's true treasure. This beach has been a bathing area for more than 100 years, since the days when a swimsuit was more suit than swim.

Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego- First off, the setting of the museum is gorgeous. From the top of the grand stairway, you can look out to a beautiful garden that contains 100 year old California plant specimens, and beyond the garden you can see the Pacific Ocean. Anyway, most of the artwork at the museum celebrates the work of California artists, but you can also see pieces from many other artists of the past half century. Many important pieces were also done by San Diego and Tijuana artists. Located at 700 Prospect St. (619) 454-3541 La Jolla, San Diego

Stephen Birch Aquarium-Museum- You never knew there was so much to discover about the ocean, especially the ocean right outside your front door. But the Scripps Aquarium does a magnificent job of giving you not only something to look at, but things to learn about.

Torrey Pines State Reserve- The rare and beautiful Torrey pines atop the coastal bluffs south of Del Mar are as much a symbol of the Golden State as are the famed Monterey cypress trees native to central California's coast.

San Diego Wild Animal Park- Tired of gawking at lazy hippos in an ordinary zoo? Then unleash the adventurer within at San Diego's Wild Animal Park. Explore this dramatic 1,800-acre animal and plant preserve, carved out of the hills and canyons in the beautiful San Pasqual Valley on the outskirts of Escondido.

go to top