Funded in part with City of San Diego Tourism Marketing District Assessment Funds
Foodie Fun
Culinary scene introduction -- outdoor dining, fresh ingredients, local flavors.
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San Diego
sun, surf and so much more
on the water
ATTRACTIONS
Adventures on land
Foodie fun
San Diego does right by its role as California’s Beach City, serving up blissful swimming, snorkeling, surfing, sailing, SUPing—or just sunning on the warm, golden sand. But as much as everyone loves a quick beach escape, this is a spot where you’re going to want to linger longer: Beyond the 70-mile coastline lie bucket-list adventures, serious destination dining—and an arts scene so rich, culture vultures could spend an entire trip museum-hopping and still have more to check out next time. Read on to discover what calls to you most, both on—and off—the beach.
Since the early 20th century, when the Hawaiian pioneers of modern surfing did demos in San Diego to the astonishment of the crowds, the sport has held a revered place in local culture and lore. The fact that there are so many great options for surfers of all skill levels here certainly doesn’t hurt. Beginners tend to do well with lessons in La Jolla and Pacific Beach, while experienced surfers flock to Windansea. Then again, if you’d rather be upright on a board while you paddle, San Diego has lots of great options, too. One of the easiest SUP spots is the smooth, protected Mission Bay, where SUP yoga and pilates are a thing, too.
You know who else shows up in these waters in summer? Thousands of docile leopard sharks—local celebrities in their own right, who you can get up close and personal with on a snorkeling tour in the ecological reserve off La Jolla Shores. While you’re there, you’re also likely to see bright orange garibaldi fish, shovel nose guitar fish, sea lions and maybe even dolphins and turtles. If you’d rather stay atop the water instead of heading below the surface, be sure to book a kayak tour that includes the local sea caves. And don’t worry: The water is often clear enough that you can see whatever’s swimming below.
On the water
Whether you’re looking for an easy bike ride by the water, a twisting trail through the mountains—or something in between—San Diego’s got you covered. On the mellow side of the spectrum, you’ll find 12 miles of flat, family-friendly trail by Mission Bay, where parks, wildlife reserves and birds galore make for an idyllic backdrop. For something a bit more challenging, but still suitable to older kids (think 12 and up), ride south from La Jolla Cove past the Children's Pool (look out for seals below!) to Windandsea, Crystal Pier and the Pacific Beach Boardwalk. If mountain biking is more your speed, you’ll find trails that range from easy (see: the 4.5-mile loop in Balboa Park) to expert (head to Fortuna Mountain for 6.5 miles of steep cut-backs, loose rocks, sweeping views and a bonus waterfall). And if you didn’t BYO wheels, fear not: The city’s got countless bike rental and share services.
Torrey Pines is also home to one of the most beautiful golf spots in San Diego, and arguably all the world: the Torrey Pines Golf Course, which—like the preserve—sprawls atop a series of oceanside cliffs. Though you’d go for the Pacific views alone, the golfing itself draws die-hards with two championship 18-hole courses that any fan knows from PGA play. That the site is municipally operated and owned (read: ultra-accessible) is a beloved bonus. But if you’re looking to splurge, stay at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, where the course-adjacent Mackinson Suite has sliding doors that open onto your own private 18th hole (and Pacific ocean) viewing balcony. Of course, San Diego is home to multiple epic courses, from the Mission Bay Golf Course (where you'll find traditional golf, DiscGolf and FootGolf) to Poway’s Maderas Golf Club (a Johnny Miller-Robert Muir Graves design with multiple waterfalls and lakes).
Adventures on Land
DID YOU
KNOW?
If you head to the waters off San Diego in summer, you’ll be sharing them with the planet’s largest mammals: blue whales, which can reach lengths of nearly 100 feet. (Telltale sign that one’s nearby? The odd spout that tops 30 feet.) To be well and truly blown away, book a
whale-watching tour between mid-June and the end of September.
Attractions
Occupying 1200 of San Diego’s prettiest, greenest acres, Balboa Park is a National Historic Landmark. But thanks to several buzzy openings and re-openings, the cultural compound’s early 20th-century bones have been infused with a whole new energy. For starters, the long anticipated Comic-Con Museum is debuting this year, as are five additional structures at the already beloved House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, where you can catch cultural performances on weekends. Other new additions include an observation platform around the fabled Moreton Bay Fig Tree and—if you’re timing your trip to Labor Day—the overhauled and expanded Mingei International Museum, set to debut Sept. 3. Mind you, this is the short list of what awaits in Balboa Park; you’ll want to set aside ample time for the full slate of museums, artisan studios, gardens, ponds and more.
Technically part of Balboa Park, but more commonly considered the icon next door, the San Diego Zoo is one of the world's most renowned animal attractions (though the sister Safari Park in Escondido ranks up there, too). The naturalistic habitats, conservation-minded experiences and thousands of rare and endangered creatures are a sure-fire recipe for amazing days. The popular Inside Look Tours have recently expanded to include two new offerings: Baboons & Friends and Flamingos & Friends, which—like all the insider tours—take you to special viewing areas, introduce you to the caretakers and teach you how you can help protect the animals’ wild counterparts. The other San Diego animal attraction that’s increasingly focused on research, rescue, rehabilitation and conservation? SeaWorld San Diego, where, yes, the orcas will be the last generation onsite—and the behind-the-scenes encounters with the likes of dolphins and beluga whales are as much about stewardship as spectacle.
Of course, SeaWorld has a whole other dimension: rides! And this year, the famed Electric Eel and Manta coasters will be joined by the highly anticipated Emperor: the tallest and fastest floorless dive coaster in California. But if you’ve got the littles in tow, Sea Dragon Drop and Elmo’s Flying Fish will be more their speed. For an old-timey variation on the theme, head to Belmont Park—a beachfront amusement park—where the wooden Giant Dipper coaster dates to 1925 and has since become a National Historic Landmark. Underscoring the park’s retro vibes are Go Karts, bumper cars, an arcade and more. But if there’s a Lego-obsessed member of your travel party, proceed directly to the mothership, i.e., LEGOLAND California Resort, where a brand-new attraction—the ultra-immersive Lego Movie World—plus three additional new rides complement longtime favorites like Lego Ninjago the Ride and Coast Guard Build-a-Boat.
A hiker’s heaven, San Diego packs everything from urban treks (don’t miss the magical Seven Bridges hike through Balboa Park, Hillcrest and Bankers Hill) to mountain trails (the most notorious of which takes you from the shores of Lake Poway up the slopes of Mt. Woodson to the Insta-famous Potato Chip Rock). For something in between—i.e, close to the city, but out in nature—head to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, much of which sits 300 feet above the Pacific Ocean on cliffs. Named for the nation’s rarest pine species, the reserve is home to 7,000 or so of these frequently wind-sculpted wonders, and a whole succession of trails. Few are longer than a mile, so you’ll likely do more than one, but if you do nothing else, check out the Razor Point Trail for the sculpted sandstone gorge views and the Beach Trail for the breathtaking descent to the beach.
Craft Brews & Cocktails
Celeb Chef Spots
Neighborhood
Eats
Craft Brews & Cocktails
From Top Chef veterans to Food Network stars, all kinds of celebrity chefs have put down roots—or entire empires—in San Diego. And when you pair next-level talent with abundant local produce and seafood, the results are too good not to indulge in.
Take Richard Blais—the winner of Top Chef: All-Stars—who helped launch Juniper and Ivy (a celebration of locally sourced, seasonal fare), then The Crack Shack (fried chicken paradise), both to great acclaim—has now opened his first steakhouse, Ember & Rye.
Meanwhile, fellow Top Chef: All-Stars alum Brian Malarkey opened his own steakhouse—in this case, with a focus on wagyu beef. Called Animae, the restaurant adds to an already impressive collection that includes Herb & Wood, home to amazing wood-fired Med-meets-SoCal specialties.
But one of the most buzzed-about new spots is the long-anticipated Callie by Travis Swikard, the San Diego native who made a name for himself as a culinary director at Daniel Boulud’s iconic New York City restaurants. Though you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, if you’re looking for guidance, bear in mind that all the pasta is house-made, the pita is blistered in an 800-degree oven—and the raw and cured seafood dishes are a reflection of Swikard’s time spent training in Japan.
Another recent arrival making headlines is Vaga, where—as a Wall Street Journal rundown of the nation’s newest destination dining hotspots noted—Chef Claudette Zepeda is showcasing “the vast agricultural bounty of Southern California.” And those local flavors take on deliciously unorthodox global twists in the likes of a lamb shank with pasilla curry, stewed greens, vaquita beans and paratha—or Baja sea bass with green goddess, spiced ghee and Marcona almond basmati. Buen provecho!
Celeb Chef Spots
San Diego is home to a whole series of vibrant communities and neighborhoods—and one of the best intro courses to any of them is the local food. Case in point: Barrio Logan, the historically Mexican-American neighborhood that’s home to not only the iconic Chicano Park, but also some of the most exquisite eats (and drinks) in town. At a minimum, visit Salud Tacos for the papa fried shell; Panchita’s Bakery for the conchas and Por Vida Café for the Horchata Latte.
For the most varied and exquisite Asian food, head to the Convoy Pan-Asian Cultural and Business Innovation District, where trying to settle on one noodle-and-broth combo is foodie torture (buzzy newcomers like the pho at Da Nang Corner vie for attention with longstanding favorites like the ramen at Tajima). And for dessert? Somi Somi’s Ah-boong—the doughy fish-shaped cones filled with soft serve and red bean, custard or Nutella.
And for a taste of Little Italy, you can go old-school and casual at Mona Lisa Italian Foods—a deli and restaurant where the sandwiches and slices are legendary—or sustainable and seasonal at the likes of the Civico 1845, where traditional Calabrian specialties share real estate with modern vegan interpretations. Either way, leave room for gelato from Bobboi in the Little Italy Food Hall.
Neighborhood Eats
Ready to go?
For all the phenomenal food in San Diego, the city is also known for its liquid assets —especially its craft beer. In fact, given the multitude of local brewers and their award-winning talents, beer lovers from across the globe have made a pilgrimage of the area’s Hops Highway, a series of more than 150 stops where you can sample, tour or while the day away in a biergarten.
In addition to the must-visit names you already know—Stone, Ballast Point, Green Flash (for starters)—consider some of the newer kids on the block who are making a splash: Border X Brewing (the city’s first Latino-owned and -operated brewery) and Mujeres Brew House (the first owned and operated by Latinas). And though there are lots of great brews with views in San Diego, you’ll find a perennial favorite if you head outdoors at the Pacific Beach location of Amplified Ale Works.
Not do be outdone, the local craft cocktail scene is also en fuego—and we’re not referring solely to the Insta-friendly Alakala the Fierce, a flaming concoction of chai-infused bourbon, dark rum, pimento and orgeat by the beloved tiki bar-speakeasy False Idol. San Diego’s mixology world has diversified so deliciously that for any cocktail craving you have, there’s a drink for that. A few favorites include Cutwater Spirits, which distills its own award-winning whiskeys, vodka, gin, rums, tequilas and liqueurs and blends them into beloved canned cocktail; Realm of the 52 Remedies, a speakeasy inspired by an ancient Chinese manuscript of curatives that have been reimagined to rave reviews; and Metl Bar Creamery & Café, where the boozy ice cream is especially renowned.
Click here to start planning your San Diego getaway.
Craft Brews & Cocktails
Neighborhood
Eats
Craft Brews & Cocktails
Celebrity Chef Spots
Celebrity Chef Spots
Neighborhood
Eats