Tips on What To Do in San Diego

With beautiful beaches and summerlike temperatures year-round, San Diego makes a great travel destination for outdoor enthusiasts. But it's also a good place for museum lovers, shopaholics and night owls.

• Arts Tix features last minute discount tickets to shows and special events. Located Downtown at the corner of 3rd Ave. and Broadway near Horton Plaza." -- Sherman's Travel
• As Central Park is to New York City, Balboa Park is the center of this out-of-doors city: Its 1,200 landscaped acres hosts 85 attractions, including 15 museums, gardens, restaurants, and the Zoo." -- Concierge.com

Attractions for Kids

Snap photos of Shamu at SeaWorld San Diego and ogle at the pandas at the San Diego Zoo. You should also take a trip to Belmont Park, the seaside amusement park home to the popular oceanfront roller coaster, the Giant Dipper.

• One of the world's largest marine-life amusement parks, SeaWorld is spread over 189 tropically landscaped bay-front acres -- and it seems to be expanding into every available square inch of space with new exhibits, shows and activities." -- Fodor's
• Note that SeaWorld has steep entry prices and long queues for some shows and exhibits at peak times. The marine park is 8km (5mi) northwest of downtown." -- Lonely Planet
• Keep in mind some hotels offer free or discounted lodging for children who share a room with a parent or guardian -- be sure to ask." -- Frommer's

Beaches

Mission Beach has calm waters to swim in, and it's a popular area for scuba diving. Head to La Jolla for the winding trails and awe-inspiring cliffs at Torrey Pines State Reserve or the surfer-friendly waves at Windansea Beach.

• During the summer, the beaches of Mission and Pacific are crazy-busy with tourists and the 20-something party crowd, making for some of the best people-watching around. Stroll, Rollerblade, or bike along the sand-side boardwalk from Mission to the edge of PB." -- Concierge.com

Museums and Sightseeing

If you're stopping downtown, hit up the Maritime Museum of San Diego or the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum. If you're touring on a budget, try the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park. Old Town's Tequila Museum is popular among tourists 21 and over.

• Whale Watching -- The migration of the Pacific gray whales to the warm breeding grounds off the coast of Baja California occurs every winter. Glimpse these peaceful giants of the sea from the Cabrillo National Monument or on special whale-watching cruises." -- Frommer's

Shopping

Many like the upscale shops at La Jolla's Prospect Place, but you might find discounts at Old Town's Fashion Valley Shopping Center.

• San Diego's version of Rodeo Drive, La Jolla is a high-end shopper's paradise. Small fashion boutiques selling ridiculously expensive white pantsuits, fine art galleries lined with oil painting and modern sculpture, and diamond-filled jewelry shops can be found on a handful of blocks surrounding the always-tony Prospect Street." -- Concierge.com
• Hip Hillcrest and Uptown neighborhoods are the place to go for offbeat boutiques, while conservative La Jolla offers many upscale traditional shops, especially jewelers." -- Frommer's

Nightlife

You'll find plentiful festivity in the bars and clubs in Gaslamp. College crowds tend to congregate around Pacific Beach or Ocean Beach, and the LGBT community prefers the Hillcrest area.

• No longer just a sleepy beach town, San Diego has a full-fledged nightlife scene. Casual beach bars in Pacific and Mission Beach swarm with the young, beautiful set year-round, there are a number of trendy spots in the Gaslamp and East Village areas, and swanky downtown La Jolla is popular with a more mature crowd." -- Concierge.com