SAN DIEGO TOURIST DESTINATIONS

San Diego is the second largest city in California and also the eighth largest city in America. San Diego is home to almost 1 1/2 million people.  San Diego has one of the top 10 best climates with warm dry summers and mild winters. On average San Diego has over 201 days above 70°F.

Located in Southern California, just 20 miles from Tijuana Mexico San Diego is an attractive tourist destination for Mexicans as well as people throughout the world. On average over 30 million people a year visit San Diego and spend approximately $8 billion in the local economy which also include the cruiseship lines which operate out of San Diego.

The downtown area of San Diego is situated on the bay. Many businesses and office towers as well as hotels are located in the downtown area. The San Diego downtown area also has a very energetic nightlife, of which many tourists are a part of.

Other districts in San Diego include the Oldtown Mission Valley, which is very popular with tourists and it includes historic Mexican culture.

La Jolla is one of the most popular beach destinations in California. Surrounded on three sides by the sea and backed by the steep slopes of Mt. Soledad, La Jolla’s natural beauty, abundance of activities and upscale village lifestyle ensure that it lives up to its nickname as “the jewel” of San Diego.

Consistently voted one of the top beach destinations in the world, La Jolla offers a wide range of accommodations from luxurious hotels to casual coastal retreats, along with museums and art galleries, one-of-a-kind boutiques, great restaurants and a slew of outdoor activities.

Home to the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course and The Lodge at Torrey Pines, the scenic cliff area offers well-groomed hiking trails with spectacular views, and world-class golf. At  Torrey Pines Gliderport you can soar out over the beach cliffs on a hang glider or just relax and watch the action above.

The point Loma Ocean Beach offers some of the most scenic views of San Diego and its beautiful beach coastline. Point Loma is home to the Cabrillo National Monument commemorating the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who sailed his ship the San Salvador in to San Diego Bay in 1542, to become the first European to set foot in California. Contemplate his remarkable journey as you stand next to the statue of Cabrillo and enjoy sweeping views of the bay and downtown San Diego skyline. Visit the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and discover some of the best tide pooling in San Diego, when low tide reveals flowery anemones, crabs, mollusks and a myriad of other sea creatures inhabiting the reef.

Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are also very popular bustling with shops and restaurants and offering visitors water sports such as sailing and kite surfing and visits to the Sea World.

Mission Bay is also home to SeaWorld San Diego, the world-famous marine life adventure park. With awe-inspiring shows, thrilling rides and unforgettable face-to-face animal encounters, kids of all ages will enjoy exploring the wonders and adventures of the sea. If sport fishing is your passion, a number of operators depart from Mission Bay with options for half-day, full-day and multi-day trips. During the twice yearly seasons, many of these same boats also offer whale watching tours.

Harbor Island packs a lot into its two miles of real estate. Large hotels, marinas and several view-centric restaurants, including Island Prime, Costerra and Tom Ham’s Lighthouse, call this island home. A shoreline path complete with a steady ocean breeze keeps walkers, joggers, skaters and bikers cool while they enjoy panoramic views of the San Diego skyline, Coronado Island and the Big Bay. Several grassy areas provide ample picnic spots. Harbor Island is also an ideal place to enjoy the city lights by night, firework shows on the 4th of July, the annual boat Parade of Lights in December and sailing races, such as the America’s Cup, when they are taking place.

Shelter Island is one of San Diego’s principal boating centers, where marinas, resort hotels, restaurants and bayside parks welcome sailors and landlubbers with recreational amenities. Many short and long-range sportfishing trips depart from here, with anglers catching a host of Pacific fish like Yellowtail, Albacore, Halibut, Dorado, Calico Bass and a variety of rock fish. Shelter Island is also home to Humphreys Half Moon Inn & Suites, and their summer Concerts By The Bay, which attracts nationally known musicians and comedians.

At the end of Shelter Island, you’ll find the Yokohama Friendship Bell, a large bronze bell housed in a pagoda structure, that was a gift from the city of Yokohama, Japan in 1958 to commemorate the sister city relationship between San Diego and Yokohama.

Coronado is consistently voted best beach in the U.S. by Dr. Beach. With gentle surf, sparkling wide-sand beaches, charming main street and great hotels, including the famous Hotel del Coronado, this island paradise is perfect for a family vacation or romantic getaway.

Coronado’s coastline offers wide sandy beaches with sparkling sand, courtesy of the mineral Mica, that draw visitors from around the world. With its elegant gardens, old-world mansions, quaint shops, and oceanfront dining with spectacular sunset views, no wonder this charmed small town has been dubbed  “The Crown City,” as Coronado means “the crowned one” in Spanish.

Spend the day relaxing on the beach or rent a bike and tour the island via Coronado’s beachfront boardwalk. Take a stroll down Orange Avenue, Coronado’s main artery, which is lined with shops, restaurants, galleries, theaters and the Coronado Museum of History & Art. At the other end of the island, Coronado’s Ferry Landing offers a collection of more than 20 shops, art galleries and restaurants boasting stunning views of San Diego’s downtown skyline. Flagship Cruises also offers low cost ferry service from the landing across the bay to Seaport Village on the edge of downtown.

At MidCity which are located in the Heights east of Balboa Park. You will find yourself away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist area. Here you will find local restaurants, shops, and also lodging which can be significantly cheaper than going to a hotel. Most visitors find lodging at MidCity through services like AIRBnB.

The North Eastern District is mostly suburban and stretch as far inland all the way to the hills of the North. It has Safari Park which is one of the few tourists attractions.

And if you follow the roads south you will find yourself in the San Ysidro district which has the world’s most busiest border crossing by land and directly connects San Diego with Tijuana.