Trip to San Diego California
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
Routes: Detailed travel itineraries in the United States (Free)
General
San Diego is a charming city whose residents claim it is the most recommended place to live in the Americas. It is the second largest city in California and has a recommended blend of a large, modern city and a popular year-round resort.
The city stretches from the sea to the desert and features hills, valleys, canyons, and cliffs. The city's population is about 1.2 million, but together with its suburbs, the number of residents reaches more than 2.5 million. Despite this, it is not crowded at all, and between its neighborhoods are green hills and valleys lush with vegetation. The natural harbor is one of the largest in California. The coastline is very long and diverse: it features impressive cliffs, lagoons, and massive sandy beaches.
Water sports are very developed: the beaches and lagoons are full of surfers, boats, and jet skis. San Diego is home to the largest base of the US Navy in the Western United States.
The city is located about two and a half hours drive from Los Angeles near the Mexican border. San Diego is considered the birthplace of California, as the first Spanish settlers arrived there in the 18th century. To this day, a Spanish influence is felt, both in the architectural style and in the many Spanish names of its streets and neighborhoods.
San Diego is an ideal city for a family vacation because it has many attractions suitable for all ages and for an enjoyable family outing: a zoo, safari, SeaWorld, sprawling parks, many museums, pleasant shopping centers, and lovely beaches. You can travel through it leisurely thanks to the ideal weather and the peaceful and safe atmosphere that prevails in most of its parts. In many tourist sites in the city, you can rent bicycles (for families with small children, it is recommended to rent a pedal-powered carriage with 4-5 seats, or a tandem bicycle) and go on tours of the beautiful landscapes.
♦ Recommended hotels in San Diego:recommended hotels in the excellent La Jolla neighborhood ♦ Residence Inn San Diego La Jolla
♦ Inn by the Sea, at La Jolla ♦ Holiday Inn Express and Suites La Jolla
♦ Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego - La Jolla
♦ More expensive and highly recommended: Pantai Inn
In the Mission Valley area: |
Weather:
San Diego's weather is simply perfect. The average daily temperature is 22°C and the annual rainfall is 250 mm. There are no more than ten rainy days a year and most winter days are sunny and warm. The heat stress is not great in the summer. This weather is due to the city's ideal location between the sea and the desert and the relatively low geographic latitude where it lies. September is usually the hottest month of the year and June is the grayest (which is why residents call it Glum June).
Seals on the beaches of La Jolla neighborhood:
Recommended attractions and tours in San Diego to book from Viator:
Ticket booking:
♦ Tickets for LEGOLAND California: LEGOLAND® California
♦ Tickets for the San Diego Zoo: San Diego Zoo
Order tours and attractions in San Diego from GetYourGuide.com:
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Main attractions in San Diego:
"SeaWorld", SeaWorld
"SeaWorld" is one of the entertainment venues not to be missed! A visit there is an experience for all ages. Dedicate an entire day to it. The site is located in "Mission Bay" in the northwest of the city, halfway between La Jolla and the airport, near I-5. It is almost identical to SeaWorld in Orlando.
In addition to the marine animal shows, a charming show called Pets Rule featuring domestic animals (cats, dogs, and birds) is also held in the park. Several attractions have been added to SeaWorld San Diego in the last decade: a stormy and wet ride in circular boats Shipwreck Rapids and Journey To Atlantis, a boat ride that includes steep and splashing climbs and drops.
A particularly recommended roller coaster, fast and full of twists and turns, is "Manta", where the queue passes through aquariums of Manta Rays.
The newest roller coaster (2018), which is also the fastest and tallest in San Diego, is Electric Eel. The train car, which holds 18 passengers, leads them to a height of over 45 meters at speeds of up to 98 km/h! The train has many twists and travels both forward and backward. The park has an observation tower with a great view of San Diego's beaches and Mission Valley. You can also take a cable car over the waters of Mission Bay (for an additional fee). The park opens at 9:00 AM in the summer months (starting from mid-June) and at 10:00 AM the rest of the year. Closing hours vary by season. In the summer months, recommended evening shows are also held, including an impressive ice skating show, rock shows, and fireworks every evening. A unique show to this park (shown only in summer) is: Cirque de la Mer, a show on the water with mysterious characters and acrobats combining music and special effects.
The park offers experiential educational tours for an additional fee, such as: "Behind the Scenes" tour of the park, Penguin Encounter, Antarctica experience and more. Most tours last about an hour.
SeaWorld also offers (for an additional fee) meals (breakfast and lunch) near the killer whale pools. While you dine, you can watch the whales playing in the water near you. More information on the site: it is recommended to book seats for this experience in advance. The park also features (for an additional high fee) a program for an intimate acquaintance with dolphins called: Dolphin Interaction Program, which includes swimming with dolphins and feeding them (tickets must be booked in advance). Additional unique programs (for an additional fee) are held in the polar bear area in Wild Arctic, in the penguin area and in the beluga whale area.
You can also take (for an additional fee) a guided VIP tour of the park, including visits to places that cannot be reached independently. Various events take place in the park throughout the year. Particularly favorite are the ghost and spirit-filled events held in October for Halloween. A combined ticket can be purchased at a discounted price for Universal Studios in Los Angeles and SeaWorld (both parks must be visited within 14 days).
In the summer of 2013, a new water park named "Aquatica" opened next to SeaWorld, a twin brother to the water park of the same name in Orlando.
recommended discount card for amusement parks and attractions in Southern California: For SeaWorld, Legoland and the Zoo in San Diego, and Disneyland and Universal in Los Angeles:
Southern California's best attractions
San Diego Zoo
The zoo is located inside Balboa Park, in its northwestern part. This is the largest zoo in the world. It has about 4000 animals of 800 types, including rare and endangered species. The animals are in open natural areas that simulate their natural environment and are separated from the visiting public by deep water channels. The garden is full of rich vegetation (over 6500 types of plants) and is very well-maintained. Due to its enormous size, it has several means of transport: a double-decker bus tour, which passes through most parts of the garden and allows you to see most of the animals without walking and effort. The tour duration is about 45 minutes. In addition, there is a shuttle bus with several stops throughout the garden, there is a cable car (Skyfari) that travels from the upper part of the garden to the lower part and back, and long escalators in difficult uphill sections.
One of the parts of the garden most loved by children is the children's zoo where you can get close to many animals and pet them. Nearby is a building entirely dedicated to snakes and other reptiles. Other animals worth visiting: polar bears, hippos, giant pandas (which are one of the zoo's symbols), koalas, and gorillas. Every day various animal shows are held in three open amphitheaters.
San Diego Safari Park, Safari Park
This is a large safari park located outside the city in a suburb called "Escondido" at a distance of about 45 km from the city, on highway 78 (reached from I-15). The park has over 3000 wild animals, including lions, tigers, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, etc. The park is lush with vegetation and has over 3000 types of plants. It is recommended to take a tour of about 50 minutes by train (at no additional cost) that passes through most parts of the park and stops near many animals. The park also has many walking trails where there are good viewpoints. Don't miss the gorillas and the parrot greenhouse where they can be hand-fed with special food bought on-site. Three shows take place at the venue: exotic animal show, elephant show, and bird show. The park is open daily from 9:00 AM. Closing hours vary by season. Occasionally various festivals are held in the park. The most recommended of all takes place during the Christmas period when a lovely light festival is held. The entrance price includes the train ride and the shows.
For an additional fee, you can join several other special experiences:
"Balloon Safari", the newest attraction in the park: go up in a large helium-filled balloon (with room for 30 people) to a height of 121 meters from which you can see a panoramic view of the entire park and its immediate surroundings. Every Saturday a family trip named Family Caravan tour departs for a more intimate tour, where you get close to the safari animals and learn about their behavior and living conditions. Intended for families with children aged 6-17. Photography enthusiasts will be happy to join a tour called: Photo Caravan Safari, which provides rare photography opportunities from unique perspectives. The tour takes place daily. Devoted animal lovers will greatly enjoy visiting both the zoo and the wild animal park. Others will settle for visiting only one of them. If you are staying in the city for more than four days, it is worth visiting one of the parks at the beginning and the other at the end of the visit.
Address: 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido.
Balboa Park, Balboa Park
This is a giant park (4600 dunams) used as an entertainment and cultural center. The park has beautiful Spanish-style buildings built specifically for an international fair held in the city in 1915 to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal. The park has many museums, a theater, botanical gardens and walking trails, an artist center, an organ (the largest in the world located outside a closed structure) and the famous zoo. Musical performances, dances, clown and magician shows take place on weekends.
It is worth visiting the park on a weekend, walking along the main boulevard, "El Prado" promenade, between the buildings, enjoying the pleasant and colorful atmosphere and visiting a museum or two. Don't miss the Spanish Village Art Center where there are about 40 small galleries where you can watch artists at work. Open daily from 11 AM to 4 PM except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is free.
Every Tuesday, admission is also free to several museums. Free organ concerts are held every week. In the park is a row of small buildings at a site called: The House of Pacific Relations, where representatives of about 30 countries (including Israel!) reside, providing information about their countries, including customs, pictures, tools, etc. It is especially recommended to visit the site on Sundays, when all the pavilions open their doors to the public accompanied by authentic shows, typical foods, etc. The park also has a visitor center providing information, maps and discount coupons as well as several theaters and cultural halls.
Below are details of the main museums in Balboa Park:
Science Center and Space Theater
Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center A science museum that was renovated and refurbished in 1998 and has a display of over 50 interactive exhibits on various scientific topics such as: the senses, electricity, communication, etc. On the first floor are many board games that can be played. The museum building also has a hall where IMAX 3D films are screened every hour. The film duration is about 50 minutes. It is highly recommended to watch at least one film. The museum also has two large simulators (each with 23 seats) called: SciTours. Each "journey" in the simulator lasts about 6 minutes in which the audience is an active participant in the film before them. Every few months the IMAX films and simulator films change. This is the most suitable museum for a family visit (with children of all ages) in San Diego.
Natural History Museum, San Diego Natural History Museum
A small museum compared to similar museums in New York or Washington but very enjoyable. On-site are permanent and rotating displays of plants, animals, and geology of the California and Mexico region. Open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Aerospace Museum, San Diego Aerospace Museum
In this museum are displays of aircraft, spacecraft, and shuttles from different periods and of many types. If you plan to visit (or have already been to) the Kennedy Space Center in Florida or the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, you have nothing to look for here. But if not, this museum can certainly suit you. Open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas. At the entrance to the museum is a two-person simulator that performs 360-degree turns and simulates flight in different areas according to your choice. Recommended for the daring and flight enthusiasts. Entrance to the simulator involves an additional fee.
Museum of Man, San Diego Museum of Man
A museum presenting different cultures including: Indian customs, ancient Egyptians (including mummies), Mexican and South American culture, and presenting the history of the human race starting from early man, including explanations of how children come into the world. The museum is housed in an impressive building with a high bell tower.
There are many other museums in the park:
The Automotive Museum which has a display of over 60 classic and antique cars, the Model Railroad Museum, Art Museum, Hall of Champions Sports Museum, San Diego History Center, and more. Most are quite small or not particularly suitable for children.
Seaport Village, Seaport Village
An entertainment complex near the sea in the vicinity of the San Diego Convention Center. Located at the corner of Harbor and Pacific Highway, it includes a promenade along the sea, restaurants, galleries, and small shops. A nice place to wander. Street performances take place here mainly on weekends. The shops are intimate and interesting but expensive. Young children will love spinning on the carousel. From the promenade area, you can rent a horse-drawn carriage and tour the city center. Some carriages are designed like Cinderella's carriage or a royal carriage. The tour duration is between 10 minutes and two hours (depending on destination and price).
Mt. Soledad Park
At the top of a small hill adjacent to the prestigious La Jolla neighborhood is an American war memorial from the Civil War to recent conflicts in the Middle East, Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial. In its center is a large cross surrounded by pictures and names of fallen soldiers. Reach it from Highway 52 and drive up Soledad Mountain Road.
In my opinion, this is the most recommended viewpoint in the city! At the base of the monument, the entire city unfolds up to the mountains.
On a clear day, you see Mission Bay, the city center with its tall buildings, Coronado peninsula, La Jolla neighborhood with its cliffs and beaches, and the beautiful Mormon church. The 59-mile scenic drive (marked with a seagull drawing) connecting all the tourist sites in the city passes through Mt. Soledad.
La Jolla, La Jolla
The meaning of the name "La Jolla" in Spanish is jewel, and indeed this charming suburb is one of the jewels of San Diego. It is a prestigious artist suburb in northern San Diego, on a beautiful and indented coastline.
On the main street (Prospect Street) are many galleries, high-end restaurants, and shops. Along the coast is a long promenade. Don't miss it! The view is great, the beaches are small and unique, and the main attraction is the animals dwelling in the water and on the sand and rocks surrounding them: seagulls, pelicans, and mainly: Seals. When the sea is calm, you will see only their heads peeking out of the water, but when the sea is rough, they lie in crowds on the sand in one of the bays called: "Children’s Pool". You can stand just a few meters away from them. Remember: seals are highly protected animals; it is forbidden to touch or feed them. Americans are very sensitive to the topic of endangered animals and any injured seal makes news headlines.
In the northern part of the promenade is a charming shell shop where you can buy beautiful and cheap souvenirs made of shells. Shop address: 1325 Coast Blvd. From the shop, there is a descent to a natural cave that the stormy sea carved in the rocks. Entrance to the cave involves a fee and a descent down many steps.
In La Jolla is also the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Aquarium-Museum Stephan Birch, belonging to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. In the aquarium are many sea creatures presented in an interesting and educational way, and interactive displays on human impact on the environment, various natural phenomena, etc.
Cabrillo National Monument
The park is located at Point Loma, which is a peninsula jutting into the sea, a large part of which is military territory. The park has an old lighthouse. From most parts of the park, there is a lovely view of the city.
The park has a new promenade overlooking the ocean shores, from which you can sometimes spot (mainly in winter months) whales migrating from Alaska to Mexico and back. Along the promenade are seating areas for viewing the landscape. At the base of the park is a rocky beach with Tide pools, which you can walk between and observe crabs and other sea creatures.
Old Town
A reconstructed historical park over an area of six blocks, including the homes of the city's first settlers. There is a visitor center on site.
You can enter old residences, a dentist's office, a schoolhouse, and a bank. Between the buildings are many souvenir shops, galleries, and restaurants.
The most colorful part of the park is Bazar Del Mundo, which has restaurants, shops, and a stage where Mexican singing and dancing performances take place (mainly on weekends).
Coronado
A peninsula connected to San Diego by a narrow strip of land near the border with Mexico and by a high and impressive bridge connecting to I-5 south of the city center. Ships and sailboats pass under the bridge, and it's worth driving over it to visit Coronado. Coronado is a high-end suburb of San Diego with long sandy beaches. These beaches were chosen as the "Best family beaches in the USA". Just remember that the water temperature in the Pacific Ocean is lower than in the Mediterranean. On the southern part of the peninsula is "Hotel Del Coronado", which is a historical hotel from 1888 where many rich and famous people have stayed.
Recommended tour for booking from Viator:
♦ Special electric bike tour in Coronado peninsula: Fat Woody Coronado Beach Cruiser Experience
On the northern side of the peninsula, overlooking San Diego city center, is a charming waterfront promenade. On the promenade are galleries, shops, restaurants, beautiful beaches and mainly a lovely view of the city.
Other interesting attractions in San Diego:
Maritime Museum of San Diego
"Mission Bay", Mission Bay
Torrey Pines State Reserve
San Diego Water Park: Knott's Soak City Water Park