What to Do
There are many fun things to do in and around San Diego. We’ve listed some of our favorites, but you can find many more activities that are fun for the whole family at the suggested links below. We truly hope that you enjoy your time in San Diego-it’s a wonderful place to explore!
Torrey Pines State Beach and Preserve: This is a great hiking spot for all people who enjoy the outdoors. With beautiful views of the ocean and hiking amongst the famous Torrey Pines set above on the bluffs, this popular spot offers something for everyone. This is also minutes from our suggested hotel, and was the inspiration for our wedding venue!
La Jolla: There’s something for every tourist in this artist community turned luxury shopping spot with beautiful views of La Jolla Cove. La Jolla is great for families and friends who want to spend some time roaming shops, strolling by the ocean, viewing sea lions, and grabbing a coffee. We recommend The Living Room as a great local’s coffee shop, and there are many great places to eat (many are fancy and expensive, so venture to those only if you feel so inclined). Still maintaining the artist influence from long ago, there are many museums and art galleries to stroll through. We recommend the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art for those that are interested.
Del Mar: This is a great ocean community minutes from the wedding and suggested hotel location. Del Mar is another great place to do some ocean viewing, go for an afternoon walk, grab a coffee and just spend some time people watching. There are many great restaurants here as well, many are a little on the fancy side, but others are amenable to groups looking for a quick bite to eat. For a quick Mexican Food stop, we recommend Roberto’s just off of Carmel Valley Road on your way into Del Mar. This little taco shop has views of the ocean, and is a walk-up and order kind of place. Of course, fish tacos are a must! If you haven’t tried them, they’re a local specialty!
Cabrillo National Monument/Point Loma Tide Pools: This beautiful spot is a little further drive, but is well worth the views of the city and ocean. You can spend a day moseying through the old lighthouse, enjoying the museum, and you can hike around the tide pools at low tide. This monument is set up on the bluffs overlooking the ocean, and boasts amazing views of much of the surrounding ocean and San Diego.
Julian: Julian is a nice day trip for those looking to enjoy the mountain areas surrounding San Diego (~90 minutes away). This small mining town is famous for their apple pie, a treat you won’t want to miss! The drive to Julian is also nice, and there are many hikes in the nearby state and national forest land. We recommend finding a hike in the surrounding area, and then stopping in town to stroll through the shops and grab a piece of the wonderful apple pie (a la mode, of course).
Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter/Bay Cruise/Seaport Village/USS Midway: San Diego’s downtown area is one of the finest! There are many sights to see while you are down in this area. The famous Gaslamp Quarter is a great place to do some shopping and find a bite to eat. This revitalized downtown area is full of character, fun people, and great food! Nearby, visitors can go through the USS Midway museum, which is a military ship turned museum. Seaport Village is also just down the road, and is a great place to pick up souvenirs. One of our favorite things to do is to spend some time in the downtown area, and then hop on a bay cruise to see the San Diego Bay. There is also a ferry running to Coronado that is very reasonable, and can make for a fun transportation alternative to the stunning island.
Coronado Island/Hotel Del Coronado: This island is minutes from San Diego’s downtown area and is worth the drive if you have time. You’ll start by crossing the Coronado bridge, and end up in a community that takes pride in their island! There are many places to shop and eat here, and the views of the city are breathtaking. Definitely stop in to see the historic Hotel Del Coronado if you’re in this area! There is a beautiful beach here if you are interested in some beach time.
Balboa Park/San Diego Zoo: this huge park is located in the middle of San Diego, and has some of the most beautiful gardens in all of San Diego. There are many museums to get lost in, ranging in focus from natural history, science, art, to many other areas of interest. Located just next door is the San Diego Zoo, where you can get lost in the exotic animals and beautiful landscaping for hours. The Giant Panda’s are especially popular, and you’ll find all kinds of other exotic animals here. People often spend an entire day wandering through the exhibits.
Find a beach, any beach! San Diego has some of the most amazing beaches in the world! We highly recommend a day at the beach for those that are interested. Some of our favorites include Torrey Pines, Windansea, La Jolla Shores, and Coronado. There are many other popular beach spots as well. Many younger crowds flock to Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Ocean Beach. Here you’ll find many bars, great sand, and lots of people enjoying the fun and sun!
Restaurants we recommend:
Point Loma Seafoods: Located in Point Loma (obviously) and right near the airport is this fish lover’s paradise! This place has been serving up locally caught fish for years, and is a staple for locals and tourists alike! This is a seafood market, so you have to push your way to the front and tell them your order (don’t stand there looking for an orderly line-you won’t find one, and you’ll look like a tourist!). This is a great place to grab a fish sandwich and watch the boats in the harbor on a sunny day. The fish actually arrives off of the boats throughout the day, so you can choose your lunch just by watching what’s coming in if you happen to catch them!
Also located nearby is Island Prime/Sea Level which boasts amazing California cuisine and beautiful bay/city views. This restaurant (actually, two restaurants in one) is owned by a family in San Diego that serves nothing but the finest foods in multiple restaurants around town. All of their food comes highly recommended.
If you’re looking for some Mexican Food, Old Town is a great location to stroll around and then have some of the wonderful food at any of the restaurants. This area was the first settled area in all of California, and the Mexican influence is still observed to this day. This is a great place to have some traditional Mexican Food and a margarita. There are also some great shopping opportunities in the area.
San Diego is full of amazing restaurants. There are many different cuisines offered here as San Diego is a very internationally influenced city. We highly recommend you try some of the local cuisines, and we are happy to provide additional recommendations on food selection.
Helpful Links:
http://www.sandiegan.com/events
http://www.sandiego.com/activities
http://101thingstodosw.com/san-diego
http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/casdmenu/ss/things-to-do-in-san-diego.htm