By Gina Tarnacki
San Diego Expert, about.com
San Diego, California has a wide range of activities and things to see. Here are the quintessential San Diego ones you should do at some point in your lifetime.
Take a Limo Bus to Different Breweries
The
best way to visit the many breweries of San Diego is to choose several
favorites and then take a limo bus there. Then you don’t have to worry
about driving and you get to have fun in between brewery stops
socializing on the limo. Plus, it conveniently lets you sample a wide
range of breweries in one day if you’re short on time.
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Eat a Baja Fish Taco
The
baja fish tacos in San Diego are legendary with their crispy fried
outside layer, tangy white sauce, generous heaping of cabbage and salsa
fresca, and occasionally cheese (the latter is up for debate if it is
truly an authentic baja fish taco if there is cheese on it -- I like it
either way). Not sure where to find one? Check out my list of my favorite places for fish tacos in San Diego. If you’re in a big hurry, the southern California food chain, Rubio’s, is surprisingly good and has locations all over the county.
Visit Point Loma's Cabrillo National Monument
The
Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma is part of the U.S. National
Park Service and is home to gorgeous views, the best of which can be
seen from the Cabrillo Statue where you’ll find a 360-degree view of the
ocean and San Diego. While visiting Cabrillo National Monument you can
also see the statuesque Point Loma Lighthouse and have fun looking for
sea creatures in the nearby tidepools.
Participate in a Themed Bar Crawl
In my early years living in San Diego, my sister jokingly asked if people in San Diego ever went to the bar not
dressed up as something. We did of course, but from golf pub crawl
birthdays to 80s inspired bachelorettes to ugly christmas sweater
parties, there was constantly a fun theme to dress up as. San Diego is
the perfect spot for this thanks to a variety of bars lining hot spots
such as Garnet Street in Pacific Beach
and the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown. Plus, the weather is always
temperate enough that you can have fun showing off those costumes while
walking down the street without worrying about having to wear a coat in
winter or being overheated in summer.
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Try Surfing
San
Diego and surfing go hand in hand. While not every person who lives in
San Diego is a die hard surfer (some of us...ahem, like myself...have
trouble getting up on a board) we all secretly wish we were, and you
have to attempt it at least once. Even if you can't get up on the board
and catch a wave, you'll have fun falling in the water while trying --
just make sure you go to a beginner surf spot like the area north of the
pier in La Jolla.
Visit the Museums of Balboa Park
Balboa
Park has over 20 museums all located within walking distance of each
other. From science museums to history museums to art museums, there is a
museum to satisfy just about every interest. Even if you think you're
not a museum person, try the Air and Space Museum -- you might be
surprised. Or, at the very least, walk around the gorgeous grounds of
Balboa Park and take in the historic architecture.
Go Whale Watching
Every
December through April, the Gray whales migrate through San Diego,
sometimes so close to shore you can see them from land. The best way to
see these magnificent beasts, though, is on a whale watching tour out of
the San Diego harbor. For more tips about spotting whales in San Diego,
visit my whale watching article.
Have a Night Out in Gaslamp Quarter
The
Gaslamp Quarter is always hopping on Friday and Saturday nights (and
most other nights). If you don't live downtown, rent a hotel room some
night and go have fun dancing at one of the trendy clubs until 2 a.m.
without having to worry about how you'll get home. Or have a
sophisticated night out at one of the Gaslamp's sumptuous restaurants.
Kayak in La Jolla
The
cliffs that make up part of the shoreline of La Jolla have some secret
caves within them, and during a kayak excursion out of La Jolla Shores
you can don a helmet and explore inside these interesting and
exhilarating caves. It's also a treat just getting to kayak around in
the ocean under the sunshine while making your way to and from the caves
-- you may even see a seal swimming around and under your kayak while
you paddle.
[post_ads]Visit Children's Beach in La Jolla to See the Seals
Kayaking isn't the only place to see seals while in La Jolla. You can also walk down to Children's Pool Beach
while at the La Jolla Cove and see the many, many seals that have
claimed the beach as their home. They lounge about on the beach and swim
in the water nearby and are a delight to behold for both adults and
children.
Drink a Beer at Stone Brewing Company in Escondido
Stone
Brewing Company was one of the first San Diego craft breweries to
really make a mark on a national (and now even international) scale and
helped put the San Diego beer scene on the map. Though they have several
restaurants and tasting rooms in San Diego County now, the original is
still the best, in my opinion, and is located in Escondido. It has a
decently sized indoor dining area that looks into the brewing room, but
it's the outside area that really holds the charm with a massive beer
garden complete with walking trails, ponds and bonfire pits. You can
also tour the brewery.
Attend Del Mar Racetrack's Glamorous Opening Day
Each summer, big hats come out and the dressed up crowd cheers at the Del Mar Racetrack
as magnificent thoroughbred racehorses gallop around the picturesque
track on opening day. Make your day at the opening even more memorable
by arriving in a limo or entering the hat contest.
Apple Pie in Julian
Right
on the outskirts of east San Diego County at the base of the
Cuyamaca Mountains lies the tiny town of Julian, home to apple orchards
and an assortment of delicious pies. You can find Julian apple pies in
the city of San Diego, but it's much more charming to have a slice in
Julian in the fall with crisp air and mountain town ambiance.
Visit the San Diego Zoo
This
is probably a no-brainer if you have kids, but even adults will enjoy
walking around the impressively planned and landscaped San Diego Zoo.
Jet Ski Mission Bay
Mission
Bay is a calm inlet of water right across from Mission Beach that is a
great place for water sports. You can paddle board and kayak, but it's
most exhilarating to rent a jet ski and race across the water.
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Charter a Sailboat
Take
the quintessential San Diego harbor cruise to the next level by
chartering a sailboat around the bay. You can rent one for the day that
comes with a driver so you can just lounge on it with friends and enjoy
the views.
Spend a Night in the Hotel Del Coronado
The
Hotel del Coronado is an iconic San Diego landmark that also just
happens to be a luxury hotel...that you can stay in. Yes, it might set
you back a pretty penny, but think how marvelous it will be to enjoy a
day at the pristine Coronado beach, enjoy a drink at the Hotel Del's
outdoor bar, walk around the grounds of the hotel and not have to leave
at the end of the day? Instead, you can retire to your well-appointed
rooms, enjoy the views of Coronado, and maybe even get a little thrill
if you opt for one of the haunted room.
Golf Torrey Pines
Torrey
Pines Golf Course isn’t just the place of many PGA tournaments; it’s
also jaw-droppingly gorgeous. The course is located in scenic La Jolla
right next to the ocean, which provides stunning views from every hole.
The course is also challenging and if you’re a golf enthusiast, you’ll
definitely want to golf Torrey Pines at least once.
Eat a California Burrito
A
California Burrito is stuffed with French fries and Carne Asada and is a
quintessential San Diego meal. Top choices to do so at include El
Zarape in University Heights, Lucha Libre Taco Shop in Mission Hills,
Nico’s Mexican Food in Point Loma, La Puerta in the Gaslamp Quarter and
the multiple locations of Roberto’s Mexican Food or Lolita’s Taco Shop.
Eat a Burger at Rocky's Crown Pub
Rocky’s
Crown Pub has a dive bar atmosphere and a simple burger on the
barebones menu. But in this case, simple is mouthwateringly delicious.
You can read more about Rocky’s and why you should try one of its
burgers.
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Eat a Burger at Hodad's
Hodad’s started out as a little eatery in Ocean Beach
and quickly developed a cult following that often resulted in a long
line stretching down Newport Avenue. Now there are multiple locations,
but you’ll still probably find a line of people waiting to get their
Hodad’s burger fix. Bite into one to find out why.
Get into a Debate with Someone About the Better Burger: Rocky's or Hodad's
Locals tend to feel very passionate about this issue. Let me know in the comments below which burger place is your favorite!
Eat a Fresh Spiny Lobster…After Lobster Diving
Spiny
lobsters can be found on the menu of some of the seafood restaurants
around San Diego when they’re in season, but to really make it a
memorable experience, catch one yourself. You’ll have to apply for a
fishing license (getting a spiny lobster fishing license is a fairly easy process)
and maybe invest in some gloves, but then you’re on your way to
catching a live lobster with your own two hands – a very cool thing to
cross off a bucket list.
Eat a Breakfast Burrito
Breakfast
burritos are a morning staple for many San Diegans. They’re often huge
and chock full of ingredients, which range from golden potatoes and
gooey cheese to creamy avocados and savory meats plus generous portions
of spicy salsa. I love Pipes Café in Cardiff-by-the-Sea for a breakfast
burrito since is has a fun surfer-inspired décor and a patio that
provides gorgeous views of the ocean. Cotija's Cocina Mexicana in Point
Loma is also a popular eatery known for its delectable breakfast
burritos.
Explore Old Town
From old Victorian houses to
supposedly haunted colonial buildings, there is a lot to see in Old Town
and no San Diego experience would be truly complete without walking
around and exploring it. Stop by Old Town Mexican Café to get some fresh
homemade tortillas, too.
How many of these San Diego things to do
have you checked off your bucket list? Are there any others I missed
that you think are must-do San Diego activities before you die? Let me
know in the comments below!
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