Alyssa & Josh
Alyssa & Josh
Have time to explore Southern California while you're here? Check out these options for some SoCal fun!
San Diego, CA
San Diego has endless activities to explore - whether you're into water activities, high-end shopping, hiking, or exploring shops & breweries, there's something for everyone.
Check out some of our favorite activities & neighborhoods in San Diego below!
San Diego Activities
San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is 100 acres in size. It is well known for its lush, naturalistic habitats and unique animal encounters and is home to more than 3,700 rare and endangered animals representing approximately 660 species and subspecies and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 plants.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, originally named the San Diego Wild Animal Park until 2010, is an 1800-acre zoo in the San Pasqual Valley area of San Diego, California, near Escondido. It is one of the largest tourist attractions in San Diego County
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre historic urban cultural park in San Diego, California, United States. In addition to open space areas, natural vegetation zones, green belts, gardens, and walking paths, it contains museums, several theaters, and the San Diego Zoo.
La Jolla Sea Cave Kayaks
Experience a thrilling kayak tour of the La Jolla Sea Caves!
Participate in a fully guided kayak tour that takes you through the Ecological Reserve and along the La Jolla Sea Caves—some of San Diego’s most famous attractions. The La Jolla Ecological Reserve and Underwater Park is a marine protected area that’s a famous destination for snorkelers, divers, and kayakers to respectfully explore. The Reserve is home to our friends—leopard sharks, Garibaldi (California’s state marine fish!), lush kelp beds, sea lions, and even the occasional pod of dolphins!
Experienced tour guides will share fun facts and history about La Jolla, safely guide you along the sea caves, and lead you through one (ocean conditions permitting). This adventure is suitable for kayakers ages 6+, no experience necessary!
Single kayak starting at $44*
Double kayak starting at $69*
*Prices may vary based on date and time.
Waterfront Park
San Diego Waterfront Park is a 12-acre open space park surrounding the San Diego County Administration Center. It sits across North Harbor Drive from sparkling San Diego Bay, and runs from Grape Street to Ash Street. The backside of the park faces Pacific Coast Highway, which separates it from Little Italy. The north gardens take up about one-quarter of the park’s area and introduce several plant species into the space that are not usually seen in urban parks. Numerous walkways with intermittent benches wind through the gardens. There are six large civic green lawns, and a long row of reflecting pools with interactive spray fountains. On the Ash Street side of the park, there is a futuristic children’s playground. Colorful sculptures are scattered throughout the park.
USS Midway Museum
Year in and year out, the USS Midway Museum is one of San Diego’s most popular attractions. This unique destination is actually a United States naval aircraft carrier that has been decommissioned and turned into a museum. Visitors to the USS Midway Museum can peruse a series of exhibits that demonstrate what life was like for the crew in every aspect of their time in service, as well as explore the over 30 historic aircrafts that remain onboard the vessel.
Seaport Village
Seaport Village is a collection of over seventy free-standing one-of-a-kind shops, galleries, and restaurants comprising a waterfront village on the San Diego Bay. The fourteen acre village is reminiscent of a harbor setting a century ago. The village stands on on Punta de los Muertos (Point of the Dead), the burial place of a 1782 Spanish expedition where many died from scurvy. The area was covered by landfill and later used as a railroad yard. Seaport Village was built on the 14-acre space in 1980. It’s located on the shores of San Diego Bay between the USS Midway and the San Diego Convention Center.
Strolling the four miles of cobblestone walkways that wind through the village past ponds, fountains, quaint wooden bridges, colorful and exotic plants and flowers, and lush greenery will work up any shopper’s appetite. There are several places in Seaport Village where visitors can eat. One popular place is the outdoor central food court where live music plays daily. Each afternoon, visitors can enjoy their food to the sounds of blues, jazz, Latin American folk, Flamenco guitar, country, or swing. Check the Seaport Village website for a schedule of who’s performing.
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Strolling the four miles of cobblestone walkways that wind through the village past ponds, fountains, quaint wooden bridges, colorful and exotic plants and flowers, and lush greenery will work up any shopper’s appetite. There are several places in Seaport Village where visitors can eat. One popular place is the outdoor central food court where live music plays daily. Each afternoon, visitors can enjoy their food to the sounds of blues, jazz, Latin American folk, Flamenco guitar, country, or swing. Check the Seaport Village website for a schedule of who’s performing.
La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is a small cove with a beach that is surrounded by cliffs in La Jolla, San Diego, California. Point La Jolla forms the south side of the cove. The area is protected as part of a marine reserve and is popular with snorkelers, swimmers and scuba divers.
Belmont Park
Strap in, gear up, and put your sense of adventure to the test during a day (or a few!) at San Diego’s iconic destination for beachfront fun. From mild to wild and everything in between, our seven acres always have something to offer.
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego is home to world-class animal presentations, rides, shows, and exhibits, spread out on beautiful Mission Bay Park.
Stroll through over 100 acres of beautiful outdoor grounds on Mission Bay as you enjoy amazing animals, world-class educational presentations, exciting seasonal events, and more! Enjoy a wide variety of artisanal dishes along with local craft beers, signature cocktails, and wine.
Mission Bay
The largest water park of its kind in the world, Mission Bay Aquatic Park beckons water sports enthusiasts to this fantastic water nirvana. From kayaking and stand up paddle boarding to water skiing, sailing, kite surfing and everything in between, Mission Bay is a water playground without compare. Whether you're a novice at water sports, or an experienced professional, there's something for every age and skill-level to enjoy in the water. And on land, families can bike ride, picnic, barbecue or celebrate with bonfires right next to the water.
San Diego Neighborhoods
There are many neighborhoods around San Diego, offering a variety of experiences. The following neighborhoods are some of our favorites!
Hipsters, young professionals and students hang out in trendy North Park, where coffee shops, craft-beer bars and indie boutiques line University Avenue. The restaurant scene is heavy on brunch spots, upscale pubs, taquerias and sushi lounges, and nightlife often revolves around the Observatory North Park, a 1929 theater that hosts rap, rock and electronica. The North Park Thursday Market also features live music.
South Park is a charming residential area with popular neighborhood restaurants that range from innovative vegan food to upmarket Italian eats. Tree-lined Fern and 30th streets, the main thoroughfares, are also home to indie boutiques and cafes, while nearby Grape Street Dog Park has views over the downtown skyline.
Kensington is a small town in a big city. The entire neighborhood is one big cul-de-sac, an engineered refuge that keeps traffic at bay to the benefit of children at play. The eastern end of Adams Avenue, after it crosses I-15, runs through the town’s quaint business district, and it’s the only way in and out (if you don’t count the meandering Marlborough Drive, which eventually leads south to El Cajon Boulevard from its northern terminus on a cliff overlooking Mission Valley). Along Adams in the center of a town that spans five blocks, one can find nearly a dozen restaurants, a library, a park with a playground, a bank, a couple of salons, an organic grocer, a small gym, a deli and liquor store, an ice-cream parlor, a classic one-screen cinema, and a nightclub that is a destination for cheap drinks, live music, and stand-up comedy.
Little Italy is a chic, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, packed with trendy cocktail bars, brewpubs and restaurants with bustling patios. Upscale clothing boutiques, indie music venues and quaint piazzas dot the area, while the weekly Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market draws crowds to its mix of produce, gourmet food and craft stalls. The green lawns of Waterfront Park have fountains, and offer views of the bay.
The Gaslamp Quarter is a lively downtown neighborhood, known for its nightlife. Clubs, dive bars and cocktail lounges draw a young crowd, while the Spreckels and Balboa theaters have diverse programs of music, comedy and drama. There's a mix of chain and independent restaurants in the area, with many global options. Horton Plaza Park has grassy lawns, ice cream and coffee vendors, and an interactive fountain.
Hillcrest is the center of San Diego’s LGBT scene, with buzzing gay bars and the city’s massive annual Pride parade. University Avenue is lined with restaurants serving global cuisines like Vietnamese, Himalayan and Thai, while the mix of cafes, brunch spots and second-hand clothes shops on Fifth Avenue make it a popular weekend destination. The weekly Hillcrest Farmers Market sells produce, flowers and cooked food.
Witness the living legacy of California's birthplace in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Its many preserved historic buildings and museums commemorate the early days of the town of San Diego from the period 1820 to 1870, allowing you to visit California's history firsthand. Need some inspiration? Check out the Old Town San Diego Guide for can't-miss shopping, restaurants, attractions and more.
Situated just across the bay from downtown San Diego, 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 quick getaway.
Coronado's coastline offers wide sandy beaches with sparkling sand, courtesy of the mineral Mica, that draw visitors from around the world. Complete with 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".
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.
Beyond the beach, Coronado features countless outdoor recreational pursuits including sailing, stand-up paddling, surfing, kayaking, and Venetian gondola cruises. There's also top-rate golf on Coronado's Public Golf Course, described as "a gem I consider the best value in the United States" by Golf Digest writer Matt Ginella.
And no trip to Coronado would be complete without a visit to the legendary Hotel del Coronado. Built in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark, the hotel has a fascinating and colorful past, which includes presidents and princes, socialites and scandals, ghosts and glamorous celebrities. It's also widely believed to have been the inspiration for the Emerald City in L. Frank Baum's "Wizard of Oz" as the author spent many winters at the oceanfront hotel.
Temecula, CA
Temecula is known for its championship golf courses, a climate perfect for serene and beautiful hot-air ballooning adventures, and award-winning wineries nestled in 3,000 acres of picturesque wine country
Check out some of our favorite things to experience in Temecula!
Take a step back in time as you stroll past rustic western-era buildings, antique shops, and specialty boutiques featuring Temecula-made artisan goods, or explore the most up-to-date trends including sampling pints at craft breweries, attending outdoor festivals, grabbing a bite of local, farm-to-table dining, or dancing to live music at bars and unique outdoor venues.
With nearly 50 wineries, our Southern California Wine Country offers an array of boutique and full-service resort lodging options that are friendly, relaxed, and unpretentious.
The unmatched quality of Temecula Valley wine is made possible by a unique microclimate that features morning mist, warm midday sun, cooling ocean breezes, and crisp starry nights. Plus granite-based soil makes Temecula Valley ideal for growing grapes and creating award-winning premium wines, recognized by wine connoisseurs internationally.
With our expansive roster of acclaimed wineries, you could easily spend a week or two in Temecula Valley exploring and wine tasting among the vineyards. Winery resorts and restaurants offering Southern California-inspired cuisine and picturesque views are just a few of the unexpected discoveries that will complete your visit to Temecula Wine Country.
Some of Our Favorite Wineries
Miramonte Winery
Founded in 2001 by Cane Vanderhoof, Miramonte Winery is one of Temecula’s most beautiful, popular, and forward-thinking wineries. Located in the heart of Temecula Valley, we are passionate about premium winemaking, and our wines have earned countless awards, 90+ scores, and other accolades.
We love this place not only for their wine but for their food! If you can, we highly recommend enjoying a lunch or dinner at Miramonte!
Bel Vino Winery
Bel Vino is a popular, boutique winery and bistro where guests can find great wine that is created using classic, Old World winemaking techniques and also enjoy an authentic winery experience. At Bel Vino spectacular views of wine country and beautiful grounds greet your arrival. Come experience our portfolio of 30 to 40 great, award-winning wines.
Europa Village Wineries & Resort
Europa Village offers you the charm and character of Europe, transporting you to the old-world villages of Spain, France, and Italy.
Baily Vineyard
On your next visit to Temecula come and taste Baily wines and see for yourself why the Oxford Companion to Wine calls "Baily Winery one of the two most artistically successful of the small pioneering wineries in Temecula".