San Diego Visitors Guide
As the 7th largest city in America, the once sleepy California town is now home to a variety of activities and attractions to be enjoyed by all. You can tour museums, catch some rays on the beach or at a city park, take in a concert or play, shop at Seaport Village or the multi-level Horton Plaza or spend a day whale watching with the San Diego Harbor Excursion—regardless of what it is that brings you satisfaction, you will find it in sunny San Diego.
San Diego Fun on the Water
Like other California coastal cities, San Diego has its share of beaches. You can enjoy sunbathing, surfing, sandcastle architecture and many other water activities at these sandy salt-water scenes: Ocean beach, Silver Strand Beach, Coronado Beach and Mission Beach. Included at Mission Beach is Belmont Park where you will find an amusement park and California’s largest indoor swimming pool.
At the Mission Bay Park you can go water skiing, fishing, boating, sailing, and swimming as well as play golf, have a picnic, or even go camping. Nearby the is SeaWorld San Diego where you can come face to face with the whales, penguins, polar bears, walruses and many other aquatic creatures. There are also shows, rides, exhibits and other attractions.
For fabulous fishing fun, spend some time at Lake Cuyamaca. The 110 acre lake is stocked with over 400,000 pounds of fish. You will find bass, catfish, crapple, bluegill, sturgeon, and trout.
At the San Diego Bay and the Embarcadero you will see the hustle and bustle of sea port town. Each day there is an assortment of navy ships, cruise ships, commercial ships and numerous other sea going vessels that travel the coastal areas, and beyond.
From mid-December to mid-February, the California gray whales migrate from Alaska’s Bearing Sea to the lagoons of the Bahamas. As they “travel”, the whales pass by about a mile of the San Diego coastline. During the peak season as many as 200 whales a day have been counted. To see this first-hand, contact the San Diego Natural History Museum or the San Diego Harbor Excursion.
San Diego Arts & Entertainment
Old Globe Theatre -To see Shakespearean drama as well as contemporary productions, be sure you get your ticket(s) for this venue. On site are the Cassisus Carter Center and the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
Spreckels Organ Concerts - At the pavilion at Balboa Park you can see (and hear) the impressive Spreckels organ. The organ is over 32 feet long and has 4,446 individual pipes. Each Sunday afternoon there is a free one hour concert.
Starlight Bowl/Starlight Theatre -This outdoor theatre is associated with the San Diego Civic Light Opera, and is a great place to take in musicals such as The Mikado.
Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay -For performers ranging from musicians to comedians, Jay Leno to Smoky Robinson this is the place to be.
San Diego Junior Theatre - At the Casa del Prada Theatre you will discover a talented group of children/teens who perform classics like Guys & Dolls and Oliver as well as adaptations of James and the Giant Peach, Winnie the Pooh and Shakespeare.
San Diego Opera - Since its beginning in 1965, the San Diego Opera Company has become one of America’s most respected opera companies. Each season they perform 5 grand operas along with concerts and special recitals.
San Diego Museums
San Diego is home to numerous museums featuring an abundant and diverse assortment of exhibits. You can see art work by the greats, sporting memorabilia and science or history displays.
Art Museums: The Mingei International Museum of the World of Folk Art, the Museum of Photographic Arts, the House of Pacific Relations, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Timken Museum of Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego
Science & History: the Museum of Man, the Rueben H. Fleet Science Center, the San Diego Natural History Museum, Veterans Memorial Center Museum, the Serra Museum, the San Diego Union Museum, the San Diego Maritime Museum and the Star of India and the Aerospace Museum and Hall of Fame.
Sports: The San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum
Historic Locations in San Diego
Settled in 1542, San Diego is a city rich in historic sites and locations. To learn more about its past, spend some time visiting as many of these locations as you possibly can.
Old Town State Historic Park -focuses on San Diego’s first residents.
Gaslamp Quarter - this is the former business center of the city.
Mason Street School - An 1865 one room school house.
McKinstry Dentist Office - displays of primitive dental care tools.
Casa de Bandini - this was originally owned by a wealthy rancher, today it is a restaurant.
Whaley House - This is the 1st brick building in San Diego County.
Cabrillo National Monument - Visit here to learn about the military and seafaring history along the coast.
Mission San Diego de Alcala - this is the site of California’s first church.
Old Mission Dam Historical Site - For archeological sites, trails, and other spiritually significant areas, visit here.
Presidio Park - This is the site of the first mission in California.
Villa Montezuma/ Jesse Shephard House - A beautiful home with stained-glass windows, antiques and a fully restored kitchen.
William Heath Davis Home -This is the oldest structure in Gaslamp Quarter; it was moved here by boat from Portland, Oregon in 1850.
Photo Credits: San Diego Skyline Photo by Wouter Postma; Old Towne San Diego by Tippy 13; |
