Best things to do in San Diego? I know, I know, there are so many of these types of blogs out there. But I figured, why not? Why not build from my own experiences and cater to all those introverts out there like myself (of course this does not mean that this list is exclusively for introverts. These are activities anyone can enjoy.)
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So here are some of my favorite things to do in San Diego, CA as the introvert I am.
- Grab Coffee (or beverage of choice) at Balboa Park. Balboa Park is one of the most beautiful places in San Diego. The architecture is amazing! Cafe in the Park is my go to place. I usually grab a season iced tea or their Iced Tres Leches Latte. Yum!
2. Walk around La Jolla Cove, see the seals, and take in a sunset.
La Jolla Cove, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful places in San Diego. It gets crowded, so go early if you can. Enjoy the day walking around, go for a swim, pack a picnic to enjoy at Ellen Browning Scripps Park, or rent a kayak or stand-up paddle board. When you’re done, grab dinner at one of the fantastic restaurants in the area to watch the sunset. Our favorite is Duke’s for great food and an even better view!
3. Get lunch and enjoy the sunshine at Seaport Village.
I love the area of Seaport Village! It can be really relaxing to take in the views of the Coronado Bridge and watch people fly kites in the park. It’s also a great area if you want to do some souvenir shopping. Walk around the water’s edge to get to the USS Midway Aircraft museum and the giant Kissing Sailor Statue (aka “Embracing Peace”).
Next, explore the museum (but be aware if you’re extremely claustrophobic, as there are some tight spaces), take a boat ride around the harbor, take the ferry over to Coronado, or just grad a bite to eat.
There is so much to do around the water front and Seaport Village, that it can become overwhelming for an introvert like myself. When that happens, I just pop in my headphone, turn on some music, and walk the other direction towards the San Diego Convention Center.
4. Spend the day enjoying the beauty of Hotel Del Coronado and the views of downtown San Diego from Coronado Ferry Landing.
First, I recommend driving over the Coronado Bridge to spend the morning or early afternoon walking around Hotel Del Coronado.
Built in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, Hotel Del was featured in movies such as, Marilyn Monroe’s Some Like It Hot (1959) and two episodes of “Baywatch” (1994). Learn more about the fascinating history of the hotel here.
While at the Hotel Del, grab a drink by the beach, though prepare to spend some $$$ in the process.
Next, drive to the other side of Coronado Island to check out the gorgeous views of the city from Coronado Ferry Landing. From here you can take the ferry to either downtown San Diego or Seaport Village.
This is a great place to grab a late lunch or dinner and watch the sunset!
5. The next recommendation is any of the variety of hikes in or around San Diego. One of my favorites is Mission Trails Regional Park. For an introvert like myself, I feel this is the best hike to avoid some of the more crowded places like Torrey Pines and Cowles Mountain (though both these places are also great hikes, but can get extremely busy so plan accordingly).
Mission Trails can also be very busy, however it is a much larger area with many more trails. Therefore, you have plenty of opportunities to avoid the crowds and take a path all your own.
6. Get out of the city limits and explore the surrounding areas.
A couple of my favorite places to go around the San Diego area are Julian and Borrego Springs.
Julian is a old western gold rush town and is famous for their apple pie (yum!). My favorite things to do are to just walk around the shops, grab a bite to eat at Miner’s Diner, and enjoy some apple pie (preferably Dutch apple with caramel). I’m drooling as I type this!
Borrego Springs is the gateway to the stunning Anza Borrego State Park. If you go at the right time of year (around March and April) you may be able to see the blooming of the wildflowers. Otherwise, grab a map and explore the Sky Art Sculptures located around the desert. Make sure to bring a camera!
Also, if you’re staying overnight in Borrego Springs or stay into the night, Borrego is a designated National Dark Sky Community.
So there you have it! Some of my favorite things to do around San Diego. Of course there are many more things to do in the area, but these are my go-to favorites.
If you live in or have visited, what are some of your favorite things to do in San Diego? Leave us a comment!
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