San Diego, a beautiful pacific city of Southern California is known for its year round pleasant weather. It offers tourists with a relaxed vibe of the city and soothing sounds of gushing pacific waves.
It is a recommended winter destination to beat the cold freezing temperatures from the eastern land of the country. Overall, it has a large neighborhood comprised of multiple cities within the San Diego county. This sunshine destination has many attractions to be covered in 3 days to 3 weeks time frame.
To visit San Diego as a local, in addition to the touring the famous zoo and pacific beaches, below are the recommended spots to explore on a 3-day trip.
Coronado Island
San Diego Zoo
Cabrillo National Monument
La Jolla
Sunset Cliff Natural Park
Torrey Pines State Park
Balboa Park
Gaslamp Quarter
Day 1 (Coronado Island + San Diego Zoo)
Coronado Island
Coronado bridge connects you to the beautiful Coronado island which is 15 mins from downtown San Diego.
The Island beckons visitors with its pristine beaches and crystal clear waters. The historic Hotel Del Coronado on the island has been luring guests since 1888 with its Victorian style masterpiece.
After spending the morning at the beach we headed to our next destination The San Diego Zoo which is an must-see in Southern California.
San Diego Zoo
Click on the below link to find ticket options and prices for entering the zoo.
I would recommend spending half a day at the park which is home to gorillas, eagles, tigers, sun bears, asian leopards, panda, rare reptiles and a palette of colorful birds.
You can enjoy the zoo by taking guided tours on a double-decker bus or the scenic view from the Skyfari aerial tram.
GasLamp Quarter
After an eventful day we decided to explore the famous GasLamp Quarter near the convention center in downtown. It is a popular place to experience San Diego’s nightlife. The place is full of fine dine restaurants, high end pubs and local bars. To get more information visit Gaslamp district website.
Day 2 (Cabrillo National Monument + La Jolla Town)
Cabrillo National Monument
At the southern tip of Point Loma peninsula, stands the Cabrillo National Monument facing the vast pacific ocean. On a clear day, Tijuana and Mexico’s Coronado islands are also visible from the monument.
Parking is limited near the monument and is open all year-round till 5 pm. You can also visit the Old Point Loma Lighthouse located in the park which is no longer operational but is open to public as a museum.
Plan on visiting the tidepools which are located at the lower area of the park and are only accessible by a vehicle. Once parked, a short walk will lead you into the tidepools.
Keep in mind the area closes at 4.30 pm and watch out for high tide warnings.
La Jolla
The 7 mile coastal drive at La Jolla is my personal favorite. The Lo Jolla Cove is a small deep water bay, flanked by caves, accessible on foot or kayak (depending on the tides)
One can enjoy lunch and sip a favorite drink at George’s at the cove.
Children's pool beach is walking distance from the cove.The beach is no longer open to public as it is claimed by seals and sea lions offering crowd pleasing and amusing views of these lovable marine inhabitants.
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
The drive along sunset cliffs boulevard offers breathtaking views and the most spectacular sunsets. Parking is difficult hence plan to reach the park at least 30 mins prior to the sunset. Click here for directions to the sunsets cliffs natural park.
Mount Soledad
Click here for directions to Mount Soledad overlooking the San Diego skyline. It provides a 360 degree view of the city and the pacific coast.
This is a spot for visitors to catch the morning rays and evening lights. especially as the entire city lights up. Make sure to carry a winter jacket as it gets cold and windy at night.
Day 3 (Torrey Pines State Reserve + Balboa Park)
Torrey Pines State reserve
Torrey pines is a popular state park in La Jolla city. Each trail path ends at a spectacular ocean lookout and offers dramatic views of ravines. My personal favorites is walking down to the Beach trail to checkout the wide, flat beach over to the Razor point trail to see the massive rock formations.
Must do trails at the state park:
1. Razor Point Trail
Distance: 1.4 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
2. Yucca Point Trail
Distance: 0.9 miles from the razor point trail fork.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
3. Beach Trail
Distance: 1.5 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Parking
If it’s after 8 am, you might have a hard time finding a parking spot and use this address to get to the torrey pines.
For more information about parking and entrance fees click on the below link
We paid $25 parking at the south beach entrance during the Christmas break and luckily found parking space in the upper lot at the trail-head.
Balboa Park
The famous urban cultural park is the heart of San Diego city and is home to the San Diego zoo, several museums, theaters and lovely gardens. It is a must-see destination and a visit to the city is incomplete without seeing this spectacular park. The park was beautifully decorated for Christmas and lit up for the holiday season. The park has so much to offer and can be overwhelming hence check out the below link for planning your visit to Balboa.
The park is completely free to roam and explore. All of the gardens and walking trails are open to visitors year-round. Checkout The Prado restaurant at the park for outdoor and indoor dining.
San Diego Harbor
Our final destination was the San Diego harbor for an evening walk along the bay. While walking the bay, you will come across the famous Kissing Statue, officially known as the Unconditional Surrender Statue. This larger than life and simply amazing art will blow your mind!
Below are few recommendations while visiting the harbor.
Unconditional Surrender Statue - click here for directions
Seaport Village
Star of India at Maritime Museum
Food recommendations
Puesto - http://eatpuesto.com/
The Prado - The Prado
El Zarape - http://elzarape.biz/
Download this one pager to take along to your next trip to San Diego!
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