What To Do In San Diego In 24 hours

Located on California’s south coast and lapped by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, San Diego is often heralded as America’s finest city and known as the birthplace of California. Gorgeous beaches -many of them favorites with the local surfing community –and a climate which sees sunshine year round, keeps San Diego popular as a seaside destination but that is just the tip of the iceberg.Packed with historic districts, awash with culture and filled with sensational dining options, San Diego’s diversity along with its many sights and attractions have something for all-comers. Here you can step aboard the ‘floating city’ of the gigantic aircraft carrier USS Midway and climb into the cockpit of a World War II bomber, take a ride on a vintage woodenroller coaster with the ocean sparkling beside you, explore a working blacksmith forge at the Old Town’s State Historic Park or head out in a kayak accompanied by sea-lions as you paddle into a sea cave where pirates once hung out. Parks generally are something of a theme in this grand city where you can immerse yourself in greenery and nature and feel far-removed from the urban life. The massive Balboa Park is almost a whole destination within itself where you can browse art galleries, shop for stunning gifts at the charming Spanish Village Arts Center or stroll a diversity of gorgeous gardens filled with the scents of roses or Japanese architecture, for example, while surrounded by butterflies and bird-life. The fun doesn’t stop once the sun starts to set either. San Diego is filled with some incredible venues offering entertainment ranging from Mexican dancers and mariachi musicians to comedy revues and from classical orchestra concerts to Shakespeare plays. Additionally, the city is known as a paradise for craft beer fans and something of a Mecca for nightlife of every kind. In short, from dawn until whatever hour you finally run out of energy, San Diego has everything to keep you fascinated, feasted, charmed and entertained.

A Morning in San Diego

Your San Diego morning adventure begins with an exploration of the grand diversity of Balboa Park –the entire US’s largest urban cultural park –and rounds off by discovering the delights of the magnificent Old Town.

Balboa Park

Covering 1,200 greenery-rich acres and packed with beautiful themed gardens, exceptional sights, lovely architecture and an incredible number of museums, Balboa Park is a wonderful way to kick off your San Diego day

.Located just on the outskirts of downtown, much of what you can find in this amazing swathe -one of the entire US’s largest green urban spaces -is free to enjoy including gardens such as the butterfly-covered Zoro Garden and the Timkin Art Museum.

Many of the park’s most magnificent jewels and the overall landscaping are leftovers from two grand expositions. The first –the Panama-California Exposition -was staged in 1915/16 and was responsible for much of the lovely Spanish Renaissance architecture you will see along the El Prado. The second –the California Pacific International Exposition of 1935/36 –was to add further structures and cultural highlights particularly around the Pan American Plaza.Whether or not you are a horticulture fan the park’s 19 gardens offer some incredible spaces to simply stroll surrounded by butterflies, take in the rich scent of blooming roses or pause awhile on a bench surrounded by history, flowers and birds.

Alcazar Garden

The Alcazar Garden is a photographer’s delight filled with gorgeous Moorish-design tiled fountains, a plant-covered pavilion,bursts of seasonal color, manicured boxwood hedges and gardens styled after those of the Alcazar Castle in Seville. This garden is especially scenic as its backdrop is the exquisite California Tower.

Botanical Building

More than 100 years old and one of the few buildings of its kind in the world built without glass, the free-to-enter Botanical Buildings an inherited leftover from the 1915 exposition. Bursting with more than 2,000 plants, this tropical oasis features a collection of orchids, ferns, palms and cycads and is an exceptionally tranquil spot. The structure is constructed from more than 12 miles of narrow-strip wood lathing and one of the largest buildings on Earth built in this form. The beautiful lily-and lotus-filled reflecting lagoon in front of the BotanicalBuilding was built at the same time and has been colonized by ducks.

Zoro Garden

Another free-to-enter garden is the serene sunken grotto Zoro Garden whose careful design and specifically chosen plants are butterfly magnets. Some of the world’s showiest butterfly species such as swallowtail and monarch frequent this beautiful space where once nudists lazed around while visitors would pay a fee to catch a glimpse during the 1935 exposition.
Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden

Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden

For an incredible sensory experience head to the internationally-awarded Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden where you will find three acres of 1,600 rose bushes. In constant bloom from March to December, the 130 varieties here are added to annually and offer a sensationally beautiful sight filled with fragrance.

Japanese Friendship Garden

Another century-old garden is the lovely Japanese Friendship Garden which marks a Yokohama/San Diego collaboration. Reflecting ancient Japanese aesthetic styling and planted to adapt to the Californian climate, the 12 acre Japanese Friendship Garden is a exquisite peace-infused space of cherry blossom, koi ponds, streams, wooden bridges, water features, Japanese architecture and bonsai trees which you can explore by way of meandering pathways. The garden is also home to a contemporary tea-house where you can take a pause at the outdoor pavilion and continue to enjoy the delights of this gorgeous place. Some of the other gardens within Balboa Park are the Desert Garden, the California Native Plant Garden, the Australian Garden and the Trees for Health Garden.

California Tower

Balboa Park is so enormous it could take weeks to explore all it has to offer but besides the gardens there are a few particular highlights which you should try to incorporate in your visit. The California Tower is the park’s principal symbol and so iconic it is often used on tourist-promotion for the entire city. The almost 200ft tall highly ornate and multi-tiered tower and the California Building it adjoins -today home to the Museum of Man -were constructed for the 1915 exposition.

Combining a wealth of architectural styles with Gothic, Baroque and Rococo all in the mix, the tower is home to a carillon which chimes out every 15 minutes and is heard throughout the park. The California Building features an exquisite blue and gold dome and a riot of ornamental stonework complete with sculptures of famous historical figures. It is possible to take a tour of the tower where you will learn about the musical carillon as well as be rewarded with views of the spectacular kind.

Timkin Museum of Art

Art fans should head to the completely free Timkin Museum of Art whose building itself is considered architecturally notable and which houses the city’s sole representation of a Rembrandt piece. There are also works by other European masters and American art from the 1800s. The whole collection was bequeathed by a local wealthy family in the mid 1900s.

San Diego Museum of Art’s May S. Marcy Sculpture Court and Garden

Another art offering in the park is the San Diego Museum of Art’s May S. Marcy Sculpture Court and Garden which allows you toview some lovely art pieces dating from the 1800s in the open air. With the California Tower soaring in the background this is another of the park’s highly photogenic spots.

Spanish Village Art Center

For those on the hunt for some beautiful San Diego souvenirs as well as the opportunity to see some incredible art and craft works the park is home to the Spanish Village Art Center. This collection of 37 magical cottages intended to resemble a Spanish town of yesteryear were originally part of the 1935 exposition with artists moving in just a couple of years afterward to make the most of such a stunning setting.

Today, this unique place with its distinctive multi-colored tiled plaza is home to the work of more than 200 artists showcasing the mediums of painting, glass art, basket weaving, photography, sculpture, jewelry creation and much more.

Spreckles Organ Pavilion

Of all the park’s lovely sights perhaps the most unique besides the art village is the Spreckles Organ Pavilion. Gifted to the city by a wealthy San Diego resident for the 1915 exposition, the only condition placed on such a generous bequest was that all concerts be free to all –a wish that is still honored to this day. For many years the planet’s largest outdoor pipe organ, the Spreckles instrument had to surrender the title to another European organ during its years of existence. However, publicly-raised donations led to expansion of the pipes in order to reclaim the ‘biggest’ title as San Diego’s own again.

The gorgeous pavilion which houses the organ has intricate detailing and borrows from Italian-Renaissance architectural styling. If you want to hear a free concert you will have to be here at 2pm on a Sunday.

And the list of attractions really does go on and on; stroll the lush two acre tropical oasis of Palm Canyon whose trees date back to 1912, take in a glimpse of the El Cid statue or the Bea Evanson Fountain, marvel at California’s second largest fig tree or explore the 32 houses of the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages whereeach charming building represents a different culture. Of the 15 or so museums some major highlights include the Mingei International Museum, the Museum of Man and the San Diego Air and Space Museum which was built for the 1935 exposition and is home to agiant mural which circles the building’s entire interior.

Before you leave the park take a quick spin on the historical 1910-built Carousel with its hand-carved horses, dragon, tiger, frogs and otherwise a diverse menagerie of animals and which also hassome lovely hand-painted murals.

Morning Coffee in San Diego

After exploring the many delights of the amazing Balboa Park you can take a pause for coffee before continuing your SanDiego adventures. To keep effort to a minimum the park itself has a number of options which include the Japanese Friendship Garden’s tea pavilion offering green teas which can be enjoyed from a lovely courtyard and deck.

If you are in need of caffeine Craveology offers specialty coffees and all kinds of snacks and smoothies where you can watch the Bea Everson Fountain from the great outdoor patio as you take a morning pause.

Other options in Balboa Park include Cafe in the Park located in the lovely Casa del Balboa building which dates from the 1915 exposition era. Alternatively you can grab a coffee-to-go from the excellent Daniel’s Coffee cart which also serves pastries and croissants and then just pick from a plethora of gorgeous spots to enjoy it.

For discerning coffee fans and to be a stone’s throw for your continued San Diego explorations in the Old Town head to the California Bean. Offering a wide choice of cold brew, mochas, lattes and specialty brews along with tea options, this well-respected independently-owned institution’s mission is to bring back the ethos of a friendly local coffee shop.

San Diego’s Old Town

Known as the birthplace of California because it was the site of the state’s first Spanish settlement in the mid-1700s, San Diego’s Old Town is an entire neighborhood which incorporates the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park which is completely free to explore. The park’s collection of original and reconstructed buildings –some dating as far back as 1820 -are today home to museums (also free to enter), unique merchandise shops and restaurants. Together they are intended to offer a fascinating window onto San Diego life in the period from 1820 to 1872 for both the everyday citizen and the affluent resident. Included within the park’s boundaries are some original adobe buildings, an 1870-constructed hotel, a working blacksmith’s forge reconstruction, several exhibits and a central plaza surrounded by historical buildings in which certain events, activities, theater performances and period reconstructions are held.

Whaley House Museum

Perhaps the most famous of all the Old Town’s historic buildings is that of Greek revival-style Whaley House which is now home to the Whaley House Museum. Often cited as the most haunted house in the US and featuring in many TV programs on the theme, Whaley House was built in 1857 on the site of a former graveyard and was where the family’s daughter Violet aged just 22 committed suicide in 1885 following desertion by a con artist ‘husband’ on her honeymoon.

The ghosts which are said to haunt this old building are those of Violet, her parents –Thomas and Anna Whaley -and an outlaw known as Yankee Jim who was hanged from gallows which had stood on the exact site that the house was later to occupy. Thomas Whaley himself actually witnessed this execution. Besides being a family home, the Whaley House also doubled as a general store, county courthouse and theater by the family leasing out rooms and sections of the building. This entire and varied history is covered in full by the present-day museum which has restored each of these elements for you to explore.

Casa Machado Silvas

Perhaps the most historically significant of the buildings and its undisputed show-pieces are the five original adobe constructions which include the 1827 Casa de Estudillo which was home to an aristocrat, the 1836 Casa de Machado y Stewart with its reconstructed period vegetable garden and Casa Machado Silvas. Legend has it that the young Maria Antonia Machado ran into the street from this, her home, in 1846 to cut the ropes of the flagpole from which the invading Americans were attempting to remove the Mexican flag.

Besides the other former 19thcentury homes there are several different buildings to explore. The Blackhawk Livery Stable stages blacksmith demonstrations while the Seeley Stables are home to a wonderful collection of carriages, wagons and carts from the period. There is also Colorado House which was originally a hotel in 1851, a reconstructed period tobacconist, the one-room Schoolhouse –the city’s first public school which opened in 1865 –and the San Diego Union Building. This was once home to the town’s newspaper printing office and today restored so you can see the behind-the-scenes set-up of a 19thcentury printing press. While many of the buildings you see are wood frame, the First San Diego Courthouse is one of the brick-built constructions –San Diego’s first -which served as a courthouse from 1850 until 1869.

Other historically significant sites you might like to explore while you are here are the El Campo Santo Cemetery –the final resting place of many of the area’s pioneers and early settlers –and the Heritage County Park which is home to a collection of relocated Victorian-era houses.

Besides its immersive historic interest the Old Town is also a great place to hunt for unusual gifts and souvenirs ranging from fine coffees to fine hand-crafted jewelry and from garden decor to health and well-being products. Some incredible boutiques and one-of-a-kind outlets are numerous here and even if you don’t intend to buy anything are beautiful to browse and admire. Head to the California Indian Market and Jewelry for Native American-design gifts or browse through the exquisitely beautiful hand-crafted Mexican tiles at the Tile Shop. For more Mexican handicrafts try Javiers, Tienda de Reyes, Del Cobre or the treasure trove of the Bazaar del Mundo shops. A riot of color and rich design, these authentic outlets and carts offer wrought iron creations, hand-painted tiles, folk art gifts, decorative flowers, textiles and clothing.

Lunch in San Diego

The entire city of San Diego is a foodie’s delight with just about every cuisine type represented somewhere along with atmospheres which range from the homely and charmingly rustic to the highest echelons of elegance.

Old Town, where your morning ends has several lunch spot choices. If a fine dining venue steeped in history appeals you will find the Cosmopolitan Hotel’s restaurant hard to top. Originally a one-story adobe home constructed in 1827 for one of the Mexican pueblo’s wealthier families, a second story was added in 1869 when the building became a hotel for those traveling on the LA to San Diego stage coach. Highlighting and preserving its Victorian features, the dining in the indoorGrand Sala immerses you into echoes of the past while the more casual alfresco option surrounds you with trailing wisteria and vines and olive trees on the wooden deck of the Orchard Terrace. Whichever of the lovely options you chose the food focus is the same -seafood, Mexican and American grill.

Mexican food fans can also check out the Casa de Reyes on the Fiesta de Reyes Plaza which offers traditional Mexican with some creative modern twists. With a festive ambiance and gorgeous garden surrounds filled with vibrant artwork, this restaurant also has indoor seating if you’d prefer.

An Afternoon in San Diego

Your afternoon adventures in San Diego take you on-board a museum ship so vast it is often referred to as a floating city. Doing this incredible museum justice takes at least three or four hours and so will easily drink up your afternoon hours until it is time for sundowners. As an alternative you can head out to the lovely Mediterranean-style village of La Jolla which, meaning the jewel in Spanish, you will quickly discover is perfectly named.

The USS Midway Museum

So gargantuan in size it covers the area of a small town, the USS Midway is a floating museum and so unique it consistently ranks as one of the most popular attractions in San Diego. Originally an aircraft carrier commissioned in 1945, no other craft of this type has served as long as the USS Midway which finally went into retirement in 1992. Now it lies permanently anchored in San Diego Bay so that visitors can walk in the same places and experience the very same things that 225,000 sailors before them have done and so glimpse a little of how life must have been on-board this giant vessel.

Covering just short of 10 acres, the Midway has more than 60 exhibits, many of them interactive while it is also home to more than 30 restored planes and helicopters -including historic World War II-era aircraft -which allow you to climb up and into the cockpits. Self-guided audio tours are included in the admission price and, as they are narrated by former sailors who previously served on the Midway, offer an authentic and very personal insight into what you are exploring.

Some of the most fascinating areas to investigate are located below deck and give a true feel of what everyday life must have been like serving as a military seaman during the ship’s 50 years of service. Try out one of the narrow sleeping bunks for comfort, visit the galley to learn how a vast crew of thousands was kept fed on a daily basis, tour the hospital, chapel and laundry and make your way below the water line to marvel at the huge engine room. As you do so you will hear accounts from actual sailors who worked in each of these very necessary day-to-day facilities which kept this ‘floating city’ running smoothly.

On the flight deck you can see and touch a range of fighter and bomber aircraft while listening to pilots explaining what it was like to take off and land in such a confined space. Just beneath this area you will find the pilot ready rooms, the captain’s cabin and the Captain’s and Admiral’s Country where from the state-of-the-art command center Operation Desert Storm was co-ordinated. Other highlights include the brig or on-board jail, the flight control tower and a range of flight simulators and movie screenings.

La Jolla

Just 12 miles north of Downtown San Diego can be found the seaside village gem of La Jolla. Enveloped on three sides by coast and cliffs, this highly picturesque San Diego neighborhood which is home to the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course is known for its intimate atmosphere, beaches, stunning views and its colonies of sea-lions.

Its quaint feel and unique offerings, particularly for outdoor lovers, make it a very popular inclusion in any visit to San Diego. Many choose to simply wander its downtown area, browsing the upscale boutiques with their out-of-the-ordinary gifts and products, gazing at its architecture and exploring the exceptional art galleries. This latter includes the Peter Lik Gallery with its supreme high-end photography and the fine art Martin Lawrence Galleries with original works by Dali, Picasso, Warhol, Murakami and much more. Art fans can also visit the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego which has ongoing rotating exhibits along with sensational ocean views and lovely garden. Additionally, La Jolla is also home to an incredible array of outdoor public art murals, some of which are vast and unmissable while others are tucked away and take rather more hunting down.

If it is history which interests you the La Jolla Historical Society offers a series of self-guided walking tours which include the hour long La Jolla Village tour route which takes in a number of significant landmarks such as some early beach cottages and the ‘Jazz Age’ tour which highlights La Jolla’s architecture of the 1920’s.

For outdoor lovers or those who want to get a little more active surrounded by stunning nature and wildlife La Jolla is a real treasure. This lovely area features a host of beaches such as the serene Winansea Beach which is popular with surfers and the lovely Shell Beach which has fantastic tide pools along with the Seal Rock Reserve where you can watch both seals and sea-lions lazing about. One of La Jolla’s most famous beaches, nestled between cliffs, is La Jolla Cove. This small and highly photogenic bay is popular with divers and snorkelers thanks to its calm waters and wealth of marine life to explore once you dip your head beneath the surface.

If you’d like to get active you can take a kayak tour of the La Jolla caves all of which but one are only accessible from the water. Steeped in local legend and once the hang-out of pirates, today these spectacular natural formations sculpted by water and wind are the haunt of seals and sea-lions and more than worth the paddling effort required to explore them. If you’d prefer to stay on dry land one of the caves –Sunny Jim –can be visited by way of an atmospheric descent via steps after passing through the small gift shop known as Sunny Jim’s Cave Store. Carved only with the use of hand tools, the tunnel to Sunny Jim took two years to complete after work started in 1902.

Other possible ways of passing your time in La Jolla include heading out on a boat to view whales, taking a surf lesson, hiking the trails of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve or renting bikes and following the coast for some spectacular scenery. More sensational views can be found if you head to Ellen Scripps Park which sits above La Jolla Cove and offers some wonderful bird’s eye views of the seals and sea-lions as well as the sparkling blues of the Pacific Ocean.

Should you find it impossible to tear yourself away from La Jolla’s loveliness as the afternoon draws on you are perfectly placed for some fantastic pre-dinner drinks and dining venues.

Pre-Dinner Drinks and Dinner in San Diego

If you spent the latter part of your afternoon in La Jolla you might like to hang around to enjoy its exceptional dining scene. If you intend to be a little closer to the center of the city however you are not going to be short of options either with every type of cuisine represented somewhere.

La Jolla

This lovely seaside village is as much known for its exceptional dining options as it is for its beauty and beaches. Should you have decided to round up your afternoon here it is certainly worth sticking around later into the evening to experience some truly unique venues where gorgeous ocean views are standard and the cuisine sure to satisfy even the most discerning diner.

Perfectly placed for true sundowners, sipping a cocktail at the elevated bar at Georges is hard to top. It is also hard to decide whether the most stunning thing at this elegant venue is the endless ocean view or the incredible and extensive drinks menu which is filled with wines, locally brewed craft beers and a diverse cocktail menu.

Once the hunger pangs get too strong to resist make your way to the Ocean Terrace for alfresco dining with breathtaking views. Although the million dollar setting makes everything feel decadent this is in fact a casual and relaxed spot with the seafood-rich menu full of choices for salmon, clams, scallops and cerviche.

Yet another choice for drinking and dining in La Jolla with the vivid blue of the Pacific as your backdrop is the excellent Catania which specializes in Italian cuisine. Take advantage of the aperitivo specials which run until 6pm to pair cocktails, beers or wines with a range of succulent small-plate delicacies to keep you going until the main event of dinner. Once that arrives make your choice from a menu which includes wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta dishes, seafood options and some desserts which are simply to die for. Located on the rooftop of the La Plaza center your dining view is not surprisingly sensational while the cuisine is so top-notch it has attracted attention from some of the restaurant industry’s critic giants; the Zagat guide ranked Catania as one of the ’15 Hottest New Restaurants Around the U.S.’ shortly after its opening in 2015.

Central San Diego

If you find yourself more centrally located in San Diego once the hour for sundowners and dining arrives you also have an incredible array of choices.

It is no secret that wine is an understandable draw of all places Californian and San Diego is no exception. However, craft beer is also big in this city which is home to 120+ microbreweries and larger brewing concerns. Artisan beer fans have a vast number of choices and if you like the idea of savoring some of the city’s finest while rubbing shoulders with the locals head to Toronado where the 50+ rotating options have something for every taste.

As host to an annual Tiki convention San Diego has more than a few choices if you want to sip your Mai Tai amid recreated Polynesian paradises. The longest established Tiki bar –first opening its doors in the 1950s -and still one of the finest is the harbor-located Bali Hai which brings the exotic to town along with lovely views. Other options include the Grass Skirt and the gorgeously kitsch False Idol speakeasy which serves an incredible array of Tiki cocktails both traditional and thoroughly modern.

When it comes to dining San Diego has it all. Like many cities certain areas are dining hotspots where you can find clusters of choices such as at Seaport Village or the vibrant neighborhood of Little Italy where not surprisingly authentic Italian fare is the focus. One lovely area to head which has an established and diverse fine dining scene is the Gaslamp Quarter which is a collection of lovely Victorian-era buildings and was, during the 1800s, the city’s red light district. Revamped and re-imagined, this foodie’s paradise and night-life hub is today an atmospheric place to dine with a multitude of choices. Take your pick from vibrant pavement tables, tucked away romantically intimate spots or the magnificent views which are possible from the rooftop venues.

For an under-the-stars and fairy-light infused romantic dinner make your way to the Parq Restaurant, for a high-end seafood experience check out Lionfish in the Pendry Hotel or sip pre-dinner drinks from a rooftop bar before feasting on homely American fare with a Filipino twist at the Kimpton Hotel’s Jsix.

An Evening in San Diego

Once you have finished feasting on San Diego’s culinary delights you have a variety of ways in which you can fill your evening hours.

Whether or not you chose one of the Gaslamp Quarter’s many restaurants to dine this vibrant downtown area is a great place to take an evening meander, soaking up the sights and sounds of the lively atmosphere while surrounded by historical architecture. Besides its multitude of bars, clubs and restaurants this neighborhood is a true cultural hub packed with entertainment options and successfully mixing Victorian charm with 21stcentury sparkle.

Small enough to be easily strolled but large enough to pack plenty in, this 16 block area is home to both the Copley Symphony Hall for classical music fans and the Lyceum which stages Broadway shows for lovers of more contemporary musical offerings. It is also the location for several galleries which stay open until at least 9pm such as the Spencer Couture Art Gallery with its original pop art and the Chuck Jones Gallery which features the cartoon art of BugsBunny creator Chuck Jones.

This district is also a true shopping hub filled with designer boutiques with many of the stores open until late if you’d like to do a little after-dinner shopping.Otherwise you can just find yourself the perfect spot to relax with some evening drinks. The Altitude Sky Lounge is one of the Gaslamp Quarter’s most iconic spots and little wonder as it allows you to kick back with cocktails from a vantage lookout of 20 floors up.