San Diego Bucket List: 17 Best Things to do in San Diego, California
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Are you wondering what to add to your San Diego bucket list? As California’s quintessential shoreline city, it’s easy to see why you want to plan a visit there.
San Diego’s location along the coast gives it the perfect qualities for all kinds of visitors – from outdoor adventurers to laid-back beachgoers to history and museum buffs.
It’s awfully tempting to want to lay out in the beach sun with a good book, but San Diego has so many things to do and see where you don’t have to apply sunscreen every twenty minutes.
I’ve extensively traveled throughout the USA and currently reside in Nevada; we frequently take trips to San Diego to catch some sun (without the desert heat).
Follow our San Diego bucket list to get the most out of your trip!
🚗 Book your San Diego rental car here! 🚗
San Diego Bucket List
Visit the San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is an international non-profit conservation organization. That’s the long way to say it tries to provide the best homes for the animals at the zoo while still being one of the best things to do in San Diego.
Comprising 100 of the 1200 acres in Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the country. It is also one of the world’s largest conservatories of endangered animals (it provides a home to more than 12,000 animals in total).
There are plenty of ways to experience the zoo. If you go on foot, you can come face-to-face with some of these rare animals. If you’d like to rest your feet, take the 35-minute bus tour instead.
🐘 Book your San Diego Zoo ticket here! 🐘
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Get lost in Old Town
Old Town is a historic state park in San Diego where you can literally walk through time.
The mile-long and half-mile-wide neighborhood houses a collection of shops and houses where the first European settlement was built in California. You’ll see recreations of the birthplace of California and what it became over the years.
Witness one of the first Mexican/Spanish style structures built in the state to the first brick building in San Diego, a courthouse. You could spend hours here traversing through time for free.
Indulge on street tacos
San Diego is known for its extensive city-wide menu of street tacos. Hitting a makeshift street taco food tour is one of those bucket list things to do in San Diego.
Here are a few of our favorites so you can look out for them when exploring the city: Carnitas Las Michoacanas (authentic as it gets), Ranchos Cocina (vegetarian and vegan options), and City Tacos (try something new).
Catch a Padres Game
Petco Park feels like a second home to many San Diegans. In fact, it’s one of the favorites of baseball fans all over the country.
It’s an unreal experience to see the ball fly over the San Diego skyline, so catching a Padres game should be on your SD bucket list.
If just watching a game isn’t enough for you, you can book a tour to get the backstage tour of the historic stadium.
See the seals at La Jolla
So, you’ve explored the San Diego Zoo and now want to get a look at animals in the wild? La Jolla will have exactly what you need.
La Jolla is one of the most beautiful areas in San Diego. It’s also a great place for seeing undersea life while snorkeling, and sometimes seals and sea lions can be seen lounging in the tide pools and even on the beach.
Snapping a few pictures of these majestic and playful creatures should be on your San Diego bucket list.
Learn how to surf
San Diego has 70 miles of coastline and waves that will tickle any surfer’s fancy. It’s the ideal place to learn to ride the waves.
La Jolla is not only great for spotting sea creatures but is also home to the first all-female surf school and one of the most renowned in the world. Now it welcomes everyone, so all genders can learn from the best of the best.
Almost all the main beaches have a surf school that anyone can attend, so pick your favorite beach and be prepared to wipe out!
🏄 Learn how to surf in San Diego with these lessons! 🏄
Have fun and walk the boardwalk at Mission Beach
The Mission Beach Boardwalk is a must do in San Diego for families.
The boardwalk is 2 miles long, lined with shops, eateries, and attractions. One of these attractions includes Belmont Park, the resident boardwalk amusement park. Let your kids loose in arcades and numerous rides, including the Giant Dipper roller coaster, a 100-year-old National Historic Landmark.
Once you’ve had your fill of fun at the amusement park, you can grab dinner at one of the eateries or head to the beach for a picnic.
Wander around the Gaslamp Quarter
Are you looking for a place to spend a night on the town? Then Gaslamp Quarter should be on your San Diego bucket list.
This unique neighborhood is coined by Victorian-style buildings that contain a variety of art galleries, shops, theaters, and up-and-coming restaurants. You can spend hours exploring the wonders of the 16 blocks in the Gaslamp Quarter.
After you shopped, seen a show, and been inspired by local pieces, you can end the night by visiting one (or many) of the various bars and clubs in the Quarter. There are also annual events held here regularly, so be sure to check and see if anything is going on when you’re in town.
Spend the day in Little Italy
Little Italy is another one of San Diego’s neighborhoods that is just teeming with life. Like Gaslamp Quarter, there are many shops, eateries, art galleries, and more, except this time with an Italian twist.
These establishments flank the Piazza della Famiglia, the 10,000-square-foot European-style plaza. This is where you’ll find all the best restaurants to get Italian food to die for.
Besides the plaza, the other outdoor attractions include Amici Park Amphitheater, bocce ball courts, and a dog park.
Attend Comic Con
If you’re in the city during the annual Comic Con, then this may need to be on your San Diego bucket list.
San Diego is home to the largest Comic Con event in the United States. Every summer, fans, artists, and celebrities gather to celebrate their favorite stories circulating in pop culture.
Here, you’ll get a chance to become your favorite character, and purchase memorabilia from your favorite author, attend award ceremonies, or watch featured films. It will be an experience you will never forget!
Hike at Cabrillo National Monument
The Cabrillo National Monument sits at the tip of Point Loma. It stands in memory of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European explorer to brave the California coast.
Due to its placement on the small peninsula, this monument provides a breathtaking view of San Diego, the bay, the deep blue ocean, and, when the skies are clear, the mountains of Tijuana, Mexico.
Once you’ve taken in the view, you can revel in the Point Loma tide pools that are just a short walk down the Cabrillo road.
Wander around Seaport Village
Seaport Village is a place for visitors to sit back and enjoy a different view of the ocean.
The village is 14 acres filled with maritime necessities and a chance to see the real sea-goers in action. There are over 50 shops and restaurants, but if you’re not interested in shopping, you can take a quiet stroll along the storefront watching ships come and go.
Seaport Village is located near the USS Midway Museum and the convention where Comic Con is held.
Catch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs
You’ll head back to Point Loma to find Sunset Cliffs. In fact, they are just a few miles from the Cabrillo National Monument.
This is one of the shoreline’s most picturesque views and a San Diego summer bucket list must.
I’m convinced a walk along this rocky coastline could cure any ailment. You’ll see locals wading in the sea, hoping to catch a wave. The secluded beaches along this strip of land can be a little difficult to reach, but worth the trek if you’re willing to get a little wet.
☀️ Check out our post on more of the best sunset spots in San Diego here! ☀️
Try coffee from a local cafe
If there’s one thing San Diego knows how to do right, it’s coffee shops.
From upscale coffee and decadent restaurants to casual, artsy cafes, San Diego has acclaimed cafes of every kind throughout the city. Finding your favorite one should be on your San Diego bucket list.
A few of our favorites are: Meraki Cafe, Copa Vida, and Bing Haus.
Relax on Coronado Beach
Close your eyes and picture the perfect beach. Miles of white sand, blue waves crashing on the shore, the salty sea breeze ruffling your hair.
Coronado Beach is everything you envisioned and more. It is the perfect place to spend a day at the beach. Whether you’re just sunbathing, boogie boarding, surfing, or playing the waves, you’ll be able to enjoy yourself here.
As it is a little less popular than Mission Beach, you’ll get all the beachy perks without the crazy crowds.
Go kayaking at the La Jolla Caves
La Jolla Caves may not have much of a beach compared to the La Jolla shores, but they are unparalleled in adventure.
Here, you can kayak into the natural caves protected by the La Jolla Ecological Reserve and Marine Park. A guide will lead you through the caves, sharing fascinating facts and the history of La Jolla while you revel in the beauty of your surroundings.
🛶 Book your kayak adventure at La Jolla Caves here! 🛶
Have a blast in LEGOLAND
Honestly, who doesn’t love Legos? LEGOLAND is a hub for adults and kids alike to experience the wonder that an array of plastic blocks can bring.
Delve into the world of Star Wars, conquer a dragon, and experience the world from above in Miniland. Your kids can even get a certified driver’s license and hit the road for a while!
The things you can build are endless. LEGOLAND is a must do in San Diego for families.
🎢 Book your LEGOLAND California ticket here! 🎢
Final Thoughts: Best Things to do in San Diego
Following this San Diego bucket list will make sure you get to have the ultimate summer vacation, full of beaches, good food, and entertaining events and cultural experiences.
Don’t be afraid to get out there and try something new, like surfing; that’s what San Diego is made for!
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