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Home / America / California / San Diego / Places to Visit

Best Places to Visit in San Diego, CA

Sometimes you just want to get out and explore. We try to strike a good balance of places that you will really enjoy. Finding ideas for family friendly outings, or interesting places to go in San Diego, CA with your friends, both are at your fingertips here with America Top 10. We aim to give you plenty of ideas without you having to do all the research. That way you can easily decide if you want to explore San Diego, CA sites or check out the sites in another state.

You have also heard how it is becoming a lot more popular to have staycations (where you stay home instead of going to far off places) and discover new and interesting places in the near vicinity. We try to make that easier for you. Check out the sites in San Diego, CA that have become local favorites easily with our site.

We hope that we have provided you plenty of choices in San Diego, CA whether this is a new area for you or your own back yard. Something a little different from the typical amusement park. If you really loved somewhere but don’t see them on our list let us know, we are always looking to improve our lists and we can only do that with your help.

SeaWorld San Diego

San Diego, CA

Spread out over more than 189 acres on beautiful Mission Bay Park, SeaWorld San Diego is known for spectacular animal shows, interactive attractions, aquariums, rides and dining facilities. Connect to the sea and each other through exciting rides, amazing shows and up-close encounters with the sea’s most extraordinary creatures.

Balboa Park

San Diego, CA

Balboa Park is known as the country’s largest urban cultural park with 15 major museums, performing arts venues, and beautiful gardens. Balboa Park also allows visitors to see and experience museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, and even concerts.

Belmont Park

San Diego, CA

Belmont Park is located on the surf and sand in Mission Beach and is currently offering free parking and free park admission. Belmont Park features a variety of amusement park rides, laser tag areas, and arcades with midway style games.

Birch Aquarium

La Jolla, CA

Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Birch Aquarium features more than 60 habitats of fishes and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and beyond. An oceanographic museum showcases research discoveries by Scripps Oceanography scientists on climate, earth, and ocean science and includes interactive elements.

Maritime Museum of San Diego

San Diego, CA

The Maritime Museum of San Diego enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining and operating historic vessels. The museum has one of the world’s finest collections of historic ships, including the world’s oldest active ship Star of India. Their collection of ships and exhibits are available for daily public tours. One of the best things to do in San Diego.

Belmont Park

San Diego, CA

Belmont Park, is San Diego’s only beachfront amusement and entertainment complex. Visitors can enjoy traditional and contemporary amusement park rides including the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, play laser tag, visit the arcade, climb the Sky Climb Rock Wall, Dine at Draft or Cannonball, enjoy a round of golf at Tiki Town Mini Golf, glide on the Zip Line or play midway style games, to name a few. The Park features a wide array of cuisine including oceanfront restaurants Beach House Bar & Grill, Draft and Cannonball as well as quick service concepts Belmonty’s Burgers, Hot Dog on a Stick and Dole Whip.

Hotel del Coronado

Coronado, CA

Hotel del Coronado is an iconic destination at the Pacific’s edge just minutes from downtown San Diego. Its Coronado Island setting captures the relaxed beauty and seaside charms of the quintessential Southern California coastal lifestyle. The majestic Hotel del Coronado is an adventurous world all its own, where beach-lovers from near and far write their fondest stories on our glittering sands.

Cabrillo National Monument

San Diego, CA

Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. In addition to telling the story of 16th century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join them and embark on your own Voyage of Discovery.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Escondido, CA

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, named the San Diego Wild Animal Park until 2010, is an 1,800 acre (730 ha) zoo in the San Pasqual Valley area of San Diego, near Escondido. It is one of the largest tourist attractions in San Diego County. The park houses a large array of wild and endangered animals including species from the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Australia. The park is in a semi-arid environment, and one of its most notable features is the Africa Tram which explores the expansive African exhibits. These free-range enclosures house such animals as antelopes, giraffes, buffalo, cranes, and rhinoceros. The park is also noted for its California condor breeding program, the most successful such program in the United States.

USS Midway Museum

San Diego, CA

Imagine experiencing life at sea aboard one of America’s longest-serving aircraft carriers. Visitors to the USS Midway Museum enter a floating city at sea and walk in the footsteps of 225,000 Midway sailors who served their country and upheld the American ideals of strength, freedom and peace. The USS Midway Museum is an unforgettable adventure for the entire family. Guests can spend the day exploring more than 60 exhibits with a collection of 29 restored aircraft.

Not find what your looking for? Try one of these other cities. Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco.

Random Fact

The Liberty Bell was cast in London and came to the United States in 1752.

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