Must Do Things in San Diego, California

San Diego, California is home to miles of beautiful beaches, hundreds of delicious eateries and so many fun outdoor activities. There is never a reason to be bored in this Southern California city. Each neighborhood is more unique than the next, which means there is plenty to explore. And while the cost of living may be higher than most of the United States, we’re happy to pay our ‘sunshine tax’ in order to enjoy year round warm and sunny weather.

With no shortage of things to do in San Diego here are my top list of activities in San Diego for first time visitors:

Hang out at one of the many beaches

This one is pretty obvious for anyone visiting San Diego, as it’s known for its plentiful & clean beaches lining our coastal neighborhoods. Any visit to San Diego should include an afternoon at one of our beaches. Compared to the east coast, San Diego beaches have plenty of parking nearby, and are within walking distance to great restaurants and bars.

My suggestion: visit Pacific Beach in the afternoon & enjoy happy hour at Waterbar for sunset. This newer establishment has tinted windows so you can enjoy a bright sunset without burning your eyes, and they offer a fun, seasonal cocktail menu.

Speaking of cocktails...

Grab a specialty cocktail downtown

San Diego has become a mecca for foodies with so many new & delicious eateries and bars opening up by locally loved restaurant groups. Visitors can make a night out on the town by starting with cocktails at a specialty bar in either the Gaslamp area of downtown or Little Italy.

My top suggestions: You & Yours Distilling Co in East Village or Starlite in Little Italy

Hike Cowles Mountain

With year round mild weather, San Diego is a perfect destination for outdoor hiking year round. One of the city’s most popular (and strenuous) hikes is Cowles Mountain. Located near San Diego State University, this uphill hike provides 360 degree views of San Diego at the top, which are well worth the workout to the top.

My San Diego tip: go early in the morning to beat the crowds for people-less pictures at the top vista.

Have lunch in Mexico (TJ/Rosarito)

San Diego’s close proximity to the Mexico border makes it easy to drive over and back into a different country all in one day! So bring your passport and take half a day exploring beautiful Mexico.

My suggestion: lunch at Telefonico in Tijuana or margaritas in Rosarito.

Walk around Balboa Park

A personal favorite of mine, Balboa Park is a must see when visiting San Diego. It’s the city’s equivalent to Central Park but with much more to do. Inside the park is the famous San Diego Zoo, multiple museums, two theatres, restaurants and a dog park. (I mean, a dog park should be reason enough to go!)

My suggestion: go around dusk for drinks at Panama 66 and watch the park light up with sunset colors and strung up light fixtures. You’ll usually catch street performances as well.

Visit the La Jolla sea lions

The La Jolla area of San Diego is home to one of the most densely populated areas of sea lions. Visitors can gleefully watch these mellow critters sunbathing on the beach of La Jolla cove and the rocks alongside the cove. It’s by far one of the cutest things to see, especially in the springtime when their babies are born and snuggled up next to their mothers.

My San Diego tip: do NOT walk up and try to touch or get close range photos of the sea lions. Keep a healthy distance as the area is their home and we want them to continue to feel safe here.

Play in the bay

Mission Bay of San Diego is an excellent place to enjoy water activities (especially if you’re timid to try surfing) It’s much larger than many visitors assume making it feel as if you have plenty of space, no matter the time of year or number of people on the water. There are multiple areas to enjoy and almost all come with plenty of free parking. Rent a stand up paddle board or small boat and enjoy a relaxing afternoon out on the water soaking up the sun.

My suggestion: pack water and snacks with you so you can spend hours playing in the water without having to leave.

Catch colorful sunset

There is something magical about catching sunset with a coastline view, and San Diego has some of the best sunsets in the United States.

My suggestion: drive to Sunset Cliffs for sunset and then head over to Ocean Beach for dinner.

Screw the brew, Drink kombucha

Yes, San Diego is one of the US’s brewery capitals, but we’re also home to quite a few kombucheries too! Support your gut health & San Diego small businesses at one of our kombucha bars like Juneshine or Babe Kombucha.

My suggestion: if you can, head north to Miramar for Juneshine’s newer location. There is more seating here and it’s in close proximity to many popular breweries, so you can taste test both local kombucha and beer if you’d like.

Find the hidden sea cave

Located within Cabrillo National Monument is a sea cave that explorers can venture to during low tide. Not many visitors know of this hidden gem in San Diego, so be sure to add it to your list of things to do here.

My suggestion: dress in hiking gear as you’ll have to walk over piles of seaweed to get to the sea cave (but trust me, it’s worth it!)

Take a boat tour of the harbor

In between downtown and the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego there are multiple boat tour companies offering various rides through the harbor. You can enjoy champagne and snacks while looking at the downtown skyline, famous Coronado bridge and hopefully a stellar sunset all at once!

My suggestion: book a sunset tour that offers food & drinks. It’s the perfect date night option. Also, there isn’t much parking in this area so take a ride-share service to save yourself some time.

by Laura

About the Author: Blue Eyed Compass is a sustainable travel blog with a focus on Southern California. The founder & creator, Laura, has been traveling and living in San Diego since 2015. Her site includes tips on how to become a sustainable traveler and in-depth, researched guides for destinations both highly sought after and lesser known. You can find her website here and follow her on Instagram.