1. Wild Animal Park. 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido. Seeing wild animals attracts adults and families. The San Diego Wild Animal Park is not a zoo full of caged animals. They allow animals to run freely on simulated habitats that mimic the animal’s natural settings. The park offers caravan tours and other guided tours both day and night. It is hot at San Diego Wild Animal Park in the summer, can be over 100, so ensure you drink plenty of water and dress comfortably. For the cheapest entrance fee look for coupons online. For more Wild Animal Park info visit www.sandiegozoo.org/park
2. San Diego Zoo. 2920 Zoo Drive. Famous as the only zoo on the west coast to have Chinese Pandas, San Diego Zoo is the premier zoo in the US. Located in scenic Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo features 800 species and 4,000 animals. Wear your most comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk several miles when you visit. Online coupons are available. For more details on the San Diego Zoo go to www.sandiegozoo.org
3. Balboa Park. San Diego. Originally named City Park, Balboa Park is a San Diego treasure. Started in 1868, Balboa Park houses stunning examples of Spanish Colonial architecture. There you will find a 1,200 acre park with an outdoor concert area, fountain, the San Diego Zoo, tennis courts, an arboretum, koi and goldfish ponds, several museums including the Museum of Man, dog parks, events and festivals, and more. See San Diego’s 10 Best Parks and Recreation
4. Gaslamp District. Downtown San Diego. Several blocks of downtown are designated the Gaslamp District with distinct street lights simulating old gas street lamps. This is where the most popular hotels, bars, restaurants, shopping, and clubs exist in downtown San Diego. Save time looking for a spot by parking in the Horton Plaza parking lot, entrance is on 4th and F Street, and validate the ticket yourself at a station in the mall.
5. Old Town San Diego. Off the I-5, just north of downtown. Old town has the word tourist written all over it. Tourists flock here to walk around. There is no one particular attraction that you must see. Just beyond the road closed off to pedestrian traffic in the historic portion lies many Mexican restaurants serving 100s of fresh margaritas and tortillas daily. It is not by any means the best Mexican food in the city but the experience is fun every once in a while. I prefer to simple here like Fred’s Mexican Cafe, 2470 San Diego Avenue or Casa Guadalajara, 4105 Taylor Street over the old style restaurants with the tortilla making factories inside. Take a stroll through here or grab a bite to eat and drink before heading downtown for a Padres baseball game at PetCo Park or going to Qualcomm Stadium for a football game on the trolley.
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Another place you don’t want to miss in San Diego is Coronado Island. You can take ferry from downtown San Diego over to Coronado ($3 each way) or drive across the Coronado Bridge. Visit the historic Hotel Del Coronado, glide the waterways in an Italian style gondola, relax on a clean and sunny beach, rent a bike and bicycle along the coast, or explore the upscale shops.
I appreciate the useful information as I am new in San Diego and never heard of Mount Soledad or Cabrillo National Monument. I went to Cabrillo this weekend and could see Coronado, downtown, and the airport. Next time I am bringing my camera.