Top 20 Attractions in San Diego

San Diego is located near the Mexican border, on the Pacific coast. The city has a unique Spanish-American flavor, which attracts a considerable number of tourists here. It has a fairly mild climate, excellent beaches and an incredible number of natural attractions. What are the Balboa Park with its magnificent gardens and museums or the picturesque bay of La Jolla!

A traveler who arrives in San Diego has the opportunity to see how one of the most prosperous cities in the United States lives. Cruise ships are constantly approaching the berths of the bay, snow-white yachts stand in orderly rows in the local marina, people are slowly walking along the city alleys planted with palm trees. San Diego is a haven of well-being and prosperity, where people know how to enjoy life.

What to see and where to go in San Diego?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Aircraft carrier USS Midway

The very first US aircraft carrier. He took part in the Vietnam War and in Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf. For 47 years he was in the US Navy. In 1992, the aircraft carrier was decommissioned and turned into a museum. Tours for visitors are conducted by volunteers from among the veterans of the fleet. They are fascinating to talk about the design itself and answer questions.

Point Loma

Back in 1542, the Spanish navigator J.R. Cabrillo landed on the Point Loma peninsula. In honor of him, a monument was built on the southern cape in 1939, from the observation deck of which a panoramic view of the San Diego Bay and the city opens. Another interesting historical building is the lighthouse of the middle of the 19th century. Today it houses a museum. Especially for tourists, a walking trail has been laid on the peninsula.

Balboa park

San Diego City Park is larger than Central Park in New York. On its territory there are 15 museums and exhibitions, 4 theaters, several themed gardens and a zoo. Many buildings were built at the beginning of the 20th century in the Spanish colonial style. There are also small international cottages where visitors can get acquainted with the culture and traditions of 30 countries.

San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Menagerie is considered one of the most progressive in the world. 650 species of animals (more than 3700 individuals) live on its territory. The history of the zoo began after the exhibition of exotic animals in 1915. Many owners simply abandoned their pets after the event was over. To save the animals, the city administration allocated a piece of land in Balboa Park.

Botanical Garden in Balboa Park

The botanical garden unites several territories within its borders: the Japanese garden, the Alcazar garden, the children's ethnobotanical garden, the old cactus garden, the garden of friendship and many others. The local diversity of plants will amaze even connoisseurs of flora: species were collected not only throughout North America, but also imported from other regions of the world. There are greenhouses, artificial ponds and picturesque alleys.

Old Town San Diego

The Old City is home to the San Diego State Historic Park and Presidio Park. Here you can see what the first settlements of the colonists looked like, dine in one of the many Mexican restaurants and watch folklore performances. Excursion buses with guides in historical costumes regularly run around the Old Town.

Aerospace Museum San Diego

The exposition is located on the territory of Balboa Park. The museum has several thematic sections dedicated to the aircraft of the First and Second World Wars, the "golden age of aviation", modern space technologies, as well as other achievements in the field of aviation. The museum has restoration workshops and a library with technical literature. Many exhibits are original, others are copies of aircraft.

Maritime Museum of San Diego

The museum opened in 1948. Its exposition consists of rare ships, each of which has its own unique history. Among the valuable specimens of the collection are the "Star of India", "Medea", "Berkeley", "Californian". In addition to ships, there is a variety of marine equipment. The main goal of the museum staff is to preserve the maritime heritage of the United States in general and the city of San Diego in particular.

Cabrillo National Monument

The monument is located on the Point Loma Peninsula. It represents the figure of the Spanish navigator J. R. Cabrillo, who arrived on the coast of Colorado in 1542 and founded the first settlement here. The monument was created in 1939 by the Portuguese sculptor Alvaro de Bree. Near the statue there is a convenient viewing platform from which you can admire panoramic views of the city and the bay.

Sculpture "Unconditional Surrender"

The sculpture made of expanded polystyrene and aluminum depicts a sailor and a nurse kissing. The original sculpture was created by the American artist S. Johnson based on a photograph by A. Eisenstadt taken in New York on the day of Japan's surrender. For many Americans, this famous photo has become a symbol of the end of World War II. Johnson's sculpture is very popular with tourists.

Sea World Theme Park

The park is dedicated to the inhabitants of the oceans. Its history began in 1964 with the opening of a restaurant of the corresponding theme. The management then decided to create an entertainment zone for their customers and purchased sea animals. Literally in the first year of the park's existence, several hundred thousand visitors visited it. A large number of entertainment shows are held here, in which dolphins, fur seals and whales are involved.

Belmont amusement park

Amusement park in the beach area, created in 1925 by magnate D. Spreckels. There are still old carousels from the turn of the century, such as the roller coaster and the giant bucket, but the most interesting for visitors are the new rides. Belmont also has a swimming pool where swimming competitions are regularly held, a grill bar with a concert venue and a sports club.

petco park

The baseball arena is home to the San Diego Padres. The stadium was built in 2004 to replace the old Qualcomm-stadium. If a tourist manages to get to the game, then he will be able to fully enjoy baseball, as well as the atmosphere that reigns here during the competition. Most spectators do not even look at what is happening on the field. They are passionate about talking to each other and eating burgers.

Mission San Diego de Alcala

The church was founded in 1769 by a monk from Spain, Unipero Serra. By 1862 it was already in ruins. The sluggish restoration of the temple continued until the 1930s. In 1941, San Diego de Alcala became the parish church. It still exists in this status. In 1976, the church was visited by Pope Paul VI. The mission is listed as a U.S. National Historic Landmark.

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery

A military cemetery where American soldiers have been buried since the 18th century. The green lawns of the necropolis are strewn with even rows of modest graves with identical white tombstones. The place evokes philosophical thoughts. Here you can wander in silence and, under the measured rumble of ocean waves, think about the eternal. Near the cemetery is the operating base of the American army.

Bay of La Jolla

The bay is located in the northwestern part of the city. In Spanish, its name means "jewel". The bay consists of sandy beaches, caves and rocks. In one part of the coast fur seals rookery, which attracts a large number of visitors. There is a residential area of ​​the same name in the bay, which is considered one of the most prestigious in San Diego.

Torrey Pines Nature Reserve

A picturesque area covered with rocky plateaus, a favorite place for migrating sea birds. There are also coyotes, skunks, foxes and raccoons. Sometimes from the shore you can see huge whales frolicking in the ocean waters. The coastal zone of the reserve was chosen by local nudists. Torrey Pines has cycling and hiking trails for tourists.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

The lighthouse stands on the peninsula of the same name. It was built in the middle of the 19th century, but due to a not very good location, by the end of the century it was closed (permanent fogs obscured the light coming from the lighthouse and the ships could not see it). Today, the building houses a museum exposition, where you can see the original furnishings, as well as historical maps and documents.

Coronado Bridge

The San Diego Bay Bridge is not only a recognizable symbol of the city, but also an important transportation artery. It was built in 1969. Its construction cost almost $50 million. The length of the structure is about 3.5 km, it stands on 27 concrete pillars. Some of them are up to 60 meters high. Due to the impressive size of the structure, large ships can easily sail under the bridge.

The beaches of San Diego

San Diego is often called the city of beaches and parks, as its territory stretches for many miles along the coastline. In total, there are more than 30 beaches suitable for swimming. The most popular and most visited are Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Coronado, Torrey Pines and La Jolla. The ocean warms up to a comfortable temperature by mid-May and begins to cool by the end of August.