Things To Do

If you’d like to make your trip a proper San Diego vacation, here are some suggestions! This list is by no means exhaustive.

Beaches

For any of the beaches below, please check beach health advisories before you swim!

Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach is a popular beach for locals and tourists. The Ocean Beach neighborhood has a fun surfer-hippie vibe if you want to hang loose!

Transit tip: You can take the 923 bus from downtown to the heart of Ocean Beach!

Coronado Beach

Coronado Beach is on Coronado Island (really a peninsula, but shh) on the other side of the San Diego Bay. It’s a little farther away from Ocean Beach but has much more beachfront! Coronado is a bit of a quieter, more old-timey area. You can absolutely make it a half day visit!

Transit tip: A ferry runs from downtown to Coronado approximately every half-hour.

PPS: Both Ocean Beach and Coronado Beach have off-leash dog areas if you want to watch some dogs enjoying the ocean. Search “dog beach” in your maps app!

La Jolla Cove

La Jolla is an upscale beach town north of San Diego proper. (Also home to UCSD!) If you want to see SEA LIONS this is the place to go! But keep a respectful distance from them :)

Transit tip: The geography of the coastline is such that the trolley (SD’s local light rail) does not run close to the beach. You can take the trolley to the Old Town transit hub and then take the 30 bus from there to the La Jolla tourist district, but it will be a longer trip and you may prefer to get there by car.

Museums & zoo

Natural History Museum (obviously!)

You will be able to visit the 2nd floor of the museum, which houses most of the exhibits, during the wedding cocktail hour. There are a few exhibits on the basement level and 3rd floor as well, but not as many. If you’d like to see the additional floors we recommend arriving at the museum during public open hours before the ceremony and paying the regular admission. You’ll be able to come upstairs for the ceremony as usual!

San Diego Zoo

The main location of the San Diego Zoo is right in Balboa Park. (in fact very close to the Natural History Museum) It’s one of the best in the world, and you can easily spend a whole day at the zoo, if not more.

  • Dave’s favorite animal: Hamadryas baboons
  • Monica’s favorite animal: Koalas

If you will have a car during your visit, you can also visit the Zoo’s Safari Park in Escondido, where many larger animals live free-range!

Balboa Park museums

There are several other museums in Balboa Park in addition to the Natural History Museum. There might be another one that piques your curiosity!

USS Midway

The Midway is a decommissioned aircraft carrier and floating museum docked on the waterfront near downtown. It’s a great place to learn about military history, not to mention good views of the city from the deck. #1 activity in San Diego according to TripAdvisor hehe.

Locations from movies

San Diego isn’t as big of a film town as Los Angeles of course, but if you like to visit exterior locations from movies here are a few ideas:

  • Top Gun (original and Maverick): this list of exterior locations
  • Some Like It Hot: Hotel Del Coronado, Coronado Island
  • Anchorman: Sadly the movie was filmed in Long Beach, even though it’s set in San Diego. We encourage you to manifest the spirit of Ron Burgundy while you explore the city anyway. Stay classy!

Hiking

Browse AllTrails for a local hike that strikes your fancy! If you have access to a car and are looking for a shorter hike, Dave and Monica recommend the Annie’s Canyon slot canyon trail in Solana Beach.

Theme parks

LEGOLAND

LEGOLAND is in Carlsbad, north of the city but an easy day trip from downtown if you have access to a car.

Dave & Monica have not been here together yet, but Monica’s family did visit for New Year’s Eve 2003(?). Her favorite activity was getting her LEGO driver’s license and doing the LEGO tiny car driving course.

SeaWorld (if you must)

SeaWorld San Diego is in Mission Bay, which is not too far from downtown (and quite close to USD, where Monica works). However, they have not had the greatest relationship with the SD community, partially on account of their summer fireworks shows disrupting marine life in Mission Bay. SeaWorld is currently piloting switching to drone light shows instead. We do hope that by the time of your visit, SeaWorld will have fully switched away from fireworks. Please keep the local marine life in mind as you plan your visit!

If you would like to spend some time with animals, we strongly recommend visiting the zoo instead. :)