Location: Downtown San Diego (Horton Plaza / Core District)
Open Daily: 10AM – 9PM (8PM on Saturdays); 11AM – 7PM on Sundays.
Features: Uniquely Designed Outdoor Shopping Mall in Downtown San Diego; Anchored by Nordstrom and Macy’s; Five Levels of Shopping includes a Food Court, Fine Dining, Movie Theater, and Many Visitor Services.
Location: Downtown San Diego (Gaslamp Quarter)
Features: Shopping, Restaurants, Nightlife, Performing Arts, Historical Tours
Location: La Jolla (12 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Art Galleries; Exclusive Shops; Fine Dining; Spectacular Setting
Location: Carlsbad (32 Miles / 35 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 9PM (7PM on Sundays)
Features: 90 Upscale Outlet Stores including Banana Republic, Barneys New York, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger
Location: San Ysidro (17 Miles / 20 Minutes South of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 9PM (7PM on Sundays)
Features: 125 Outlet Stores including Nieman Marcus Last Call, Polo, Haggar, Lane Bryant, and Nike
Location: Alpine (35 Miles / 35 Minutes East of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: Casino Open 24 Hours a Day / 7 Days a Week; Outlet Shops Generally Open 10AM – 8PM; Outdoor Concerts at 8PM from March – October; Indoor Events Vary
Features: Top Rated Casino with Slots, Card Tables, Bingo, Off-Track Betting, Non-Smoking Area; Outlet Shopping; Indoor and Outdoor Concert Venues with National Acts
Location: Fashion Valley (6 Miles / 10 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 9PM (11AM – 7PM on Sundays)
Features: Most Upscale, Outdoor Mall in Southern California. Anchored by Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and J.C. Penney; Fashion Valley Mall offers 200 Stores, Restaurants, and a Movie Theater.
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 11AM – 4PM (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Cost: Free
Features: Village of 37 art studios hosting over 200 artists working with paint, jewelry, clay, metals, baskets, and more.
Location: Fallbrook (53 Miles / 55 Minutes Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Cost: None, unless you want to buy a wildlife painting.
Hours: Varies
Features: Meet Famed Wildlife Artist Gamini Ratnavira, Browse through his Wildlife Paintings, and Meet his Unique & Colorful Birds.
Location: Oceanside (38 Miles / 40 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 4PM (Opens at 1PM on Sundays and Closed on Mondays)
Cost: $8 ($5 for Seniors 65+, Free for Students and Military Families with I.D.)
Features: Hosts Impressive Art Exhibitions in a Modern Facility added to an Irving Gill Designed Building; Music & Art Events
Location: Downtown San Diego (East Village)
Game Times: Generally, Evening Games Start at 7:05PM and Sunday Games Start at 1:05PM (More Details Below)
Cost: Game Tickets Start at $5.
Features: One of the Top Pitching Teams in Baseball; Best Seats in Baseball; Central Location for Restaurants and Nightlife; Behind the Scenes Tours.
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 4:30PM (Must enter by 4PM). Open until 5:30PM during Summer. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Cost: $15 ($6 for Kids ages 3-11 and $12 for Seniors)
Features: One of the Nation’s Best Aerospace Museums; San Diego has the Richest Aviation History in the World
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 5PM. (Opens at 12PM on Sundays; Stays Open Until 9PM on Thursdays through Labor Day.) Closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Cost: $10 ($4 for Kids ages 6-17 and $8 for Seniors 65+)
Features: Paintings from Old World Masters; Popular Works from French Impressionists; Largest Collection of South Asian Art in America; Numerous Exhibitions available at the Museum and Online.
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open: Sundays 12PM – 4PM
Cost: Free
Features: Visit the Cottages of 21 Countries (+11 more on a rotating basis) to learn their cultures through food, music, dance, and more.
Location: Coronado (6 Miles / 15 Minutes South of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Magnificent Views of the City-Skyline, San Diego Bay, and Navy Aircraft Carriers; Shopping; Dining; Ferry Boat
Location: Coronado (6 Miles / 15 Minutes South of Downtown San Diego)
Cost: Free for Self-Guided Tours; Fees for Other Activities
Features: Tour of Historic Hotel Built in 1888; Served World Leaders; Seen in Major Movies and on TV
Location: Old Town (4 Miles North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 6PM (Some Attractions Close at 5PM)
Cost: Free
Features: Several National Register and California State Historic Landmarks within seven blocks; Great Collection of Historic Stage Coaches & Carriages; Interpretive Center Provides a Historic Timeline of the American Continent starting 20,000 Years Ago.
Location: Old Town (4 Miles North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 4PM (Closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Cost: Free
Features: Historic Relics from Early Lawmen dating back to 1850; Behind the Scenes Look at the Sheriff’s Department, including the Police Academy and SWAT
Location: Old Town (4 Miles North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 9PM (5:30PM on Sundays and Mondays)
Features: Nine International Specialty Shops and a Popular Mexican Restaurant
Location: Point Loma (9 Miles / 20 Minutes West of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 9AM – 5PM
Cost: $5 per Vehicle
Features: Best Views of Downtown San Diego, San Diego Bay, and the Pacific Ocean; Tidepools; Hiking; Lighthouse Tour; Whale Watching; Visitor Center Exhibitions and Films about Juan Cabrillo, the First European Explorer to Arrive in California.
Location: Ocean Beach (7 Miles / 15 Minutes West of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Beach Community with a 1960’s Theme; Very Laid Back; Eclectic Mix of People; Dog Beach; Ocean Pier; Antique Shops and Restaurants.
Location: Midway District (3 Miles / 5 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 8AM – 4PM (Closed on Sundays)
Cost: Free
Features: History of the U.S. Marine Corps; Displays the Challenges of War and Sacrifices Made for Freedom
Location: Mission Beach (8 Miles / 15 Minutes Northwest of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Generally 11AM – 11PM. However, rides are generally not in operation on weekdays from November to February. (Check schedule and ride calendar for specific times.)
Cost: Most rides cost $2 – $6. There is No Entrance Fee and Parking is Free.
Features: Only Oceanfront Amusement Park in San Diego, Giant Dipper Wooden Roller Coaster, Miniature Golf, Bumper Cars, Perfect Wave Rider, Largest Swimming Pool in Southern California.
Location: Pacific Beach (10 Miles / 20 Minutes Northwest of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Most Popular Beach Area for College Students in San Diego with access to a Boardwalk, Restaurants, Bars, and Shops
Location: Torrey Pines (15 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Year-Round; Dawn – Dusk
Cost: North Course Starts as Low as $129 and South Course as Low as $199; Discounts for Juniors, Twilight Play, Nine-Hole Play, and San Diego City Residents
Features: Two Courses Nestled on Seaside Cliffs Overlooking the Pacific Ocean; Home to Annual PGA Tournament & 2008 U.S. Open; Luxurious Resort Facilities
Location: Miramar (15 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 9AM – 3:30PM (Closed on Mondays)
Cost: Free (Donations Appreciated)
Features: Only Museum in the Country Dedicated to Marine Corps Aviation
Location: Carlsbad (35 Miles / 40 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Generally Open 10AM – 5PM (8PM during Summer); Additional Hours during School Vacations
Cost: Several options starting at $67 ($57 for Kids ages 3-12 and Seniors 60+). Parking is $12
Features: More than 50 Family Rides; Focused on Kids ages 2 – 12; Attractions built out of LEGO blocks include Pirates, Dinosaurs, Animals, and National Monuments.
Location: Vista (44 Miles / 50 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 4PM (Closed on Christmas and New Year’s)
Cost: $3 ($2 for Kids and Seniors)
Features: 55 Acre Farm Serves as a Museum for Thousands of Antique Farm Artifacts; Recreates the Typical California Farm from the 1850s – 1950s; Dozens of Items Used in Hollywood Movies.
Location: Del Mar (22 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open: June 12th – July 5th, 2009 (Closed Mondays June 15th and 22nd);
Cost: $13 ($7 for Kids ages 5-12 and Seniors 62+). Parking is $10
Features: Top 10 Fair in the Country; Several Dozen Amusement Rides; Concerts with Top National Performers; Competition in a Wide Array of Activities; Carnival Games & Food; 2009 Theme is ‘Music Mania’
Location: Fallbrook (53 Miles / 55 Minutes Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Cost: Free
Hours: 11AM-3PM (Thursday – Saturdays)
Features: Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Museum; Specimens from around the World, including California Tourmaline; History of San Diego Mining; Fluorescent Mineral Display; Gift Shop
Location: Fallbrook (53 Miles / 55 Minutes Northeast of Downtown San Diego) & Carlsbad (31 Miles / 35 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Fallbrook: 10AM – 5PM (Closed Sundays); Carlsbad: 10AM – 6PM
Features: San Diego Tourmaline and Other Gems for Sale
Find out what the locals know.
Top 10 Reasons San Diego is more than just a leisure destination.
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