San Diego, CA Travel & Vacation Guide

What to Know

With 70 miles of beaches and an average temperature of 70 degrees, sunny San Diego is an active, outdoorsy city. While the endless beaches are an undeniable draw, the city’s thriving downtown has its own host of offerings. Sweeping ocean views and stunning sunsets provide visitors with an inspiring backdrop for a SoCal adventure.

Just beyond downtown, the picturesque San Diego Bay is an active port for cargo, cruise ships and military vessels. Once known as a "Navy Town", San Diego remains home to one of the country’s largest naval fleets, along with Marine Corps bases and Coast Guard stations. Military buffs will appreciate downtown’s floating U.S.S. Midway Museum, a massive aircraft carrier where visitors can walk among more than 20 restored planes. For more nautical fun, tour seven historic ships at the adjacent Maritime Museum.

Located mere minutes north of the Mexico border, San Diego is also an easy jumping-off point for a trip to Baja. Visitors frequently cross the border for a taste of Tijuana nightlife, or head further south for surfing, lobster dinners and Baja’s cliff-top resorts.

Where to Go

San Diego is famous for its family-friendly attractions. Kids aren’t the only ones who enjoy the world-famous San Diego Zoo in historic Balboa Park, or the 1,800-acre Wild Animal Park, which is akin to experiencing an African safari. There’s also Shamu at SeaWorld and LEGOLAND’s many rides, shows and attractions.

Downtown is home to the historic Gaslamp Quarter, where Victorian buildings share real estate with trendy hotels, rooftop bars, endless restaurants and a buzzing nightlife. If it’s baseball season, catch a Padres game at downtown’s airy, urban Petco Park. Can’t get a ticket? Catch the action from the Marriott hotel’s Altitude Sky Bar, which overlooks the stadium.

San Diego’s many beaches have distinct personalities. Located just across the bridge from downtown, family-friendly Coronado Beach is lined by ritzy homes and the landmark Hotel Del Coronado. Funky Ocean Beach (OB to locals) features dive bars and a laid-back 1960s vibe, while expansive Pacific Beach (or PB) is the place to party, play volleyball, surf or just cruise.

Located around 20-minutes north of downtown, La Jolla is San Diego’s upscale "jewel." The gorgeous coastline, cliff-side restaurants and ritzy boutiques draw a well-heeled crowd.

When to Go

A year-round destination, high season in this beachy city is June through August when hotel rooms often sell out. If you’re looking to hit the beaches, wait until the late summer months. Early summer is often cool and socked in with fog thanks to a thick coastal marine layer known as "May Gray" and "June Gloom". Perhaps the best month to visit, September boasts some of the nicest weather and fewer summer crowds.

The slightly cooler winter months from December through March are a prime time to visit for whale watching. Witness the migration of California gray whales as they travel from Alaska to the warmer waters of Baja.

Comic book fans should plan a trip in July for Comic Con, the world’s largest comic-book and pop-culture convention. Book well in advance, as rooms tend to fill up quickly for this popular annual event.