Spend a Day in San Diego

San Diego is nicknamed America’s Greatest City and after spending a day here you’ll understand why. There’s no shortage of exciting and beautiful things to see and do.

Zookeeper feeding an elephant at the San Diego Zoo © Rebekah Flory | Dreamstime

Begin your day with a tour of the San Diego Zoo, one of the most popular in the world. It’s located in the center of Balboa Park, one of the most beautiful and diverse parts of the city, so after exploring the animals you can walk around and take in the sights.

Afterward, head to Mission Beach to take a ride on the roller coaster right off the sands. This is one of the most popular beaches in the city and contains a boardwalk and wonderful restaurants where you can dine while you watch the waves roll in.

La Jolla, California © Adeliepenguin | Dreamstime

From there, make your way to La Jolla. It’s the ritzy area of town, but it doesn’t cost anything to walk along La Jolla Cove and get up close and personal with the families of seals that live here. You can even go down and swim among them if you dare, but it’s not exactly recommended; they can get a little territorial.

You can’t visit San Diego without visiting Coronado. The beaches are spotless and it’s home to the Hotel Coronado, one of the fanciest hotels in the country. If you’re lucky enough to come in the winter, you can ice skate on the beach.

An Old Town Trolley in the Gaslamp District © Susanne Neal | Dreamstime

Finally, head downtown and walk along the harbor. You’ll see many Navy ships parked in the bay and can even take a tour of a few of them for a small fee. Once night falls, there are numerous clubs to choose from in the Gaslamp District right next to the harbor, so go ahead and get your groove on before you head home.