San Diego is budding with fun filled attractions, all worthy of touring. With all of the wonderful places to visit in San Diego, you should have no problem packing your days with fun. However, if you are looking to explore the naturalistic side of San Diego, then these five attractions should really not be missed. Once you are able to experience these landmarks of the area you will see why they are so popular and keep travelers coming back for more.
Expansive Golden Beaches
San Diego is renowned for its 70 miles of pristine, golden sand beaches, mild temperatures and year round sunshine. Beaches vary in exciting features such as rock cliffs, reefs, tide pools, and more, for an unforgettable beach experience for families, surfers, volleyball players and people watchers. No matter which facet of the beach you’ve come to enjoy, one thing is for certain, everyone will enjoy a spectacular sunset view.
When deciding on which places to visit San Diego, stop by Oceanside Beaches for easy access, boardwalks, a pier, and the quintessential Southern California experience. Point Lama Beaches are a great place to meditate while basking in the soothing sounds of the waves crashing against the cliffs, and later, explore the tide pools in the rocky reefs, bursting with fascinating marine life. If picturesque views are what you crave, then Coronados Perfect Beaches are for you. Coronados beaches sparkle with mica mineral sand nestled by gentle waves for picture perfect views all year round. This beach was voted as one of America’s finest beaches by the Travel Channel. Other San Diego beaches include: Ocean Beach, Cardiff by the Sea, LaJolla Beach, Del Mar Beach, and more.
Sea World San Diego
San Diego’s Sea World sits on the bay overlooking the beautiful oceanfront. It is only 1 of 3 parks that enjoys beautiful oceanfront views. San Diego’s Sea World boasts exciting attractions such as sting rays, sea turtles, killer whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, sharks, Beluga whale, dolphin interactions, rides and more. Sea World is always one of the places to visit in San Diego that tops many lists of tourists.
San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
The San Diego Zoo is home to a botanical collection featuring over 70,000 plants. If you are wondering the places to visit in San Diego that will excite nature and animal lovers, this is one of them. This 100 acre zoo is also home to over 4,000 rare species of animals including camel, Anaconda, Giant Panda Bear, Hummingbird, Komodo Dragon, Polar Bear, Tasmanian Devil and the cute and cuddly Koala Bear at the Australian Outback Exhibit. When visiting San Diego Zoo, spend a relaxing day wandering the zoo or take a Caravan Safari tour for an up close and personal look at lion, cheetah, tiger, rhino, giraffe and more.
Torrey Pines State Reserves
This 1,700 acre nature reserve boasts ascending cliffs overlooking the Pacific, which is the perfect backdrop for an adventurous day of hiking. At Torrey Pines State Reserves, you will find numerous flora, including the rare Torrey pine, as well as breathtaking views of secluded coastlines and native birds. After your hike, enjoy a refreshing swim in Black’s Beach located on the southern edge of the park or Torrey Pines State Beach to the north.
Gaslamp Quarter
One of the best places to visit in San Diego is Gaslamp Quarter. The Gaslamp Quarter is San Diego’s urban shopping, entertainment and dining district. It features Victorian Style buildings that house a variety of shops, restaurants, night life venues, patios and roof top lounges. Here, you will find fashionable boutiques like Bubbles Boutique, a friendly establishment that features one of a kind designs by local designers. Bubbles Boutique was coined the “Gem” of Gaslamp by American Express.
Take a break from shopping to enjoy a bite to eat at Florent, San Diego’s hottest new restaurant, lounge and night life destination. Their menu includes happy hour, brunch, lunch and dinner, with tasty selections such as grilled NY strip steak, pan roasted trout, eggs Benedict, lemon ricotta pancakes and their signature 1874 burger-CAB natural beef, house Canadian bacon, white cheddar, pineapple-mango chutney, soft Hawaiian bun, sriracha aioli and Florent spun potatoes.
After dinner, enjoy a scary story before bed with a visit to San Diego’s Haunted Hotel, located in the Gaslamp Quarter. This spine chilling house was named one of top 13 Haunted Houses in America by Haunted World magazine. Explore Freddy Krueger’s workshop or witness the virus outbreak in the Zombie office before taking the Hellevator to who knows where. This Haunted house is so scary, that it is not recommended for children under 10.
These are just a few of the heart pumping attractions that await you and will help you decide on the places to visit in San Diego that most interest you. Visiting San Diego is a great trip for singles, couples or families looking to explore the California coast.
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