Sitting cheek by jowell with the Mexican border, in sight of the Laguna mountain range and the Pacific Ocean, this Californian city offers an Hispanic heritage, with a huge dollop of Californian cool and a laid-back vibe of anything goes.

Downtown View of San Diego from Point Loma
Downtown View of San Diego from Point Loma – Courtesy Joanne DiBona SanDiego.org

First time tourists to San Diego will find this beach city gloriously yielding in terms of attractions. Within its confines are 100 neighbourhoods, 70 miles of coastline, 33 beaches and 120 craft breweries (wine takes a back seat here).
There’s nightlife, heaps of culture and living history to keep you busy.

1Seaport Village


This quaint waterfront shopping and dining area located Downtown on West Harbor Drive is probably a great place to start. There are 54 unique shops including a fun magic shop and plenty of eateries. Supping a coffee while looking at passing yachts and ships on picturesque San Diego Bay is a brilliant way to ease into the day. Also you can pick up The Old Town Trolley Tour, a hop on, hop off bus that passes everything you would want to see in the city including all those listed below.

2Gaslamp District


Gaslamp Sign, San Diego -Courtesy John Bahu
Don’t worry, the area is not as seedy as the name suggests; it is called so because of the Victorian styled lamposts that light up the streets after sundown. The 16-square blocks in the Downtown district feature Victorian buildings alongside skyscrapers which together, offer an interesting visual. And amid them are boutiques that line the streets, and a mall – the multi-level Westfield Horton Plaza – designed as an outdoor shopping centre.
Of course there’s plenty of restaurants. Cafe 21 on Fifth Avenue is a sure thing, with wholesome food, including gluten free options, served throughout the day. At night there’s live music with some acrobatics thrown in. Some of their cocktails double as meals sometimes served with vegetables and even prawns. Far less wholesome is the raunchy Coyote Ugly Saloon (named after the film) next door where women are invited to strut their stuff on the bar alongside scantily clad dancers.

3Old Town


Old Town Market, San Diego – Courtesy SanDiego.org
The Old Town is pretty much the birthplace of California and was where the first Spanish settlement was created. The 19th century history of San Diego is brought to life in the Old Town’s shops, restaurants and historic sites – in effect it is a tourist trap. But it’s still worth visiting. It’s fun to look at the Indian jewellery, especially in the Covered Wagon – Pala and Kumeyaay Indians were the pre-Spanish native population. Browse the 40 speciality shops and the adobe properties that house them. Just a short walk down San Diego Avenue is the Whaley House, known as the most haunted house in America. They say even the ghost of the family dog has been seen.
If you like Mexican food, there are several Mexican restaurants. Cafe Coyote has a great location and fun atmosphere both indoors and on the heated alfresco terrace where you can watch the tortillas being made. There are others such as Casa Guadalajara where the most joy is in the atmosphere rather than the food.

4Balboa Park


bird’s eye view of Balboa Park, San Diego – Courtesy Joanne DiBona SanDiego.org
Considered the cultural heart of San Diego you will find Balboa Park just north of downtown. It is the world’s largest urban cultural park and inside its 1,200 acres there’s an incredible 17 museums, 8 gardens – including a gorgeous Japanese garden that has a Zen space for meditation – and sensational Spanish Renaissance architecture. And within the Balboa park is the amazing San Diego Zoo.

5San Diego Zoo


The Panda is endangered. The Zoo is home to five giant pandas. Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
It’s not often a zoo enters a top-10 feature, but this one really is a must-see. It sprawls over 100-acres (40-hectares) and looks after 3,500 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies. There is a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants.
Their “Inside Look Tour” is two hours of edutainment that offers a behind the scene look at what really happens when no-one is looking. Elephants, reptiles, giraffes, koalas are among the animals you will get to see. And you won’t want to miss the gorgeous pandas. Allow plenty of time, but get there early as it closes at 5pm.

6Coronado Island


Coronado Beach – Courtesy Brett Shoaf Artistic Visuals
Visiting the Coronado island is a relaxing day out and getting there from Downtown is a quick traverse across a bridge. Some people get the jitters crossing the bridge because it is alarmingly high, deliberately so to allow military ships to pass beneath it.
Once on the other side, you’ll find pretty ice cream shops and boutiques, and the lovely vision of a rust red roof and turrets and white walls of the Victorian style Hotel Del Coronado. The iconic hotel has hosted royalty and celebrities and is where Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis filmed Some Like It Hot and where Wallis Simpson once lived. Perhaps more compelling for some, is the broad, fine white sand beaches.

7Cabrillo national monument and Old Pont Loma lighthouse


Cabrillo Monument, San Diego Courtesy Joanne DiBona
This is where Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s 16th century historic landing took place – a pivotal moment for California. Cabrillo was charged with exploring the West Coast of North America on behalf of the Spanish Empire. And this is where a handsome and towering statue of him stands proud looking over the bay he sailed into in September 28, 1542. The views from here are gorgeous especially as sun sets.
Nearby is the Pont Loma lighthouse which is open to visitors. You’ll see how the keeper and his wife lived and be able to climb the spiral staircase. However it only served as a lighthouse for 36 years because the low clouds that descended upon that area made it hard to see.

8La Jolla Cove


Seals at Jo Jolla Cove – Courtesy Lisa Field SanDiego.org
The city has some great beaches, and the one at the foot of the hilly La Jolla area comes with a trendy buzz and some pretty spectacular scenery. And the opportunity to see the native seals. You’ll find it in the beachfront restaurants, the El Pescador Fish Market or in the many art galleries along Prospect Street and even in the Museum of Contemporary Art.

9Little Italy


There are plenty of restaurants in Little Italy for any gastronome but now this burgeoning neighbourhood has become acclaimed for being home to the Top Chef Row on Kettner Street. Five of the city’s celebrity chefs have opened restaurants so check out Herb & Wood for its wood-roasted eats, The Crack Shack for its chicken dishes, Juniper and Ivy which services “refined American food with Left Coast edge”, Bracero for its modern Mexican cuisine and Pacific Standard for its seafood.

10Drink beer


Beer cheers courtesy of Erik Isacson
It’s all about the brew in San Diego and there are around 120 breweries serving hoppy West Coast-style IPAs. So, hop over to Ballast Point and try their Havanero Sculpin – careful though as the Habanero chillies crank up the heat. Or for something salty yet fruity you could head to Point Loma to visit Modern Times to taste their citrus flavoured Fortunate Island and Black House, a coffee roasted stout.
The Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens is a fun environment to enjoy a pint. They serve rustic food in their gardens, offers brewery tours, movie nights and of course the beers – its signature beer being Arrogant Bastard Ale.