Located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, San Diego is widely known as “America’s Finest City.” Famous for its miles and miles of white-sand beaches and amazing weather, the city offers an abundance of fun attractions for visitors of all ages.

Boasting a citywide population of more than 1.3 million and more than 3 million residents countywide, San Diego is California’s second largest city and the United States’ eighth largest. 

The Top 5 Things to Do in San Diego (+ Van Halen)

Van Halen is playing at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre in San Diego on September 30. You can join us for opening night reception at Silver Strand Beach before you head to see Van Halen rock out. Get your tickets here. 

  1. Visit the USS Midway Museum and imagine experiencing life at sea aboard one of America's longest-serving aircraft carriers. 

  2. Spend a day at Balboa Park, a 1,200 acre urban cultural park which contains open green spaces, garden, museums, several theaters, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. 
  3. Take a Segway tour of the city. A few options include: Another Side Of San Diego Tours; Segway of Pacific Beach; and San Diego Segway Tours by Wheel Fun Rentals

  4. Check out the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The 100 acre zoo is home to over 3,700 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies, and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants. It is located just north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park. 

  5. Go for a hike in the Torrey Pines State Reserve. With 2,000 acres of coastal state park land, it is one of the wildest stretches of land in California. The reserve features a plateau with cliffs that overlook the beach, and a lagoon that is vital to migrating seabirds. Golf fans will be familiar with the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course, located directly to the south of the Reserve, the site of Tiger Woods 2008 U.S. Open victory, which was won in a playoff.

(From TripAdvisor)

Restaurants

Below are a few options for dining at the hotel and nearby area. Additional restaurants and reviews can be found here.

Hotel:

  • Mistral ($$$) Tapas/Small Plates | 4000 Coronado Bay Rd Coronado, CA 92118 | Phone number (619) 424-4000
  • Market Cafe ($$$) American | 4000 Loews Coronado Bay Rd Coronado, CA 92118 | Phone number (619) 424-4000

Coronado area:

  • Lil’ Piggy’s Bar-B-Q ($$) Barbecue | 1201 1st St Coronado, CA 92118 | Phone number (619) 522-0217
  • The Fish Company ($$) Seafood | 1007 C Ave Coronado, CA 92118 | Phone number (619) 435-3945
  • Islander ($$) Seafood | 1166 Orange Ave Coronado, CA 92118 | Phone number (619) 435-2121
  • Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge ($$) American | 015 Orange Ave Coronado, CA 92118 | Phone number (619) 437-6087
  • Miguel's Cocina ($$) Mexican | 1351 Orange Ave Coronado, CA 92118 | Phone number (619) 437-4237

Downtown San Diego:

  • Rustic Kitchen ($) American, Mexican | 819 C St San Diego, CA 92101 | Phone number (619) 702-7475
  • Darband Fifth Avenue Grill ($$) Persian/Iranian | 1556 5th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 | Phone number (619) 230-1001
  • The Local Eatery & Drinking Hole ($$) American | 1065 4th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 | Phone number (619) 231-4447
  • Downtown Fish Joint ($) Seafood | 407 C St San Diego, CA 92101 | Phone number (619) 239-3506

Free Activities for Kids and Adults in San Diego

  1. Head to San Diego's many beaches, all free to the public, to swim, body surf or hang-ten. Play in the sand, collect seashells or just bask in the sun.

  2. Visit La Jolla Cove and see the magnificent sunset on the ocean. La Jolla Cove is one of the most spectacular natural settings in the world.

  3. Visit downtown San Diego's Seaport Village for hours of free entertainment, leisurely strolling and window shopping. Enjoy a laid-back day of hanging out in the grass and watching the many passing yachts and ships on picturesque San Diego Bay, or take in the sights from one of the many bay-view eateries.
  4. Stroll through the 16½-block historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego and view the renovated turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture, home to boutiques, art galleries, specialty shops and more.
  5. Fly a kite along the grassy field in the Tecolote Shores of Mission Bay Park, a 4,600-acre aquatic park. Here, away from trees and overhead wires, friends and family gather to launch colorful kites into the bay breezes.

(From sandiego.org)