There are so many attractions in San Diego to experience. Many visit for the incredible imported wildlife and lively nightlife in San Diego. It's no wonder why some say 'come for a few nights, and you might end up staying a few years'.
San Diego Zoo
When it comes to San Diego tourist attractions, nothing is more popular than the San Diego Zoo. Widely recognized as the country’s finest zoo (though the Washington National Zoo might have an argument with that), it features fan favorites such as the Panda and the Koala. The most famous of San Diego attractions, the zoo is sliced into ten bioclimactic zones, allowing visitors to explore areas as diverse as the arctic tundra and shimmering rain forest.
Balboa Park
The pristine gardens that surround the San Diego Zoo also feature a collection of fifteen museums - covering everything from science to history to art – and a bevy of historically significant buildings. Every Tuesday certain areas of Balboa Park are free to the public, make this one of the most popular, and affordable, tourist attractions in San Diego.
Cowles Mountain Trail
Always a hit with hikers, this trail ascends almost a thousand feet, featuring some of the best views of the city you’ll find. About eight miles from the city, this is one of the most satisfying and worthwhile San Diego tourist attractions – and its popularity is no secret. The trail can be jam packed on the weekends, so if you can visit the most scenic of attractions in San Diego during the slow week, you should make it a point to do so.
Mission Bay Park
Another of the San Diego attractions that emphasize the area’s natural beauty and semi-exotic wildlife, Mission Bay Park features 27 miles of shoreline, and a handful of marinas. But the real draw here is the small pockets of wildlife preserves that are teeming with indigenous birds.
Coronado Island
Though, technically, connected to San Diego by a long stretch of highway above a tiny isthmus, Coronado Island is famous for having one of the best beaches in America. You can take a gondola tour through the small cays on the southern stretch of the island, or take a glance inside the Hotel del Coronado – one of the most famous San Diego tourist attractions. For years, the hotel has been frequented by Hollywood stars as well as traveling dignitaries and anyone else willing to plunk down the required cash.
Torrey Pines State Reserve
Another great place for hikers and birdwatchers, the reserve features a plethora of trails, a sandy beach and miles of the trees that give the park its name. As far as San Diego attractions go, Torrey Pines will make you forget you are even in the city.
