Have fun exploring San Diego Day Trips just an hour or two away from downtown. Discover destinations, from theme parks, hidden gems, scenic road trips, museums, historical landmarks, stunning beaches, and natural wonders. Start planning your adventure today!
La Jolla Kayak Adventure Visit the Seven Sea Caves
Embark on a thrilling guided kayak tour and explore the seven famous sea caves along La Jolla’s coast. This exciting adventure is suitable for families and visitors alike. Be prepared to get a little wet, but don’t worry; it’s all part of the experience. Tour groups can even paddle inside the most extensive cave, Clam Cave, depending on the tide and wave conditions. Don’t miss this must-do activity in San Diego, and add it to your bucket list.
San Diego Harbor Cruise Breathtaking Views of the Bay
A San Diego Bay Cruise is an excellent way to kickstart your visit to San Diego. You’ll have the opportunity to get familiar with the city while enjoying the comfort of a multi-level passenger ship. The cruise offers indoor and outdoor seating options, and an expert provides commentary.
Some of the highlights of the experience include breathtaking views of the San Diego skyline, an up-close encounter with impressive naval ships, and the chance to sail under the Coronado Bridge.
Old Town San Diego: Fun Affordable Day Trip
History buffs will want to take in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Covering nine square blocks, Old Town State Historical Park showcases the period from 1821 to 1872. Points of interest include California’s first schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, the state’s first newspaper office, and the Seeley Stable Museum.
Admission and parking are free, making Old Town San Diego State Historical Park a fun, affordable day trip destination. Nearby attractions include Old Town Model Railroad Depot (free admission) and Heritage County Park, a neighborhood of restored Victorian homes.
San Diego Zoo Balboa Park Spend an Entire Day Here
San Diego Zoo offers a full day of family fun. Arrive early because this zoo is enormous. Located in Balboa Park, a short drive from downtown San Diego, the zoo covers over 100 acres. Getting around the zoo is made more accessible by a gondola lift called the Skyfari and double-decker buses making four stops.
Plan on walking several miles and visiting all the exhibits at the zoo. If all this sounds too much, a 40-minute guided tour bus lets you see most of the park while seated. You can easily spend an entire day here visiting all of the exhibits.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Explore Nature
Torrey Pines State Park is a beautiful wilderness reserve in San Diego County. If you are a nature lover, it’s one of the wildest stretches of land on the Southern California coast! With over 2,000 acres of untouched land, the reserve has long stretches of beachfront and a fantastic lagoon home to migrating birds.
Julian, California: Visit a Historic Gold Mining Town
Julian’s historic gold mining town is in the mountains 60 miles east of downtown San Diego. Once a booming hub during California’s gold rush, this rustic but charismatic hidden gem retains much of those times’ charm and atmosphere. Julian is a popular year-round day trip. Although the apples are the biggest draw to Julian regarding other fun, there is plenty to do.
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Hiking and Camping
Cuyamaca Park contains many different climates, terrains — mainly made up of a woodland oak forest, with a few pine trees and several meadows with seasonal creeks– historical sites (both Indian and Californian), and loads of adventure.
The park contains many different climates, terrains — mainly made up of an oak woodland forest, a few pine trees, and several meadows with seasonal creeks– historical sites (both Indian and Californian), and loads of adventure.
San Diego Botanic Garden: 35-acre Paradise of Garden Trails
SSan Diego Botanic Garden spans 35 acres and features garden trails showcasing plants from worldwide climates, including desert and tropical varieties. The garden also boasts the world’s largest bamboo collection.
The four-mile trail is divided into 24 separate gardens by climate. You will witness one of the world’s most diverse collections of plants. As you walk through canyons and hillsides, observing the habitats, many hidden nooks offer a chance to sit and relax.
Oceanside, California: Fun Beach Getaway
Oceanside, located in San Diego County, is the perfect beach town getaway that offers relaxation and adventure with its proximity to countless attractions. No trip to Oceanside is complete without a stop at the California Surf Museum. Opened in 1986, it celebrates surfing history in California with exhibits, films, and participation in local events.
San Elijo State Reserve Caves and Slot Canyons
San Diego’s County San Elijo State Preserve is a great place to get out and enjoy nature. Cool ocean breezes make the preserve a perfect year-round day trip destination. Annie’s Canyon trail features mushroom caves and a passage through a narrow slot canyon that ends with a ladder you must use to climb out of the canyon.
The star of the San Elijo State Reserve is the beautiful lagoon and surrounding pockets of shallow pools. As you walk the trails through the park, you will see the blue slips of water that give the park its trademark “wetlands” classification.
Mission Trails Regional Park See Historic Mision Dam
Mission Trails Regional Park, located just a few miles from downtown San Diego, encompasses nearly 6,000 acres of hills, valleys, and open areas. It is a beloved destination for both locals and out-of-town visitors.
One of the more exciting things to see in the park is the Mission Dam. Built across the head of Mission Gorge, the 244-foot-long dam was used to supply water to Mission San Diego de Alcala.
San Diego Mission Basilica De Alcalá
San Diego Mission Basilica De Alcalá is the first California Mission constructed along the West Coast. Besides its historical significance, the mission is active in San Diego’s community.
They were founded in 1769 by Father Junípero Serra as the first of the twenty-one missions that make up the California Mission Trail. San Diego de Alcalá is the birthplace of the Christian religion on America’s West Coast.
Cabrillo National Monument: Tidepools – Lighthouse – Amazing Views
Cabrillo Monument is an easy drive from just about anywhere in San Diego. Located on a southward-jutting finger of Point Loma, the small park is an oasis of nature and military history. The monument commemorates the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay in 1542. Trails lead down to some of the best tidepools in San Diego.
Aside from the lighthouse, museum, and tide pools, there is the Coast Defense Exhibit, another tiny museum covering the history of Fort Rosecrans, which encompasses the park.
Mission San Luis Rey Oceanside
The Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in California stands out for its impressive beauty. This mission is the biggest in California and boasts a charming wooden dome. The Lavanderia is a particularly fascinating structure within the mission, where people used to do their laundry, bathe, and wash clothes in an open-air setting.
Mission San Luis Rey museum is open for self-guided tours daily, Monday-Friday, 9 am – 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. The Last time begins at 4:30 pm.
Vista Antique Tractor Museum
Operated year-round, the museum has nearly 1,000 volunteers helping to maintain and repair the equipment. A weaving room and a blacksmith workshop are on the grounds, where visitors can watch artisans hard at work. Tractor shows are held biannually in June and October.
The weaving exhibit features historic looms from the Civil War era to today’s contemporary technology. It showcases a variety of spinning and weaving artists, many of which are woven on-site.
Carlsbad Flower Fields
Carlsbad’s seasonal flower fields are an impressive sight open for public viewing from March 1 through Mother’s Day each year. Expect many people on the weekend, so plan on getting to the flower fields early. The Carlsbad Flower Fields highlights include a miniature rose garden, a sweet pea maze, the American Flag of Flowers, a 1,500-square-foot poinsettia display, and acres of beautiful flowers.
Borrego Springs Sculptures
Borrego Springs offers many rewards no matter what time of year you visit. But remember that the summers are usually the warmest, with temperatures soaring into the triple digits. One of the town’s most unusual attractions is Galleta Meadows Estates. A collection of original, welded steel sculptures includes extinct animals, farmworkers, saints, and cacti.
San Diego Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum of San Diego is much more than a collection of old sailing vessels and is a fun place for the family day trip. Activities include whale watching, kayaking, historic San Diego Bay tours, and adventure sailing trips.
The ship collection includes eight vessels, three of which are The Berkeley (1898), the first propeller-driven steam ferry. The USS Dolphin (1968) was reported to be the submarine with the deepest dive, and the Californian (1984) was a replica of a mid-century revenue cutter.
Escondido California
Established in 1888, Escondido is the Spanish word for “hidden valley.” Still, it’s no secret that today, the city is home to some of San Diego County’s major tourist attractions, beautiful wineries, craft breweries, fine arts, theater, and numerous outdoor activities.
With a beautiful year-round climate, Escondido is the perfect place for a Southern California day trip. Restaurants, cafes, and galleries adorn the city’s charming historic downtown, which has become a more visited place over the past few years. Escondido is a city located in Northern San Diego County along Interstate 15.
Balboa Park San Diego
Balboa Park is the cultural centerpiece of San Diego and houses 15 museums within its ornate 20th-century structures, initially built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. Balboa Park’s many museums and attractions will probably take more than a day. So plan a “wild” trip and take all Balboa Park offers, including a day at the San Diego Zoo.
Leo Carrillo Ranch Carlsbad
Leo Carrillo Ranch is a 27-acre historic park with hand-crafted adobe buildings, windmills, and many other historic structures. On weekends, free tours are given. Plan on spending 1 – 2 hours exploring the ranch. Carlsbad has several other attractions to round out your day trip: Legoland, Carlsbad Flower Fields, Carlsbad Outlets, and some fantastic beaches.
Self-guided walking tours of the building’s exteriors and park grounds are available during regular park operating hours. A free brochure is available at the parking lot, visitor center, and Hacienda.
Mount Palomar Observatory
Palomar Mountain Observatory offers a serene escape from San Diego’s busy city life and overcrowded parks. Palomar Mountain Observatory is home to four revolutionary telescopes that have helped scientists and astronomers discover new and exciting stars that comprise our Milky Way Galaxy galaxies and other galaxies beyond ours as asteroids, comets, and quasars, which take billions of light-years to reach Palomar Observatory.
Bates Nut Farm
Bates Nut Farm is tucked away in an oak-filled valley near Valley Center, California, making a great family day trip. Finding the farm is all part of the adventure for first-time visitors to the nut farm. Bates Nut Farm has retained its rural atmosphere because it is 3 miles off the main road. When you turn Valley Center Road onto Woods Valley Road, you travel to the farm under a canopy of oak trees.
La Jolla San Diego – Surfing, Snorkeling, Kayaking
La Jolla’s soft sandy beaches are ripe with activity, so you’ll likely be able to find some way to enjoy your favorite water sports – surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, or even kiteboarding. The best view in La Jolla is atop Mount Soledad. During dusk, visitors will view amazing watercolor sunsets.
Some other ways to visit La Jolla include exploring the area’s museums and landmarks or playing golf at one of the country’s most attractive municipal courses.
Del Mar, California Beautiful Beaches,
Del Mar, California, is known for its beautiful beaches, Torrey pine trees, and breathtaking canyons sprinkled with hillside homes. The two square miles of Del Mar is recognized as one of San Diego County’s finest neighborhoods.
Del Mar is an ideal getaway for people wanting a seaside community with charm, excellent shopping, and various top-rated restaurants.
Mission Beach Visit Historic Belmont Park
A boardwalk borders two miles of pristine oceanfront on this friendly community’s ocean and bay sides. The main strip through town is Mission Boulevard. At Mission Blvd and West Mission Bay Drive, Historic Belmont Park is an amusement park to delight the teens.
You will find an eclectic mix of people as you tour the community. You will see everything from artsy types to fashionistas in designer sunglasses. A healthy dose of middle-aged professionals keeps things well-rounded.
\Carlsbad-by-the-Sea Day Relaxing Beach Trip
Vacationers traveling to and from San Diego often overlook the lovely seaside community of Carlsbad. With its many beautiful offerings, Carlsbad offers a full day of fun. Attractions include LEGOLAND, Carlsbad Village, the Flower Fields, and one of the most beautiful coastlines in Southern California.
Located in the northern part of San Diego County, Carlsbad is the perfect spot for those looking for a more relaxing beach trip but who want to be close enough to San Diego to enjoy all it offers.
Ocean Beach San Diego: a Day Trip for the Entire Family
The Ocean Beach neighborhood in San Diego is home to a diverse group of residents, ranging from aging hippies to young families, who all take great pride in their community. Locals refer to it as OB, and visiting this area can make for an enjoyable day trip for the entire family.
Walk on the pier, enjoy the world’s best hamburger at Hodad’s, or take your four-legged friend along the dog beach.
Coronado Island Fun Activities
Coronado is more than just a San Diego beach town. The village of Coronado is charming to stroll in as it offers numerous boutiques and dining options. If shopping is one of your favorite activities, you won’t be disappointed with collecting shops on Orange Avenue. Pick up trinkets and apparel, browse the pro shop, or take in an antique shop.
A tour or other attractions might be fun to round out your time in Coronado. You are beginning at the Museum of History and Art among the tours and attractions available in the Heritage Tour.
Rosarito Beach Mexico
The seaside community of Rosarito Beach is roughly 30 miles south of San Diego in Baja, California, Mexico. Interstate 5 provides a scenic thoroughfare to the border, where travelers can continue via Highway 1 for the remainder of the trip.
Rosarito Beach possesses plenty of Old World charm and provides visitors with an escape rich in culture and complete activities. Enjoy world-class surfing, rent a jet ski, and indulge in authentic Baja cuisine.
Good list BUT you forgot about the Craftsmanship Museum in Carlsbad. Miniature models in metal and wood. It’s free.
Hello, you will find the Craftsmanship Museum listed in our article about things to do in Carlsbad.
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