Now that the kids have had their summer vacation full of oversleeping, hitting the beaches, and running around, it’s time for the parents to get a little bit of their own rest and relaxation. If you’re looking to wind down from a summer full of non-stop action, consider some of these fun late-summer vacation ideas to cap off your summer with some personal TLC.

Five Beaches in Five Days

If you’ve hit the end of the summer and still haven’t gotten the chance between park rides and water slides to do some sunbathing, taking a sandy tour of San Diego’s beaches may be just what you need to recapture a healthy glow.

Coronado Beach

Every beach in the San Diego area brings something different to the experience. Coronado beach offers sands that glisten with gold flecks and a breeze that flows off the ocean to slowly reawaken your inner calm. Sunbathe outside of the Coronado Hotel Del and stop in for a light lunch at one of their award-winning restaurants. Parents can bring back a little bit of romance here at the Travel Channel’s number-one wedding destination in America.

Mission Beach

Stroll the boardwalk and pinpoint a lifeguard tower to laze by on the sandy shores of Mission Beach. You can grab a seat at a local taco shop or rent a couple beach cruisers to leisurely bike along Mission Beach Boulevard.

La Jolla Beaches

La Jolla beaches run the gamut of experiences, so choose one that suits your fancy. Here you can admire local wildlife by watching the seals play, explore the mysterious cave, sprawl on the sand or walk around the bustling parks, restaurants, and shops.

Ocean Beach

Watch the dogs gallivant at Dog Beach and lay out on the other side of the walkway to see surfers in action as you soak up the sun. Grab some light fare on Newport Avenue and take the speed of life down to a slow swagger with the rest of Ocean Beach’s laid-back patrons.

Wind down in Wine Country

If you’re looking for a little bit of spirit, take a few days and head up to the irresistible charm of Temecula’s wine country. Just an hour north of San Diego, you can celebrate California Wine Month in September in Temecula Valley’s 35,000 acres of hills and vineyards. Grab a taste of some of the area’s best wines with one of the area’s popular wine tours. With more than 30 wineries to visit, this area offers days of fun and relaxation to pamper parents after a long summer of bustling activity.

To enhance your experience, San Diego offers many limousine-driven day tours from San Diego, with additional offerings such as a romantic hot air balloon ride or horseback riding adventures through the vineyards to top off your experience.

Take a Cultural Tour

San Diego is a veritable hotspot for culture, allowing you to relax your body and feast your brain in some of the area’s intriguing museums and historical regions.

Balboa Park Museums

Spend some time walking though the fascinating exhibitions at beautiful Balboa Park. The Natural History Museum celebrates biodiversity and hosts several traveling exhibitions each year. The Centro Cultural de la Raza is a multidisciplinary cultural arts center focused on creating, promoting, preserving, and educating about Chicano, Mexican, Indigenous, and Latino culture. You can also take a stroll around the Mingei International Museum to see featured folk art from around the world.

Old Town

Spend a day on an excursion into Old Town, the birthplace of San Diego. See how the Mexican history and American settlement merged and experience the unique convergence of this area. Restored historic buildings host quaint shops and gathering places. Pick up a few Mexican tiles or sit under lush trellises and ponder the yesteryear.

If you care to get spooked you can hop over to the Whaley House. This is a historic house museum that is fabled to be haunted, and is of Southern California’s most popular visitor destinations.

Whether you have just a couple days to get away or an entire week to dedicate to your rest and relaxation in Sunny San Diego, picking up some sun, some rich ocean air, and some history may be just what you need to wrap your summer and start the school year refreshed and renewed.

San Diego is a city full of some of the healthiest people in California. With the mild temperatures and beaches full of volleyball nets, skim boards and surfboards, it’s no wonder San Diego has a great culinary niche tailored towards vegans and vegetarians.

Farmer’s markets in San Diego are on every corner, making fresh produce as common as pizza in Chicago or coffee in Seattle. Many restaurateurs have ridden their specialized vegan and vegetarian menus to success, and their establishments come equipped with rave reviews and devoted patrons.

If you’re in San Diego seeking to cater to a vegetarian or vegan diet, try one of these popular city venues:

Stephanie’s Bakery

Stephanie’s Bakery is a small vegan bakery offering organic coffee, vegan baked goods and light lunch food. Find cakes, pizza and burritos at this little gem near Sea World. Stephanie’s also creates custom wedding cakes and gluten-free brownies.

Evolution Fast Food

Situated near Balboa Park, this restaurant gives a whole new meaning to fast food. With both dine-in and drive-thru service, Evolution Fast Food offers a healthy alternative to those on the run. Evolution serves vegan burgers, French fries, shakes, smoothies, pizza, and more. Evolution even offers raw specialties such as burgers, tacos and stuffed veggies.

Jyoti-Bihanga

This vegetarian café is located in Normal Heights and has been operated by students of Sri Chinmoy since 1986. Sri Chinmoy was a spiritual leader who devoted his life to the pursuit of harmony and oneness between people and different cultures. This restaurant features salads, sandwiches, and their best seller: a twist on conventional meatloaf that they cleverly dub “neatloaf”.

Loving Hut

This El Cajon Boulevard restaurant is part of an international chain of vegan restaurants opened by followers of Supreme Master Ching Hai, an advocate for vegetarian living. The Loving Hut features an Asian-inspired menu and is currently the fastest growing international vegan fast food chain in the world.

Peace Pies

Located in Ocean Beach, Peace Pies provides raw, vegan, and gluten-free items using ingredients from local farmers. With smoothies, salads, pizza, wraps and an impressive dessert menu, you can nestle up and bite into a piece of coconut banana berry pie.

Sipz

Sipz offers casual dining with ample room for larger groups. Sipz cuisine includes Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, and Italian dishes, most of them vegan (including all of their desserts). All of their meals are served in a bowl for easy pricing, and come with a side of steamed rice. Sipz also adds vegetarian sushi to the menu after 5 p.m.

Veg ‘N Out

This is another very popular restaurant for vegetarians in San Diego. Veg ‘N Out is a vegetarian/vegan café in North Park with a menu specializing in veggie burgers and dogs, sandwiches, smoothies, and desserts, among other fare. Locally owned and operated, Veg ‘N Out uses unrefined sugar, olive oil, sea salt, and other natural ingredients in their creations.

Ocean Beach People’s Organic Foods Co-op

More than an organic grocery store, the People’s Co-op is a member-owned vegetarian consumer co-op offering a wide variety of vegan and vegetarian foods. The second level of this store features a full-service sit-down deli and bakery with home-style and gourmet dishes made fresh daily. Stop by on the way to work for a bakery bite or take in a hearty vegetarian dinner such as stroganoff or enchiladas.

Spread

If you’re searching for a more upscale dining experience, try out spread’s eclectic menu created with locally grown, organic ingredients. Spread scours the local farmers’ markets for the best ingredients San Diego has to offer. With menu items such as hibiscus blossom mole, spread specializes in incorporating the rarest fruits, vegetables, and edible flowers into their dishes.

With the plethora of fresh exotic fruits, crisp produce, and health-conscious communities in San Diego, vegetarian and vegan restaurants are popular venues in the city, pulling in residents and out-of-towners alike. With high demand, just about every neighborhood has a restaurant dedicated to vegetarian or vegan cuisine. Take your appetite through a drive-thru at Evolution Fast Food, shop for organics at the People’s Co-op, or add flower power to your plate at Spread. You’ll find that each restaurant provides its own little twist for San Diego’s vegetarians and vegans.

There’s something to be said for the electricity of the fans in the stadium. All the gizmos and gadgets of the new age still can’t recreate the echoing cheers of your team scoring and a high-five from the guy in a neighboring seat. Unfortunately, ticket prices these days can climb higher than the nosebleed section, regardless of your love for the game. Luckily, San Diego has a sky-high level of team spirit that is shared throughout the area.

Although a ticket in the stands may be out of the question, a good time with fellow fans is fairly easy to come by in the city of sun. If you’re looking for some of the best bars in which to grab a seat and watch the game in good company, check out one of these fan favorites:

• Near the stadium, Seaus of San Diego is one of the best sports bar to grab some grub and watch football on the big screen. Sporting 60 TVs and an enormous projection screen, this sports bar makes it known they’re here to play.

• Located on Mission Gorge Road in Mission Valley, JT’s Pub & Grill is well-known for its pro-Charger patrons. Sporting a relatively dive-y atmosphere, there’s no question you’ve come to the right place to revel in a good Chargers game. With a big game crowd, JT’s is the place to grab a cheap brew and some good food for viewing a Sunday game.

• If you’re in the Point Loma neighborhood, swing over to Oggi’s Pizza and brewing for a good game, exceptionally crafted brews, and a big slice of pizza pie. Oggi’s is a sports themed pizzeria with many televisions and crafted brews to choose from.

• The High Dive touts one of the best burgers in San Diego and is recommended by many locals as “the place” to watch the game. With fare like the gorgonzola bacon burger, it’s a great place to cheer up the Chargers and chow down on great grub.

• Hooters is also a sports fan favorite. With their hot wings and big screens, you can count on the consistent service and atmosphere that Hooters provides. Hooter has locations all over San Diego, including: Mission Valley, the Gaslamp District, and Rancho Bernado.

• If you’re looking for some sand to back up your game, duck into the Sand Bar sports grill in Mission Beach for a double-decker bar featuring a young and passionate group of fans. The Sand Bar is just a step from the Mission Beach boardwalk and offers drink specials during every game.

• If you want to celebrate with the post-game crowd, McGregor’s Grill & Ale House makes its mark as an after-game hotspot, pulling in a line of Chargers fans that routinely trail out the door.
• Players sports bar in Kearny Mesa is wholeheartedly dedicated to the sports fan. With 600 square feet of screens and 50 satellites, you can find the game on in any direction you face.

• Check out the Press Box sports lounge in El Cajon if you’re on the Eastern outskirts of the city hub to get classic bar fare and get to know the neighborhood’s patrons.

• If you’re downtown, check out the Gaslamp Tavern and revel in game glory with 12 flat screens, all the sports packages, open-air patios, and a full service bar.

• Another stadium neighbor is the Randy Jones All American Sports Bar. This bar features 22 big screen televisions, a full bar, an all-American menu, pool tables and a 14-foot high-definition projection screen.

Although this list pinpoints some of the more well- known bars for watching the Chargers play, San Diego is overflowing with the football spirit, and just about any television you encounter will be showing the game. With ticket prices ever-climbing and personal finances still harassed by a harsh economy, sometimes rallying for the real deal just isn’t in the cards. But many San Diego establishments pride themselves on their fanfare, and this enthusiasm can be felt in the myriad of San Diego restaurants ready to help you to cheer and chug just like you would in the stands.

The San Diego County Fair is almost here! Every San Diegan looks forward to it each summer and travelers from all over the U.S. come to visit to soak up the sun and have some fun at the fair. You can’t pinpoint just one reason why the fair is so great because there are so many different aspects that are fun for different types of people. You can come for the adventure, art, cuisine, shows, or just to browse and people watch while enjoying the perfect San Diego weather and smell of the Pacific Ocean right next door.

There is no limit on fun activities at the SD County Fair. The daily concerts from both famous and local artists are a huge hit and bring out the crowds, but that’s not the only thing that does. Thousands visit for the farm animal showcase and auction, the arts and crafts, the shopping, the carnival thrill rides, and even the crazy food (most of which is fried and delicious). There are all types of special events from car shows to an International Beer Festival where brewers from all over the world showcase their finest wares. The photography, flower & garden show, and design in wood show are a few of the must see contests scheduled this year.

The theme of this year’s SD County Fair is “Race to the Fair” and promises to have some amazing events for the car fanatic. The car culture in Southern California will be highlighted at the fair with multiple exhibits, demonstrations, and contests. The best of the best woodies, muscle cars, and hot rods will be on display. If you want a little more action, the Chevrolet Del Mar Arena has monster trucks, beach buggies, dirt bikes, demolition derby, and even antique car races lined up for this year’s fair.

All of the excitement aside, there is one attraction that every single visitor loves to either try or imagine trying, the wild and crazy fair food. Kids will cringe when they hear about fried frog legs, but they might love to try the famous fried Oreos or Twinkies. There are items available you didn’t even know were possible to deep fry (Kool-Aid?) and then some things you never imagined being served because it seems that it could instantly induce a heart attack! There are also some healthy options, great desserts (some of which are fried), and plenty to drink at the fair. The trick to trying as much as the crazy fair food as you can is by visiting on a $2 Tuesday where each booth will be offering a sample of their food for $2. Even then, you won’t be able to make it through the entire list of delicious, or in some people’s minds outrageous, SD Fair cuisine. Here is an almost complete list of what you can expect at the fair this year which starts Friday, June 10^th:

Chicken Charlie’s

• Fried BBQ Ribs
• Deep Fried Brownie
• Deep Fried Girl Scout Cookies
• Deep Fried Kool-Aid
• Deep Fried Twinkie
• Deep Fried Frog Legs
• Deep Fried Oreos
• Krispy Kreme Chicken Sandwich
• Zucchini Weenie
• Pickle Corn Dog
• Deep Fried PB&J

Del Mar Diner

• Cornucopia (deep fried corn on the cob)
• Hash Dog (hash brown corn dog)
• Sweet Dog (sweet potato corn dog)
• Deep Fried Bread Pudding
• Deep Fried Green Beans

Deep Fried Butter Stand (Previously known as Heart Attack Café)

• Deep Fried Pigs in a Blanket
• Chocolate Covered Corn Dog
• Chocolate Covered Bacon (also deep fried)
• Chocolate Dipped Bacon Wrapped Oreo

Mexican Funnel Cake Stand

• Deep Fried Baby Ruth filled with  Jalapeños
• Giant Funnel Cake (free if you finish it)

Juicy’s

• Deep Fried Jerky
• BBQ Spaghetti

Funnel Cake Express

• Deep Fried Candy Kabob

Healthier Fair

• Calamari Stand: Blue Mussels
• Pat’s Pizza on the Concourse: Oven Baked Sandwiches

Pink’s

• Rosie O’Donnell Dog
• Martha Stewart Dog

Everything Cheese (Kid friendly)

• Kid size pizza
• Mac and cheese cups
• Deep fried cheese curds
• Mozzarella sticks
• Grilled cheese sandwiches

Other Fair Favorites

• Australian Battered Fried Potatoes
• Tasty Chips
• Funnel Cake (all types available)
• Totally Fried Avocados
• Deep Fried Klondike Bar
• Deep Fried S’Mores
• Deep Fried Pop Tart with Strawberries
• Deep Fried Mexican Ice Cream
• Chocolate Dipped Pickles
• Four Pound Belly Buster Burger
• Giant Pretzels
• Cheese on a Stick

San Diego is home to some of the West Coast’s biggest and best casinos. The political borders of the Indian reservations have led to major development of Indian reservation casinos that can offer the full Vegas experience without the hefty drive and hotel bills you expect from Sin City. Some of the larger casinos like Barona, Pechanga, Pala, and Harrah’s can give you the same experience you would find at a glitzy casino on the strip. Before you and your friends head out for a fun night of gambling, brush up on your strategies and review these tips to increase your chances of walking out a winner.

Casino Tips

Slots vs. Video Poker: If you are planning a trip out to a casino but aren’t willing to test your poker face at the tables, you basically have two options; slot machines or video poker. While slots seem like a lot of fun sometimes, you don’t really have a lot of control over the outcome. Video poker on the other hand plays the same 52 card deck you know well and some basic odds can be calculated in your head. Your chances are higher at the video poker machine as long as you know what cards to hold and throw back.

Odds of Royal Flush: Everyone dreams of hitting it big with the royal flush showing up, but you have a 1 and 40,000 chance of actually pulling all 5 of the cards needed to make the royal. Those are some pretty bad odds, so don’t bet all your life saving expecting a royal flush.

Counting Cards: Hollywood has made card counting look easy and viable for even just an average Joe, but it’s not. Not only is card counting illegal in California, the casino will do everything possible to make it extremely difficult for you to keep track of the count. You are better off learning the odds and knowing when to hit, stay, and fold.

Doubling Down: If you have never doubled down in Black Jack before, you will soon realize how much fun it can be. The best time to double down is when you have two cards totaling 10 or 11 and the dealer is showing a “bust” card such as 3, 4, 5, or 6. The idea is that the dealer is likely to bust and when you receive your third card you are likely to pull a face card and strengthen your hand without any chance of busting. If there are several players, check their showing cards to make sure they didn’t take all the face cards because that will reduce your odds of winning the hand against the dealer.

Free Drinks: Even if the casino you are visiting still offers complimentary cocktails, it doesn’t mean you should capitalize on gallons of them. While the unlimited drinks seems enticing and can be a lot of fun, it is a good way to decrease your winning odds (not to mention it could also prevent you from being able to drive home). Even if you are staying at the hotel, the dealer always loves when you take the free drinks. Have some fun and enjoy; but remember, you want a sharp mind to win.

Personal Limits: Go into the casino knowing what you are willing to spend for the night and when you will force yourself to get up and leave the table. You should be comfortable losing all of the money you go in with, because there is a chance that you will. But, you also need to set an upper limit for when you are winning. You wouldn’t want to win big, bet it all again, and walk out with nothing, right? Pick a magic number so you can get out while you are up and have some fun the rest of the night.

Here are the casinos located in San Diego, California:

• Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino (Lakeside)
• Casino Pauma (Pauma Valley)
• Golden Acorn Casino (Campo)
• Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort (Valley Center)
• La Jolla Slot Arcade (Pauma Valley)
• La Posta Casino (Boulevard)
• Ocean’s 11 Casino (Oceanside)
• Pala Casino Resort & Spa (Pala)
• Pechanga Resort & Casino (Temecula)
• Santa Ysabel Resort and Casino (Santa Ysabel)
• Sycuan Resort & Casino (El Cajon)
• Valley View Casino (Valley Center)
• Viejas Casino (Alpine)

What better way to enjoy the glorious San Diego sunshine than by getting together with a few thousand other beach goers and playing a lazy mans version of softball, all while drinking some cold beers with your free hand? There is nothing quite like the Over the Line (OTL) annual tournament held in San Diego.

What all started out as a friendly game of beach softball back in the 1950s turned into San Diego’s largest annual beach party focused more around the booze, bikinis, and creative team names than the actual game itself. The sport itself has grown in popularity over the years and is played on beaches all around the world now; but the official tournament is right in the backyard of America’s finest city… San Diego. Whether you are a sports fanatic and are dying to win that trophy or just looking for a fun time under the San Diego sunshine, OTL is a great event for everyone (well not really for the faint of heart or children).

What is OTL: The sport slightly resembles softball but is actually quite different. There are 3 players per team and no running of bases is involved. The goal is to hit a slow pitched softball (by your own teammate) over one of the “lines” that designate whether or not it is a base hit or home run (hit past the last defender in fair territory). There are foul lines and the other team is waiting in the fair play area trying to catch the balls. Visit the official OMBAC site for the official OTL rules.

When is OTL: The tournament is so big that it needs to be spread out over two weekends. This year the event will take place on July 10-11 and July 17-18 but you can count on the tournament being held every single July.

How to get there: While the event used to take place on Mission Beach, it grew too big and had to be moved to Fiesta Island where the crowd could be a little more controlled.  You can drive onto the island until the parking is completely full then the city will shut the gates and everyone else will have to be shuttled over. You need to show up extremely early to grab a good parking spot.

Entering the tournament: 1,200 teams enter the tournament each year and they are separated into divisions by age and gender. Ages range from 18-80 and most players take the game seriously. To enter a team, you must either show up at the official “sign-up” event usually held one day in May. If you are not a local, there is a period of time where you can submit an application. The event fills up quickly so if you want to play you must plan far in advance.

Drinking at the tournament: The event is free, so all you have to worry about is getting to the event and bringing or buying beer (unless you’re playing, of course). You can only drink in the designated OTL area and if you try leaving the premises with alcohol, you will be ticketed.

What to bring: This depends on if you’re a planning an entire day of partying, or just want to see the event for a few hours. Most people spend all day there and show up with enough essentials to get them through the day, plus a few extra items to join in the party.

• Ice chest: A large ice chest full of cold beer is a must. Just bring light beer as it will be hot. Bring extra; you are likely to share.
• Sunscreen: It feels like you are baking in a desert so bring plenty of sunscreen, especially if you don’t see much sun on a regular basis.
• Food: You can eat at some great food stands at the event but you will want some good snacks that you can have at your base camp.
• Umbrella: Sunscreen won’t be enough if you are spending all day there so bring a canopy or large umbrella where you can escape from the sun from time to time.

What to expect: Beer, bats, and music on the beach are the general themes of what you should expect and although the event is becoming tamer every year, it still is a bit on the wild side. Almost every team name is risqué, there’s generally at least some nudity (not as much as years passed), and you would be hard pressed to find someone at the event who hasn’t had one or two cold ones. Luckily, San Diegans and their visitors are very laid back and friendly, giving the party a mellow vibe without the rowdiness that you might expect with large groups of people. The event is definitely not kid friendly and if you want to bring your children, do so at your own risk!

Visitors come to San Diego to experience the laid back beach lifestyle full of fish tacos, sunshine, and sandy beaches. What they don’t realize is that everyone here participates in at least one water sport, and there are plenty to choose from. From surfing a wave and hoping to catch a barrel to being pulled behind a boat in the bays, there are plenty of water sports in San Diego for you to try.

1. Surfing: San Diego is practically synonymous with surfing and vice versa. You can’t visit Southern California without heading to the beach and either watching people shred the waves or even trying it yourself. If you are a rookie, there is literally a surf school every mile on the famous highway 101 that would love to help you stand up on your first wave. You might not look like Kelly Slater on your first day out, but being able to stand up and surf one of nature’s greatest gifts to man is an amazing experience that all visitors should try.
2. Kayaking: If face planting on a surf board is not your cup of tea, hop onto a one or two man kayak and paddle your way around beautiful sites like La Jolla Shores and Mission Bay. On most days you will be able to stare straight down at leopard sharks swimming and playing beneath you. Don’t worry, leopard sharks are friendly and love to hang out with kayakers and surfers in shallow waters. There are a handful of fun tour companies that will guide you through the seven different caves in La Jolla or take you out and about around Mission Bay.
3. Sailing: You do not need to own a sailboat to go out and have a good time on one. Several places will rent you a sailboat for a very reasonable price of around $30 per hour. If you do not feel comfortable just jumping on your own chartered boat and heading out for a day, most of the charter services have sailing instruction courses as well. You can learn to sail and be out on the water cruising San Diego’s coastline in no time.
4. Sportfishing: Deep sea fishing is one of the most popular water sports in San Diego. It is fun for the entire family and can be extremely rewarding depending on what your catch of the day is. There is nothing quite like catching a yellowfin tuna or dorado during the day and preparing it for dinner that night. If you have never been out on the deep sea before, take some Dramamine pills as a precaution so you don’t spoil everyone’s trip with an upset stomach. You can charter boats from multiple harbors along the coast including Point Loma and H&M Landing that will take you out for anything from a half day trip to a 20 day international excursion.
5. Wakeboarding: If sports out in the ocean are not your thing you can stay in the bays and lakes and try your hand at wakeboarding. If you have never seen or been wakeboarding, it is like surfing but you are being pulled behind a boat and your waves are the small wakes the boat creates. There are straps on the board and once you learn the basics you will see how much fun it is to jump over the wakes. You can try out wakeboarding at Mission Bay, the Carlsbad Lagoon, El Capitan, or the Colorado River.
6. Kitesurfing: Also known as kiteboarding, it is like wakeboarding but instead of being pulled behind a boat you hold onto a large kite that uses the wind to steer. This is a very difficult and advanced sport so be prepared for a lot of practice and preparation before you ever get to take your first shot at it on the ocean. Enchanted Cove, Sail Bay, Silver Strand State Beach, and Tourmaline are all spots where you can try kitesurfing.
7. Windsurfing: Windsurfing is a mix between surfing and sailing. Literally, a sail is put on a surfboard and the rider can perform tricks a sailboat never could. Windsurfers are famous for being the first to ride the largest waves in the world because they have more speed and control. Like kitesurfing, the learning curve is steep and beginners will struggle for a while before they can mimic what they see in the magazines.
8. Jet Skiing: Renting jet skis and heading out to the ocean or speeding around the bays and lagoons is always a blast. You can rent two-, three-, or four-seated skis and feel the rush of going full throttle across the water. Anyone can ride a jet ski and have a fun time on it by simply going the speed they feel comfortable with. For the more extreme riders, head out just in front of the waves and catch some big air off the swell.

Travelers planning a fun-filled weekend in San Diego will naturally want to make the experience as memorable as possible. Thankfully, there are plenty of activities to appeal to a wide variety of tastes and interests based on personal budgets. Whether you are drawn to the beauty of the area or the excitement available downtown, you are sure to find a fitting way to spend your leisure time. Some of the following options will help make your trip to one of Southern California’s most popular destinations entertaining and filled with fun.

San Diego Zoo

One of the most popular destinations in San Diego is naturally the San Diego Zoo, which remains one of the best zoos in the world. This facility features thousands of animals on display, with some of the most popular areas being the Panda Canyon and the Elephant Odyssey. A wide range of species form all climates are represented, ranging from the rainforest to the arctic tundra. The zoo also serves as a botanical garden with thousands of plant species on display. Different programs are available throughout the year, depending on the season, to educate and fascinate visitors.

Belmont Park

Located where the sand meets the surf in beautiful Mission Beach, Belmont Park is San Diego’s only beachfront amusement park and entertainment center offering free parking and free park admission. Sure to please everyone in your group, the park offers a wide variety of entertainment from arcade games to theme park rides. Not only does Belmont Park offer a great selection of rides, the park also offers several great dining options in San Diego such as the Sandbar and the Wavehouse.

Balboa Park

Another exceptional experience in the region is Balboa Park, which offers 15 museums, eight gardens, and an award-winning theater. The San Diego Aerospace Museum offers more than 65 aircraft and spacecraft from around the world, while the San Diego Museum of Man offers artifacts, as well as archeological finds that detail the history of humanity. A glimpse into Mexican and Chicano culture, with murals and an expansive art gallery, can be found at the Centro Cultural de la Raza. More than 100 hands-on science exhibits and a motion-based simulation theater are offered through the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. The Model Railroad Museum is the largest of its kind in the world, offering arts, crafts and a train for children to ride in.

Sea World

Those traveling to San Diego with their families may be especially interested in the city’s Sea World location. The park offers thrill rides such as Journey to Atlantis, a water-themed rollercoaster ride and Shipwreck Rapids, a white-water attraction with an adventure theme. The park also features many sea life shows, such as the Shamu Show and a live sea lions show. The Blue Horizons Show is complete with acrobats, pilot whales and dolphins. Aquariums offer the chance to view many different species of animals, along with the Shark Encounter and the Penguin Encounter. Fireworks shows are offered daily in the summer, with further themed events for Halloween and Christmas.

Old Town

No trip to the San Diego area will be complete without spending some time in Old Town San Diego, which is commonly known as the birthplace of California due to being home of the first European settlement there. The Old Town San Diego Historic Park offers sights such as the state’s first schoolhouse and a blacksmith shop, among shops that offer Mexican pottery, as well as crafts. There are many fine dining restaurant options available in the Old Town area, especially when it comes to Mexican food. The Old Town San Diego Market offers more shopping, as well as a reconstructed 19th century adobe house. Also present are the Whaley House, reportedly one of the most haunted locations in the state and the Junipero Serra Museum, which features artifacts from the settlement of California’s Spanish mission.

Coronado Island

Another popular location of interest is Coronado Island, which features the well-known, historic Hotel Del Coronado, a Victorian-style location on the beach where many famous patrons have stayed. At the Coronado Island Tidelands Park and Ferry Landing Marketplace, there are numerous shops, restaurants and art galleries available for entertainment. Visitors can witness a beautiful sunset at Coronado Beach or even take a gondola cruise through the canals of the region. Miles of coastal bike paths are also available for those looking for an active and refreshing excursion.

La Jolla

La Jolla offers beautiful scenery and some of the best beaches in California. Opportunity abounds for ocean lovers to take part in kayaking, surfing and scuba diving. The area has some of the best rated restaurants in San Diego, as well as the La Jolla Playhouse, which is a great destination for theater lovers. Other sites of interest include the Birch Aquarium, complete with oceanography exhibits and hands-on encounters with local tide pool life. The La Jolla Festival of the Arts, considered one of the finest in the state, is held in late June and free concerts are held by the sea on Sundays during the summer.

Seaport Village

For a unique shopping and dining experience, Seaport Village will not disappoint.  Located on the San Diego waterfront, unique shops offer everything from souvenirs to art work. Free weekend concerts are regularly scheduled to entertain visitors.  In addition, a children’s carousel and video arcade offer a welcome diversion for families, as well as taking leisurely walks along the scenic walkways.

Gaslamp Quarter

Home to multiple historical buildings from the Victorian era, this thriving downtown area boasts multiple entertainment venues. Fine restaurants, specialty shops and nightclubs abound. The bustling district is conveniently located near the San Diego Convention Center, Sea Port Village, Horton Plaza and Petco Park, the San Diego Padres baseball stadium.