San Diego is one of my favorite places in the whole world.  It is 1000% worth a visit. I know that sounds extreme, and it’s true, I do have a lot of favorites…but there is something about the ☀️warm, sunny, beachy vibe there that really floats my boat.

San Diego really does have something for everyone – from the big name attractions like San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and LegoLand, to smaller, more intimate things like just walking along the beach in the sunset, or renting a kayak to take out on the ocean.  

The weather is beautiful almost all year round.  One of the most gorgeous times to visit San Diego is in February.  In February, my hometown is a frozen wasteland 🥶,  meanwhile San Diego is a glorious 70 degrees and sunny.  The flowers will be blooming, and the breeze will come in off the ocean like a kiss.  Ahhh.  Truly, it’s paradise. 

And while I can’t afford to actually live there, it does happen to be one of the most affordable places to fly from my home airport. 😉 And since it’s a quick and cheap flight, I like to go there for a random weekend once in a while.

There really are so many things to do, this list doesn’t even scratch the surface!  Without further ado, here are 5 fun things to do in San Diego in a weekend:

1. Coronado Island

Head to the Coronado Ferry on 5th Ave, behind the San Diego Convention Center, and catch a ferry to Coronado.  The trip costs $9 for adults each way and runs every half hour from 9:10 am to 9:55 pm, except for Friday and Saturday when it runs until 10:55 pm.  It is a fun and relaxing way to get to Coronado Island.  Or take an Uber over the Coronado Bay Bridge to Coronado Island and have it drop you off at Hotel Del Coronado. 

Hotel Del Coronado

Hotel Del is the centerpiece of Coronado Island and was built in 1888.  It has been a movie set, a host for presidents and celebrities, and is even haunted by a ghost named Kate Morgan who lives in room 302. There are several shops and restaurants inside, so wander around there for a bit, then head out to the beach 🏖️. 

The beach on Coronado Island stretches on and on.  Its soft white sand,  iconic lifeguard shacks, and big waves are what made California beaches so famous. Sadly, the water is quite polluted, so swim at your own risk. Even though the water is in rough shape, beach is still lovely for some meandering.  There are plenty of food trucks as well if you find yourself a little hungry from your explorations. 

Downtown Coronado 

After you have wandered the beach, head into town.  The historic town of Coronado is so quaint and darling. You will definitely want to spend at least a few hours exploring the shops and neighborhoods on the island.  

Don’t you just love taking an after-dinner walk through different neighborhoods in places you stay as if you were a local?  Or is that just me?…

It’s so fun to see the different regional building styles, the flowers and trees people have in their yards, and the colors they paint their front doors. I come from a relatively new town..(well the town is old, but it boomed in the 90’s and a lot of the homes are from the 90’s or newer), so it is one of my favorite things to go to towns with a lot of historic buildings and great history.  

The homes on Coronado Island do not disappoint, they are full of charm and character. It really checks all my boxes as a tourist!   

Try ice cream🍦at MooTime Creamery, then pick up a t- shirt at URT URT! Shop, a store that celebrates the two military bases on Coronado Island.  Or pick up a gift for your pet-sitter at Seaside Papery.

2. Gaslamp Quarter

One of the best things to do in San Diego is to visit the Gaslamp Quarter. It is San Diego’s historic district.  It is beautifully walkable, has soooo many restaurants, gift shops, and art galleries.  And is close to bunches of fun things to do.  

You can catch a Padres game at Petco Park, the Maritime Museum of San Diego, or catch the ferry over to Coronado. Once it gets later, the party is on in the Gaslamp.  The traffic closes on 5th Avenue every day from 12 pm to 2 am for pedestrians. So grab a table outside at your favorite restaurant and spend some quality time people-watching. 

For breakfast, try the Gaslamp Breakfast Company, for lunch or dinner, try La Puerta (for more about the best tacos in San Diego, also check out this post).

3. La Jolla Village

La Jolla Village is the downtown of the neighborhood of La Jolla.  It has lots of cute little (and big) shops and restaurants. The vibe is laid back, but upscale. It’s kind of a bougie area, but I LOVE it! Side note: La Jolla has the most expensive real estate in San Diego🤑. 

 Try historic Brockton Villa for breakfast, Puesto for AMAZING tacos 🌮, and then find your next beach read at the legendary Warwick’s bookstore on Girard Ave.  

Another fun find in La Jolla is Taba Rug Gallery (if you’re a weirdo like me who loves antiques, rugs, and interiors).  It’s been there for over 40 years, and it’s kind of a treasure hunt.  There are STACKS of rugs inside and you could probably spend hours sorting through them.  He stocks new and antique rugs, and while he doesn’t really have a way to shop online, he will ship if you find something that you can’t live without.

4. La Jolla Coast Walk Trail

After you’re done wandering around La Jolla Cove visiting the seals and sea lions, you will head over to Cave St.  Just past The Cave Store is the trailhead to the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail that will take you from La Jolla Cove to La Jolla Shores. 

It’s a comfortable, meandering trail right along the cliffs above the ocean. It’s not too strenuous, but the scenery is gorgeous 🌺. You could walk it in your Tevas for sure.  Once you get to La Jolla shores, stroll the beach for a while, then grab some lunch at one of the restaurants and book a kayak tour with La Jolla Kayak.  It’s a chill way to spend part of your day in San Diego. 

5. Seaport Village

Seaport Village is an adorable little shopping center that is right on the water by the San Diego Bay in downtown San Diego.  It includes an eclectic array of surf shops, touristy t-shirt shops, toy shops, restaurants, and jewelry shops.  I love to spend time just wandering and window shopping 🛍️.  

Grab a late lunch at a table on the upper deck at Malibu Farm and finish out your San Diego vacation taking in the view while sipping your Diet Coke in the fresh salty air. 

Have you been to San Diego?  Tell me all your faves in the comments! 

xoxo, 

Morgz

Looking for the perfect things to take to the beach? Check out my post here.

ps – my favorite place to stay in San Diego is the Bayfront Hilton. It has a free shuttle to Coronado Island, the MOST GORGEOUS views of the bay, and a couple of great restaurants if you need a bite to eat.  

The pool and hot tub are beautiful and usually surprisingly  quiet.  I’ve stayed there 3 times and I have never seen it get too crowded. 

If you stay there, it is an easy walk across the street to the Gaslamp Quarter or up the boardwalk to Seaport Village. There is a pedestrian bridge from the Hilton across the street to the Gaslamp Quarter, but I have found it is easier to just walk over to the Convention Center and cross the road there.