Must-See California Theme Parks & Attractions

San Diego is packed with great things to see and do including these top theme parks and attractions.

SeaWorld San Diego

Spread across 190 acres on beautiful Mission Bay Park, SeaWorld is known for its amazing animals, interactive attractions, aquariums, rides, beautiful landscaping and education programs for all ages.

Enjoy a BBQ Dinner and spectacular fireworks viewing from the McKinney Deck of the 1898 Berkeley, a national and state historic landmark, or the waterfront barge to the rear of the Berkeley.

Maritime Museum of San Diego hosts this annual favorite every year welcoming locals and visitors for a front row seat to the Big Bay Boom. Adult BBQ dinners include pulled pork sandwich, potato salad, chips, and cookie. Child BBQ dinners includes hot dog, potato salad, chips, and cookie. Plant-based vegetarian pulled pork or hot dog options will be available upon request. Additional snacks including cookies or chips may be purchased too. Tickets for the dinner must be purchased online in advance. Seating is first come first serve.

Do you know a scout who wants to more deeply explore the ocean? We invite Scouts BSA youth to enroll and earn their Oceanography Merit Badge through attendance at one of three classes held on three Saturdays at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Classes will run 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturdays, June 15, July 27 and August 10, 2024. Scouts must complete one class to earn their Oceanography Merit Badge. The program gives local scouting youth the opportunity to more deeply explore the ocean that is so integral to the San Diego community. By combining field work, laboratory observation, and scholarly discussion, Oceanography Merit Badge Days at the Maritime Museum of San Diego allow scouts to become fully immersed in the multiple branches of oceanographic research.

Spend the night on the world’s oldest active sailing ship! Come aboard an icon in San Diego docked along downtown San Diego's beautiful waterfront. The Maritime Museum of San Diego is proud to offer this unique opportunity to spend a night aboard the 1863 bark Star of India. Although we will not technically leave the dock, we will be embarking on an imaginary voyage to relive the lives and times of the many emigrant passengers in the Great Age of Sail. Boarding Check-in: 2:00pm Friday. Program ends: 9:00am Saturday.

This is a unique opportunity to spend a night aboard the 1863 bark Star of India. Although we will not technically leave the dock, we will be embarking on an imaginary voyage to relive the lives and times of the many emigrant passengers in the Great Age of Sail. Our Living History programs aboard the Star of India, which primarily serve elementary school classes, have proven to be so popular that we have adapted the format to suit the needs of families in order to let the public participate in this exciting experience. Our instructors will be in character and in costume, teaching various activities such as moving cargo and raising sails. Accommodations are 19th-century style and can be likened to a camping trip. For example, you will be sleeping on the ‘tween decks (below the upper, open deck) in your sleeping bag. No showers on board.