15 unique things you can only do in San Diego

The real question is, what can’t you do in San Diego? The coastal city sits on 70 miles of beachfront along the Pacific Ocean, making a beach day an easy option. Its urban centers thrive with buzzy restaurants—it’s hard to have a bad meal when you’re in town—and, thanks to the city’s many cultural sights, you could fill an entire stay with museum visits. And with abundant wildlife, the natural landscape inspires plenty of hikes and fresh air away from the city lights.

Figuring out how to spend your time can be overwhelming, but that's all the more reason for a repeat visit. Ahead, we highlight the best sights and activities to be enjoyed in San Diego.

This small craggy cove with calm waters is part of a protected marine reserve popular with swimmers, scuba divers, snorkelers, and marine life lovers. The reason? It’s home to sea lions, seals, dolphins, leopard sharks, gray whales, and the area’s famous neon orange Garibaldi fish. Book a spot on La Jolla Cave and Snorkel Tour for an underwater view of one of the city’s most beautiful places.

You’ll find more than 3,400 rare and endangered animals at this world-famous zoo, which was founded more than 100 years ago. The zoo also boasts a safari park and an institute for conservation research, ensuring the zoo’s 650 species and subspecies, as well as its botanical collection of 700,000 plants, continue to thrive for generations.

Wander through the 1,200 acres of idyllic Balboa Park, which—along with the San Diego Zoo—houses a sculpture garden, The San Diego Natural History Museum, and the San Diego Museum of Art, among many other attractions. Architecture lovers will appreciate the Casa del Prado, built between 1915 to 1917 for the Panama-California Exposition in an ornate Spanish Colonial Revival style. Stop in at the Botanical Building to enjoy a wide variety of plants from around the world or hit one of five lush trails to enjoy San Diego’s great outdoors.

The USS Midway Museum houses its namesake, which was christened for the Battle of Midway in 1942. It missed serving in World War II by just a week, but the ship saw plenty of action as the first American carrier to operate in the sub-Arctic during midwinter and was the only ship to launch a captured German V-2 rocket. The ship changed the way modern naval warfare was conducted and visitors can step aboard the flight deck, as well as see 29 restored aircrafts.

The home of civic leader George W. Marston—known as the “father of Balboa Park”—represents the best of Arts & Crafts design and one of the finest examples of the architecture style in the California. With a low and wide open-floor layout and straight sight lines that allow the eye to travel to the outdoors, walking through the Marston House Museum is the only way to appreciate its thoughtful details. The furnishings in the museum also date from the period.

This mile-long beach, known for its gentle currents, is popular with beginners in every water sport, from scuba diving and surfing to stand-up paddleboarding. Fine tune your bottom turns and cutbacks here before heading out to more advanced waters.

This lookout point high above San Diego Bay is home to one of the highest lighthouse in the world. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse was built in 1855 by the U.S. government, however, at 510 feet above sea level it proved too high for ships to see it during foggy weather or low cloud cover. Its role as an active lighthouse was discontinued in 1891, when the government built a lighthouse closer to the shoreline. Old Point Loma Lighthouse now serves as a museum and a beloved landmark, with breathtaking views of the coast.

San Diego is quickly becoming one of America’s best food cities, and its delicious tacos are one of the reasons why—the city is teeming with stands and restaurants. Las Cuatro Milpas has been serving satisfied customers since 1933 and Aqui es Texcoco slings nose-to-tail barbacoa like rib, tripe, giblets, and brain. At taco truck Seafood la 57, tacos, flautas, tostados, quesadillas, and burritos pair well with inventive cocktails. The best way to enjoy the city’s tacos is one after another: Plan an entire afternoon of eating and try to pick your favorite one.

The city’s historic center has more than 75 unique shops hawking vintage books, authentic Native American jewelry, and hand-blown glass by local artists, among other wares. Visit Bazaar del Mundo for original folk art and Mexican-inspired home décor and Fiesta de Reyes for souvenirs and hot sauce.

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean at 822 feet above sea level, this monument honors veterans with 11 walls of black granite plaques etched with pictures and stories of American soldiers. It is the only memorial in the country that pays tribute to both deceased and living veterans.

The city is a treasure trove of natural beauty, which is best enjoyed by hiking along its trails and taking in the beautiful views. The Sunset Cliffs Natural Park overlooks the Pacific Ocean at every turn, while 2,000 acres of coastal and green landscapes can be explored at the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Don’t miss the 6.5 miles of trails at the Tecolote Canyon Natural Park & Nature Center, which cut through the verdant coastal valley.

Usually called the Coronado Bridge, the structure is known for its unique design featuring an 80-degree curve designed by Robert Mosher. The bridge connects San Diego to Coronado along a 2.1-mile stretch overlooking the skylines and shorelines of both cities.

The Brutalist masterpiece is the architectural piece de resistance of the University of California, San Diego. While non-students can’t check out books, the library is open to visitors for tours of its Futurist-styled halls, which are reached via the Snake Path—artist Alexis Smith’s 560-foot-long slate path that sinuously connects the building to the rest of the campus. The library is named for Theodore Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), whose work—including 8,500 drawings, notebooks, drafts, books, and memorabilia—makes up the on-site Dr. Seuss Collection.

Photographer Alfred Eisenstaed’s iconic picture of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square during V-Day celebrations after World War II was commemorated in stone outside the USS Midway Museum. Sculptor Seward Johnson’s artistic representation of the image, called Unconditional Surrender, is now a popular spot for couples to recreate the famed scene with a kiss of their own.

Dating back to 1769 and first built by a Spanish friar when the area was under Spanish control, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá is a National Historic Landmark. The current church was built in the 19th century and is the fourth reconstructed church to stand on the mission’s grounds. Take a self-guided tour to learn its fascinating history, which includes the first Christian burial in Alta California.