San Diego’s Must See Spots Stunning Views & Fun Activities - Attractions
San Diego’s Must See Spots Stunning Views & Fun Activities - Attractions
Transcript
00:00Today we're going to see some of the most beautiful places that you can visit in San Diego.
00:04Welcome to Voyager. My name is Armando. Let's get started. Today we'll visit everything from
00:08the beaches and parks to historic sites and attractions. We'll start in the heart of La Jolla
00:14then we'll see the must-visit places in Coronado, Balboa Park, Point Loma, Pacific Beach, Old Town,
00:21and much more. We'll stop by some of the local favorite destinations and we'll visit some sites
00:26many tourists miss. We'll talk about what you can do here, including shopping, dining, and
00:31entertainment, and explore popular tourist destinations as well as local favorites.
00:37San Diego welcomes close to 30 million visitors per year, putting it in the top 10 most visited
00:42cities in the United States. Join us as we journey through the scenic beauty, vibrant culture,
00:48iconic landmarks that make San Diego a must-visit destination on any traveler's list. If you'd like
00:54a free downloadable pdf with all the information from this video, including an interactive map that
01:00you can use, you can find it in the link in the description below. Alright, let's get started.
01:06One of the most visited communities in San Diego, La Jolla is a popular destination known for its
01:12coastal bluffs and caves, sandy beaches, its wildlife, and activities. La Jolla Cove is one
01:19of the most visited and photographed places in San Diego. It's a popular place for swimming and
01:24snorkeling, and you'll often see wildlife including seals and sea lions on the beach.
01:30Walking south from the cove, you'll find the Children's Pool. This structure was donated by
01:35Ellen Browning Scripps in 1931, and you can recognize it by the concrete breakwater. The beach
01:42was originally intended to be a safe place for families to go swimming, and when seals and sea
01:46lions moved in, the area became a wildlife sanctuary. Today, it's still a great place
01:51to enjoy the scenery and view the wildlife from above. A short drive north, the coves and caves
01:59transition into Sandy Shores. La Jolla Shores is a popular family destination, and they have all the
02:05amenities needed for a nice day at the beach, including bathrooms, volleyball courts, playgrounds,
02:10kayak rentals, and much more. At the northern end of the beach is the Scripps Institution of
02:15Oceanography and the Scripps Pier. Twice a year, the sunset lines up perfectly between the pillars
02:22of the pier, and this is known as Scripps Henge. I visited this last summer to try to get a time
02:27lapse. It was really busy, and I almost got the shot, but not perfectly. A short drive up the hill
02:34is one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring architectural wonders in San Diego. The Salk
02:40Institute is a world-class research facility founded in the 1960s by Jonas Salk, the scientist
02:46and researcher who developed the polio vaccine. The Salk Institute is a world-class research
02:52facility, and it's also known for its amazing architecture. You can see the facility by
02:57appointment for free, and if you appreciate science or architecture, it's definitely worth a visit.
03:04Among all the beautiful places in La Jolla to visit,
03:07one place that I always recommend is Mount Soledad. Mount Soledad is a popular tourist
03:12destination and veterans memorial. If this is your first time visiting San Diego, I highly recommend
03:18visiting because you'll have an almost 365 degree view of San Diego, and on clear days you can see
03:25as far north as Orange County and as far south as Mexico. It's a great experience to visit and
03:31pay tribute to our veterans, and also enjoy a one-of-a-kind view of Southern California.
03:37Next up is Coronado Island, beginning at Centennial Park. If you've seen photos of
03:45downtown San Diego, you've most likely seen pictures taken from here, and that's why this
03:50is one of the most popular places for photography and even wedding ceremonies. This park is where
03:56the original Coronado Ferry landed, and at Coronado's Centennial, the park was dedicated
04:02and established for public use. Directly south is the waterfront shopping village called the
04:07Coronado Ferry Landing. The village has shopping and restaurants, or you can also rent bikes,
04:13kayaks, and paddle boards, and on Sundays they have free live concerts. A great day trip is to
04:19take the Coronado Ferry to the Convention Center Landing, walk north along the Embarcadero to enjoy
04:25Seaport Village and Tuna Harbor, then take the ferry from the Broadway Pier back to Coronado.
04:30A few blocks north is Bayview Park. The secluded park is much less busy and offers a beautiful
04:36perspective of downtown. On the western edge of Coronado is one of the most recognizable
04:42landmarks in San Diego. The Hotel del Coronado opened in 1888. It's known for its wooden Victorian
04:50beach resort architectural design, a style so admired that it became the inspiration for the
04:55exterior of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. The hotel has hosted royalty, presidents, celebrities,
05:03including Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Babe Ruth, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Brad Pitt, and U.S.
05:09presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George H.W. Bush.
05:16The hotel also has a reputation for being haunted by the ghost of Kate Morgan, who was a guest who
05:21passed away here. I've even had a chance to talk to some of the employees here who've experienced
05:26strange occurrences like seeing apparitions, hearing strange noises, or feeling sudden cold.
05:33Despite rumors of haunting, the Hotel del is a full-service resort and I especially enjoy visiting
05:39the Sun Deck, which is a bar and restaurant that overlooks Coronado Beach and the Pacific Ocean.
05:45If you get a chance to visit, I highly recommend staying for the sunset and walking down Coronado
05:50Beach. It truly is a one-of-a-kind experience. After Coronado, heading a few miles back towards
05:57downtown San Diego, we now reach the 1,200-acre urban park known as Balboa Park. The park was
06:04constructed for the 1915 Panama Exposition. It's celebrated for its Spanish revival architecture,
06:10over 65 miles of trails, 17 museums, and it's also home to the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
06:17One of the most photographed structures here is the botanical building next to the lily pond.
06:22As of the making of this video, the building is currently being renovated, but it's expected to
06:27open in 2024 and restore the botanical building to its former glory with improved gardens and
06:34facilities. Next is one of the most beautiful places that you can visit here that many people
06:39might miss, and that's the Japanese Friendship Garden. The garden was built to represent the bond
06:45between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, and it's considered a living work of art. The
06:5112-acre garden is lined with trails and ponds, with water fountains and traditional Japanese
06:57structures. They often have food available from local vendors, and the meticulously kept garden
07:03makes for a beautiful walk. Visiting here is a very peaceful experience, and I recommend it to
07:09anybody who enjoys gardens or Japanese culture. Just next to the Japanese Friendship Garden is the
07:16Spreckles Organ Pavilion, which was a gift by the Spreckles brothers to the city of San Diego
07:21for the 1915 Panama Exposition. Throughout the year, they host various concerts, and you can
07:27attend free organ performances on Sundays. It's the main stage for the December Nights Festival,
07:34and possibly one of the most popular places in San Diego to take photos.
07:38The structure makes for a great photo opportunity, and on any given day you
07:42might see people taking engagement photos, quinceañera photos, or family portraits.
07:50Not far from the San Diego Zoo is the Spanish Village Art Center, a historic village built for
07:55the World's Fair. It's home to over 250 local San Diegan artists who create and sell their artwork
08:01in the studios and galleries. Throughout the year, the Spanish Village Art Center is host to many
08:07events and art exhibitions, and among the photography community, the area is known for
08:12these multi-colored tiles that line the entire square. It's a great place to visit to enjoy the
08:18arts and music, and even take a few photos. In the shadow of the California Tower is the Alcazar
08:25Garden, a beautiful courtyard modeled after the gardens at Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain.
08:32The area is decorated in mosaic tile with fountains and a shaded pergola. The boxwood hedges
08:38are complemented with thousands of flowers, making it a beautiful place to visit to enjoy the
08:44atmosphere. There's so much to see in Balboa Park, and this is just the tip of the iceberg,
08:49and if you'd like to learn about our top recommendations, please see the video in the
08:52description below. About a 10-minute drive west of downtown San Diego is the community
08:59of Point Loma. The Point Loma Peninsula shapes the outer edge of San Diego Bay. The Cabrillo
09:05National Monument is a historic site that commemorates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
09:11at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542, and that was the first time a European expedition set foot
09:18on what later became the West Coast of the United States. The visitor center overlooks
09:24Ballast Point, the location where Cabrillo's expedition landed, and some of the attractions
09:29here include the Cabrillo statue, the Bayside Trail, which leads down towards the water,
09:35and the old Point Loma Lighthouse. The historic lighthouse was in use for 36 years between 1855
09:41and 1891, but oftentimes the fog and clouds would obscure the light, so they eventually built a new
09:47lighthouse down by the water. There's also a whale overlook where you can see down to the water
09:52where gray whales often migrate between January and February. Altogether, the Cabrillo National
09:58Monument is a fascinating place to visit to learn about the history of exploration
10:03and the indigenous populations. Point Loma has a number of notable places where you can stop
10:09quickly to enjoy some interesting sights. At Point Loma Nazarene University, you'll find the Greek
10:16Amphitheater, which is the oldest Greek amphitheater in the Western Hemisphere, built back in 1901.
10:22It remains from a time before the university was here, when it was a theosophical society
10:28and a community called Loma Land in the early 1900s. Another great place for a quick stop in
10:34Point Loma is the Lucy Evans Loren Memorial Garden. This peaceful garden overlooks Shelter Island and
10:41the San Diego Bay, and it's known for its beautiful plants and pathways, benches, and gazebo.
10:47It's even available for wedding ceremonies. At the bottom of the hill is Shelter Island and Harbor
10:53Island. There's also Liberty Station, and if you'd like to learn more about those areas, I have a full
10:58video about Point Loma in the description below. This next area, although part of Point Loma, deserves
11:04its own category. Sunset Cliffs is considered by travelers and locals alike to be one of the most
11:11breathtaking places to watch the sunset here in San Diego. It's known for the sheer cliffs that
11:16drop straight into the ocean, the caves, and the trails that follow along the coast. During low
11:21tide, you can enjoy the tide pools. There are a few popular surf breaks. You can even see the gray
11:27whales as they migrate during the winter. The Sunset Cliffs Sea Cave is a popular destination
11:32for adventure seekers, but if you visit, make sure it's during a negative low tide. At the southern
11:38edge of Sunset Cliffs is the Natural Park and the Ladera Steps. The steps are an access point that
11:44lead down to the tide pools and beaches, but also make sure to be here at a low tide or you might
11:49not be able to make it to the beach. It's worth spending some time here to explore the trails
11:54and enjoy Sunset Cliffs' natural rugged beauty.
12:00Heading north a few miles, you'll find Pacific Beach, a popular coastal community and one of the
12:05most visited beaches in San Diego. The beach has a laid-back college town atmosphere and is known
12:10for the main strip, Garnett Avenue, which leads right into the heart of PB. One of the most
12:16recognizable features of Pacific Beach is Crystal Pier, a privately owned pier and hotel. During the
12:22daytime hours, the pier is open to the public and you can walk out to the edge of the pier to enjoy
12:27the views. The entrance to the pier meets the Pacific Beach Boardwalk, which is a nearly three
12:33mile long boardwalk that spans from the north end at Law Street all the way down to South Mission
12:38Beach. This is a great place to enjoy a run or a bike ride or just spend some time on the sandy
12:43beaches. At the north end of Pacific Beach is Palisades Park, a grassy area that overlooks
12:50North Pacific Beach and Tourmaline Beach. The area is popular for its views, amenities,
12:56and proximity to nearby surfing beaches. It's also a popular place for yoga classes.
13:05Heading inland from the beaches, you'll find one of the most beautiful parks in San Diego,
13:09Kate Sessions Park. Kate Sessions was a horticulturist and considered the mother
13:14of Balboa Park, helping to transform the barren mesa into a lush greenery with plants and trees.
13:20Kate Sessions Park is known for the large grassy area that overlooks Mission Bay,
13:25and from here you can see Pacific Beach, Point Loma, downtown San Diego, Coronado,
13:31and even as far as Tijuana. Near the southern edge of Pacific Beach at Mission Beach is Belmont Park.
13:38This historic beachfront amusement park is home to the Giant Dipper roller coaster, which is
13:44considered a national historic landmark. Belmont Park has a variety of attractions, including an
13:49arcade and rides like go-karts, bumper cars, carousels, rock climbing, and it's also home to
13:55what was once the world's largest saltwater pool, the Plunge. There's also several dining options,
14:02including oceanfront restaurants and snack bars. If you're visiting San Diego and would like to
14:07experience the charm of a historic amusement park, I definitely recommend visiting Belmont Park.
14:13Old Town San Diego is considered the birthplace of California, and it's the location of the first
14:20European settlement on the west coast. Atop a hill overlooking Old Town is Presidio Park.
14:27Here you can visit the Royal Presidio, the first European settlement on the west coast,
14:32and just next door is the Junipero Serra Museum, which was built in 1928 in Spanish revival style,
14:40and today it's a museum featuring exhibits about the history of San Diego.
14:46Behind the Presidio is somewhat of a hidden park with grassy hills and trails. The trails lead to
14:53historic sites and monuments, one of which is this beautiful garden pergola that sits atop the hill
14:59overlooking the park. Down below is Old Town San Diego. In the 1820s this was a small Mexican
15:08community of adobe buildings, and by 1835 it had become El Pueblo de San Diego. This is where
15:15you'll find some of the oldest buildings in the western United States. In 1846 during the Mexican
15:22American War, American forces occupied the area. It became part of the United States in 1848,
15:29and the city grew quickly in the 1880s after the development of multiple military facilities.
15:35Today you can experience a piece of that history visiting Washington Square Park
15:39at Old Town. You can visit sites like the Cosmopolitan Hotel, which was built in the 1870s,
15:46or La Casa de Estudillo, which was built by the Estudillo family in 1827 and considered one of
15:53the finest houses in Mexican California. Two blocks east of Washington Park is an area most visitors
16:00miss. It was developed to preserve the history of Victorian-era architecture in San Diego.
16:06The Heritage Park Victorian Village preserves historic Victorian homes that were relocated
16:12here from locations all around San Diego. It's a beautiful place to explore and enjoy the historic
16:18architecture from San Diego's past. There's so many attractions to visit in Old Town,
16:25from historic homes to blacksmiths, courthouses, markets, and even haunted locations like the
16:32cemetery and the Whaley House. If you'd like to learn more about Old Town San Diego, we have a
16:37full video about the top things to do there. You can find the link in the description below.
16:43When San Diego continued to expand, they headed down towards the water,
16:48and that brings us to our next location, downtown San Diego. In the late 1800s, Alonzo Horton,
16:54known as the Father of Downtown, bought hundreds of acres of bayfront land at what is now downtown
17:00San Diego. He created incentivized programs to attract merchants and developers to populate the
17:06area. Over time, downtown evolved to become the heart of San Diego. What used to be a landfill
17:12and then a rail yard is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Diego.
17:18Seaport Village is a waterfront shopping area and dining complex located downtown.
17:23It's a popular tourist attraction and home to more than 70 galleries, retail shops, and
17:29restaurants. They have free musical performances on the weekends and some of the most incredible
17:34views of San Diego Bay, Coronado, and downtown San Diego. A short walk north from Seaport Village
17:42along the Embarcadero, you'll find Tuna Harbor, right between Navy Pier and Seaport Village.
17:49Tuna Harbor Park contains several memorials and commemorative plazas, including the Unconditional
17:55Surrender statue, also known as the Victory Kiss, which depicts a famous photo taken in Times Square
18:02at the end of World War II. Across from the park is the longest serving aircraft carrier of the
18:0820th century. The USS Midway was commissioned at the end of World War II and served for 47 years
18:16from 1945 till 1991. It played an integral role in the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War,
18:22and Operation Desert Storm. Today it's the most popular naval ship museum in the U.S.
18:27with over 1 million visitors per year. And in the heart of downtown is a historic neighborhood
18:35listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Occupying a 16 block neighborhood that
18:41runs from 1st Avenue to 6th Avenue south of Broadway, and home to more than 94 Victorian
18:47era buildings, is the historic Gaslamp Quarter. Today it's home to more than 100 of the city's
18:52finest restaurants, pubs, retail shops, and nightclubs. And as you can see, during Comic-Con
18:58it becomes a hub of activity. But during the rest of the year, it's still a popular place
19:03for nightlife or enjoying the local events at Petco Park. About a 20 minute drive north of
19:08downtown is a site that's had historical influence in aviation's history. Sitting atop a cliff 350
19:15feet above Black's Beach is the Torrey Pines Glider Port. In 1936 Woody Brown became the first
19:21person to launch a glider from the top of the cliffs and land back at the top. This began a
19:26tradition where the glider port became a premier site for paragliding, hand gliding, remote control
19:32models, and sailplanes. This is also the only public facility here where you can park next to
19:38the natural reserves that overlook the ocean. And in my opinion, this is one of the most incredible
19:43views of Southern California. The adventurers can take a walk down the trail to Black's Beach
19:48or explore the trails along the cliffs. But if you visit here, be very careful to stay on the
19:53marked trails. It's easy to get off track and there are many rescues here every year.
19:59And now here are some beautiful and interesting places to visit that are off the beaten path.
20:04Mission Bay. I think it's often overshadowed by the popular beaches and attractions,
20:09but as a parent I find myself gravitating to places that are family-friendly and over the
20:14years Mission Bay has done a lot to improve the facilities including the playgrounds.
20:19What used to be the Information Center is now Super Bloom, which serves excellent coffee and food
20:25and it's also a great event center. Next is a great weekend destination and historic park.
20:31This park is known for its authentic steam train that you can ride. They also have a museum and
20:37restaurant, public park facilities, and event spaces you can reserve. Old Poway Park is one
20:43of San Diego's hidden gems and if you haven't visited, I highly recommend dropping by, taking
20:48some photos, and enjoying the scenery. If I missed any of your favorite spots, make sure to leave them
20:53in the comments below. If you enjoyed the video or learned something new, please give the video a
20:57thumbs up and for more travel and adventure informative videos about Southern California,
21:02please consider subscribing. It really helps the channel. If you'd like a free pdf with all the
21:06information from this video and more, plus an interactive map you can use, you can find the
21:11link in the description below. I just want to say I appreciate you very much. I'm grateful for the
21:16opportunity to learn, explore, and share and thank you for spending your time here. Now if you'd like
21:22to learn more about Southern California, click right here and I'll see you in the next video.
21:27you