3 Days in San Diego, California — The Active Voyager

Welcome to San Diego

There are a million reasons to love San Diego: the ocean, sunny weather, and laid back vibe, to name a few. But for me, it’s really about one thing: tacos. If you enjoy a good taco, then stop what you are doing and get on the next flight to San Diego. The tacos are unreal. Between taco fixings, you’ll be able to explore beautiful beaches and well-known attractions like the San Diego Zoo and Balboa park.

Where to Stay

Stay in the central Gaslamp Quarter, where you can find dozens of Airbnb options, all in an affordable range. Be sure to stay somewhere with parking as you will want to rent a car for the weekend.

Arrive late the night before and pick up a rental car. If you are coming from the East Coast, you’ll be up early anyway with the time change, perfect for getting out for a run in La Jolla before seeing the USS Midway.

8:00 - Leave the Airbnb and drive to La Jolla (~30 mins).

9:00 - Run along the beach from Sun Gold Point (A) to La Jolla Shores (B) and back (8-10 miles). Stop at La Jolla Cove (C) to see the seals.

11:00 - On the drive back, stop at Oscar’s Mexican Seafood (D) for tacos (of course) (open daily 8am - 9pm, till 10pm on Fri and Sat).

12:00 - Drive back to the Airbnb to shower.

2:00 - Walk to the USS Midway Museum (E) (open daily 10am-5pm, $23). Order tickets online in advance. Do the audio tour to get a feel for what life was like on this aircraft carrier.

4:00 - Take a stroll along the Embarcadero to the Marina Park South. Then turn around and head back to the Seaport Village (F). Wander along the shops and enjoy the window shopping.

6:00 - Have dinner at Puesto in Seaport Village (F). Be sure to get the guacamole with Parmesan cheese. Also the tacos. Make a reservation online in advance.

**Day 2.**
**San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, and Point Loma**

See the famous San Diego Zoo and stroll along the beach in Point Loma.

8:00 - Start the day with brunch at Werewolf (A).

9:30 - From there, walk to the San Diego Zoo (B) (open daily 9am-5pm, $59). Buy tickets online in advance. The earlier you arrive, the quieter it will be. Grab a park map, and spend a few hours enjoying this world-famous zoo. Don’t forget to mail a few postcards while you are there.

1:00 - Grab a quick bite at Cafe Bassam (C).

2:00 - Visit the Japanese Friendship Garden (D) (open daily 10am-6pm, $12). Stop to write out the postcards on a good bench. Spend as much time roaming around Balboa Park as you want.

3:00 - Head back to the Airbnb to decompress.

5:00 - Drive to Point Loma (~25 min). Park in the Sunset Cliffs Parking Lot (E) and take a walk along the ocean near Sunset Cliffs Natural Park to Sunset Cliffs Cave (F) and back.

6:00 - Have dinner at Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill - Ocean Beach (G). They don’t take reservations but they do have tacos!