San Diego Attractions

The Cabrillo National Monument honors the first European to land at San Diego Bay, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. The park was established in 1913 and has a great view of San Diego's harbor and skyline. Cabrillo National Monument's highest point is at the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. The park also has a statute and a museum in the Visitor Center. In the winter, guests can see migrating gray whales off the coast.

The San Diego Children's Museum offers several exhibits including papermaking, a Puppet Theater, and a double-decker bus filled with books from the public library. The museum just moved into a new building, which features a café, an Art Studio, and two outdoor interactive galleries.

This spot is the premier dining, shopping and entertainment district in Southern California. Gaslamp Quarter also has Victorian-style buildings that were built between 1880 and 1910. During the day, visitors can stroll along the district's streets and learn about the area, including how Wyatt Earp ran three gambling halls and the story of the oldest-surviving structure, the William Heath Davis House. Old-fashioned gas lamps glow at night, illuminating the quarter's brick sidewalks.

Knott's Soak City is a 32-acre water park that has more than 20 rides. The entire park has a surfing theme complete with surf woodies and longboards, which were popular in the 1950s. Check with the park to see what its operating hours are because they change throughout the year.

Legoland is specifically for children ages 2 through 12. The 120-acre park has rides, interactive attractions, shows, and building projects. The park is the first of its kind in the United States.

The San Diego Museum of Art has provided some of the region's best exhibitions and fine art collections for nearly 75 years. The museum is in Balboa Park, and also offers classes and performances.

A visit to the San Diego Wild Animal Park is more like going on a safari in the African Bush than visiting an attraction in Southern California. The park opened in 1972 and catered to the animals (recreating their native habitats) more than human observers. San Diego Wild Animal Park's winter hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Guests need to make sure they have their walking shoes on when they visit this attraction. The world-famous San Diego Zoo is located on 100 acres and has more than 4,000 animals. Visitors can tour part of the zoo on a double-decker bus, or they can glide through the zoo's treetops on an aerial tram. During the winter, the zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visit Shamu as well as other creatures at Sea World San Diego. If you make special reservations, you and a group of your friends could even dine with Shamu. The park opened in 1964 and is located on nearly 190 acres. Sea World San Diego is accredited with the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and has received several awards from the organization for its education, breeding, and marine wildlife programs. The park has different operating hours depending on the season, so it's best to call (619) 226-3901 to see when the park is open.