Plan Where to Play in Sunny San Diego

san diego tourism

Before selecting your San Diego vacation package, plan where to play so your sight seeing experience is excellent and you can do everything you want. Come and have fun in the sun!

Below is a short list of where to play throughout San Diego County – there are many more places you can visit throughout this site.

Select specific venues on the navigation bar to begin building your own San Diego vacation.

The San Diego trolley and bus system is also an inexpensive and fun way to see San Diego. The trolley stops at most major attractions.

San Diego – Central

Central San Diego is home to most of the famous tourist landmarks. This area is compact centering near downtown San Diego and immediate surrounding areas. Most venues are within about 20 minutes of each other on the efficient San Diego freeway system. Shopping, tourist sites, military sites, museums, parks, golf, beach activities, and water sports are popular.

San Diego Zoo
Coronado Island
Hotel Del Coronado
Balboa Park and Museums
Gaslamp Quarter
Horton Plaza
Embarcadero
Seaport Village
Old Town
Point Loma
Sea World
Mission Bay

San Diego – East

san diego tourism

East San Diego is known as the “Sunny Side of San Diego.” This area covers a large expanse with mountains, lakes, parks, trails, small town venues, casinos, wineries, and unique sites and adventures that are not as well known as the main sites, but just as wonderful. Shopping, museums, horseback riding, hiking, spas, wine tasting, casino gaming, golf, and fishing are popular.

La Mesa Village
Mount Helix
Lake Murray
Cowles Mountain
Mission Trails
Downtown El Cajon
Blossom Valley
Lake Jennings
Casino Resorts
Wineries
Julian
Laguna Mountains
Cuyamaca – mountains and lake
Pine Valley
Anza-Borrego Dessert

San Diego – South

South San Diego traverses from the southern edge of San Diego Bay to the Mexican border and beyond. North of the Mexican border includes several small San Diego satellite cities and communities like Chula Vista, National City, Imperial Beach, and others. South of the Mexican border are Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, and many other unique locations on the Baja peninsula. Shopping, beach activities, golf, and cultural activities are popular.

Otay Lakes
Olympic Training Center
Silver Strand
Tijuana, Mexico
Baja Peninsula, Mexico

San Diego – North

North San Diego stretches from the northern edge of San Diego Bay up to Orange County. This area includes many coastal and beach cities and communities. Inland it also includes many open rural areas where ranches, small town venues, and expansive valleys abound. Horse races, hot air ballooning, gliding, horseback riding, spas, wine tasting, golf, shopping, and beach activities are popular.

La Jolla
Torrey Pines
Mount Soledad
Del Mar
Solana Beach
Wild Animal Park
Miramar Bases
Camp Pendleton Base
Legoland
Carlsbad
Oceanside
Temecula Wineries
Warner Springs
Ramona

Orange County & Los Angeles – North

North of San Diego County is Orange County and Los Angeles area. This area includes many surrounding cities and communities.