18 Unique Things To Do In San Diego (2024)
Are you looking for the most unique activities San Diego has to offer? If so, this article’s for you.
I recently spent 3 days in San Diego, and was surprised with just how many interesting places there were packed into the city. Whether you want to hike by the ocean, watch sea lions play on the shore, or savor some of the best authentic Mexican cuisine in Old Town, San Diego has something for everybody.
This article will cover all of the unique activities and places to visit so you can plan a trip you won’t forget.
Here are 19 fun and unique things to do in San Diego.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase through these links we may earn a commission. This helps keep our content free, at no additional cost to you.
1. Visit the Abandoned Mushroom House
The Mushroom House is an interesting oceanfront mushroom shaped house on the south of Black’s Beach in La Jolla.
It was built in the 1960’s as a guest retreat for Sam Bell of Bell’s Potato Chips, and designed to withstand earthquakes. With such a fascinating design, it’s become a popular San Diego landmark, and is now said to be owned by a philanthropist.
Although it’s been vandalized over the years, it’s still a very interesting place to visit. To get to the Mushroom House, you’ll park at the “Blacks Beach Trailhead”.
From there, you’ll hike down a steep mountain to the beach, and walk around 10 minutes north until you see the Mushroom House.
When I visited, the tide was very high so there was a portion where I had to climb over the rocks before reaching the house. If you plan on visiting, make sure to wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and keep in mind that there’s no restrooms along the hike.
2. Spot sea lions at La Jolla Cove
Head to La Jolla Cove to watch seals and sea lions rest on the shore. La Jolla Cove is a picturesque bay surrounded by dozens of seals and sea lions. To get there, you can park anywhere along the street on Coast Blvd.
This is a beautiful place to walk around along the coast, and there’s a variety of cafes, restaurants and shops just across the street.
There’s free 2 or 3 hour street parking, that’s relatively easy to find, but you may have to circle around a few times for a spot if visiting during peak times.
3. Visit Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave
Head to The Cave Store in La Jolla to walk through a man made 100 year old tunnel that leads to Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave.
You’ll get to walk down 145 steps to a sea cave, where you’ll see kayakers and potentially sea lions basking on the rocks.
It costs $10/person to visit the cave, and the gift shop sells a variety of fun trinkets and jewelry.
This sea cave was named “Sunny Jim”, because the cave opening resembles Sunny Jim, an early 1900’s cartoon character on cereal boxes!
If you’re up for an adventure, you can venture into the 7 sea caves on a kayak tour! Not only will you get to see the sea caves up close, but you’ll see everything from dolphins to leopard sharks in the water.
4. Visit the Cabrillo National Monument
Visit the Cabrillo National Monument to see the Cabrillo Statue, Point Loma Lighthouse, and enjoy stunning views of the San Diego Harbor.
The national monument has a visitor center with a museum, 2 lighthouses, various coastal hiking trails, and tide pools. The statue by the visitor center commemorates Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to explore California, who landed on San Diego Bay in 1542.
Just up the hill from the statue stands the Old Point Loma lighthouse.
This historic lighthouse was built in 1855, and was eventually replaced with the New Point Loma lighthouse. The Old Point Loma lighthouse now operates as a museum, whereas the new lighthouse isn’t accessible to the public.
As you walk to the lighthouse and statue, you’ll have unbeatable views of San Diego’s harbor and skyline as you walk throughout.
After, you can drive down the hill to explore the tide pools, and see the new lighthouse from afar.
5. Stroll Around Old Town
Head to Old Town to shop for Mexican art and crafts, enjoy live music, and savor some of the best Mexican food in San Diego. Old Town marks the site where the first European settlement was built in California.
It has historic buildings, museums, restaurants, and a variety of interesting little shops and vendors. There’s vendors selling everything from hand blown glass art to pottery, and clothing.
The best time to visit Old Town is Friday-Sunday, where you’ll get to enjoy live music on the Fiesta de Reyes stage.
6. Go Paragliding Along The Coast
If you’re up for an adventure, head to the Torrey Pines Gliderport to go paragliding along the ocean. The Torrey Pines Glider Airport offers paragliding lessons, as well as tandem flights, where you can fly with an expert instructor.
They’re located on a hill above Black’s Beach, and have a large free dirt parking lot. If you’re not up for paragliding, this is still a fun place to watch other people soar over the coast!
7. Go On A Whale Watching Cruise
Spot whales, dolphins, and sea lions on a whale watching cruise from San Diego’s Harbor. You’ll get to enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks, and learn about the US Navy Sites as you cruise around the bay.
They also have a whale sighting guarantee, so if you don’t spot a whale, they’ll let you join another cruise for free!
8. Hike around Torrey Pines Natural Reserve
Torrey Pines Natural Reserve is a beautiful state park, with rugged cliffs, and a variety of excellent hiking trails overlooking the ocean. It has miles of sandy beach, and coastal hiking trails surrounded by pine trees and wildlife.
There’s a $20 entrance fee, but you can find street parking outside of the park (North entrance), and walk in for free.
9. Go On A Food Tour In Little Italy
Little Italy is a charming little neighborhood with authentic Italian restaurants, cafes, and a piazza with a water fountain. It smelled like fresh baguettes as I walked around, and the streets were lined with Italian flags.
You can go on a 3.5 food tour in Little Italy to try some of the best restaurants in the neighborhood, with recommendations from a local guide.
You’ll get to sample multiple Italian dishes and desserts, all while learning about Italian culture. From Italian beef stew to cannoli, this is a must for foodies.
10. Hike Annie’s Canyon
Annie’s Canyon is a fascinating sandstone slot canyon, located just 25 minutes north of San Diego.
It’s a 1.6 mile round trip trail to the slot canyon, with beautiful views of the San Elijo Lagoon and nature reserve throughout.
There’s plenty of free street parking at the trailhead for the hike, and the hike is relatively very easy. To get to the slot canyon, you’ll hike on a dirt path adjacent to the freeway, and take a left right as the trail begins to dip below the freeway.
From here, you’ll continue walking until you see a junction with a large signpost, and turn left for Annie’s Canyon Trail.
Then, you’ll continue walking until you reach the slot canyon.
The slot canyon has very narrow walls, and a small portion with steps you’ll need to climb up. After you climb up the slot canyon, you can easily return to the trail by walking down a set of stairs.
This is the perfect short hike for an afternoon, but it may not be ideal for those who get claustrophobic in tight spaces.
11. Visit The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Safari Park
Ride in the back of an open–air truck, and get up close to giraffes, rhinos, and many other species on a safari at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
San Diego Zoo’s Wildlife Safari Park is 45 minutes north of the San Diego Zoo, and much more spacious than the San Diego Zoo.
The safari park has over 3,000 animals, with botanical gardens, and expansive African and Asian savanna habitats. Entrance to the safari park starts at $74/adult, and $64/child.
12. Hop On The San Diego Trolley
Explore hidden gems throughout the city by hopping on and off the San Diego trolley. The trolley stops at the marina, Balboa Park, USS midway museum, Old Town, Little Italy, and much more.
It operates from 9am–6pm, and there’s 11 stops in total. With knowledgeable tour guides and a brochure on the trolley’s schedule, this is the best way to explore San Diego. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about parking at all of the attractions!
13. Visit the USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway is the longest serving aircraft carrier that served the Navy for 47 years.
It’s now a floating museum nestled in the harbor with many exhibits, including restored aircrafts, flight simulators, and a below deck area where visitors can check out the steering wheel in the engine room! It also has a cafe, gift shop, and theater with a film on the Battle of Midway.
Just outside of the museum, you’ll see the popular “Unconditional Surrender” statue of a sailor kissing a nurse from WWII! Entrance to the museum cost $34/adult, and $24/children.
14. Watch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs
Sunset Cliffs is a gorgeous coastal park with sandstone cliffs, stretches of sandy beach, and the best place to watch the sunset in San Diego.
Although I visited in the morning, it was still a beautiful place to hike around while enjoying ocean views.
It’s best to arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset, so you can find easy parking, as this is one of the most popular sunset spots.
15. Ride The Giant Dipper At Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a fun little beachfront amusement park that’s been open since 1925, with rollercoasters, an arcade, mini golf, bumper cars, zipline, and more. This is a great place to take kids, and the entrance costs $44.95/person for unlimited rides and attractions.
16. Have A Beach Day On Coronado Island
Coronado Beach is a long stretch of sandy beach on Coronado island, with views of the iconic Victorian-style hotel del Coronado in the distance. This is one of the best places to relax on the beach, and it’s within walking distance to cafes and restaurants.
You can drive across the Coronado bridge, or take the Coronado ferry ($18/person, roundtrip) from downtown San Diego’s marina to get there. From the ferry terminal, it’s just a short 2 mile walk to Coronado Beach.
17. Go On A Day Trip To Tijuana Mexico
Take a day trip to Tijuana Mexico to enjoy tacos, shop at markets, and learn about Mexican culture from a local guide.
With knowledgeable guides, you’ll be able to cross the border smoothly, and spend a few hours roaming the streets of downtown Tijuana.
Keep in mind you’ll need to bring a valid passport for this tour as you’ll be crossing the border.
18. Stroll around Balboa Park
Stroll around Balboa Park to admire the beautiful architecture, plants, or visit one of the many attractions it has to offer.
This scenic park’s home to the San Diego Zoo, Japanese Friendship Garden, and Spanish Village Art Center, where you can shop for pottery and fine art pieces.
Additionally, Balboa Park has many unique museums to check out, including the following:
- San Diego Museum of Art: Fine arts museum, $20/adult, $5/pp after 5pm on Fridays
- San Diego Air & Space Museum: Aviation and space museum, $28/adult, $17/children
- San Diego Natural History Museum: Natural world museum, $24/adult, $14/children
- Museum of US: Anthropology museum, $19.95/adult, $16.95/children
- Automotive Museum: Car collection museum, $16.50/adult, $12.50/children
- Model Railroad Museum: Train museum, $20/adult, children under 12 free
Related articles you may be interested in: