How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in San Diego

The second largest metropolis in California, San Diego offers a plethora of eclectic diversions and year-round sunshine to boot. Lying between Los Angeles to the north and the Mexican border to the south, the city blends these two cultures into a unique destination that is both vibrant and laid-back.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Spend a night out in the Gaslamp Quarter. This historic district is made up of old buildings and hip new restaurants and nightclubs; with over 100 places to eat, there are choices for every taste.
2. It’s all happening at the zoo. Not many zoos are among the top attractions in their city, but San Diego’s is famous for good reasons—displaying thousands of animals in various environments sprawling over 100 acres, and remaining vigilant in numerous conservation and preservation efforts.
3. Enjoy San Diego’s pro sporting life by taking in a Padres baseball game at recently opened Petco Park, or seeing the NFL’s Chargers compete at Qualcomm Stadium.
4. Savor the upscale shopping and sumptuous ocean-side scenery of La Jolla, a ritzy beachfront community within San Diego’s city limits. Even if your budget limits to you window-shopping, there aren’t many better ways to spend an afternoon than strolling La Jolla’s chic streets and seductive ocean coves.
5. Life in San Diego is a beach—make sure to enjoy at least one of its many sandy stretches of coast. Pacific Beach is a popular choice with surfers, families and college students; joggers and in-line skaters enjoy the boardwalk that borders it.
6. Set aside a few hours for San Diego’s Old Town, an authentic re-creation of life in the region circa 1820-1850. Several original adobe buildings remain, and a handful of fun restaurants and shopping opportunities--Mexican ceramics and tinwork are popular here--add to the allure.
7. Should you run into a rare bout of bad weather, San Diego has an impressive concentration of museums. Options include the Museum of Natural History, San Diego Air & Space Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts and the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum.

Tips & Warnings

• Those spending a long weekend in the city might want to consider a side trip south to Tijuana, a bustling border town just over the entrance to Mexico.