San Diego sits in the far south-west corner of the United States, half an hour from the Mexican border, around a large natural harbour. It is smaller, calmer and easier to get around than Los Angeles, with an airport almost in the city centre and a compact downtown on the bay.
The headline sights are Balboa Park and its zoo, the aircraft carrier USS Midway, the Victorian Hotel del Coronado and the coves of La Jolla, where sea lions and harbour seals share the shore with swimmers. Add reliable weather and good Mexican food, and it makes a relaxed end to a trip down the coast from Los Angeles.
Highlights
- Museums, gardens and Spanish-style architecture in Balboa Park
- The San Diego Zoo
- Sea lions, seals and sea caves at La Jolla Cove
- The flight deck of the USS Midway
- Coronado Beach and the Hotel del Coronado
- Whale watching and harbour cruises on the bay
Plan your time in San Diego
Two days cover Balboa Park and the zoo, the waterfront and either Coronado or La Jolla. A third allows both, plus Old Town or a boat trip. Downtown, Balboa Park and Old Town are linked by bus and trolley; a car or a tour is easier for La Jolla.
