Attractions & Special Events
San Diego, with its idyllic climate, rich history, and renowned biological and cultural diversity, has a wide array of outdoor and indoor activities for everyone, a small selection of which we’ve described below. You might be interested in taking advantage of some of these events or venues in your free time. Additional tourist information can be found at the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau website (http://www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors).
Balboa Park
Located approximately 1.5 miles south of the Town & Country, accessible by bus (Route 120). Grounds are open 24 hours a day and the Visitor’s Center is open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. Balboa Park is the nation’s largest urban cultural park. It hosts 15 museums (many of which participate in San Diego Museum Month, see below), performing arts venues, gardens, and the world famous San Diego Zoo.
Cabrillo National Monument
http://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm
Located at the southern tip of Point Loma, an approximately 10-mile drive (also accessible by trolley and bus with transfers), open 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Offers spectacular views of San Diego Bay, a self-guided tour of the historic Point Loma lighthouse, and the possibility of seeing whales in migration.
Gaslamp District
The place to go in downtown San Diego for dining, shopping, and nightlife. Accessible by trolley.
La Jolla Cove
Located approximately 9 miles northwest of the Town & Country (also accessible by trolley and bus with transfers). La Jolla Cove offers a diverse array of activities including seabird-watching, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, seals in the Children’s Pool, kayaking, and shopping.
Old Town San Diego
http://www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com
Located approximately 2 miles west of the Town & Country, accessible by trolley. This State, City, and County park is a great place to see historic mission architecture and exhibits. There are also opportunities to shop and dine.
San Diego Museum Month
http://www.sandiego.org/event/Visitors/55
During February, you can pick up a free Museum Month Pass at Macy’s (at Fashion Valley Shopping Center, north of the Town & Country) to receive half-off admission at 39 San Diego county museums. Some of the participating museums include Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Maritime Museum of San Diego (including the Star of India) and USS Midway Museum, Quail Botanical Gardens, and many of the museums at Balboa Park.
San Diego Zoo
Located in Balboa Park, open 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. daily. See Yun Zi, the 6-month-old panda cub and many other animal exhibits.
Sea World
http://www.seaworld.com/sandiego/
Located approximately 3.3 miles west of the Town & Country, accessible by trolley and bus with transfers. Open 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. weekdays, 10:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sat. and Sun. See Shamu, marine wildlife exhibits, rides, and a variety of shows.