Best views in San Diego

San Diego is a place I wish everyone could experience.  I’ve visited San Diego so many times with family living there so I would say that San Diego is probably one place that can almost sum up the beauty of California and what people think of California. There are so many beautiful and active things to do in San Diego such as kayaking, swimming, laying out by the beach, hiking, and just enjoying the great views. So if you’ve never been, these are the best views in San Diego.

11 Best Views in San Diego

Sunset Cliffs – Rated the Number 1 Best Views in San Diego

What can I say about Sunset Cliffs? Sunset Cliffs are just a breathtaking location to soak in all that California has to offer.  This place is so beautiful to enjoy the smell and view of the Ocean. Hence the name Sunset Cliffs, this location is even more than imaginable during that time of the day.  It really makes you think about the beauty the world provides when visiting this location. This is a beautiful area to take a walk and check out some tide pools. Be sure to bring your loved ones with you!

Coronado

Coronado is an amazing beach located near the Navy Base in San Diego.  There is an amazing bridge that leads you to this location. This beach is very calm compared to waves you can get in La Jolla.  This is a great location to tan and just take a walk on the beach. I would say this beach is family-friendly, especially since the water is calm.  We had an enjoyable time playing bocce ball.

Cabrillo National Monument

Like Sunset Cliffs, this has an equally breathtaking view.  You can view Mexico from this point. Don’t be surprised when your phone informs you that you have entered Mexico!  This is also another location that has tide pools and you can climb onto the cliffs. Be sure to check out the monument and the gift shop to learn more about this location.

La Jolla

If you want to experience another beach, La Jolla is one to look forward to.  There is so much to do with all of the shops lined up. You can rent a variety of things you can rent nearby such as kayaks, paddleboards, surfboards, boogie boards, etc.  WARNING: This is a very popular beach and often times can be very crowded. Parking can be difficult to find as well.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is a very popular place in San Diego.  There is so much to see from the architecture to the rose garden and the cacti garden.  This is definitely a MUST place to check out especially if you are a first-timer in San Diego.

Torrey Pines State Beach

This is another location with an amazing view.  If you like hiking, this one has a beginner’s hiking area that leads you down toward the beach.  You start off from the top and work your way down to the sandy beach, but you have to work your way back up when you have to head back to the car.  There are a lot of people sailing in the sky with powered parachutes. Be sure to check this one out!

San Diego Bay in Point Loma

This is a great location to hang out, kayak near the yachts and boats in the harbor.  It is pretty calm in the bay so it is a neat spot to paddleboard or kayak in. If you come here, you must stop and eat at Mitch’s Seafood.  Mitch’s Seafood provides a great view of the harbor with amazing and affordable seafood.

San Diego Zoo

If you are traveling with kids I highly suggest you visit the San Diego Zoo. It’s absolutely breathtaking there with a large park to walk around, so many exhibits, and happy animals all over the place. This park is really worth seeing and checking out. There are so many areas to explore, we weren’t able to even see the entire park in one day. 

Embarcadero

The Embarcadero is a gorgeous place along the coast of San Diego. Here you can easily get a nightly dinner cruise and whale watching adventures. Additionally, there are quite a few places that you can shop at as well such as the popular Seaport Village.  

Old Town San Diego

If you want to get a taste of Mexico without actually going to Mexico, head on down to Old Town San Diego. This area is filled with many cute shops and delicious Mexican restaurants. You can also get serenaded by the many mariachi bands at dinner as well. Furthermore, there are several historical sites and houses in the area as well. Supposedly, the old town has been known to have people living in the area for about 9,000 years. 

Stonewall Peak Trail 

If you love hiking, one of the most beautiful hiking trails in San Diego is the Stonewall Peak Trail. You can get some gorgeous nature views including a clear view of Lake Cuyamaca. The hike is about a moderate hike with some areas climbing the beautiful rocky cliffside to get a gorgeous panoramic view of the valleys, rivers, hills, and more. 

Why Visit San Diego

There are many reasons to visit San Diego.  There is a lot of culture with being so close to Mexico, the beautiful beaches, almost perfect weather, and delicious food. On top of that San Diego has some of the best weather in California. The weather is very moderate with temperatures not too hot during the summer months and not too cold during the winter months. It’s perfect to visit at any time of the year unless you plan to do a lot of swimming. 

How to get around San Diego

The best way to get around San Diego is by renting a car to drive from location to location. If you don’t feel comfortable driving, you can easily download the uber app and set it up with your card information so that you can ride from location to location.

Depending on where you are going in San Diego, if you need to get from old town San Diego up to the northern coast you can easily take the San Diego Coaster which is a train system in San Diego that is quite affordable. The coaster rides along the coast of San Diego and can take you from Old Town San Diego > Sorrento Valley > Solana Beach > Encinitas > Carlsbad Poinsettia > Carlsbad Village > Oceanside Transit Center. To avoid terrible San Diego traffic, I highly suggest taking this route. 

If you want to take a day trip up to Los Angelos, you can also pay to take the Amtrak to Los Angelos from San Diego as well. 

Things to do in San Diego

There are a lot of places to see and things to do in San Diego and while this post isn’t for that, I will list some of the highlights of things you should do during your trip to San Diego.

• Eating Mexican Food and local seafood
• Surfing
• Whale watching
• Harbor cruise
• Little Italy for some of the best Italian Dishes
• Swimming and relaxing by the beach
• San Diego Museum of Art
• Ride rollercoasters at Belmont Park
• San Diego Natural History Museum
• Explore Mission San Diego de Alcalá
• Check out the beautiful botanical gardens at Balboa Park
• Go drinking at the Gaslamp Quarter
• Go hiking through many of the trails in San Diego
• Visit the Fleet Science Center
• Discover the Point Loma Tide Pools
• If you happen to visit during this time, go to the San Diego Comic-Con

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What are some of your best views in San Diego, CA? List them in the comments below. 

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