San Diego - Weekend Getaway

San Diego is one of California's most popular tourist destinations. In recent years, San Diego has become a surprisingly sophisticated place, and it has something to offer almost everyone, from ballet to theatre to zoos.

Poll:What do you think of San Diego as a vacation destination?
Yuck! | OK | Good | Awesome!

See what other visitors think about San Diego

Plan your San Diego weekend getaway in a jiffy using the resources below.

Will You Like It?

• Take a look at our San Diego Pictures.

• San Diego is especially popular with families, who enjoy the Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Legoland and Sea World. It's a great place for beach-lovers, and shoppers like to go bargain-hunting in nearby Tijuana.

Best Time to Go

San Diego weather is great almost any time, but contrary to what the song claims, it does sometimes rain in Southern California, especially in winter.

Getting There

Driving? San Diego is about 130 miles from Los Angeles and 330 miles from Las Vegas. If you don't have one, buy a map.

Flying? San Diego's aiport is called Lindbergh Field (SAN). Check airfares.

Where to Stay

Check our recommended hotels and campgrounds.

How to find a good place to stay, fast.

Step by step guide to How to find a good place to stay..

5 Great Things to Do

• Animals: Choose between the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park. They are quite far apart, and either one takes a whole day.

• Harbor Cruise: Especially on a nice day, this is a relaxing way to see the city, get a peek at the Navy SEALS Training Center and find out a few of the Coronado Bridge's secrets.

• Go to the Beach: Read our San Diego beach guide to find one with just the right personality for you.

• Old Town: Where San Diego began. Tour the historic buildings, do a little shopping, or join a guided tour. The Mexican restaurants here, if a little cliched, still make a nice place for lunch.

• The Other San Diego : If you've been to San Diego before, you may find some new ideas here.

Our one-day itinerary may also help you plan, or you may prefer to spend your whole visit in La Jolla or Coronado, our personal favorite (HINT: Our favorite hotel here is probably not the one you've heard so much about).

Best Brunch

A weekend getaway is a great time to enjoy a leisurely brunch. SignOnSanDiego lists a selection of great places to enjoy "a most civilized tribute to gluttony."

Don't miss

If you're visiting San Diego in the spring, the Carlsbad Flower Fields are blooming brilliant!

Tips

• We know it's popular, but we think many of the Gaslamp Quarter restaurants are too expensive, and it's almost impossible to find parking in the area. For a weekend visit, we'd skip it.

• If you are planning to visit Tijuana, bring identification. A passport is best. If you are not a U. S. citizen, a passport or green card is essential.

• Pack comfortable casual clothing and good walking shoes, your camera, swim suits, sunscreen and beach gear if you want to get in the water. Most restaurants in San Diego accept casual dress, so unless you have a very special evening planned, leave your dress clothes at home. Evenings near the ocean can be quite cool even in summer; bring a sweater or jacket.