48 HOURS IN SAN DIEGO
Visit the old town, take in art or music and be sure to visit stunning parks, coastline sites
The sunny shores and urban vibrancy of San Diego tempt travellers with great weather, fabulous activities on land and sea, and a bustling mix of artistic, cultural and culinary adventures.
From its 112 kilometres of coastline to lively neighbourhoods and abundant green spaces, San Diego is a destination with no shortage of active adventures and beautiful places. Come to enjoy some of California's best beaches and wildlife viewing opportunities and stay to savour its vibrant cultural scene.
FRIDAY
12 p.m. - Lunch
Enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine at Casa Guadalajara in Old Town San Diego. This colourful restaurant institution specializes in creative top shelf margaritas served alongside plates of homemade tortillas covered or stuffed with carne asada, wild caught shrimp, grilled vegetables and more. 1 p.m. – Explore Old Town San Diego
Created in 1869 as California's first settlement, Old Town is the historic heart of the city. It's a great place to wander through lush gardens, visit historic sites including the Whaley House (America's most haunted house), catch live performances at Fiesta de Reyes, and watch tortillas being freshly made outside of Café Coyote. 2 p.m. - Balboa Park
San Diego's expansive green heart sits as an artistic, cultural and botanical paradise just outside of downtown. An afternoon isn't nearly enough time to explore all of Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre urban oasis with 18 museums, numerous gardens and the renowned San Diego Zoo. Stroll along treed paths and beautiful Mediterranean-style architecture, count cherry blossoms at the Japanese Friendship Garden, and pop into the Comic-con Museum, San Diego Air & Space Museum or any that pique your interest. 7 p.m. – Little Italy
San Diego is city of 100 neighbourhoods, and on a Friday night, Little Italy is the place to be. Once home to San Diego's tuna fishing industry where generations of Italian families made their living on the sea, Little Italy is now a dense neighbourhood bustling with cafés, restaurants, urban wineries, and the festive Piazza della Famiglia. Restaurants featuring cuisines of both southern and northern Italy line India Street, including the classic Filippi's Pizza Grotto.
SATURDAY
9 a.m. – Breakfast at Dodo Bird Donuts
The picturesque and prosperous village of La Jolla is as famous for its popular cove, caves and playful seals as it is for charming boutiques and excellent restaurants. Begin your exploration of the village with a cappuccino or charcoal latte, avocado toast and signature sprinkle doughnut at Dodo Bird Donuts. 11 a.m. – Sea Kayaking to La Jolla Caves
Paddle the waters of the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve off sandy La Jolla Shores Beach on a guided tour with San Diego Bike and Kayak. The protected reserve is home to leopard sharks, diving cormorant seabirds, sea lions and the bright orange garibaldi, California's official State Marine Fish. The tour includes a brief visit into one of the La Jolla's famous sea caves. Tip: Bring a towel to rinse off after the tour.
1:30 p.m. – Lunch with a view
Enjoy an al fresco lunch underneath a bright patio umbrella on the outdoor terrace of The Kitchen at MCASD. With one of the best ocean views in La Jolla, The Kitchen offers a farm-totable menu including artichoke flatbread, avocado bowl with barley, and artfully prepared sandwiches. The food pairs well with a glass of California Chardonnay or locally brewed craft ale.
2:30 p.m. – Get cultured
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD)'S flagship location in La Jolla features an outstanding collection of modern and contemporary art from California and around the world. The museum was originally the 1915 residence of newspaper heiress and philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, and designed in striking modernist style (for its day) by California architect Irving Gill. Explore the museum's art park, sculpture garden and seaside terraces. Or just stare out the window of artist Robert Irwin's 1º 2 º 3 º 4º, 1997, where apertures cut into existing windows bring the briny sea breeze indoors. 4 p.m. - La Jolla stroll
Walk a few steps from MCASD to wander along the beautiful California coastline in Ellen Browning Scripps Park. Wave hello to the seals and sea lions at the La Jolla Children's Pool or the Sea Lion Rookery. Grab a scoop of natural organic pistachio or bacio gelato at Bobboi, then browse the boutiques along Prospect Street.
5:30 p.m. - Dinner at Paradisaea
This warmly tropical dining room is in the distinctly modernist “Piano Building ” in La Jolla's Bird Rock neighbourhood. Named after an exotic type of bird-of-paradise flower, Paradisaea offers an upscale bar and restaurant menu of creative cocktails and dishes based on seasonal ingredients, ranging from pillowy carrot agnolotti to heirloom roast chicken with seasonal greens, and a dry-aged beef burger served on a brioche bun with optional sauce au poivre.
7:30 p.m. – Performance at The Conrad
Home to the La Jolla Music Society, The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center is the cultural and artistic heart of La Jolla. There are four performance and activity spaces, featuring shows by artists as diverse as jazz great Branford Marsalis to South Africa's Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the inspiring a cappella stylings of Kings Return.
SUNDAY
10 a.m. – Brunch by the Bay
After renting electric bikes for a 19-kilometre morning ride along the flat and scenic Mission Bay Bike Path loop, enjoy a wellearned champagne brunch on the large outdoor patio of Oceana Coastal Kitchen at the Catamaran Resort Hotel. The brunch includes favourites such as brioche French toast, kalua pork benedicts and crispy crab cake salads, as well as cold buffet options like nigiri sushi, smoked salmon, charcuterie, fruit and freshly baked pastries. 12 p.m. – Whale watching
Bring binoculars and your sea legs for a whale watching adventure with San Diego Whale Watch. From May to July, thousands of grey whales make their way up the Pacific coast to summer feeding grounds in Alaska. The grey whale isn't the only one on the move — blue whales and humpback whales also swim in these waters, as do playful common and white-sided dolphins who are likely to make appearances during the 2.5 hour boat tour.
WHERE TO STAY
From beachfront vacation rentals to historic family-friendly resorts, San Diego has accommodation options to suit all tastes. The Catamaran Resort Hotel overlooking Mission Bay is a tropical tiki-style oasis in this popular seaside neighbourhood. The 310-room hotel is well-situated between La Jolla village and Old San Diego and Balboa Park, fronting the calm waters of Mission Bay with a short 5-minute walk to the Pacific Ocean.