San Diego Best Attractions

San Diego sports teams are fun to watch during a visit or even if you live here. Whether you want to see a major league baseball game or minor league women’s soccer you can find it here in San Diego.

If you want to avoid parking trouble and traffic the trolley will take you to both Petco Park and Qualcomm. It is an excellent choice and a lot cheaper than paying for parking.

Petco Park in downtown San Diego is home to the Padres baseball league. You can either get regular seats in the stadium or you can watch the game from the park at the park. The park is great if you have little kids that want to run around as there is a playground and grass for them, plus the tickets are a lot more affordable. You can find more information by going to the Padres official website.

You can also watch the game from the Altitude Bar at the top of the Marriott on K St. You will need to get there EARLY because it is a small bar and reaches capacity fast. Don’t forget to bring binoculars!

Padres Baseball official website

Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley is where the Chargers play. There is a large parking lot around the stadium where people tailgate. I would still recommend the trolley, especially if you are drinking. Just hop on the trolley after the game and head downtown for more fun!

Qualcomm is kind of in the middle of everything and nothing. It isn’t like Petco, which is surrounded by restaurants and things to do. There are a few restaurants nearby, like an Islands and smaller strip mall places.

You can also watch the game from one of the many bars anywhere in San Diego, which is fun, too. Check the website for schedules, tickets, and more…

Chargers Football

The San Diego Sports Arena in the Point Loma area is home to some of the minor league teams and also other shows that come to town (like Disney on Ice). There is plenty of parking but the trolley doesn’t go there. There are also a few restaurants around, like Olive Garden and Red Lobster.

Here is a list of the other San Diego sports teams in San Diego:
San Diego Gulls Hockey
San Diego Wildcats Basketball
San Diego United Soccer
OMBAC Rugby
Sea Lions Women’s Soccer
Shockwave Indoor Football

Whale watching as an organized activity dates back to 1950 when the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma was declared a public spot for the observation of Gray Whales. Each year, around 26,000 gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) make the 10,000 mile journey from the Arctic Sea south to Baja and back. In fact, the gray whale’s trip is the longest migration undertaken by any mammal. We are so lucky to be located right on their migration path.

You can see these magnificent creates from different points along the coast or by boat. Going on a boat is the best way to see the whales up close. There are a lot of different tour companies that will take you out in the ocean. You can go on a bigger boat which will cost less or a smaller boat or kayak where you may be able to get closer to the whales.

Here are some of the companies that offer tours:

Hornblower Cruises- Hornblower Cruises & Events will take you on a three-and-a-half hour excursion. $30-$35 adults.

Harbor Excursions and Birch Aquarium- Join the Birch Aquarium and San Diego Harbor Excursions team for an educational experience. $27-$30 adults.

H&M Landing- From December to March, H&M offers tours embarking from San Diego Bay. $20 for three-hour cruise.

Hike Bike Kayak San Diego- See migrating whales at eye level with this unique tour. Hike Bike Kayak offers guided kayak trips to observe whales and the gorgeous sights of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve and coastline. $55-$65.

Hornblower Whale Watching Tours
Harbor Excursions Tours
H&M Landing Tours
Kayak Tours

Honestly, I always thought the Wild Animal Park (recently renamed the San Diego Zoo Safari Park) was kind of boring. Especially compared to the zoo and Sea World and all the other cool places in San Diego.

It gets hotter there than most places in San Diego since it’s inland, so be prepared for that. In summer especially, you really need to dress for the weather and don’t forget sunscreen and water. You will get a lot of exercise walking around the park, as there is no other option for getting around.

I don’t want to give the impression that it is a terrible place to go, because that’s definitely not the case. It’s just that if you are trying to decide between two or three places, I would recommend somewhere else… unless you have the extra $70-250 to do the really cool things not included in the admission price.

On the bright side, they have a large open space where you can see all the animals living together like they would in Africa. The coolest (cheap) thing there, in my opinion, is the Lorikeet exhibit where you can actually feed the birds and they land on you.

There are some other really cool things you can do, but they are not cheap and not included in the admission price. You can feed giraffes and rhinos or get close to some cheetahs. They have a hot-air balloon ride to get an aerial view. You can even arrange to have a sleep over there.

For more information, park hours, and ticket prices click on the link… Wild Animal Park