Our Staff's Top Picks

Seadragons & Seahorses boasts one of the most expansive seadragon habitats in the world, holding enough water to fill 70 bathtubs! Weedy and Leafy Seadragons, seahorses and pipefish and their babies swim inside, all under careful observation by Birch Aquarium’s renowned Husbandry Team. They're looking to breed the Leafy Seadragons, something that has never before been done in captivity. The aquarium has successfully bred seahorses for almost 25 years.

Lighting, larger-than-life imagery, and breathtaking underwater photography enhance visitors' experience by making you feel as if you're underwater, too! Trust us when we say that this is one opportunity you don't want to miss! And don't forget the kids—access to the Seadragons & Seahorses exhibit is included in the cost of Birch Aquarium admission.

You don’t have to be in a swamp to enjoy this one-of-a-kind celebration because San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is bringing all the fun to your doorstep.

Since Fat Tuesday, surprisingly, falls on a Tuesday, the Mardi Gras festivities will begin on Friday, February 21 with a large block party. Local clubs, restaurants, and bars will be themed and ready with beads on hand. Party as much as you want, but save some energy because this is just day one.

The three-day festival will resume on Saturday with the Big Easy Bites & Booze Tour. Join your friends and hundreds of other locals and visitors alike as you sample your way through the Gaslamp Quarter. Local establishments have partnered up to create 20 unique “bites and sips” that you will get to taste with your ticket. Fill your night with music, dancing, and live performances.

The final day of revelry will be on Fat Tuesday itself. Most of the local businesses will save the best for last, so get ready to end the festival with a bang. Whether you come for one day or all three, make your way over to enjoy local performers, dress up in your masquerade best, and let the beads start rolling.

The Gaslamp Quarter is full of Victorian-style buildings and is often described as the hip place to be in San Diego. Visitors will find dozens of chic stores and foodie-friendly restaurants to experience. People-watch from one of the many cafes or rooftop bars and learn for yourself what the locals are like. For night owls, the Gaslamp Quarter is home to some of the most famous bars and clubs around, and there's never a shortage of activities.

Whenever the city of San Diego hosts a special event, there’s a good chance that it will be in the Gaslamp Quarter. Such a busy, energetic place will have limited parking, so consider walking over or using public transportation to get around easily.

Balboa Park is an immense section of San Diego that is home to over 16 of the city’s fines museums and multiple performing arts venues. The park is brimming with greenery and includes several walking and biking trails, carefully tended gardens, and over 1,200 acres of other planted greenery.

Throughout the year, Balboa Park hosts many family events. This October, the must-see event is Halloween Family Day. Halloween Family Day is returning for its 11th year at Balboa Park and will take place on October 26 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. The walkways will be filled with live performances, music, games for the kids, food trucks, and dozens of other activities. If your family is looking for some pre-Halloween excitement, this is the place to be.

The San Diego Tour allows you to tour the city at your pace and spend as much or as little time as you want at every location while also receiving top-notch commentary about the city along the way. The trolley route runs through 10 stops that are all near some shopping center, restaurant, or attraction. Passes can be for one or two days so you will never feel rushed! The routes will be run all day until closing time and there’s no better way to learn the city’s history while still exploring at your own pace.

San Diego Zoo has been called the best zoo in the world and boasts one of the largest and most diverse collections of animals in the world. It is one of a handful of zoos in the U.S. that has pandas so you will have the opportunity to see these goofy giants up close and personal - their babies too!

Starting June 16th, San Diego Zoo will also be hosting a daily event called Nighttime Zoo. Guests can enjoy extended hours and an assortment of live musical acts showcasing unique instruments and performers from far away parts of the world. In addition to the living main features of the zoo, there are also sky trams, 4d theater experiences, bus tours, and safaris so definitely plan to make this trip an all-day event!