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San Diego Attractions

By J. Maury Harris
San Diego Attractions

Where to go and what to see in
San Diego


BALBOA PARK Balboa Park welcomes visitors with its 15 world-class museums and the acclaimed Prado restaurant. At the San Diego Museum of Natural History, check out the largest and most comprehensive exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls, through December. 1549 El Prado, 619-239-0512; balboapark.org.

SAN DIEGO ZOO Summer sun brings nighttime fun, when the world-famous zoo extends its hours and lets you catch nocturnal critters in action. Nighttime Zoo runs June 22 through September 3, until 9 p.m. 2000 Zoo Drive, Balboa Park, 619-234-3153; sandiegozoo.org.

GASLAMP QUARTER Once a red-light district known as the Stingaree, the Gaslamp is now home to a host of swanky nightclubs and music venues. If singing and dancing aren’t your things, the plethora of standout restaurants, art galleries and coffeehouses is also enticing. Downtown, south of Broadway, between Fourth and Sixth avenues, 619-233-5227; gaslamp.org.

SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO Shamu Rocks dazzles nighttime audiences during Summer Nights, through September 3, when four LED screens take Shamu on a freewheeling musical journey. Extended summer hours allow guests to revel with sea lions Clyde and Seamore at the comical Sea Lions Tonite show. 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, 800-380-3203; seaworld.com.

WILD ANIMAL PARK Visiting the African plains without a passport is as easy as taking the new Journey into Africa tour. Watch African drummers and entertainers perform traditional songs and dances, and check out the rarely seen nocturnal creatures during the extended hours of Park at Dark. 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, 760-747-8702; wildanimalpark.org.

LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA Legoland California has hit the jackpot with Miniland Las Vegas. From “The Strip” to sails, this summer’s new swashbuckling adventure, Captain Cranky’s Challenge, is the fifth attraction added to the pirate-theme water world of Pirate Shores. 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad, 760-918- 5346; legoland.com.

PETCO PARK The Padres claimed the title of National League Western Division champs the past two years, but the team’s ballpark itself is an attraction. Its retro style incorporates the historic Western Metal Supply Company building in left field and the Park at the Park in center. 100 Park Boulevard, San Diego, 619-795- 5011; petcoparkevents.com.

BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS More than 60 tanks bring a variety of aquatic habitats into one campus, but more lies beyond the activities, kelp forests and living tidepools. This summer, the Birch Aquarium premieres “Feeling the Heat: The Climate Challenge,” using interactive displays and multimedia experiences to educate visitors. 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, 858-534-FISH; aquarium.ucsd.edu.

SAN DIEGO AIRCRAFT CARRIER MUSEUM The United States Navy still holds a commanding presence in our waters, and the U.S.S. Midway honors this by making San Diego Harbor its homeport. The recent expansion aboard this floating museum allows guests to explore the admiral’s quarters, conference room, war room, combat information center, captain’s in-port cabin and the brig, down on the second deck. Navy Pier, North Embarcadero, 910 North Harbor Drive, downtown, 619-544- 9600; midway.org.

BELMONT PARK The iconic Giant Dipper is one of only two original oceanfront roller coasters still rolling in the United States. The Wave House includes the revitalized Plunge (built in 1925, it was the largest salt-water pool in the world), and the FlowRider is ready to test your surfing skills. 3146 Mission Boulevard, Mission Beach, 858-228-WAVE (9283); belmontpark.com.