San Diego is nestled in the southern end of California and is the state's second most populated city behind Los Angeles. San Diego is proudly home to Balboa Park, which hosts the famous San Diego Zoo. Not many people know this but Balboa Park is actually bigger than New York City's Central Park. Embrace San Diego’s warm climate by packing a picnic or going for a stroll in this beautiful parkland. You’ll see many “San Diegans'' as they’re commonly known, with shoes off feeling the lush green grass between their toes, going for a run or trying their hand at some yoga in the park.
The San Diego Zoo is the highlight of the park and one of the largest zoos in the world. It cares for over 3,500 animals. Everything from leopards, anacondas, elephants, gorillas, and koalas can be found there. What makes this zoo so special is that it's leading the way in America to help with the rehabilitation of endangered species. The zoo contributes a massive amount of research in helping rebuild, repopulate and re-educate. Gifting Owl has you covered by providing admission packages to the zoo starting at $63.
That’s just the start. There is so much more to this All American city. You can treat yourself to some of the best museums in the country, as well as art galleries, bars and restaurants. San Diego is actually the birthplace of the California Burrito. This delicious masterpiece is a burrito jam-packed with carne asada and fries.
There is a large Mexican influence in San Diego, and rightly so being so close to the Mexican border. In fact, you can do day trips to Mexico from San Diego. People often choose to stay coastal and experience places like Ensenada or Rosarito Beach.
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that Americans take pride in their service people. The San Diego harbour boasts a huge naval base, which is still active today. You can’t help but feel a little in awe and a sense of power when you experience the pride and comradery first hand. The feature attraction in the harbour is an out of service aircraft-carrier. The USS Midway is now a museum open to the public. Gifting Owl has tickets for general admission to the San Diego Maritime Museum for just $39. Hot tip: Keep your eyes in the sky, if you’re lucky you might see paratroopers jumping from planes as part of their elite training. Gifting Owl also has plenty of adventure experiences available to get you airborne. Just picture yourself flying through the skies in a Combat Wingman Package. Or how about Gifting Owl’s most popular experience, the Top Gun adventure, where you get to fly the plane.
Drive 10-minutes from downtown San Diego and you’ll find yourself at Coronado Beach. This beautiful beach contributes to the 70-miles of San Diego’s sandy coastline. Only seven miles away is Mission Beach and it is one pumping place to be both in and out of the water. It has stand up paddleboarding, surfing, kite surfing, as well as an esplanade with roller coasters, bars and restaurants. For a change of pace, La Jolla Cove is home to hundreds of wild sea lions. These beautiful creatures are a familiar fixture to the area and can be found lazing on the beach year-round providing the perfect opportunity for an up-close encounter. If you’re missing your pet dog because you had to leave it at home, head to North Beach for a cuddle, as it’s San Diego’s dog-friendly beach.
San Diego has a relaxed beach town vibe about it as opposed to other bustling cities. However, you can still dress up for a night on the town and visit places such as the Altitude Sky Lounge, which has great views of the city. There’s also Prohibition Lounge, or something with a little more hype, Omnia nightclub. For a chilled whisky lovers dive bar, you can’t go past the Aero Club bar. Trailer Park After Dark has been called a ‘unique hidden gem’ with well-priced drinks and loud music. It’s the ultra-cool vibe and awesome decor feature old school arcade games to play.
You can always sit back, relax and jump on board one of Gifting Owl’s 4-hr San Diego City Tours for just $81. Let us help you get your bearings and show you the hot spots such as La Jolla Coastline, Balboa Park, Old Town and Coronado Beach. This way you can choose your favourite places to go back to and indulge further at your own pace as the mood takes you. San Diego is an all-ages destination and the city is your oyster.
