Amy Mitchell
Best of the Best: Three-Day San Diego Itinerary - 2nd Edition
This itinerary is the perfect introduction to San Diego, and updated in 2023 with new locations, restaurants and more.
- It includes 3 days of the best sights to see in the city and extensive maps and directions to keep you from getting lost.
- There are some tourist must sees and some local secret attractions as well.
- You may be able to find some of these places on your own, but you wouldn’t know what to see once you got there without this guide.
Sights & places you'll see with this itinerary:
- Have amazing seafood right on the beach
- Shop at a harbor village and the fast-paced hip Gaslamp Quarter
- Whale watch at the only year round whale watching boat (and they guarantee you see a whale)
- Take a romantic gondola ride
- Tour the Nation’s best zoo
- See sea-life in one of the most educational campus aquariums
- Go back to historical Mexico without having to cross the border
- Have San Diego’s best margarita and it is only $5.00
- Have tea and snacks at a Japanese tea house after wandering through the gardens and koi ponds
- See some of the largest displays of model trains anywhere
- Enjoy beautiful flowers and even carnivorous plants
- Learn about history in one of the most idyllic park settings
- Visit an old fashioned seaside amusement park and maybe even try your hand at some midway games
- Plus a lot more!
The Main Focus of this itinerary:
- Laying out the exact details of what to do in San Diego.
- Once there I outline some of my favorite spots, but you have the freedom to explore on your own as well.
- Clear and specific directions to each of the destinations. The directions are supplemented with pictures and maps. By the end of reading the itinerary you will know your way around the city.
Why You Should Buy The Guide
- Saves you time by not needing to do research for your trip to San Diego…I’ve done it for you!
- Saves you time and money by giving you specific instructions and tips on what to see (don’t waste your time and money on boring tourist traps).
- Stop wading through all guide books. I have narrowed down the best locations into three days for you.
What does the itinerary include?
- Countless pictures and maps for every location so you can find your way around.
Itinerary Table of Contents:
- How to Use This Guide
- About the Author
- Before you Go
- The 3-day itinerary -- I provide a detailed itinerary with activities, times and specific instructions.
Sample From the Itinerary
This is a sample of the itinerary. The actual itinerary includes pictures and maps.
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Balboa Park– Noon – 4:00pm
Price: Free, various prices for museums or attractions
Duration: 4 hours
Address: Visitor’s Center (#14 on map) at 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, California, 92101
Website: www.balboapark.org
Balboa Park first opened in 1868 with 1,400 acres of land for the public to enjoy. It is now known as place to go for incredible flowers, culture, art, history, even just a day in the sun. You won’t be able to see it all even in a week, so it best to pick and choose what interests you the most. Admittance to the park, the Botanical Building and most of the gardens is free. Each museum or attraction may charge a fee. Free parking is available throughout the park. As recommended above, park in the Inspiration Point parking lot (on the east side of Park Blvd., between Presidents Way and the Balboa Park Activity Center) for the best access to the free tram that will take you throughout the park. I highly recommend that your first tram stop is the Visitor’s Center at 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, California, 92101, (619) 239-0512. They are open from 9:30 until 4:30pm, even though the park grounds are open 24 hours. They can help you plan your day with brochures, guides, maps, even free tours. From there, spend a few hours at your favorite attractions. I am providing a loose outline below of what I would do, but feel free to tailor this afternoon to your own interests.
Botanical Building (12:30-1:00pm)
Lovely place to enjoy peace, quiet and the most amazing flowers.
Price: Free
Hours: open 10:00am to 4:00pm, closed holidays and Thursdays
Address: #20 on map , 1549 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101
Japanese Friendship Garden (1:00-2:00pm with lunch at the Tea House)
One of the most pleasant spots in the park. Do spend some time at the koi pond. Fun weekend classes such as sushi making.
Price: $4.00 adults, $3.00 seniors and military, kids under six free
Hours: open 10:00am to 4:00pm, Tuesday through Sunday
Address: #8 on map , 2215 Pan American Place San Diego, CA 92101
Website: www.niwa.org
San Diego Model Railroad Museum (2:00-2:30pm)
An unusual museum that is just as enchanting for adults as it is for children. Enjoy the variety of model train layouts.
Price: Adults $8.00, children under 5 free
Hours: open Tue. - Fri. 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Address: #14 on map, 1649 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101
Website: www.sdmrm.org
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Who is this guide for?
- The first (maybe second) time visitor to San Diego
- This does include quite a bit of walking, but you can choose how much walking to do at each location. If you get tired, every location has a great place to rest your feet and have a cool drink.
- This is really for all ages, though it may be a bit too much activity for children under three.
- I don’t recommend any expensive activities. Expect the most costly day is $83 per adult. And you can tailor this to best suit your budget.
Don't Forget:
- Have an amazing vacation, guaranteed! -- If you're not happy with the tour itinerary, Unanchor will gladly refund your money. (See below for additional details.)