San Diego County - 89 Attractions You Must Visit

The Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier is an icon of UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a vital research facility that houses numerous environmental monitoring stations and enables small boat and scientific diving operations. It was built in 1988, replacing the original pier built in 1916 with funds provided by its namesake patron, and is considered one of the world's largest research piers.

Ellen Browning Scripps Park is a popular place to hang out in the village of La Jolla. It is considered one of the most photographed locations in San Diego. It’s adjacent to the famous La Jolla Cove, a lovely place for a picnic, and fun for kids or pets to run around. Some hotels and restaurants overlook this green space on the way out to the Pacific Ocean.

This is a large peninsular park located within Mission Bay, is a popular location for charity walks and runs, bicycle races, time trials and other special events. It is also the home of the annual Over-the-Line tournament.

The Fleet Science Center is a science museum and planetarium in Balboa Park, located in San Diego, established in 1973. It was the first science museum to combine interactive science exhibits with a planetarium and an IMAX Dome theater, setting the standard that most major science museums follow today.

This is the only Museum in the world dedicated to United States Marine Corps aviation, with the largest and most complete collection of vintage aircraft flown by Marine pilots in the world. The museum contains exhibits and artifacts relating to the history and legacy of United States Marine Corps Aviation. The outdoor exhibits include 31 historical aircraft, multiple military vehicles and equipment.

This is a historical wooden roller coaster located in Belmont Park, a small amusement park in the Mission Beach area of San Diego, California. Built in 1925, it and its namesake at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk are the only remaining wooden roller coasters on the West Coast designed by noted roller coaster designers Frank Prior and Frederick Church, and the only one whose construction they supervised. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The Japanese Friendship Garden is located in Balboa Park and represents the friendship between San Diego and its sister city in Yokohama, Japan. It binds the two cultures to create a unique experience for visitors from all over the world; over 240,000 people from across the United States and the world visit the garden annually. The garden is well-known for its unique placement, sukiya-style buildings, koi ponds, and landscape exhibits.

The Junípero Serra Museum, in Presidio Park, is one of the most familiar landmarks in San Diego. The Museum exhibits archeological finds, historic objects, and reference materials related to Spanish colonization and the early history of California and provides educational programs about the Spanish, Mexican and indigenous heritage of the San Diego region.

A is a small, picturesque cove and beach that is surrounded by cliffs. The Cove is protected as part of a marine reserve; underwater it is very rich in marine life, and is popular with snorkelers, swimmers and scuba divers.

A beautiful beach, which varies dramatically, from 300-foot sea cliffs, to rocky reefs, to secluded coves and wide golden sandy shores. Its beautiful coastal landscape makes portions of the beach inaccessible, the views are beyond spectacular, as waves and whitewater break onto rocky outcroppings, and seals and sea lions gracefully navigate safe landing onto their protected cove.

La Jolla Shores Park is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of California and an extremely popular one. It has stretches of grass, an enticing playground, a large bathroom and outdoor shower facilities, it is catered to ensuring a fun, smooth family or group outing. Due to its flourishing aquatic life and proximity to Scripps Institute of Oceanography, it is a very popular launch point for scuba divers, kayakers, stand up paddle boarders and snorkelers.

Lake Hodges is a lake and reservoir located in Southern California, about 31 miles north of San Diego. When full, the reservoir has 1,234 acres, a maximum water depth of 115 feet , and 27 miles of shoreline. It is one of the beautiful picnic location in this area and also there are so many other activities too.

Lake Murray is a reservoir in San Diego, California, owned by the City of San Diego's Public Utilities Department. the reservoir covers 171.1 acres , has a maximum water depth of 95 feet , and a shoreline of 3.2 miles. The asphalt-paved service road lining roughly two-thirds of the lake's perimeter is a popular recreation site for the Navajo community. It lies south of Cowles Mountain and is an important reporting point for aircraft inbound to land at Montgomery Field Airport.

Third Legoland park to open. Legoland California is a theme park, miniature park, and aquarium. It comes with over 60 rides, shows and attractions.

A 7-day a week Public Market and event venue offering the best of what the region has to offer. Showcasing a rustic environment with prepared foods, beer, wine, specialty cocktails, produce, fish, desserts and pastries, pastas, arts and crafts, a test kitchen, pop up dinners, and educational driven events.

Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve is beautiful year-round, with an ecosystem unlike any other in San Diego County. The park encompasses some 4,000 acres of both Peñasquitos and Lopez canyons, and is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. The preserve is jointly owned and administered by the City of San Diego and the County of San Diego.

Manta is a steel launched roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego, California. Manta features two launches. Riders reach speeds of up to 43 miles per hour on the two-minute, 2,800-foot long ride.

Established in 1948, it preserves one of the largest collections of historic sea vessels in the United States. The centerpiece of the museum's collection is the Star of India, an 1863 ironbark.

Mingei International Museum preserves and exhibits folk art, craft and design from all eras and cultures of the world. Its collection now comprises more than 26,000 objects of folk art, craft and design from 141 countries. The collections contain artifacts from the 3rd century BCE to the present day and include objects as diverse as ancient clay vessels and 21st-century Venetian glass.

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá was the first of 21 Franciscan missions established in California. The mission and the surrounding area were named for the Catholic saint Didacus of Alcalá, a Spaniard more commonly known as San Diego. The current church, built in the early 19th century, is the fifth to stand on this location. The mission site is a National Historic Landmark.