AARP's City Guide to San Diego

​Things to do in San Diego

Cabrillo National Monument

Named for the first European who landed here in 1542, Cabrillo National Monument juts out into the Pacific, cajoling visitors with wild sea cliffs and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, a 19th-century Cape Cod–style fixture that has served at different times as a signal tower, Army post exchange and tea house. Its interiors have been restored, and it’s now open to the public ($10). When the tide wanes at the nearby Rocky Intertidal Zone to reveal lively tide pools, you can wander the rocks in search of starfish, sea urchins, anemones and other saltwater critters — but typically only in fall and winter during daylight hours. The cooler months also welcome the gray whale migration. These gentle giants grow to 30 to 50 feet in length and can be spotted journeying from the Arctic to Baja each year. Head to the Kelp Forest and Whale Overlook for the best view. You can check with the visitor center for binocular rentals, but supply is limited, so bringing your own is a good idea. On clear days, you can easily see Mexico’s Guadalupe Island with the naked eye. 

Liberty Station

Formerly the Naval Training Center, Liberty Station first welcomed troops to San Diego in 1923. Some 2.75 million Navy recruits and school sailors trained here over the course of seven decades before the 365-acre site was transformed into a historic district and town square, with artist studios, a public market, shopping, educational centers and more representing San Diegan creativity. Today you can discover Liberty Station at your own pace on a self-guided walking tour or during First Friday Arts District, when a different artist opens their studio to the public for live demonstrations, talks and more on the first Friday of each month. Come hungry: Liberty Public Market is one of the best places in the city to sample food, beverages and crafts from an array of local artisans.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Take a day trip to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California’s largest state park, at more than 900 square miles. Birders will appreciate the hundreds of species of birds that call the park home, along with bighorn sheep, coyotes and kit foxes, bobcats and reptiles. Late spring brings out the best in the park, when it’s in full bloom. Note that cell service here is unreliable and spotty at best, and summer temperatures skyrocket into the triple digits.

See a show, outside

With sunny days and mild temperatures year-round, San Diego knows how to capitalize on good weather. The city is home to two Tony Award–winning theaters and multiple performing arts and live music venues that showcase international talent — and some of the best are outdoors. The acoustically and architecturally divine Rady Shell at Jacobs Park debuted in summer 2021 on the Embarcadero Marina Park South as home to the San Diego Symphony and special concerts. Catch live music or comedy at Shelter Island’s Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, an intimate-feeling 1,400-seat waterfront theater that makes shows even better with stunning sunsets in the background. 

​Oceanside Pier 

San Diego’s northernmost city of Oceanside is home to one of the longest wooden piers on the West Coast, measuring a whopping 1,942 feet, or more than a quarter mile. Stroll the planks, peeking into fishermen’s buckets along the way, and watch as daredevil surfers attempt to shoot the pier (i.e., navigate the pilings without wiping out).

​Soar above the sand

At the Gliderport on the seaside cliffs of Torrey Pines, a state ecological reserve named for the unique tree that grows only here and in one other place in the world, adventurers run toward the Pacific Ocean and jump to catch the wind beneath their paragliding wings. Even if you’re not interested in testing the winds yourself, watching others lazily glide through the air while surfers ride the waves below is mesmerizing.

Where to eat in San Diego ​

Wayfarer Bread & Pastry

Keep breakfast simple with a very complex carb from Wayfarer Bread & Pastry, a Bird Rock neighborhood staple that sells out of fan favorites (any and all croissants, which are a three-day production) almost daily. But don’t arrive right at opening; 9 a.m. is the sweet spot for fresh pastries already out of the oven before they’ve sold out. The focus here is on naturally fermented breads, and the bake is dark, caramelized to intensify the flavor profile. Menus change slightly each week, featuring different savory scones and buns. Wayfarer also sells sandwiches (meat and vegetarian on baguettes and sliced sourdough) perfect for a beach picnic. 

Fish 101

Since opening the original Leucadia location in 2011 (and the subsequent Cardiff outpost in 2019), this restaurant has supported local anglers, resulting in premium flavor without the premium price tag. Ask what’s good that day when ordering — no matter what fish you end up with, you’ll leave totally satiated. Bonus: Fish 101 does not skimp on portion sizes. 

​Mister A’s

With 180-degree bird’s-eye views from the 12th-floor penthouse of the Manchester Financial building in Bankers Hill, Mister A’s is a San Diego institution, and has been since it opened in 1965. As of October 2022, the fine-dining staple of the city’s skyline is under new ownership for only the third time in its history. Now at the helm is longtime A’s operations manager Ryan Thorsen, who’s breathing new life into the restaurant in all the right ways, with a tasteful front-of-house face-lift and veggie-forward menus designed for sharing. The best part: You can sit in the lounge and snack on more than just the blue-cheese–stuffed olives in your martini thanks to an expanded bar menu. Note: The business casual dress code is still strictly enforced.