This internationally renowned aquarium creatively examines the treasures of the Pacific Ocean, the planet's largest, most diverse body of water. The aquarium explores three regions of the Pacific Ocean: sunny Southern California/Baja Pacific, the frigid waters of the Northern Pacific and the coral reefs of the Tropical Pacific.

The facility's sweeping, wave-like architecture was designed to emulate the ocean.

Hours: daily 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed Christmas. Tours: guided...

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This internationally renowned aquarium creatively examines the treasures of the Pacific Ocean, the planet's largest, most diverse body of water. The aquarium explores three regions of the Pacific Ocean: sunny Southern California/Baja Pacific, the frigid waters of the Northern Pacific and the coral reefs of the Tropical Pacific.

The facility's sweeping, wave-like architecture was designed to emulate the ocean.

Hours: daily 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed Christmas. Tours: guided behind-the-scenes and animal encounters. Admission.

Location: take Highway 405 south to Highway 710 south and follow signs. Parking: on the waterside of Shoreline Dr. between Chestnut Place and Aquarium Way.

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Balboa Park is a San Diego must-see. Ranked as one of the "Best Parks in the World" by the Project for Public Space. The park is home to 15 major museums, several performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and many other cultural and recreational attractions, including the San Diego Zoo. With a variety of cultural institutions laid out among its 1,200 lushly planted acres, Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park.

Hours: daily 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free (park). Admission...

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Balboa Park is a San Diego must-see. Ranked as one of the "Best Parks in the World" by the Project for Public Space. The park is home to 15 major museums, several performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and many other cultural and recreational attractions, including the San Diego Zoo. With a variety of cultural institutions laid out among its 1,200 lushly planted acres, Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park.

Hours: daily 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free (park). Admission (various attractions).

Location: minutes from downtown.

Parking: Inspiration Point parking lot, east side of Park Blvd., between Presidents Way and the Balboa Park Activity Center for easy access via the free tram. Smaller lots are located throughout the park.

Tram: A free park tram picks up and drops off passengers at specially designated stops throughout the park. It passes each stop every 10 to 15 minutes from approx. 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Buses: buses and trolleys travel to and from the park and downtown.

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Steps away from the Pacific Ocean on Mission Bay Boardwalk, find this beachfront amusement park that offers family fun and entertainment. Drop from the Vertical Plunge, experience ups and downs on the historic Giant Dipper, a beautifully restored wooden roller coaster, or jump feet first into The Plunge, the largest indoor public swimming pool in southern California. Rides include bumper cars, combat flight simulators, a 3-D tilt-a-whirl and FlowRider, a simulated wave attraction where you can...

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Steps away from the Pacific Ocean on Mission Bay Boardwalk, find this beachfront amusement park that offers family fun and entertainment. Drop from the Vertical Plunge, experience ups and downs on the historic Giant Dipper, a beautifully restored wooden roller coaster, or jump feet first into The Plunge, the largest indoor public swimming pool in southern California. Rides include bumper cars, combat flight simulators, a 3-D tilt-a-whirl and FlowRider, a simulated wave attraction where you can surf like the pros. Enjoy waterfront restaurants, casual dining and shopping.

Hours: daily 11:00 a.m., closing time varies by season. Admission.

Location: on San Deigo's Mission Beach. Take Interstate 5 (I-5) south to SeaWorld Dr. Follow the signs to West Mission Bay Dr.

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Dedicated to Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who arrived in the San Diego area in 1542, the monument recognizes Cabrillo with a statue atop Point Loma (loma means hill). Learn about San Diego's early history in a video presentation at the visitor center, then view the restored lighthouse from the 1850s or take a self-guided two-mile walk.

The monument provides visitors two unique experiences with nature. From October to June, the park is home to protected rocky tide pools that trap delicate sea life...

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Dedicated to Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who arrived in the San Diego area in 1542, the monument recognizes Cabrillo with a statue atop Point Loma (loma means hill). Learn about San Diego's early history in a video presentation at the visitor center, then view the restored lighthouse from the 1850s or take a self-guided two-mile walk.

The monument provides visitors two unique experiences with nature. From October to June, the park is home to protected rocky tide pools that trap delicate sea life during extreme low tides. From December to February California gray whales migrate along the coast and can be seen from the monument.

Hours: daily 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission.

Location: on Point Loma. From downtown San Diego, take Harbor Dr. past the airport, turn left onto Rosecrans St., then right onto Canon St. and then left onto Catalina Blvd. (also know as Cabrillo Memorial Dr.)

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When Monterey's sardine industry was at its peak, John Steinbeck made this mile-long street famous with his 1945 novel "Cannery Row." Today it is a tourist attraction with souvenir stores, family entertainment options, restaurants of all types, wine tasting rooms, gift shops, art galleries, and apparel and accessories.

Cannery Row is comprised of numerous historic and accurately reconstructed buildings with ties to the industry and its Chinese workers. California sea lions call the area their...

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When Monterey's sardine industry was at its peak, John Steinbeck made this mile-long street famous with his 1945 novel "Cannery Row." Today it is a tourist attraction with souvenir stores, family entertainment options, restaurants of all types, wine tasting rooms, gift shops, art galleries, and apparel and accessories.

Cannery Row is comprised of numerous historic and accurately reconstructed buildings with ties to the industry and its Chinese workers. California sea lions call the area their home too. The building at 800 Cannery Row belonged to Ed "Doc" Ricketts, a close friend of the author and a central character in the novel. Directly across the street, next to Mackerel Jack's Trading Company, is Steinbeck's actual neighborhood - Pacific Grove.

Location: from Highway 1, exit Highway 68 west/Pacific Grove. Continue four miles to David Ave., turn right and travel to the end. Follow signs. Parking: numerous parking lots, a parking garage, and plenty of street parking.

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This was the second of the 22 California missions to be established. Founded in 1770, it remains a working Catholic church. The Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo (Carmel Mission) is the site of the Carmelo Mission Basilica and the National Shrine of Blessed Junipero Serra, named for the founding priest who moved the mission to its current locale.

The grounds house the Mora Chapel Museum, the Sir Harry Downie Museum (the individual responsible for a major restoration of the California...

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This was the second of the 22 California missions to be established. Founded in 1770, it remains a working Catholic church. The Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo (Carmel Mission) is the site of the Carmelo Mission Basilica and the National Shrine of Blessed Junipero Serra, named for the founding priest who moved the mission to its current locale.

The grounds house the Mora Chapel Museum, the Sir Harry Downie Museum (the individual responsible for a major restoration of the California missions), the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament and the Convent Museum, plus some of the most important artifacts of California's mission period.

Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some aspects of the mission are closed during religious services. Tours (free): self-guided; guided 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Admission.

Location: south of Monterey. From Highway 1 (Cabrillo Highway) south, exit on Rio Rd. and travel west. The mission will be on the left.

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Coronado is a small beach community with a village-like atmosphere that is a short ferry ride (see separate listing) San Diego Harbor Tours) or drive from San Diego. By water arrive at the Coronado Ferry Landing or drive across the Coronado Bay Bridge. Discover upscale shopping, white sand beaches, excellent dining opportunities and great views of San Diego's skyline.

The magnificent Victorian-era Hotel del Coronado with its signature red turrets holds court over the south end of the "island"...

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Coronado is a small beach community with a village-like atmosphere that is a short ferry ride (see separate listing) San Diego Harbor Tours) or drive from San Diego. By water arrive at the Coronado Ferry Landing or drive across the Coronado Bay Bridge. Discover upscale shopping, white sand beaches, excellent dining opportunities and great views of San Diego's skyline.

The magnificent Victorian-era Hotel del Coronado with its signature red turrets holds court over the south end of the "island" overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The Coronado Historical Association, housed in its Museum of History and Art, along with the city's visitor center, offers walking tours of the Hotel del Coronado, famous buildings and architecture, historic areas of the community and of Spreckels Park (from an arborists point of view).

Hours: 24/7 Free.

Location: southwest of San Diego, across San Diego Bay.

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