Day 1:
San Diego is home to some of the most beautiful coastline in the country and it would be a huge shame if you see any of it. I highly recommend renting a car when you land and spending your first day driving north for some coastline viewing.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a 1500 acre sanctuary filled with Pinus Torreyana, the rarest pine tree in the United States. It is one of two places where these pine trees grow naturally in the US and they have over 60,000 trees. There are several trails leading to various cliffs and viewpoints with the Guy Fleming Trail being the easiest one. It is a ⅔ mile loop with 2 scenic overlooks with panoramic views and the greatest variety of wildflowers, cacti, and ferns. There are many knowledgeable volunteers who can help you find the best trail.

After a beautiful hike at Torrey Pines, head on down to La Jolla Cove. No matter the time of year, there are usually many sea lions lounging and sunbathing on the beach and surrounding shoreline. There is plenty of free street parking all along the small beach and even from the sidewalk, before you even get down to the beach, you can see dozens of sea lions as well as sea birds.

Stop by the Taco Stand for a late lunch / early dinner. I highly recommend starting off with an order of the guac and chips, followed by the al pastor tacos.

Day 2:
On your second day in San Diego, spend it exploring Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre park filled with museums, theaters, gardens, walking paths, and perhaps its most famous attraction, the San Diego Zoo. Balboa Park has so much to do that you can spend the entire day there and still have not seen it all.

Start the day at San Diego Zoo, arguably the city’s most famous attraction. It is a 100 acre zoo with over 4,000 animals from 800 diverse species. They have open-air double decker buses that run 35 minute guided tours as well as a tram that stops at 4 points through the park. Your admission includes use of both buses as well as their Skyfari aerial tram that soars 170 feet above the zoo. I would suggest spending a minimum of 3-4 hours, but you can easily spend 5-6 hours here.

Within walkable distance to SDZ is the Cactus and Rose Garden. The Cactus Garden features more than 1,300 plants, including succulents and drought-resistant plants from around the world.

Also inside Balboa Park is the Japanese Friendship Garden, a 12-acre Japanese-style garden, built as an expression of friendship between San Diego and its Japanese sister city Yokohama. If you visit during the month of March, the Japanese Friendship Garden hosts its annual Cherry Blossom Festival, where they have food stalls, a small market selling local crafts and goods, and performances by local entertainers. Their website will list the day’s bloom percentage, so make sure to check that out before going!

Finish the day with dinner in Little Italy, a lively neighborhood filled with restaurants, pubs, galleries, and shops. They host a farmer’s market every Wednesday and Saturday, so if you’re in town during those days, start the day off there instead and then make your way over to Balboa Park.