The Best Non-Touristy Things to Do in San Diego
Escape the crowds of tourists and discover some of San Diego’s hidden gems with our guide to non-touristy things to do while visiting America’s Finest City. Whether you’re on vacation or a tried and true San Diegan, we guarantee you will find something new to explore while in the city!
Unveiling San Diego’s Hidden Gems
Take in the Gardens
For someuniquethingsto do in San Diego, take a stroll through one of the area’s many gardens. Located in Kit Carson Park, at the Iris Sankey Arboretum in Escondido, Queen Califia’s Magical Circle is a sculpture garden featuring Gaudi-esk mosaic artwork created by artist Niki de Saint Phalle. When you visit the Palomar College Arboretum, you have the opportunity to see plants from around the world, including rare and endangered plants across acres of botanical gardens. There’s also Zoro Garden in Balboa Park, which was originally a nudist colony in 1935, now a butterfly and botanical garden.
View the Salk institute
Take a Salk Institute Architectural Tour to view this historical San Diego landmark. The original building cluster, which has garnered architectural awards, is one of the most prominent sites in the world for its structural design. A visit to the courtyard to experience the blend between sea, sky, and science is truly remarkable.
Courtesy of San Diego Union Tribune
Stroll Across the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge
Experience stunning views while traversing 70 feet above Sessions Canyon when you stroll across the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge. The lush landscape backdrop and partial city views makes this a photo worthy trip. Expect the bridge to sway a bit as you cross, due its design, in this unique and thrilling adventure.
Local Favorites and Insider Tips
Catch a Local Theatrical Production
Enjoy an evening out at the theater while in San Diego. The La Jolla Playhouse at UC San Diegowas founded by actors like Gregory Peck in 1947 as a Hollywood retreat. Nowadays, you’ll find Tony Award winning artists, musicals, and plays inspiring and empowering a new generation of theater goers. View the season line up and get your tickets fast! The Old Globe in Balboa Park is another professional theatrical venue that puts on roughly fifteen musicals and plays between the summer and winter seasons. In fact, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is an annual winter solstice experience for many San Diegans. Up for a wide range of productions and off-off Broadway shows? Visit Ocean Beach Playhouse for professional, semi-professional and children’s theatrical productions just blocks away from the beach.
Head to the Surf
SouthernCaliforniais not short of sun and coastline, so when it comes to San Diego, the locals have their favorite spots that really shine. Topping the list of non-touristy things to do in San Diego is a visit to Swami’s Beach in Encinitas. Swami’s is an internationally renowned surfing mecca, as well as a wonderful destination for beach walks due to the sand density. Up for something a little out of the ordinary, visit Coronado Islandand you might get the chance to see the SS Monte Carlo Shipwreck. This ship has quite the history but it’s most infamous for being an illegal casino barge that drifted ashore during a storm, with no one claiming ownership due to the illegality of the vessel. The best opportunity you’ll have to see this hidden gemis immediately after a storm before the tides bury the ship again.
Courtesy of Mirror
Check Out the Local Music Scene
Catching some of the best local and visiting artists while in town is one of the best uniquethingsto do while in San Diego county. Spend the evening listening to various types of music at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, featuring some of the best new artists and legends in an intimate, locals’ favorite venue. Looking for something a bit more upscale, the Music Box in Banker’s Hill offers live music, small bites and craft cocktails in an audiophile-grade acoustics, three-story venue. Interested in something a bit more casual? Brick by Brick in Bay Park is San Diego’s home for hard-rock bands in a dive bar-esq setting. Then there’s Winston’s Beach Club in Ocean Beach, which is two-blocks from the beach and offers that coastal community, laid back vibe.
Looking for something different?
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Local Brews and Views
Carlsbad Food & Drink
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Journey through time and space on our Carlsbad food tours. Enjoy notable San Diego cuisines.
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Tour San Diego on foot, and you’re sure to find a tasty brew in your hand!
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Off-the-Beaten-Path Attractions
Annie’s Canyon Trail
Located within the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, along the Solana Hills Trail, you can find a short detour known as Annie’s Canyon Trail. From the lagoon to the sandstone canyon, this area is great any time of year and is an easy loop of just over two miles, which is why it’s so popular with the locals.
Potato Chip Rock
Head out to Potato Chip Rock for an Instagram-worthy pic on the edge of this natural rock formation. Up for the hike? As part of the Mt Woodson Trail, this 7.4-mile round-trip hike near Lake Poway is moderately challenging and could take you around four and a half hours to complete. Not up for that long of a hike? Take the less strenuous Mt Woodson Road trail off the 67 that’s roughly 4-miles round-trip and takes you up the backside of the summit.
Courtesy of Indy100
Sunset Cliffs Caves
These beautiful caves along Ocean Beach’s Sunset Cliffs are worth the short hike down the cliffs to the beach. Be sure to exercise caution, however, as these smaller caves, slotted routes, and a larger open domed cave can only be accessible during negative tides. The views and experience are definitely worth it but you’ll want to do your research before your visit as this is not an easy hike. For more information on accessing the Sunset Cliffs Caves, Chelsey Explores has an in-depth guide.
Sunny Jim’s Sea Caves
As California’s only sea cave that can be accessed by land, you can get to Sunny Jim through a tunnel that’s over 100-years old. Access to the trail head actually lies through a small gift shop on Coast Boulevard in La Jolla, which might be surprising to those browsing the shop unaware of its location. If you have a few dollars and 15-30 minutes to spare, the quick trip down to Sunny Jim is worth the experience. Just watch your step as it can get slippery.
Embrace the Authentic Side of San Diego
Chicano Park
Head down to Chicano Park to view San Diego’s most vibrant collection of frescos and the world’s largest consolidation of Chicano murals. Take a gander at the events calendar to catch a variety of festivals with music and traditional Aztec dance being held in Barrio Logan, the oldest Mexican-American neighborhood in San Diego.
Courtesy of San Diego
Pier Fishing and Fishing Charters
One of the best things to do in San Diego would be pier fishing alongside the locals. There are several locations along the San Diego coastline including the Imperial Beach Pier, the Shelter Island Pier in the heart of the Portuguese fisherman community, Crystal Pier if you want to stay in one of the over-the-sea lodgings for a unique experience, or Oceanside Pier with a Ruby’s Diner on the end for when you’d like to take a midday break. Ocean Beach Pier is the longest in San Diego and great for deep water fishing, but is currently closed for repairs. Interested in deeper water fishing? Opt to book a half-day or full-day fishing charter. H&M Landing and Fisherman’s Landing, as well as several other charters on the Point Loma peninsula, offer a variety of deep-sea fishing charters, with rates starting at $60 per person. Make sure to verify the fishing licenses required for whichever experience you choose before you go.
Farmers Markets
For truly non-touristy things to do in San Diego, discover local arts, crafts, eats and locally grown produce at any of the cities Certified Farmers Markets. Head down to the Ocean Beach Farmers Market to peruse over 100 vendors, located on the 4900 block of Newport Avenue, every Wednesday from 4pm until 8pm. Check out the amazing Hillcrest Farmers Market with over 175 vendors on Normal Street, every Sunday from 9am until 2pm, but make sure to leave your pooch at home as this is not a dog friendly event. In North Park and want to pick up some local goodies? The North Park Farmers Market has over 50 vendors, is located on North Park Way between Ray Street and Granada Avenue, and runs every Thursday from 3pm to 7:30pm, rain or shine. Or maybe show extra support for the community by visiting the La Jolla Open Aire Market. All proceeds from the Open Aire Market benefit La Jolla Elementary School for improvements and program funding. Enjoy over 120 vendors every Sunday from 9am until 1pm at 7335 Girard Avenue, at the corner of Girard Street and Genter Street.
Unveil the hidden side of San Diego by visiting non-touristy attractions and activities. Take a day or two to discover local favorites, off-the-beaten-path gems, and experience the authentic and less crowded side of San Diego.You’ll find that outside the popular tourist hubs, San Diego has so much to offer!
If you’re looking for a specially curated experience, contact us today to book a San Diego tour! So Diego offers many daily food tours, leading foodies through the vast culinary landscapethat San Diego has to offer. Whether you want to discover the best bites of the Gaslamp Quarter,Old Town,Little Italy, or La Jolla, we have a tour for you!
Written by: Melissa
Melissa hails from San Jose, CA, and has been a San Diego local for five years now after a 10-year long pit stop in Los Angeles. In L.A., she began her writing career crafting digital content for a wide range of clients, including The Real Talk Show, Sharon Osbourne, Hank Azaria, Time Life, and Cardinal Financial. She’s excited to be able to use her passion for writing to introduce people to some of the best spots in San Diego, many of which she has already frequented or has on her ever-expanding list of things to do … In her spare time, she enjoys taking her puppy Milo to all of the best dog beaches in SD, grabbing a glass of wine or a cup of joe at new places, and hosting watch parties for The Bachelor/ette TV show.
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