San Diego, California: Family Fun, Shopping, Dining and the Outdoors

Southern California is known for its palm trees and beaches. There is no real “winter” here, so visitors can enjoy the lovely beaches all year ‘round. With a tour guide from an ocean sports company called Everyday California, visitors can go kayaking in La Jolla Cove in the beautiful oceanfront community of La Jolla. The floor of the cove is covered with rocks, kelp beds and canyons that attract marine life, which is why this spot is very popular among divers and snorkelers. Above the cove is the village of La Jolla and the many beautiful homes that dot the hillside.

Since the weather in San Diego is great most of the time, outdoor shopping is popular. Seaport Village, conveniently located near downtown along San Diego Bay, is a great place to walk along the waterfront overlooking the ships, boats and yachts among fun shops and restaurants.

Across the street is the beautiful Spanish-inspired architecture of The Headquarters at Seaport District. It’s hard to believe this was once a police station – now it’s surrounded by independent boutiques and restaurants.

For purchases of renowned brands and exclusive department stores, visit Fashion Valley Shopping Center, with more than 200 shops, boutiques, cinemas and restaurants.

There are 93 golf courses in San Diego, and the year-round warm climate makes it a dream come true to play golf here. Visit Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, which is open to the public and has gorgeous panoramic views of the vivid green of the golf course in beautiful contrast to the Pacific Ocean. It’s one of the most popular golf courses on the PGA Tour.

In this health-conscious city, visitors won’t have a hard time finding good food. There are farmers markets that offer fresh organic food and delicious sweets occurring every day in different neighborhoods throughout San Diego, including the Little Italy Mercato.

In addition to farmers markets, visitors will find many local restaurants throughout San Diego where they can enjoy a variety of international cuisines prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Enjoy the catch of the day with the stunning and relaxing beachfront view at prestigious surf and turf restaurant The Marine Room in the exclusive area of La Jolla. Those responsible for the restaurant’s success are Executive Chef Bernard Guillas and Chef de Cuisine Ron Oliver. With his warm sense of humor, Chef Bernard pampers diners with Ahi tuna covered with sesame seeds and black pepper and other amazing seafood dishes.

Also be sure to check out Altitude Sky Lounge, a rooftop bar in downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter, a neighborhood that bustles with numerous bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

Located about 30 minutes outside downtown San Diego is the sister property of the San Diego Zoo: the world-acclaimed San Diego Zoo Safari Park, one of the largest in the U.S. and the first to re-create animals’ natural habitats where animals can roam free. The Caravan Safari takes visitors inside the Safari Park’s field habitats in open-air trucks. Guests can feed giraffes and rhinos. With the Roar & Snore Safari, visitors can spend the night in tents provided by the Safari Park and be lulled to sleep by the murmur of the animals and tranquility of the evening under the starry sky.

For families interested in theme parks, San Diego speaks for itself. Visit SeaWorld San Diego, a sea-life-themed park with rides, shows and exhibitions where visitors can interact with and learn about the marine world.

And north of San Diego in Carlsbad, find LEGOLAND California Resort, a fantastic kid-friendly park with rides and an aquarium. Imagine how fun it is for kids to walk between buildings and among figures built with millions of LEGOs.