Bucket List Travel: San Diego

When Winter finally starts to release its grip, and the first shoots of Spring arrive, our thoughts always start to turn to Summer holidays and travel, and the wanderlust once again comes to the fore. There’s a whole world out there just waiting to be explored, and part of the fun of travelling and seeing new places is in the planning because to make the best out of any new place, you need to do your research first.

San Diego is one of the places that I have on my US bucket travel list. For those who don’t know much about the place, it is a city on the Pacific coast of California that is best known for its beaches, parks and warm climate. It is the sort of place that you can visit to combine a true beach holiday, with sightseeing, shopping and even theme parks if they take your fancy. It also has a famously deep harbour that is home to a large active naval fleet, with the USS Midway, an aircraft-carrier-turned-museum, open to the public and an immensely popular tourist attraction.

If you are planning a to visit San Diego, planning is the important word. There is so much to see and do, you need to plot carefully so you don’t miss anything. Luckily, Go San Diego can point you in the direction of a whole host of San Diego tours, both on land and sea, so you don’t miss a thing.

So, what should be on your list?

San Diego Zoo

Well, no trip to San Diego should be taken without a visit to the world famous San Diego zoo, it would be like taking a trip to Paris and closing your eyes so you don’t see the Eiffel Tower! It is a busy place, so it is definitely recommended to purchase your ticket in advance in order to avoid the queues, but, once there, you are transported to an animal wonderland where you can pretty much see any animal of your choosing, including Koala bears and Pandas who are a long, long way from home.

The zoo is beautifully landscaped, with recreated Asian and African environments to give your visit a touch of authenticity.  Many combine their ticket with a visit to the San Diego safari park for the full animal experience.

San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

One of the best ways to see the city is by taking part in a San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour.  The trolley bus is a brilliant, unique way to travel and see the sights, and you can choose a one or two day ticket, which can make it very affordable too.

I love the fact that the bus has commentary, so as well as enjoying the sights, you can also be learning about them, making this a brilliant way to explore the historic quarter and Old Town and to really get a feel for the place and its history.

Enjoying the sea

Of course, San Diego is coastal, so you must do something that involves the Pacific Ocean. There are so many sea worthy activities, that range from the adventurous, to the more sedate. If you are feeling adventurous, why not try a sea kayak tour of the spectacular La Jolla sea caves, which you can do as a twosome. If this strikes you as a little too energetic, you could instead enjoy one of the many whale watching tours that take place daily on the ocean. Or you could simply relax on deck by enjoying a speed boat water tour that can take up to three people on a dozen different tours.

Have you ever visited San Diego? Do you have any plans to visit the USA this Summer? What places are on your bucket list?

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