Day Trips are a great way to see everything that sunny southern California has to offer. San Diego is a must see city with major attractions and a laid-back beach town feel. From Laguna Beach, San Diego is just a short trip to the south; and though you can easily drive there, why not enjoy a relaxing ride on the scenic Amtrak Pacific Surfliner.
Pick up the train in historic San Juan Capistrano - trains run daily - and grab a seat on the western side for the best view. From Orange County to Del Mar, the train glides along the beaches and cliffs before snaking into Mission Bay and finally to downtown’s Santa Fe Depot.
From the center of downtown San Diego, you have a variety of choices of attractions, history, shopping and entertain to see before heading back to Laguna Beach on the 8 o’clock train. Your best bet is to head right out of the train station, down Kettner to Seaport Village and catch an Old Town Trolley Tour. You can see choose one place to spend the day, or get on-and-off to see multiple attractions.
Get Wild with Wildlife
World Famous San Diego Zoo
Just north of downtown is one of the world’s most famous zoological facilities - The San Diego Zoo. Check out your favorite animals. There is a petting zoo for the kids. And don’t miss the Giant Panda enclosure - another one of the zoo’s successful breeding programs. Tickets are available at the gate and ask about special park experiences.
Sea World San Diego
If you love the ocean and marine life of California, then head out to Sea World for a day of educational and entertaining marine animal shows, aquariums and even extreme roller coaster experiences. Be sure to pack an extra set of dry clothes if you plan to sit in Shamu’s “splash zone”!
Living History and Museums
Old Town San Diego Historic Park
San Diego is one of the first sites visited by Europeans on the west coast when Juan Cabrillo landed in Point Loma in 1542. Eventually, the Franciscan monks came, built a lovely Mission and establish San Diego as the point of origin for the El Camino Real - a trail on which they erected churches from San Diego to San Francisco. The original town grew at the bottom of the hill from The Presidio. Today, it is currently a historic park with reenactments, preserved buildings and one-room schoolhouses, alongside art galleries and craftsmen. Be sure to check out the Old Town restaurants for some of the BEST Mexican food and cultural entertainment in San Diego.
Balboa Park & Museums
Next to the San Diego Zoo stands the towns most infamous and must-see attraction, a city park and cultural center, Balboa Park. Built for the Panama-Exposition of 1915, this historic landmark features numerous museums, a working replica of London’s Old Globe, an outdoor organ pavillion and gardens meticulously developed by legendary botanist Kate Sessions. You could spend most of your day trip here in this park. Between the Zoo, museums, and wonderful vistas of downtown San Diego, there is something for everyone - young and old. We highly recommend a visit to Balboa Park.
San Diego Harbor & Maritime History
If seaside communities, boats and military history is your cup of tea, then stay in the downtown area. Just a short walk south of the train station is Seaport Village, the USS Midway, the Maritime Museum, and water taxis across to Coronado island where you can visit the Hotel del Coronado, location of Marilyn Monroe’s famous beach scenes in Some Like it Hot!
Learn about the operation of historic sea steam and sailing vessels such as the Star of India, then explore a variety of seaworthy ships and exhibitions. Just nearby is the USS Midway where you can Explore a City at Sea. This retired Naval aircraft carrier and 25 restored aircraft was the longest serving in America’s history. Take a tour, visit the various rooms and quarters, and pease, ask the docents about their time on this honored American ship.
Then head down the bay to Seaport Village for shopping and free entertainment by street artists along the boardwalk. From there, you can catch a taxi across the bay - with excellent views of the Coronado Bridge - to the island. This quaint affluent town is home to some wealthy San Diegans as well as the historic Hotel del Coronado. This resort has been in operation since 1888 - when bathers wore wool swimsuits - and was most well-known for being the backdrop to Some Like it Hot, where Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe got into some jazzy antics in 1958.
San Diego is an excellent change of pace from the bustling of Los Angeles and yet very similar to Laguna Beach with it’s small-town feeling. Be sure to enjoy the sights of America’s Finest City and don’t forget to try some Baja style Mexican food before returning on the train for night of restful sleep in your Laguna Beach vacation rental.
