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Toll Free: 877-624-6889
Intl: (407) 917-8432
Posted on December 09, 2022
When you think of beautiful Southern California, San Diego may not be the first location that comes to mind, but it should be. You won’t believe the number of things to do in San Diego from outdoor adventure and surfing to fine dining and wilderness hikes. A San Diego timeshare allows you to visit every year and explore to your heart’s content.
Considered the birthplace of California, it has 70 miles of pristine white-sand beaches, loads of historic landmarks, a vibrant nightlife with first-class clubs and restaurants, and, of course, the world-famous golf courses.
Here are just 10 of the many things to do in San Diego:
Among the most famous Zoos in the U.S., the San Diego Zoo was ahead of its time when it created habitats and ecosystems to make the animals more comfortable. It is a great experience for kids and you can easily spend the whole day there.
A Safari Park is part of the zoo where you will see many exotic animals roaming free in their natural habitat. You need not walk all day because there is a Kangaroo Bus and a Skyfari Aerial Tram, so you can see all you want without getting exhausted.
Balboa Park is another place you can spend the whole day. The zoo is located in the park, but there is much more. Botanical gardens, historical buildings, several museums, and open landscaped spaces make this 1,400-acre park a real wonderland.
The park was completed in 1916 for the Panama California Exhibition and it is almost unchanged since then. The exhibits are housed in magnificent Spanish-style buildings that harmonize perfectly with the park.
Near the famous Petco Convention Center, the Gaslamp Quarter is a National Historic District and the center of the city’s nightlife. The buildings are restored late 19th and early 20th century and it contains restaurants that offer a wide variety of cuisines, live jazz, and music venues, comedy clubs, and theater performances.
A San Diego timeshare in this area will put you right in the heart of the city and within walking distance of much of the action.
Seaport Village is a great place to eat, especially seafood, shop in the many fascinating boutiques, and enjoy entertainment. There are outdoor theater performances on most afternoons and plenty of street performers. There is also a historic carousel with hand-carved wooden horses and other traditional features.
The Seaport Village is within walking distance of the USS Midway, a decommissioned military aircraft carrier that is open to the public.
The USS Midway, an aircraft carrier, is one of the largest ships in the U.S. military. It is berthed at Navy Pier and is open as a museum with 60 exhibits and more than 30 restored aircraft. Walk through the ship with a self-guided audio tour, and for a nominal fee, try the flight simulator to see if you can land a plane on an aircraft carrier.
The Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is a must-see for history aficionados. This state park is one of the most visited in California and there are good reasons for this. There is no admission fee and much of the entertainment is free.
San Diego started as a small Mexican pueblo, and this park recreates the town and beginnings of the city from 1821 – 1872. You will step back in time and see authentic working businesses such as a blacksmith, Mexican crafts, and art studios all while enjoying live Mariachi music.
The restaurants are also keeping with the atmosphere and serve local cuisine where you can dine al fresco in an authentic square surrounded by the original adobe structures that have been repaired. If you want to work off some of your delicious meals, try one of the free walking tours offered twice daily.
Jutting into the Pacific Ocean is Point Loma, a hilly, woodland peninsula with the Pacific Ocean on one side and San Diego Bay on the other. With hiking trails, tide pools, and a refurbished 1852 lighthouse at the tip, it’s another great place to spend a day in San Diego. The views of the city skyline are spectacular, especially at dusk.
Cabrillo National Monument is also at the tip of the peninsula. A large statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo commemorates his first landing on the west coast of the U.S. in 1542.
It is a magical place where you might see whales and dolphins traveling north or south depending on the time of year. On a clear day, you can see Mexico. You will find scenic hiking trails and the one-mile Bayside Trail leads to tide pools that children love.
San Diego is famous for its beautiful beaches and Mission Beach tops the list. You can swim, surf, play beach volleyball and more on the white sand, or stroll along the three-mile boardwalk where there are shops and cafés. Relax with a coffee or cool drink and watch the locals skateboard, cycle or rollerblade by.
Mission Beach is also the location of Belmont Park, an amusement park in the style of Coney Island in the east. It is complete with a historic roller coaster, plenty of eateries, street performers, and other thrill rides.
California sunsets put on a spectacular show and Sunset Cliffs Natural Park gives you a chance to leave the city behind and spend an afternoon among the crashing waves and rising cliffs. You will never forget the colors on the rocks and water when the sun sets and have 68 acres of coastal bluffs to explore. If you want to spend some time in the great outdoors, this is one of the best things to do in San Diego.
The 21 California Missions are famous all over the world. Each station was designated by Junipero Serra, and Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala is the first one. It was built in 1769 by the Spanish Franciscan Father from Majorca. In 1775, the Native Americans burned it down, but in 1777 they helped rebuilt it.
The mission is a National Historic Landmark and has a museum as well as beautifully landscaped gardens surrounding the building.
The next time you think of a vacation in Southern California, think of San Diego. The beaches are perfect and the activities are almost endless. Owning a timeshare will guarantee you a great vacation whenever you choose.
Below you’ll find the top San Diego timeshares based on the feedback we receive through offers and inquiries placed through our system.
This former Welk Resort is now part of the Hyatt Vacation Club and sits above Escondido, about a 40-minute drive to downtown San Diego. The location is great to experience a secluded getaway, yet close enough to take in all of the terrific attractions and beaches in the region. One, two- and three-bedroom villas let you enjoy the golf, dining, live theater, pools and spa facilities that are all onsite.
If you want to be close to the Gaslamp Quarter, this is the place to be. Located about a block from the Balboa Theater, you’re within walking distance of the shops, restaurants, galleries and nightlife of this fabulous part of town. This urban location offers studio and one-bedroom units with living room, sleeper sofa, kitchen facilities, wi-fi and access to steam room, sauna and fitness center.
This Grand Pacific Resorts offering is in Del Mar, a fabulous beachside community about 25 minutes north of San Diego. The beach is great and the famed Torrey Pines Golf Course is just minutes away. Wave Crest is perched on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with Del Mar Village only two blocks away with its boutiques and restaurants. Studio, one- and two-bedroom units make it all possible.
Also in the community of Del Mar, you’re only a block from the beach with wonderful sunsets over the Pacific, yet only about a 25-minute drive to SeaWorld San Diego and the rest of the area’s wonderful attractions. Swimming pool, fitness center, hot tub and tennis court are available from your one-bedroom suite with kitchen, living room, dining area and private balcony.
Right on the edge of Balboa Park and close to the San Diego Zoo, you’re a 10 minute ride to the Gaslamp Quarter and 15 minutes to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Considered an elegant Italian Renaissance-style boutique property originally dating back to 1926, you’ll have a choice of studio, one- or two-bedroom suites. The Rooftop Sun Deck provides superb views of the area.
The WorldMark San Diego Balboa Park is in a great location between Balboa Park and the Gaslamp Quarter, close to the East Village and only a mile from Petco Park with access to all the wonderful sights of downtown San Diego. This renovated red-brick, Art Deco-style building hosts an amazing rooftop deck with terrific views, and the studio and one-bedroom units meet your comfort needs.
Marriott’s San Diego vacation club offering is centrally located close to the Gaslamp Quarter and Balboa Park, yet only seven minutes to the Seaport Village and 10 minutes to the USS Midway. One- and two-bedroom suites welcome you with kitchen amenities, living room with sofa bed and Wi-Fi, then check out the indoor pool or the onsite SHAKE Bar & Lounge for a convenient bite or drink.
These are only ten of the top things to do in San Diego, so get your plane tickets booked! Timeshare resorts are located throughout the San Diego area, so if you need more information about the ones shown above or other not on our list, click here to leave us a message or give our licensed agents a call on 877-624-6889.
Steve manages the public relations and content creation efforts of the company. Previously the Chief Operating Officer for Perspective Magazine, he provided oversight and contributed articles for the five regional vacation ownership trade magazines under the Perspective Magazine banner.
A contributor for industry publications such as Resort Trades and Developments Magazine, Steve Luba has 36 years of experience in various roles in radio and television, sales and marketing, public relations, media and government liaison initiatives.
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