Take a tandem flight at Torrey Pines, probably a paraglider (not many hang gliding tandem opportunities). It’s generally kind of light in the summer. Beach with naked Michelin Men below.
Zoo or Safari Park, of course
Lions, Tigers, & Bears Rescue & Sanctuary in Alpine. Really good value, supporting a good cause.
Hike Torrey Pines (the other end from the gliderport). This is my personal favorite activity for visitors. They are blown away by the views and the hike is good exercise. Parking is $20 and at the base of the hill and also further up coast highway.
Actually, there are a lot of interesting and varied hikes around the county… more than you might expect for a metropolitan area this size. Just google them if want to work off that California Burrito. Annie’s Canyon and Cowles Mountain are favorites. Bring water, leave the speaker.
Balboa park, mostly museums, fairly interesting, next to the zoo.
Tour the USS Midway Museum
Take a surfing lesson.
Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad (very family-friendly)
Carlsbad Flower Fields in the Spring. I live in Carlsbad, never been. But, people seem to like it. Pricey. Cheapskates can view them from the top for free (right next to the Museum of Making Music).
Near the two above, is not always open, but there is a pick-them-yourself strawberry farm in Carlsbad that is kind of fun. It’s a decent place to go around Halloween, with pumpkins, corn mazes, and fun things for kids.
Belmont Park – a beach boardwalky place with a rickety roller coaster.
Go to La Jolla Tide Pools at low tide, then check out the Children’s Pool (a cove with sea lions), then have lunch at the Taco Stand
Go to a brewery. Pure Project is all around the county and a solid choice at each one. Northpark has a lot in walking distance of each other and if you are up in North County there are quite a few in Carlsbad/San Marcos/Vista. Stone has kind of jumped the shark, but their breweries at Liberty Station and in Escondido have great atmosphere.
Take a kayak tour of La Jolla
Catch a Padres game
Go to Old Town. Park at CalTrans after 5PM on weekdays. It’s like Tijuana without the cartels and the kids selling Chiclets.
Drive over to Coronado. It’s kinda neat. There’s a long bike path along the waterfront and lots of bike rental joints. Of course, the famous old wood hotel is there, eating on the beach behind it is a treat. Avoid Coronado Brewing Company, it’s got the most painful brewery quality-to-crowd ratio in the county.
Go to the Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma. Tide pools, incredible views, and occasionally a weird dude dressed as a conquistador who is a bit of a close talker. Fee for entrance, free for Veterans.
Go across the border for cheap dental work and/or street tacos.
Check to see if the ponies are running in Del Mar.
At night there’s this boat/bar that cruises around Mission Bay. Not expensive at all.
Seaport Village for shopping and food and stuff. It’s being renovated, but still pretty cool.
Botanical Gardens in Encinitas. Neat light display after dark during the holidays. Book early for that.
Birch Aquarium
Take a tour of the Bay, there are a couple of companies that do it.
Go whale watching if it’s the right time of the year
Mission Bay is fun. It’s got boating activities, a fun casual cycling path around it, a lot of playgrounds and places for picnics, lots of free parking.
Mount Soledad – good views and a burr in atheists’ asses.
Museum of Contemporary ~~Crap~~ Art
Moonlight Beach in Encinitas is a very good family beach, with free parking above and the neighborhood around. It has a playground for the littles, picnic tables, a food concessionaire that is open in peak summer hours, easy access to the water, lots of lifeguards, etc. Can park there, walk up to Coast Highway for lunch. Encinitas downtown/strip is a fun hang.
A bike ride up and down the coast. Rent in Oceanside or Carlsbad village and go down the coast to Tamarak or Ponto, or rent in Encinitas and go down to 15th St. in Del Mar. Rentals in Coronado, also.
Park in North Park around 30th St. and University Ave. and walk around for a fun, walkable area with good foodie spots.
Chicano park, if you are on a quest for culture that’s a little different from the stereotypical San Diego scene
If you eat on the balcony of Mister A’s, you can watch planes on final to the airport at about your height, flying by. There is a dress code.
The Marine Corps Mechanized Museum on Pendleton
The San Luis Rey Mission in Oceanside is kind of interesting if you happen to be up there.
Sunny Jim’s Cave & Store in La Jolla
Oceanside Surf Museum
The Gondola Company in Coronado. There’s also one in North County on Lake San Marcos.
The Maritime Museum
If you find yourself in Julian, there’s the Eagle Mine and the Wolf Center, on top of pies, pies, pies.
Out in Ramona, there’s a really nice hike in the grasslands park. There is also a camel farm.
The old sailing ship Star of India and the Maritime Museum near the Midway.
Rent a bike and ride around Coronado and along the Silver Strand
Rent a bike or boat and have a fun time around or on Mission Bay