Four days in San Diego

Lived in SD for 10 years. La Jolla Cove / Tide Pools is cool to check out, especially at sunset (the wife will enjoy it). The USS Midway is down by Gas Lamp (downtown SD). The Cabrillo National Monument is in Point Loma and is a site to see.. you can see all of Coronado Island and some subs at Point Loma Sub Base. If you golf, Torrey Pines is in La Jolla with views of the ocean.. bunch of parasailer's out there as well. Coronado Island is ok.. you can go to the beach and check out the Del Coronado. If you want to get out in the Bay for some excitement, take a Jet Boat ride.. it's fun and you can see SD from the water and probably some carriers and ships, stationed at Naval Base or Coronado Island.

Just to name a few of the top of my head.. food wise, Hodads is awesome in OB.. Georges at the Cove in La Jolla is really good with ocean view. The Fish Market is down by the USS Midway in downtown is really good too.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I love that city and would move back in a heart beat.

Best restaurant I’ve been to out there is Born and Raised. Absolutely beautiful. $6mm spent decorating it. If you’re doing a fancy dinner, that’s the spot.

Bencotto in Little Italy is fantastic handmade pasta if you’ll be trying to get a taste of that.

Like others said, La Jolla Cove and lunch at George’s is a must. The zoo is awesome. Do the included bus tour as soon as you get in at opening. That’s when the animals are still awake and you’ll get to see far more than you will walking around. They get fed right as the zoo opens.

Most people don’t know this and they push the bus tour until later in the day. It’s not as nice as you get later in the day.

If you have any interest in the zoo, do the zoo. I'll second Nicholastiger in that Sea World is pretty meh. The zoo blows Sea World away.

I had a great time at the USS Midway museum. If you like WWII era military stuff, do that.

My wife and I had a good time.in the Gaslamp District. It's very convenient to the Midway too.

Maybe a day just at the beach too. The boardwalk along Mission Beach is fun to just hang out.

Driving to La Jolla is really easy and the cove is definitely a good recommendation.

Than save SeaWorld for the last day, because once you are out there, she might change her mindset.
With only 4 days SeaWorld would be last on my list.
The only good thing about SeaWorld San Diego is that it is not nearly as crowded as parks in Orlando.

The Balboa park area is close to the zoo, you might want to plan that together with the zoo on that day.

LaJolla is the only one kind of off the beaten path.

You could hit up Old Town San Diego for some good Mexican restaurants.

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She has never been to a Seaworld and after seeing blackfish she is convinced this may be her only time ever to see an Orca.

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Wait, she watched BlackFish and WANTS to see orcas in captivity? Wow.

Plenty of places in the world where you can see orcas in the wild, on a regular basis. Heck, I just saw an IG pic from someone in Scotland who was standing on the harbor seawall, watching a pod swim not 20' away.

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She just wants to see one period, and Seaworld is what sold her on San Diego. Look, you try explaining that to her. Im just trying to go to San Diego. Lol

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San Diego is awesome. Sea World is pretty meh, but if it's what get you there...I understand.

You should try to talk her into a whale/dolphin watching tour. They run them out of SD, and I think it would be way more entertaining to see one naturally. You just don't have the guarantee you do at Sea World.

Went for a week and hiked every morning. Cowles Mountain was pretty easy and had an awesome view of the city. Potato Chip Rock is longer and tougher, but also has great views. Hiking Torrey Pines has some good views and you can walk down to the beach.

La Jolla has some awesome spots already mentioned along with the tide pools. The Taco stand is an excellent spot for lunch.

Ocean Beach has a farmers market on Newport Ave from 4-8 on Wednesday which was pretty cool. OB Surf Lodge had good mai tai's.

Pacific Beach had Oscar's and Taco Surf for again more great tacos/burritos. PB also has a bunch of rooftop/balcony bars to catch the sunset along the beach.

Most of all, enjoy that awesome weather.

ETA: Hopping over to Mexico isn't a bad idea either.

Saw this unique ride in San Diego a few years ago.

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This was in the parking lot of the light rail system at Old Town San Diego. The rail can be a good way to get around, just depends on where you are and where you are going.

I recommend Donovan's Steak and Chop House. It is a very nice place. We ate there before catching the red eye back east and we were dressed for comfortable air travel, but the service and food were excellent. There is one in the Gaslamp district and one in La Jolla I think.

At Happy Hour you can get a free cheese steak sandwich during the week. We did not know about this when we were there.
Donovan's Frre Cheese Steak Sandwich Video

If you are looking for something more on the Dinners, Drive-In and Dive scale there are quite a few places there that Guy went to. One was a pizza place that looks really good on TV, but we did not make it there.

Couple of places not mentioned
- Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, if you like historical places. It is near the football field where the Chargers played
- Seaport Village and Embarcadero Marina Park - it is near the Gaslamp district. shopping and a nice park by the water.

We enjoyed Balboa Park and Old Town San Diego. I believe a restaurant there was the first to make fried ice cream.

You can also tell the world what you want to do before you die. Saw this on a building at the corner of University and Richmond.
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