Southern California includes some of the most famous destinations in the world. From attractions such as Six Flags, Universal Studios, Disneyland, Legoland, SeaWorld, and more.
Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, enjoy the more refined things in life, or simply look for amusement for the kids, San Diego and Southern California have everything.
With proximity to the beaches, deserts, mountains, Mexico, and more, SoCal and San Diego are home to over 5 million people.
Added to the population density is near-perfect year-round weather that makes doing things outside a huge attraction for residents as well as tourists alike.
In SoCal, the area between Los Angeles and San Diego, you can take in various amusement parks or head on to the beaches for a day in the sand and a night on the town.
In fact, for fine dining, the Southern California area added 18 restaurants to the Michelin guide, with Westside adding five Michelin-star restaurants to the list.
You can check out the new additions:
- Fia Steak on Wilshire Blvd.
- LuLu on Wilshire Blvd.
- Lumiere on Avenue of the Stars
- Manzke on West Pico Blvd.
- Shunji on Ocean Park Blvd.
Of course, these five are new to the game, and there are plenty of outstanding eateries throughout the Southern California area.
Check out Disneyland, California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney for family amusement.
And if grabbing a beer and catching a game is more your style, check out Angel Stadium, home to the Los Angeles Angels, Or just down the street is the “Pond” that hosts the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League.
Take a day, catch one of the games and stop by a few of the local breweries in the area, including Golden Road.
If you’re looking for a casual family day outside, there are numerous beaches along the SoCal area, from Santa Monica to San Clemente.
During the winter months, you can hit the slopes around Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, Snow Summit, and other resorts.
Things To Do In San Diego
South of San Clemente is San Diego, and there are just as many things to do there as there are throughout the rest of Southern California.
You can take in San Diego’s famous Safari Park, where animals are left to explore the surrounding hills and canyons in open enclosures throughout the park.
There you can see Zebras living alongside Giraffes, just like in the wild. You can even rent out a “safari” and cruise into the enclosures with guides and witness the animals as close as possible.
Further south, check out the World-Famous San Diego Zoo and catch the most extensive collection of animals anywhere.
There are animals from all seven continents including an exchange with China that allows the San Diego Zoo to occasionally house Pandas for breeding purposes.
Or take in some of the aquatic wildlife at SeaWorld San Diego. You can watch Orcas and dolphins through an upclose aquarium, and your kids will love the Sesame Street themed attractions.
For more family entertainment, Legoland in North County has rides and exhibits for kids of all ages and even has a Legoland hotel that features rooms with various Lego-based themes.
In Mission Beach, you can ride one of the oldest wooden-tracked roller coasters in the world at Belmont Park then spend the rest of the day swimming in the Pacific Ocean before having a BBQ at the parks surrounding the area.
If more “adult-themed” attractions are your thing, San Diego boasts the most breweries per capita in the world. From Stone Brewery Gardens in North County to Ballast Point locations throughout the area to Coronado Brewing Company’s flagship Pub location in Coronado, there are more breweries than you can visit in one trip.
That includes new brewery and restaurant locations opening all the time. If breweries aren’t in your wheelhouse, you can check out some of the top-flight golf courses and restaurants around San Diego.
If you’re looking for a bit of history about the area, San Diego has a ton of it. As the furthest city in Southern California, the impact and influence of Mexico and Spanish missionaries can be seen and felt everywhere.
In fact, if you want insights into the history and what makes San Diego unique, then you can schedule one of the many San Diego tours to show you around and tell you all the nooks and crannies unique to San Diego.
San Diego and Southern California is a playground for people of all ages and on a year-round basis.
