Main Attractions

BALBOA PARK

Balboa Park’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture is showcased for visitors in the 15 world-class museums and at the acclaimed Prado restaurant. Put on your walking shoes and travel off the beaten path on the miles of hiking trails that span the 1,200 acres of pavilions, gardens and forests surrounding the museums. Or sit yourself down for performances at the Old Globe’s three theaters and Starlight’s outdoor stage. 1549 El Prado, 619-239-0512; balboapark.org.

SAN DIEGO ZOO

Summer sun brings nighttime fun, when our world-famous zoo extends the hours for its spectacular exhibits and lets you catch nocturnal critters in action. Nighttime Zoo runs June 24 through September 4, until 9 p.m. nightly. Su Lin, the zoo’s newest giant panda addition, celebrates her first birthday August 2 amid the hubbub of Nighttime Zoo activities. 2920 Zoo Drive, Balboa Park, 619-234-3153; sandiegozoo.org.

GASLAMP QUARTER

Once a red-light district known as the Stingaree, the Gaslamp is now home to a host of swanky nightclubs and music venues. If singing and dancing aren’t your things, the plethora of stand-out restaurants is always enticing. Downtown, south of Broadway, between Fourth and Sixth avenues, 619-233-5227.

SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO

Shamu is at it again with a fresh spectacle, Believe, where trainers reach into a new bag of tricks in an elaborate setting of music, choreography and state-of-the-art multimedia. The Summer Nights celebration opens on weekends May 27 through June 11, then nightly June 17 through September 4. Extended summer hours allow guests to revel in the park nightlife with sea lions Clyde and Seamore at the comical Sea Lions Tonite show, and end the soirée with the SkyBlast fireworks celebration. 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, 800-380-3203; seaworld.com.

SAN DIEGO ZOO’S WILD ANIMAL PARK

Visiting the African plains without a passport is as easy as watching the Wild Animal Park’s African drummers and entertainers perform traditional songs and dances against an interactive backdrop of exotic animals. Park at Dark introduces visitors to the rarely seen nocturnal creatures. Other exciting features include the birds on the new Balloon Safari helium balloon ride. 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, 760-747-8702; wildanimalpark.org.

LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA

Lego went from building blocks to building theme parks, and now there’s another large expansion at Legoland California. Setting sail this summer is Pirate Shores, a pirate-theme water world adventure. Apart from the swash-buckling fun is an eye-popping four-dimensional journey into medieval times, Spellbreaker 4-D, a new movie in Knight’s Kingdom. 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad, 760-918-5346; legoland.com.

PETCO PARK

The Padres claimed the title of National League Western Division champs last year, but the team’s ballpark itself is an attraction. Its retro style incorporates the historic Western Metal Supply Company building in left field and the Park at the Park in center. 100 Park Boulevard, San Diego. 619-795-5011; padres.mlb.com.

BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS

More than 60 tanks bring a variety of aquatic habitats into one campus, but more lies beyond the activities, kelp forests and living tide-pools. This summer the Birch Aquarium premieres its “Green Flash” Seaside Summer Concert series on the third Wednesdays of the month, May to September. Shark Week takes hold on July 30. 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, 858-534-FISH; aquarium.ucsd.edu.

SAN DIEGO AIRCRAFT CARRIER MUSEUM

The United States Navy still holds a commanding presence in our waters, and the USS Midway honors this by making its homeport San Diego Harbor. Aboard this floating museum are exhibits and displays of wartime service, but the kickers are experiencing the flight simulators and talking with the docents, many of them Midway veterans with valiant stories to tell. Navy Pier, North Embarcadero, 910 North Harbor Drive, downtown, 619-544-9600; midway.org.

BELMONT PARK

The iconic Giant Dipper is one of only two original ocean-front roller coasters still rolling in the United States. The new Beach Buster’s giant arm swings riders up and around for upside-down views of the sky and a taste of randomly selected g-forces. The Wave House has just reopened the revitalized Plunge (built in 1925, it was the largest salt-water pool in the world), and the Flowmaster is ready to test your surfing skills. 3146 Mission Boulevard, Mission Beach, 858-228-WAVE (9283); belmontpark.com.

Do you like what you read? Subscribe to San Diego Magazine »