Not to miss

SeaWorld

Undoubtedly one of San Diego's best known and most popular attractions, SeaWorld opened in Mission Bay in 1964, and Shamu, its resident killer whale, has become an unofficial symbol of the city. SeaWorld is very commercial, very entertaining and slightly educational.

There are plenty of whales, sharks, dolphins and penguins on display and, if you like your marine life choreographed, various special animal performances. Note that SeaWorld has steep entry prices and long queues for some shows and exhibits at peak times. The marine park is 8km (5mi) northwest of downtown.

San Diego Zoo

One of San Diego's biggest attractions, this superb zoo has a worldwide reputation, a colourful history and an enlightened zoo management program. Highlights of the zoo include the Tiger River bioclimatic exhibit, which realistically re-creates an Asian rainforest environment, and Gorilla Tropics, which does the same with an African rainforest.

Packed into 100 acres of clever design in the northwestern corner of Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo is a compendium of some of nature's largest, smallest, noblest, oddest and most endangered creatures. (Check the website for news of the most recent zoo baby arrivals.) One of the ways the San Diego Zoo shines is through its pioneering methods of housing and displaying animals that mimic their natural habitat, leading to a revolution in zoo design and, so the argument goes, to happier animals. The zoo also plays a major role in the protection of endangered species. In its efforts to re-create those habitats, the zoo has also become one of the country's great botanical gardens, tricking San Diego's near-desert climate to yield everything from bamboo and eucalyptus to mini-African rain forests. A big, free, parking lot is off Park Blvd. Bus 7 will get you there from downtown. The zoo is open daily at 09:00, but closing times vary with the season; call for current hours. The 'deluxe admission package' includes a 40-minute guided bus tour and a round-trip aerial tram ride on the Skyfari cable car. The extras probably aren't worth it, unless you have sore feet or are in a hurry.

Old Town State Historic Park

This park is the site of the original pueblo (village) that sprang up in San Diego below the mission and fortress back in the 18th century. It preserves five of the original adobe (mud brick) buildings alongside scores of recreated structures, including a schoolhouse and a newspaper office.

It's a pleasant place to soak up some history, browse for souvenirs and perhaps enjoy a Mexican meal. Across from the visitor centre is La Casa de Estudillo, a restored adobe home filled with authentic period furniture which is worth a look. Just off the plaza's northwestern corner is The Bazaar del Mundo, a colourful collection of import shops and restaurants, which is open late - a good place for a stroll.