Travel & Experiences

Sights around San Diego, Coronado and La Jolla

For all the attention it gets, the San Diego Zoo (2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego) boils down to about 3,700 animals on 100 acres -- not unlike certain college campuses. But instead of four years, you spend a full day, beginning at the 9 a.m. opening. One of the attractions you'll find is the Galapagos tortoise enclosure, where you'll find the zoo's oldest inhabitants.

For all the attention it gets, the San Diego Zoo (2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego) boils down to about 3,700 animals on 100 acres -- not unlike certain college campuses. But instead of four years, you spend a full day, beginning at the 9 a.m. opening. One of the attractions you’ll find is the Galapagos tortoise enclosure, where you’ll find the zoo’s oldest inhabitants.   (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

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San Diego sights include San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, East Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Old Town, Point Loma, Mission Bay, Pacific Beach and Torrey Pines.

Tony Gwynn statue

A statue of Tony Gwynn stands next to Petco Park in the East Village, where you’ll find condos, hotels, retailers and restaurants.   (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Hotel Solamar

Hotel Solamar (435 6th Ave., San Diego) is a block from Petco Park.   (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Neighborhood bar and grill

Neighborhood bar and grill in the East Village is a small but engaging spot for a casual dinner or a drink.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

India Street, Little Italy

India Street buzzes with shops, restaurants, bars, the occasional butcher and barber, and a handful of lodgings, all within about five blocks of the Embarcadero’s historic ships and eight blocks of the downtown train station.   (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

El Camino

El Camino, a restaurant and bar on India Street.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Old Town

If you like celebrating a Latin culture that thrived in San Diego long ago, follow the legions of tourists north to Old Town, which was the heart of San Diego in its years under Mexican control from the 1820s to the 1840s.   (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Paper cutouts decorate a walkway at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, which honors the pueblo and its roots.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Coronado Beach

Creations from sand-castle master Bill Pavlacka adorn Coronado Beach, where you’ll find the stately Hotel del Coronado.   (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Hotel del Coronado

At the Hotel del Coronado, the original building’s units are called Victorian rooms.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Clayton's Coffee Shop

Clayton’s Coffee Shop on Orange Avenue offers a greasy-spoon breakfast and dates to 1941.   (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

San Diego waterfront

A view of the San Diego waterfront, complete with U.S. Naval activity seen, from the Coronado ferry.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Villa Capri Motel

The classic sign of the Villa Capri Motel in Coronado.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Point Loma Seafoods

At Point Loma, you’ll find Point Loma Seafoods (2805 Emerson St., San Diego), a local haunt that upgraded in early 2012.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Mission Bay

A view of Mission Bay from the Catamaran Hotel.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

SeaWorld San Diego

The seal and sea lion show at SeaWorld San Diego brings the humans and animals close together.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

SeaWorld San Diego

A dolphin in flight at SeaWorld San Diego.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

SeaWorld San Diego

A staff member holds a lizard at SeaWorld San Diego.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Crystal Pier

The old wooden Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Crystal Pier Hotel

The Crystal Pier Hotel (4500 Ocean Blvd., San Diego) has some cottages that date to 1930 and hang above the waves.   (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Crystal Pier Hotel

Inside a cottage at the Crystal Pier Hotel.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Tower 23 hotel

Tower 23 (723 Felspar St., San Diego) is a bright minimalist hotel that faces the waves and the Crystal Pier.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Children's Pool

Children’s Pool in La Jolla is now dominated by harbor seals.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Torrey Pines Gliderport

At Torrey Pines Gliderport, you can watch the hang gliders jump and swoop down toward Black’s Beach.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

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