San Diego · TOUR REVIEWS
A long weekend or a full week, the problem is the same: seventy miles of coast and one hire car. The 15 below are the days that earn their slot, priced and timed, with the whole catalogue underneath when you want to dig.
Use your mobile ticket for direct entry to the San Diego Zoo, then explore 100 acres of animal habitats and botanical gardens. See pandas, koalas, gorillas, tigers, and more, with the Guided Bus Tour and Skyfari Aerial Tram included. Plan for hills, crowds, and a full day.
“Wear comfy shoes as it’s a lot of walking but well worth it. Lots of food and toilet stops but food is quite expensive”
Cruise San Diego Bay aboard Flagship Cruises for one or two hours, with indoor and outdoor seating, narration, harbor views, naval ships, sea lions, and the Coronado Bridge. Guides such as Rusty and MC JJ add local color, while the onboard snack bar covers simple refreshments.
“Very nice and worth your time. Narrator was great. My recommendation is sit at the top right of the deck. The narrator tells the story based off that side.”
Ride San Diego’s open-air trolley with a one or two-day pass and live commentary. Stop at Old Town, the USS Midway, Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado, Balboa Park, Little Italy, and more. Guides such as Jack, Scotty, Kevin, and Tommie bring different styles, humor, and local facts to the route.
“Very informative, good value. Guide "Jack" was a jerk - too loud, borderline disrespectful. Got off at the next stop to change guides. "Scotty" was perfect - set the right tone, answered questions, very friendly. Get on Scotty's bus!”
Sail from Shelter Island aboard the America, a replica of the schooner that won the first America’s Cup in 1851. Your English-speaking crew points out gray whales, dolphins, sea lions, Navy landmarks, and Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Snacks, soft drinks, blankets, and whale sightings are included.
“We had the best experience! Found a pod of Gray whales then 100s of dolphins! Just amazing! The crew was amazing and made the whole experience exceptional!”
Board the USS Midway on San Diego’s Embarcadero and explore at your own pace with an included audio tour. Former Midway sailors and officers bring the carrier to life as you visit aircraft, living quarters, the bridge, engine room, flight deck, and interactive exhibits.
“It is an excellent facility to visit. Many helpful volunteers who are friendly and knowledgeable. Easy to navigate wheelchair friendly. Food and gift shop available.”
Spend one or two days at LEGOLAND California, with 60-plus rides, shows, LEGO models, SEA LIFE Aquarium, and seasonal Water Park access. The $64 base ticket suits families with children ages 2 to 12. Hopper upgrades add SEA LIFE and, in the top tier, the Water Park.
“It has a pretty good atmosphere, and good jungle gyms for the kids, and great Lego stations for the kids to get creative and build and race cars and boats. The rides were lacking a bit, my 5 year old even wanted more intense rides, but they did really enjoy a handful of the rides available.”
Cruise from Mission Bay into the Pacific in about 10 minutes, with naturalists pointing out whales, dolphins, sea lions, and landmarks. The crew may include naturalists such as Allison or Jennifer. Expect a maximum of 100 people, onboard food for purchase, restrooms, and free parking on Quivira Road.
“Would 100% recommend this experience to anyone. The whole trip was informative and the crew were amazing. They knew exactly where to go to increase the chances of encounter. We found a whale and followed it at a safe distance.”
See San Diego from the water on a one or two-hour Flagship cruise with live English narration. Look for sea lions, military ships, aircraft carriers, waterfront landmarks, and the Coronado Bridge. Guides such as Rusty, Max, JJ, and Jen bring local history to life.
“Beautiful weather and very interesting info on San Diego! Loved it!!”
Spend a full day at the 100-acre San Diego Zoo, home to more than 4,500 rare and endangered animals. Use the guided bus tour and Skyfari tram to cover ground, then explore areas such as Africa Rocks, Polar Bear Plunge, Elephant Odyssey, and the Galápagos tortoise exhibit at your own pace.
“It was a great time. The zoo wasn't overly crowded. It was my first visit to the zoo and was able to see almost everything.”
Ride an authentic trolley through San Diego and Coronado with live English narration from guides such as Frank, Jack, Bini, and Kaye. Use a one or two-day pass to visit Old Town, the Embarcadero, Balboa Park, Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Hotel del Coronado at your own pace.
“Great. Able to see the city and hop off where we wanted to. Day not long enough”
Cruise San Diego Bay aboard the Spirit of San Diego for about 2.5 to 3 hours. You’ll get a welcome sparkling wine, indoor dinner, live entertainment, and views of the USS Midway, Coronado Island, the bridge, and downtown. An unlimited bar upgrade costs $40.
“Everything was perfect!! Had a great time!! Dinner was sooo good!! Had chicken and steak and the DJ was amazing”
You will spend about 30 minutes on San Diego streets and roughly an hour on the bay in a Hydra Terra amphibious vehicle. Guides such as Kim, Amy, Jim, and Brett mix local history, jokes, and wildlife facts, with possible sea lion sightings near the bait barges.
“Really good tour in the seal today,from taking us round the town,to gout in the sea on a boat trip,the 2 guys gave us all good information ,we took lots of photos,it was a great day.thankyou xx”
Paddle a tandem kayak from La Jolla Shores toward the sea caves with guides such as Alex, Hannah, Ike, or Cassidy. Learn basic technique, watch for sea lions, leopard sharks, dolphins, birds, and kelp, then ride the waves back to shore. Cave entry depends on conditions and group ability.
“Kids loved the leopard sharks! The water was clear and beautiful. We could see so much sea life. Cassidy was fun and friendly.”
Spend one full day at the 100-acre San Diego Zoo, home to more than 4,500 rare and endangered animals. See Galápagos tortoises, polar bears, koalas, gorillas, and Africa Rocks, with admission including the guided bus tour, Express bus, Skyfari tram, and Children’s Zoo.
“There could be better signs for directions at the zoo. Also some staff at different exhibits to give information about the animals”
Paddle a two-person kayak through La Jolla Ecological Reserve with an English-speaking guide. You may see sea lions, seals, leopard sharks, birds, and fish while approaching the Seven Sea Caves and Emerald Cave. Guides such as Sawyer, Hannah, Lydia, and Reed lead the way. Expect to get wet.
“Hannah and Lydia were the best guides! Skillfully navigated all of us in the group to the caves and along the way shared little nuggets of information about the area and the ecological reserve and fun facts! We saw leopard sharks and sea lions and they made sure our cave experience was top notch. Highly recommend this tour and these expert guides!”
Water, streets, neighborhoods, or a run out of town.
