What to do in San Diego today while house and pet sitting

San Diego provides a fascinating mix of history and fun. The area was settled by Europeans way back in the eighteenth century, and the city boasts a fantastic selection of historic buildings – but it’s also home to some beautiful beaches, excellent surfing breaks and wonderful restaurants. If you’re in town for house and pet sitting, here’s our guide to what to do in San Diego today – have fun!

San Diego attractions

1. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve: This natural reserve along the Southern Californian coast covers some 800 hectares, forming an important stopover point for migrating seabirds. And if you wander to the edge of the cliffs overlooking Torrey Pines State Beach (be careful not to get too close to the edge!) you might even spot the odd migrating humpback or grey whale in the winter months. As you wander along the 12 kilometres of trails, keep an eye out for flora and fauna such as the Torrey pine, bobcats, coyotes and various species of cacti. 

2. Old Town San Diego: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park features a wide range of buildings dating back to the early 1800s. One of them is the old San Diego Union Building, which has been restored to look as it did in the mid-1800s, when editors toiled in the newsroom to produce the San Diego Union newspaper. Elsewhere in the Old Town neighbourhood you’ll find the historic Presidio Park, where the first Spanish settlement in the Western United States was founded in 1769.

3. Seaport Village: Seaport Village is home to around 70 shops and eateries overlooking the harbour, built in a mix of styles. Possibly the most eye-catching of the lot is the San Diego Pier Café, which has been built over the water on stilts. The panoramic windows provide excellent waterfront views as you chow down on fish and chips, ceviche, shrimp cocktail and various other seafood delights. 

Free things to do in San Diego today

1. Balboa Park: Stretching over nearly five square kilometres, the beautiful Balboa Park is home to numerous gardens, theatres, museums and historic exhibition buildings. Highlights include the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Women’s Museum of California, the Botanical Building and its stunning lily pond, the San Diego Automotive Museum and much more – there’s even a newly opened Comic-Con Museum. It’s free to enter the park and wander the gardens, but museums and performances are ticketed – and if you’re planning to visit more than one museum, you can save money with an explorer pass.

2. Mission Beach and Pacific Beach: Mission Beach and neighbouring Pacific Beach together stretch for some 4.5 kilometres along the ocean, and they’re popular spots for both tourists and locals alike. You’ll see plenty of skaters and cyclists zooming up and down the boardwalk while surfers enjoy the swells, and if you’re feeling energetic, you can rent a jet ski or kayak to have some fun in the waves. Mission Beach is the quieter of the two, while Pacific Beach tends to come alive at night. Between the two beaches is Belmont Park, where you’ll find all sorts of amusements, including the famous Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster. 

3. Coronado Beach: Coronado is located at the entrance of San Diego Bay, connected to the city by a thin strip of land, and it’s home to one of the best beaches around. Far quieter than Mission Beach or Pacific Beach, it’s a great place to bring families, and a superb spot for watching the sun go down over the ocean. There are some beautiful buildings along the waterfront, too, including the 130-year-old Hotel del Coronado, and the dog beach at the western end allows pooches to roam without a lead all year round.

Fun things to do in San Diego today

1. Gaslamp Quarter: The historic Gaslamp Quarter is San Diego’s entertainment hotspot. The area is packed with shops and restaurants, and there are all sorts of options for after-hours fun, including comedy shows and live music. The once rundown district was completely redeveloped in the 1980s, with the iconic Gaslamp Quarter Archway being installed in 1992, and now the historic streets are home to many of San Diego’s biggest festivals, including Mardi Gras.

2. Sunset Cliffs: Sunset Cliffs Natural Park on the Point Loma peninsula provides some stunning views of the Pacific – particularly at sunset. The 27-hectare park ends in some dramatic cliff formations, with a rugged coastline to explore. Try to time your visit for low tide to see the full extent of the rock formations – and there’s even a sea cave to take a peek inside. Point Loma is a popular surfing spot, too, so you can enjoy surfers crash and glide through the waves from your clifftop vantage point.

3. San Diego Bay Cruises: Several firms offer cruises around San Diego Bay and beyond, taking in landmarks like Seaport Village, Shelter Island, Coronado Bridge and the city’s enormous shipyards. You’re more than likely to spot a sea lion or two lounging along the coast, and special whale watching tours can take you further out to see on the lookout for migrating humpback and grey whales during the winter months. 

What to do in San Diego with pets

1. Dog Beach: Dog Beach – as the name suggests – is a seriously dog-friendly stretch of sand and one of the first beaches in the United States to officially allow lead-free roaming. You’ll find it in the Ocean Beach district, and dogs of all shapes and sizes flock to enjoy frolicking in the ocean. Plus you’ll spot the odd surfer or two chopping through the waves of Dog Beach Break. And it’s not the only dog-friendly beach in San Diego, either: there are doggy welcoming beaches at Coronado, Del Mar and Fiesta Island, too.

2. Canine Corners: Canine Corners Dog Park is located in Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa and it provides three separate fenced areas for dogs of different sizes to play in, as well as shady seats and drinking water. It’s one of several dog parks in San Diego: Nate’s Point Dog Park can be found on the west side of Balboa Park, while Grape Street Dog Park can be found on the east side.

3. Cat cafés: San Diego boasts not one, but two cat cafés. The first, simply called The Cat Café, opened in 2015 and claims to be the fourth oldest continually operating cat café in the United States. As well as locally roasted coffee, it offers ‘Evening Cats on Mats’ – a yoga class in the company of felines. Cat & Craft, meanwhile, has a 74-square-metre ‘cat lounge’ as well as a coffee shop, and can be found in Vista, to the north of San Diego. At both cafés, all cats are available for adoption (should you be on the lookout for your own furbaby). Note that both cafés request that you don’t bring along your own cat!

Best restaurants in San Diego: Food and drink

1. Herb & Wood: Herb & Wood is a rather astonishing space: occupying an old factory, the huge barrel-vaulted ceiling creates a cavernous dining space, yet the muted wood décor simultaneously makes it feel intimate. The seasonal, Mediterranean menu features wood-fired pizza and fresh pasta dishes, along with delicacies such as roasted oysters and bone marrow, and grilled quail, and a secret-garden-like courtyard offers a cosy alternative to the enormous interior.

2. Cesarina: Cesarina is a delightful Italian trattoria that’s centred around its open-air ‘pastificio’, or pasta factory, where you can watch the delicious pasta being freshly made from scratch. There are two dog-friendly patios in addition to cosy booths inside, and the menu has a generous number of vegan options, as well as the chance to choose your desired pasta shape. 

3. Breakfast Republic: This popular chain restaurant can be found at more than half a dozen locations around San Diego, and provides a menu “cram-packed with intriguing options”, according to Forbes magazine. It was founded on the premise that breakfast should be treated with just as much lavish care as dinner, and the mouth-watering menu provides loving takes on favourites like French toast, omelettes and eggs benedict, as well as offering more exotic fare. Breakfast katsu curry, anyone?

Wherever you – and your new pet pal! – end up heading to in San Diego, we hope you have a fabulous time exploring this exciting city!

If you’re after more travel guides for cities across the United States and beyond, hop on over to our blog for a whole clutch of insightful travel articles. And if you’re interested in becoming a pet sitter yourself – and travelling across the country to look after lovable pets in interesting places – find out how TrustedHousesitters works here.