How to Enjoy the Amazing San Diego, California Waterfront

San Diego WaterfrontImage by Author

If you are lucky enough to visit San Diego, California, you are in for a treat. There is plenty to see there but plan at least a half-day to visit San Diego Bay. In addition to the beautiful skyline of San Diego, you will be in sight of the Airport and the Maritime Museum to the North, The USS Midway to the south, and the Naval Air Station, home to the Pacific Fleet across the bay on Coronado Island.

San Diego, California, is a beautiful city with fantastic weather year-round. There is no end to activities and places to see, from the shops and restaurants of the Gaslamp Quarter to the gardens and museums in the fantastic Balboa Park. Most everything is within walking distance from the waterfront. But you can easily spend all day strolling along a two-mile stretch of the waterfront from the Embarcadero Marina Park South up to Waterfront Park near Little Italy.

San Diego MarinaImage by Author

The Embarcadero Marina is a beautiful protected marina convenient to the San Diego Convention Center and the Marriott Marquis, about a mile south of the cruise ship. Watching the fishing boats and luxury yachts come and go from Embarcadero Marina Park South is a fun way to pass some time. Grab a coffee at the Starbucks in front of the convention center and watch the people along the Embarcadero.

The Embarcadero Marina Parks South and North are great little greenspaces with walking and biking paths, perfect for a stroll among the joggers and dog-walkers. Leave the hustle and bustle around the convention center and take the pedestrian path along the marina. As you pass by the Marriott, you can duck in for a refill on that coffee. Walk past the lagoon pool into the back door where you can find a coffee and pastry shop on the ground floor.

Seaport VillageImage by Author

As you approach Embarcadero Marina Park North, you will pass the Harbor House restaurant and come to Seaport Village. Seaport Village is a beautiful waterside complex of about 50 shops and a dozen restaurants. There are also frequent festivals and live music here. Kill some time her until lunch, or buy a snack and head into Embarcadero Marina Park North for a break.

Continue along the Embarcadero until you reach Ruocco Park on the right and Tuna Wharf Park on the left, which is your next destination. As you enter the park, stop for a bit and check out the USS San Diego Memorial honoring the ship and those who served. In the park proper, you can find the Unconditional Surrender Statue, and hidden away beyond that is the National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military.

USS MidwayImage by Author

Of course, you can’t miss the real attraction here, the aircraft carrier USS Midway is anchored right next door. You can get some of the best pictures of it from the park, so be sure to spend some time there. The ship itself is a museum and open to the public seven days a week from 10 am until 5 pm. Most parts of the ship are accessible, and the top deck maintains a unique collection of fighter jets and helicopters. You can easily spend three or four hours at this unique destination.

Leaving the Midway and continuing north, you will pass more hotels and restaurants on the right and piers, ferry, and cruise ship terminals on the left. Note the Coronado Ferry Terminal is right here if you fancy a side trip. Also, be aware if one of the cruise ships is in port, be ready for some crowds, so head on up a few blocks to your final destination, Waterfront Park.

Just in front of Waterfront Park is the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Here you can find restored old ships and a museum dedicated to everything nautical. It is a great place to cap off your tour after the USS Midway. Waterfront Park is a large public green space with playgrounds and plenty of grassy areas to play, watch planes take off and land from the nearby airport, or sit and enjoy the sunset.

San Diego BayImage by Author

There are many things to see and do in San Diego, but if you just want an easy day, the waterfront is beautiful This stroll is a great way to spend a couple of hours or make it an all-day excursion.

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