7-Day San Diego Itinerary From Tide Pools to the Bay

Coast Boulevard opens the week at the La Jolla Tide Pools, where exposed sandstone shelves read like a natural gallery as the water pulls back. Shallow basins hold anemones, crabs, snails and small fish, and sea lions and birds share the wider shoreline. Solo walkers and families with older kids can let the tide set the pace. The algae-covered rock slips underfoot. Wear grip and check a tide chart.

Casa Del Prado in Balboa Park was reconstructed from structures built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, and its arcaded courtyards surround a 640-seat theatre plus rooms where regional plant groups meet, from orchid and succulent growers to ikebana and carnivorous plant societies. Plant lovers and curious couples can look for a society meeting open to the public and pair it with a slow courtyard lap. Check the current schedule.

Art on 30th fills Wednesday in North Park, a multi-level hub of shared and private studios, classes from beginner to professional, and the Ashton Gallery with 10 juried shows a year. Friends who talk through what they see can browse, then head down University Avenue to Seven Grand, a dark wood bar built around a broad bourbon and whiskey list. Two pool tables and a dedicated darts area keep it social.

The USS Midway Museum occupies the retired CV-41 carrier at Navy Pier, its flight deck lined with restored aircraft and the decks below showing how crews lived and worked at sea. History fans and families can pick up the free self-guided audio tour and move at their own pace, pausing where volunteer docents share service stories. Simulators and an on-board cafeteria round out a long afternoon. Wear comfortable shoes and confirm last admission.

Sail San Diego leaves the Shelter Island marina on public and private charters. Morning, midday and sunset sailings head onto open water where dolphins and sea lions often surface, with snacks and drinks served on deck. Couples and small groups can choose a sunset sailing to close the week or an earlier start. Weather shapes every outing. Compare charter formats and confirm the departure details when booking.

Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens at Liberty Station reworks a former Navy mess hall into garden seating under the trees, outdoor bars and fountains. A bocce court and an outdoor cinema space give groups something between rounds, and the kitchen runs an eclectic, world-inspired menu. Behind the bar guest breweries and a global bottle list stretch the taps past the year-round releases. Check the evening cinema plans.

Mariners Point Park closes the week on a broad sandy peninsula of Mission Bay, with wide lawns and boat mooring in Mariners Basin. Visitors launch kites over open water and watch outrigger canoe races, and a shallow cove reaching far out gives children room to wade. Part of the peninsula is a least tern nesting site. Give the birds space and check park hours before a late stop.