Text by Leah Rumack.

Once thought of as a sleepy beach town, San Diego has become one of the most popular U.S. travel destinations. This is thanks to the vibrant food scene, a walkable downtown, year-round sunny and warm (but not too hot!) weather and its totally laid-back vibes. Here are 10 ways to make the most of your trip to this California city.

STAY IN A HIP HOTEL

The Kimpton Alma is a boutique hotel located in a stylish neighbourhood between Little Italy and the historic Gaslamp Quarter. The Alma showcases custom décor inspired by the city (think graffiti-style murals and Mexican-inspired textiles) and three restaurants — the party-ready rooftop bar Leave of Absence, the full-service Desmond and a casual café.

VISIT BALBOA PARK

This 1,200-acre park isn’t just an enormous green oasis of multiple individual gardens. It also houses the famous non-profit San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and museums galore (20 in total), including the Comic- Con Museum for pop-culture buffs and the San Diego Museum of Art, with its expansive collection of Spanish and Italian old masters.

DINE IN LITTLE ITALY

While there’s no shortage of good eats in San Diego, this neighbourhood is chockablock with some of the city’s most-talked-about restaurants, including Herb & Wood, Juniper and Ivy and Born and Raised.

CATCH SOME MUSIC AT THE RADY SHELL

Opened in 2021, this acoustically sophisticated waterfront concert venue is the summer home of the San Diego Symphony and is also a regular tour stop for top pop acts.

DRINK CRAFT BEER

Boasting more than 150 breweries, plus countless brew pubs and tasting rooms, San Diego has become a major draw for hop heads. It’s near impossible to choose, but the female-owned-and-operated Mujeres Brew House or the iconic The Church by The Lost Abbey are good places to start.

GO SHOPPING IN NORTH PARK

This trendy neighbourhood is full of indie boutiques, especially along 30th Street. Check out Pigment for fun, unique home goods and gift items, Mila North Park for stylish women’s clothing and Day to Day Vintage for a next-level thrift-shop experience.

GO TO THE BEACH

Take your pick from 70 glorious miles of coastline, but head to Coronado Beach if you want to catch a glimpse of the glamorous Hotel del Coronado, featured in the 1958 Marilyn Monroe movie Some Like It Hot.

TAKE IN A GAME AT PETCO PARK

You don’t need to be a baseball fan to appreciate the beautiful home of the Padres, with its impressive view of downtown San Diego. It’s also a great place for sampling food and beers from a long list of local hot spots with outposts here.

SEE ART OUTSIDE

Check out the largest collection of Chicano murals in the world — take a stroll through Chicano Park in the heart of Barrio Logan, the city’s oldest Mexican- American neighbourhood.

EAT WELL

Snag a reservation at the upscale Asian-fusion restaurant Animae! In April 2024, executive chef Tara Monsod was named a finalist for a prestigious James Beard Award, the first time in its 34-year history that a San Diego chef made the list.