While in San Diego for an SPIE conference (presenting this paper), I took some time to see various sites.
See my posts on the Maritime Museum of San Diego, and the USS Midway Museum.
The Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego offers vibrant streets and plenty of restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops.
Balboa Park is 1200 acres of beautiful gardens, museums, theatres, and the acclaimed San Diego Zoo, and dates all the way back to 1868. We only had time for the Natural History Museum, and though somewhat small, it was insightful and peaceful.
We took a Lyft north to La Jolla, a beautiful, upscale, seaside town situated between Mount Soledad and the Pacific coast. La Jolla Cove is somewhat famous for its lounging seals and sea lions. Mount Soledad is adorned with a very large, beautiful cross (apparently controversial) and military plaque dedication. At 800ft, it gives you a commanding view of the surrounding area!