Must See Sights and Landmarks in Imperial Beach Area

"The San Diego Padres play at Petco Park, which you can find downtown. Thanks to the year-round sun, a ball game is usually a good excuse to sit outside at any point in the season. If baseball isn’t your thing, though, the stadium also hosts a variety of other sports and concerts."

"Opened in 2004, the stadium was built as part of a redevelopment plan of the aging downtown area of San Diego."

"This park has an excellent history museum in the Robinson-Rose House at the southern end of the plaza. You’ll also find a diorama depicting the original pueblo at the park’s visitor center, where you can pick up a copy of the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Tour Guide & Brief History ($3), or a presentation tour (free) at 11am and 2pm daily. Personal tours cost $10 and depart at 11:30am and 1pm."

"Old Town State Park is known as the birthplace of California. In 1821, when Mexico gained independence from Spain, a small group of Mexican settlers began building homes at the foot of the hillside below the first mission and Presidio. Because wood was scarce at the time, sun-dried adobe bricks were used."

"Spend a long morning in Old Town State Historic Park, exploring the adobe buildings and browsing the many gift shops. You’ll be tempted to sit down for a Mexican lunch at one of the tourist restaurants, but save your appetite for a more genuine experience at El Indio, just up the street in Mission Hills."

"Built by William Heath Davis in 1850, many fascinating people, including Alonzo Horton, have called the William Heath Davis House 'home.' You'll get to tour the home, and its decorated rooms - each representing different eras in the life of the house and its various former (and rumored ghostly current) inhabitants. Getting in: William Heath Davis House tickets are included on the Go San Diego Card All-Inclusive Pass."

"The William Heath Davis House, also known as the David Horton House and Gaslamp museum in San Diego, is an antique building situated in the Gaslamp Quarter. The museum offers house tours to preserve the heritage. It is the oldest wooden structure in San Diego and is known as the most haunted house in Gaslamp."

"Located in the southwest corner of San Diego, the Tijuana Estuary is a wetlands area with beach, dune, mudflat, salt marsh, riparian, coastal sage scrub, and upland habitats that are free to explore. Start at the Visitor Center to learn about the trails, flora and fauna (many are rare or endangered), and various things to do during your visit. Kids can earn junior rangers here and they offer a variety of environmental education resources online."

"At the southernmost tip of San Diego is one of the most serene places that few people know about. Where the Tijuana River meets the sea is where you’ll find the Tijuana Slough with over 2,000 acres of wetlands. Over 370 bird species have been observed there with 5 of them being endangered species that are regularly seen."

"Way down in sometimes-forgotten Imperial Beach is found a favorite landscape for many people in San Diego. This Tijuana Estuary is connected to some couple of parks. You are going to find amazing places such as Tijuana River County Open Space Reserve and Border Field State Park."

"Seen as the entrance point for control of the west by Europeans, Presidio Park remains a place of history amidst the city of San Diego. Interpreting the entire site for guests is the Junipero Serra Museum which houses many artifacts dealing with Spanish and Mexican heritage, colonization, the beginnings of customs within California and showcasing the lives of those who began it all. The presidio, first built to protect colonists from attack, later took on roles as military headquarters and a central outdoor space to remember history."

"You will find grassy greenfields, attractive architecture plus columns. There is also a wooded hilltop overlooking the San Diego Bay from that perfect angle where you can catch the sun setting about everything. What a gorgeous place to have your landscape photography!"

"This historic park overlooks Old Town San Diego and is the location of the original mission Presidio. None of the original buildings remain, but the 40-acre park is home to panoramic views over the city, walking trails, and many places to picnic. (Location: Old Town)"

"You can take a break here on a layover or if staying at one of the San Diego Airport hotels because this fun area is across the street from the airport. You’ll find a small sandy beach (the only along the bay), picnic tables, public art, a play structure, and panoramic views. (Location: Downtown)"

"Spanish Landing Park is a long narrow park along busy North Harbor Drive in San Diego. This park is near San Diego International Airport and the Harbor Island Marina."

"This not-for-profit aquarium and zoo connects kids with the animals and plants of the California coast. Located on the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Chula Vista, the Living Coast Discovery Center offers family-friendly activities and events such as shark, ray, turtle, and eagle feedings; guided trail hikes; Overnight Adventures; and VIP Animal Encounters. Seasonal exhibits promote wildlife conservation and educate young visitors about their impact on the environment."

"This nonprofit discovery center is there to provide environmental education related to coastal resource conservation. You park in a parking lot and bus takes you over to the center. Once there you can see the sharks, visit the sting ray touch tank, and see the bald eagles they have there."

"This is located in the Sweetwater Marsh Unit of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge in Chula Vista and is a popular choice for school trips. The experience here is pretty unique. You get to feed bat rays and have meet-and-greets with reptiles."

"For example, if you love animals or are traveling with kids, San Diego Zoo is in the park. It’s huge with many open areas for the animals, and also margaritas and craft beer for the adults. If you just love parks or nature, you can stroll through the park itself or one of its many gardens- including a rose garden, a Japanese garden, and a botanical garden. Note that some gardens (like the last two) close at night."

"The San Diego Zoo is world famous for a reason – it’s huge and it’s so much fun!. There are so many big-ticket animals to see here, like pandas, orangutans, polar bears, koalas and many more. The San Diego Zoo is great as it meets the needs of everyone in the family."

"You’ve been to zoos before, but you’ve never been to the San Diego Zoo. Home to more than 3,500 animals, the San Diego Zoo is considered one of the best in the world. Tigers stalk around canyons."

"The Asian Passage is south of Panda Canyon and is a simulation of a tropical Asian rain forest. This scenic passage includes grizzly bears, snow leopards, and sun bears. This spectacular area also features the Sun Bear Forest, which resembles a southeast Asian rain forest, and the Hawaiian Native Plant Garden."

"The Asian Passage area includes the Sun Bear Forest, Grizzly Bear exhibit, and more. It’s a fun area to explore, and isn’t quite as big as Africa Rocks."