Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in North Island

"Afterwards, take yourself to the south east corner of the Gaslamp area and locate Petco Park (it’s kind of hard to miss). This giant baseball stadium is home to the San Diego Padres and, baseball fan or not (I’m not), is a pretty spectacular sight. If you’re in San Diego during the baseball season, tickets are affordable and make for a great night out. Otherwise, you can take a stadium tour, or just climb up onto the grassy bank opposite and have a nosey from there."

"If it's major league baseball time, why not grab some tickets to a Padres home game at PETCO Park, when they're in town. Not only does PETCO Park have the best sight lines in baseball, there's also great views of San Diego from some parts of the park. Innovative design features provide an a intimate environment for viewing sports and there are also state-of-the-art amenities to suit fans of any budget."

"At the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, you can travel back in time and soak up some of the rich culture from San Diego's early days. The park recreates the feel of the Mexican and early American periods, from 1821 to 1872, when this settlement grew from a small Mexican pueblo. Visit a working blacksmith shop, shop for authentic Mexican crafts, browse the art studios, enjoy live Mariachi music, and dine on a sunny patio at one of the atmospheric restaurants."

"There are several historic buildings to be found, including five adobes, a hotel dating back to 1870, and a reconstructed courthouse and stable. Educational events are frequent occurrences, from theatrical performances to blacksmith demonstrations to tours."

"Enjoy a day at this public park that features interactive splash fountains, beautiful gardens with distinct themes, picnic areas and a lot of playing ground and equipment for kids. Unleash the kid in you and play in the splash fountains or unique playing ground. Take a walk along the waterfront while capturing great pictures."

"Waterfront Park consists of 12-acres of lush gardens and fountains that are perfect for cooling down in the intense San Diego heat. Kids will love playing in the shallow splash areas where fountains shoot water high in the air. Bring a picnic and relax on the grassy areas while admiring the views of the bayfront."

"If you can’t make it across the bridge to Coronado, you can walk along Harbor Bay to get a photo as well. The angle is a bit different and it’s a good deal harder to park but it can be done."

"The lath building was built for the 1915-1916 Exposition and now houses over 2100 tropical plants and palms (I recommend it if you like orchids). It is open every day except for Thursdays and one of the most photographed spots in San Diego. You can picnic on the grassy areas in front of it, too."

"The Botanical Building houses more than 2,000 tropical plants. Capturing the wood structure with the lily pond in front is one of the most photographed sections of Balboa Park."

"San Diego's monument to sports and fitness, this 4,600-acre aquatic park has 27 miles of shoreline including 19 miles of sandy beaches."

"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."

"For one of the best burgers around, we recommend this kid-friendly location. They have a fabulous happy hour every day from 3:00 – 7:00 pm with delicious small plates (our favorites are the mini Mac n Cheese & mini Brussels Sprouts) as well as beer and wine specials."

"Great drinks, good food, nice vibe (not pretentious but genuine). All of the staff was VERY attentive. Never had to ask for anything...."

"The style is a mix between French desserts and Asian flavor. Serve yourself in this Korean café with a choice of donuts, pastries, sweet breads, and more. The bakers create chiffon cakes that are perfect for just about any occasion."

"With a reputation of making some of the best bread in San Diego, Con Pane also serves up breakfast and lunch favorites in addition to baked goods. The lunch menu is small, but it will be hard to fight the urge to pair a sandwich with a chocolate croissant, cookie or similar. Pets are welcome on the patio outside and kids order favorites like peanut butter and jelly that literally oozes out the sides."

"Next up is Midway District's Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe, at 2750 Dewey Road. With 4.5 stars out of 1,291 reviews on Yelp, the bakery, which also offers coffee, tea, sandwiches and more, has proven to be a local favorite."