Must-See California Theme Parks & Attractions

San Diego is packed with great things to see and do including these top theme parks and attractions.

SeaWorld San Diego

Spread across 190 acres on beautiful Mission Bay Park, SeaWorld is known for its amazing animals, interactive attractions, aquariums, rides, beautiful landscaping and education programs for all ages.

Opening March 11th 2022

Welcome to four acres of wildlife adventure, all with one amazing goal: to encourage young Wildlife Explorers to learn about nature, actively play, encounter new species, and develop an empathy for wildlife. At Basecamp you can interact, climb, scramble, and jump in innovative nature play areas. Visit habitats from around the world from the desert dunes and old forest to the marsh meadows and lush rainforest. Learn by doing. And through a variety of one-of-a-kind experiences with animals, you’ll connect like never before to the natural world, and understand the importance of conserving wildlife. A world of explorative play and adventure awaits Wildlife Explorers of every age and size.

Feel what it’s like to be wild at Wildlife Explorers Basecamp.

Only at the San Diego Zoo.

This boat tour provides visitors with an educational tour of San Diego Bay. The 45-minute Bay sightseeing tour takes guests out on the water in a large loop first heading toward North Island and the Aircraft Carriers, then stopping at buoy 22. Guests will then head just under Coronado Bridge and make a port (left) turn around one of the bridge pillars. The vessels then heads back towards the Maritime Museum along the downtown side of the waterfront.  Several attractions will be highlighted along the way as guests enjoy the fresh air and view.

Sheduled daily toour times may vary. 

Maritime Museum of San Diego hosts the 2022 Parade of Lights Dinner aboard the elegant Victorian-era 1898 steam ferryboat Berkeley McKinney Deck Sunday, December 11 and 18, 2022. Parade judges will be nested at the Maritime Museum as the brightly decorated boats cruise by Museum fleet located at Star of India Wharf. The procession of boats starts at 5:30 p.m. and will follow a predetermined parade route. The parade route organizers project the parade to pass the north embarcadero and Maritime Museum of San Diego at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Maritime Museum of San Diego has been known for years as the best place on the waterfront to view the annual Parade of Lights on San Diego Bay. Each guest will enjoy a delicious holiday then view the festive boat parade in accordance with this year's theme: Fantasea On the Bay. 

Join Birch Aquarium naturalists on an exclusive walking tour of Scripps Pier — which is normally closed to the public — and learn about research conducted at Scripps Oceanography through interactive experiences. The 90-minute tour features hands-on science stations where guests can scoop up plankton, examine samples under the microscope, dissect a squid and learn about local shark research.

Price: Member $25, Non Member $30

When: Select Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 25 to Nov. 5, 2022. Tour times will vary depending upon sunset times.

Guests must be at least 9 years of age to participate. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.