San Diego does boats. Not only is it home to the third-largest harbor on the West Coast, but it also boasts the largest man-made aquatic park in the U.S., Mission Bay. With that acreage of bay and ocean on offer, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get out on the water. Commune with whales. Charter a romantic sunset cruise. Relive history. Eat dinner afloat. Cast your line and fish until nighttime. Whatever your pleasure, there’s a salt-water adventure waiting for you.

To help you make the most of a first-time visit to San Diego, we've developed a special daylong itinerary highlighting some of the city's top attractions.

San Diego is one of the most biologically rich counties in the United States, sheltering more endangered plants and animals than any other county in the nation. In fact, three national wildlife preserves border the southern end of San Diego Bay and another refuge sits just a few miles off the coast, making it of the best places in the entire state to bird watch or simply get back to nature.

From a bus that changes to a boat and back again or a sea voyage in search of the world's largest mammal, San Diego tours offer a unique way to see the sights and get to know the area.