Attractions & Events

Cue the panda-monium! The San Diego Zoo welcomed two new giant pandas named Xin Bao and Yun Chaun, which are available to view as of August 8. This is the first time that pandas will be on display at the zoo since 2019, and it will also make the San Diego Zoo the only place in the U.S. where guests can view the loveable creatures until new bears arrive later this year.

The 13th Annual “Kids Free San Diego” is returning this October with special savings and fun for the entire family. During the entire month, families with kids 12 and under can enjoy a variety of deals from complimentary attraction and museum admission to free meals to welcome amenities at area hotels.

SeaWorld San Diego continues its “So Much More to Sea” 60^th anniversary celebration by welcoming Humboldt Penguins back to the park after 40 years. The penguins will be on exhibit for guests to view and learn from their new habitat, Penguin Point.

Sesame Place San Diego has recently debuted the Dine with Elmo experience at the brand-new Sunny Day Café. The immersive experience allows guests to dine alongside their favorite furry friends and experience exclusive entertainment including singing, dancing, and photo opportunities.

“Midway's Engineers: Service, Sacrifice and Everyday Life” and the “Fire! Fire! Fire! Experience” are two exhibits in one to recently open on the USS Midway Museum. The experiences not only tell the stories of the ship’s hardworking engineers, but how steam powered virtually every element of the ship, as well as how fire is a sailor’s worst nightmare. Using a combination of sound, light and visual effects, guests are engulfed in the sensory overload of a shipboard fire scenario.

Children and adults alike are invited to dress up in costumes and collect treats from Little Italy businesses for Trick or Treat on India Street, returning October 27. The Piazza della Famiglia will also be transformed into “The Nightmare Before Christmas” with a 13-foot Jack Skellington, jumbo pumpkin stacks, and Halloween-themed music.

The Downtown Chula Vista Association will bring back the Dia de Los Muertos Celebration for its fourth year on Saturday, November 2. This vibrant event invites families and friends of all ages to honor and remember departed loved ones with activities such as a community altar, an altar contest, Las Jefas market, live music, dance performances, kids activities, and more.

The La Jolla Art & Wine Festival returns to the heart of La Jolla Village for its 16^th year on September 28 and 29. The event will showcase regional and international fine art from over 160 artists, a variety of flavor experiences from local food vendors, and the Wine & Beer Garden boasts more than 35 international wineries, local craft breweries, and distilleries. Live entertainment including music and dance performances, a two-day silent auction and pet-adoption stations will also be featured at the festival.

The Del Mar Wine and Food Festival is back for its second year from October 2-7. Renowned chefs, TV personalities and super-star athletes are set to headline the event. The two-day grand tasting event will feature over 100 top restaurants and chefs and 200 wines and spirits. This year, the festival will also pay special tribute to San Diego’s female leaders throughout various industries through special events.

Named “Best Wine Festival” by USA Today Top 10, the San Diego Food and Wine Festival is back and celebrating its 20^th anniversary November 2-10. The festival promises an exciting lineup of culinary talent, including chefs recognized by Food Network, Top Chef, James Beard Foundation and Michelin and aims to honor the influence of Latin, Asian and BIPOC cultures by uniting talent from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Adding to the fun of the Bing Crosby Fall Racing Season, which runs from October 31 through December 1, the Del Mar Racetrack has a full lineup of events this fall. On September 1, Family Fun Day will feature free, kid-friendly attractions and activities. On September 7, the racetrack will be offering all college students with a valid student ID free admission and other perks. This year, the Del Mar Racetrack will also be hosting the prestigious Breeders’ Cup World Championship for the third time in its history. Returning for the event is Michelin-starred Chef Curtis Stone, who will curate a world-class culinary experience for guests in premium dining areas.

New Hotels & Renovations

Hotel La Jolla has completed a multi-million-dollar property renovation with the introduction of the penthouse level restaurant concept, Sea & Sky, helmed by executive chef Anthony Wells, James Beard Awards 2022 semifinalist for Best Chef. Previously enclosed, the 100-seat dining room and bar area on the property’s 11^th floor now feature retractable windowpanes allowing the wafting in of refreshing salt-tinged sea breezes, and a newly enclosed show kitchen allows guests a front row seat to the culinary action.

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina has completed the next installment of its over $100 million property-wide renovation with a newly transformed lobby and the opening of three onsite dining concepts. Rumorosa presents Cali-Baja cuisine with sweeping views of the marina. Brewery X Harbor Island is the first San Diego location of the Orange County-based brewery and features a menu of wild and whacky named dishes. Along with the refresh of the property’s three pools, Sunglow Cabana Bar offers frozen drinks for all ages.

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa has unveiled two new on-site eateries following the completion of its $26 million renovation and redevelopment this summer. On its pool deck, guests can visit The Palma Bar & Grill, offering cocktails and light bites. The Trading Post Café & Bar offers a slightly more elevated dining experience on an outdoor patio with menu items made with locally sourced ingredients.

Just in time for its 20^th anniversary, the Omni San Diego Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter has announced the completion of its top-down renovation.  This includes a redesigned poolside experience, two new food and beverage concepts, refreshed meeting and event spaces, and reimagined lobby and guest rooms.

Arts & Culture

The Getty Foundation’s major arts event, PST ART, returns in September 2024, with several San Diego County museums and institutions participating. The latest edition, PST ART: Art & Science Collide, will explore the connections between art and science through exhibitions on topics like ancient cosmologies, Indigenous sci-fi, environmental justice, and artificial intelligence. These exhibitions are part of a series of interconnected exhibitions across Southern California that aims to spark civic dialogue on urgent issues like climate change, AI, and alternative medicine, offering new research, unforgettable experiences, and fresh insight. Events will include exhibition openings, artist talks, panel discussions, and interactive workshops. Museums participating include:

• The San Diego Museum of Art will present Wonders of Creation: Art, Science, and Innovation in the Islamic World from September 7, 2024, to January 5, 2025. This exhibition explores the intersections of art and science in Islamic culture from the 7th century to the present, featuring over 100 works, including manuscripts, maps, and scientific instruments, alongside contemporary commissions that reflect the enduring spirit of wonder and curiosity.

   

• Oceanside Museum of Art, in collaboration with Orange County Museum of Art and Crystal Cove Conservancy, will present Transformative Currents: Art and Action in the Pacific Ocean from September 7, 2024, to January 5, 2025. This exhibition features works by 20 contemporary artists that explore the environmental and cultural challenges facing the Pacific Ocean, emphasizing the interconnectedness of its ecosystems and the power of art to inspire positive ecological change.

   

• Mingei International Museum will present Blue Gold: The Art and Science of Indigo from September 14, 2024, to March 16, 2025. The exhibition will delve into the complex history and global significance of indigo, exploring its roles in botany, chemistry, and economics, as well as its cultural impact and problematic legacies, while featuring contemporary works by artists like Porfirio Gutiérrez and Laura Kina.

   

• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) will present For Dear Life: Art, Medicine, and Disability from September 19, 2024, to February 2, 2025. This is the first historical survey of artistic responses to sickness, health, and medicine in the United States. It features works by 80 artists, including Lynn Hershman Leeson, David Hockney, and Simone Leigh, exploring how health issues shape artistic processes and subject matter.

   

• La Jolla Historical Society with additional venues at California Center for the Arts Escondido, San Diego Central Library, and the Mandeville Art Gallery at UC San Diego will present Helen and Newton Harrison: California Work from September 19, 2024, to January 19, 2025. The first to focus exclusively on the Harrisons' California projects, showcases nearly 20 groundbreaking ecological artworks created between the late 1960s and 2000s, including re-staged performance pieces, archival materials, and The Lagoon Cycle, displayed for the first time since its acquisition by the Centre Georges Pompidou in 1997.

   

• UC San Diego Visual Arts, in partnership with Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, will present Embodied Pacific from September 21, 2024, to February 5, 2025. This exhibition features 18 artworks created by artists in collaboration with UC San Diego scientists, spanning three locations, including Birch Aquarium and the Indigenous-run Kosay Kumeyaay Market, and explores the intersection of oceanography and Indigenous knowledge, offering a collective vision for sustaining our oceans during a time of critical change.

 Vanguard Culture’s ENVZN24: Urban Art Takeover festival returns for its second year on September 14. ENVZN24 is a one-of-a-kind visual and performing arts festival that will transform urban areas of the Commercial Street corridor in Logan Heights with multi-sensory art interventions by creatives from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The La Jolla Playhouse has announced its fall lineup, featuring the world premiere of “Velour: A Drag Spectacular,” starring RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Sasha Velour, and directed by Moisés Kaufmanis  running now through September 8; The west coast premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winner and New York Times Critic’s Pick “Primary Trust,” created by Eboni Booth, directed by Knud Adams, runs September 24 through October 20; A production of “Your Local Theater Presents: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Again,” created by Anna Ouyang Monech and directed by Les Waters, runs November 19 through December 15.

The San Diego Comic-Con Museum has announced exciting happenings this fall. In celebration of World Design Capital 2024, the museum is partnering with the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego to debut their second binational collaboration: “Border Blitz: Artistas del Cómic de Tijuana.” featuring the art of Charles Glaubitz, Alejandra Yépiz Portillo, and Urbano Mata. In September, the museum will be unveiling a new exhibit titled “Myth of Superheroes,” which will explore the evolution of ancient Roman gods and goddesses into today’s superheroes. In November, the museum will be hosting a “Mask-O-Raid” party in partnership with Funko, Inc. Guests of all ages can experience trick-or-treating, a costume contest, bites & treats, party favors, and spooky jams by DJ Chino.

The Jacobs Music Center, home of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, is opening its doors for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic and a subsequent $125M renovation. The Symphony’s upcoming season, which kicks off on September 28, has been carefully curated to showcase the virtuosity of the world-class musicians of San Diego Symphony Orchestra and bring to life the enhanced acoustics, features, and capabilities of the newly transformed hall. The full schedule, along with tickets, can be found on the Symphony’s website.

The San Diego Maritime Museum has recently debuted its latest exhibit, Art of Navigation. The Art of Navigation features an array of period instruments, charts and voyage accounts from the dawn of the Scientific Revolution of the sixteenth century.

The San Diego Museum of Art welcomes Prix Pictet Human, the latest exhibition from the world’s leading award for photography and sustainability, to the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art from September 27 through December 15. The exhibition evaluates human’s role as stewards of the planet and sheds light on the critical issues of global sustainability. from September 27 through December 15. The exhibition evaluates human’s role as stewards of the planet and sheds light on the critical issues of global sustainability.

Through November 15, visitors in Balboa Park can check out the EXCHANGE Pavilion, erected as a part of World Design Capital 2024. On select Thursdays, visitors can experience Community Connections, a special series produced by World Design Capital.   

Restaurants, Breweries & Bars

Seeking to honor and amplify the rich diversity of San Diego’s culinary scene, author Ligaya Malones and photographer Deanna Sandoval have collaborated on cookbook San Diego Cooks, set to be released on September 24. San Diego Cooks proudly presents some of the region’s most iconic dishes, including recipes from San Diego favorites like TJ Oyster Bar, Kettner Exchange, Smokin’ J’s, and Extraordinary Desserts.

James Beard Foundation Best Chef California Finalist Tara Monsod, alongside Food Network Chef Brian Malarkey and Chris Puffer of Puffer Malarkey Group, opened Le Coq this June. The French steakhouse is situated in downtown La Jolla and has a menu grounded in the precision of traditional French culinary technique.

Cellar Hand, the first full-service restaurant venture by the Perr Family, the family behind Pali Wine Co., opened this June in the Hillcrest Neighborhood. Chef Logan Kendall’s menu is hyper-local focused, with farm-to-table dining featuring dishes made with fresh ingredients sourced from the nearby Hillcrest Farmers Market. The wine selection includes options from Pali Wine Co. and other producers, emphasizing tradition, terroir, and sustainability.

BASTA! is the latest concept of Grain & Grit Collective and San Diego chef Sam the Cooking Guy to open in the heart of Little Italy. BASTA!'s menu offers a delectable fusion of Italian-inspired dishes and guests can expect new, fun twists on classic Italian dishes as well as signature “Sam the Cooking Guy” bites.

Vessel Restaurant + Bar at Kona Kai San Diego is getting a refresh from new Executive Chef Ethan Brown. Chef Ethan has introduced a new menu highlighting fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farms in dishes like salmon poke, mahi tacos, and crispy maple leaf farm duck wings.

Located on the ninth floor of Hotel Indigo in the lively Gaslamp Quarter, Borrego Rooftop Kitchen + Cocktails is a desert-inspired oasis with views of Petco Park, cozy seating, and inviting firepits perfect for gatherings. Highlights include seasonal ceviche, hibiscus-cured kanpachi, cochinita sliders made with slow-roasted pork shoulder, and oversized platters of ribeye, halibut, and maitake mushrooms served with house-made blue corn tortillas. Expertly crafted cocktails, prepared seasonally, complement the culinary creations.

During the “Playing With Fire” outdoor grilling sessions, The Grill at Torrey Pines pairs up with some of San Diego’s hottest chefs to present delectable woodfired dishes, as well as local craft brews. Guests can experience the thrill of the grill on September 9, featuring Chef Cameron Ingle from Marisi La Jolla and WestBrew, and on October 14 featuring Chef Carmine Lopez from Wolf in the Woods and Fall Brewing Company.

The North Park neighborhood has welcomed Leila, the newest concept from CH Projects that pays homage to cofounder Arsalun Tafazoli’s Middle Eastern roots. Leila brings together flavors from all over the region, from Morocco to Iran. At the helm of Leila's kitchen is Executive Chef Wesley Remington Johnson, whose culinary journey spans several renowned establishments across the country. Complementing the culinary offerings is a cocktail program curated by CH Projects’ returning alumnus, Leigh Lacap, along with CH Beverage Director Alicia Perry.

Encinitas is now home to Fox Point Farms, a unique living and dining concept that revolves around a three-acre organic regenerative farm. In addition to 250 townhomes, cottages and apartments, Fox Point Farms is also home to Haven Farm + Table, Fox Point Brewing Co., and several other establishments that will be supplied by the farm directly. 

A fixture of the Point Loma neighborhood for nearly 70 years, The Pearl Hotel has introduced its most ambitious and imaginative restaurant and bar concept, Ponyboy. Ian Ward and Danny Romero, previously of 3-Star Michelin recognized Addison, are behind the project, which promises a menu inspired by the innovation of home cooking in the 1960’s.

Chef Drew Deckman, owner of Deckman’s en el Mogor in Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe, debuted his family’s very first U.S. restaurant in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood called 31THIRTYONE. At 31THIRTYONE, Deckman's earth-to-table mission is centered on preserving the watershed of Southern California and northern Baja while creating an inspiring restaurant that redefines the future of sustainable dining. The cause-based concept will fund regenerative farming projects—pledging 1% of monthly revenue to help farmers implement carbon farming projects through various grants—and the restaurant advocates for sustainability at every level of operation.

Awards & Recognitions

The Outsiders, a hit show during the 2022-2023 season of The La Jolla Playhouse, was named Best Musical at The Tony Awards. The musical, a classical literature adaptation, debuted on the La Jolla Playhouse stage before it was brought into the national spotlight on Broadway. The Outsiders also took home wins for Best Direction of a Musical, Best Lighting Design of a Musical and Best Sound Design of a Musical.

Recently, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) recognized local architect Jennifer Luce with the prestigious Honor Award for Interior Architecture. The Honor Award was given for Luce’s work in transforming the Mingei International Museum.

Several hotels throughout the San Diego region have been selected by readers of Smart Meetings Magazine to be named 2024 Smart Stars. Smart Meetings is a trade publication for event professionals, and each year, they honor some of their readers’ best experiences and favorite meeting partners with a Smart Star award.

• Best Incentive Hotel – Rancho Bernardo Inn
• Best Ballroom – Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
• Best Coastal Hotel – Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina
• Best Coastal Hotel – Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
• Best Conference/Convention Center Hotel – Omni San Diego Hotell
• Best Historic Hotel – The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego
• Best Island Hotel – Kona Kai San Diego Resort
• Best Outdoor Event Space – Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
• Best Golf Resort – Fairmont Grand Del Mar

Transportation

For the first time since before the pandemic, the San Diego region will welcome travelers from Beijing arriving through the Tijuana International Airport. The Hainan Airlines flight resumed its Beijing Capital-Tijuana-Mexico City service on July 12 with twice-weekly flights from PEK to TIK on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

On July 19, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) introduced a new, easier way for riders of public transportation to pay for rides. Commuters can now use tap-to-pay programs like Apple Pay to get to where they need to go, bypassing the need for ticket vending machines and bus fare boxes.

For more information on San Diego’s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority’s website at www.sandiego.org.

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