A Relaxed Departure From La Jolla into a Full-Day San Diego Experience

Start your day in beautiful La Jolla and explore the best of San Diego on this shared full-day sightseeing tour. Your experience begins at the La Jolla Village Starbucks, a convenient central meeting point with easy parking and nearby shops and cafés.

From there, you’ll head straight to Mount Soledad, perched high above La Jolla’s cliffs. This hilltop veterans memorial offers panoramic 360° views over the coastline, the Pacific Ocean, downtown San Diego, Mission Bay, and the surrounding hills. It’s the perfect place to start your day immersed in the region’s scenery.

Next, you’ll enjoy time at La Jolla Cove, one of the most photographed oceanfront spots in California. Stroll along the blufftop paths at Ellen Browning Scripps Park, watch sea lions sunbathing on the shoreline, explore tide pools when conditions permit, or simply soak in the turquoise water and dramatic cliffs.

Your guide then brings you to Old Town San Diego, the cultural birthplace of California. Here, adobe buildings, shaded courtyards, museums, restaurants, and artisan shops provide a look into early Mexican and American life. You’ll have free time to explore at your own pace.

Around midday, you’ll arrive at Seaport Village, a classic waterfront district lined with cafés, restaurants, boutiques, and harborfront views. This is your lunch stop (meals not included), offering plenty of time to eat, stroll along the bay, or shop for souvenirs.

After lunch, settle in for a narrated drive through the Gaslamp Quarter, the vibrant historic heart of downtown San Diego. Your guide will point out Victorian-era buildings, the famous Gaslamp Arch, and share stories about the district’s lively past and modern nightlife scene.

Next, you’ll cross the bridge to Hotel Del Coronado, one of the most iconic beachfront resorts in the world. Guests can explore the hotel’s shops, walk its historic grounds, or enjoy the pristine white-sand beach with views of Point Loma.

Your final major stop is Balboa Park, a spectacular 1,200-acre cultural park filled with gardens, walking paths, Spanish Colonial architecture, plazas, and fountains. You’ll have time to wander, take photos, or simply relax in the park’s peaceful atmosphere.

The tour finishes with a narrated pass through Little Italy, now one of San Diego’s most popular food and cultural neighborhoods, before returning you to the La Jolla Village Starbucks in the early evening.

• Free meeting point at La Jolla Village Starbucks
• Comfortable shared vehicle
• Professional local guide with live narration
• Free time at six major sightseeing stops
• Narrated drive-throughs of the Gaslamp Quarter & Little Italy
• Bottled water and light snacks onboard

• Lunch (available for purchase in Seaport Village)
• Museum or attraction admission (optional)
• Gratuities for your guide (optional but appreciated)