The city of San Diego, California has always been one of the most popular summer destinations in the country. With the heat of the summer sun now upon us, you can only expect thousands upon thousands of visitors checking out what the city has to offer this time of year. And from all indications, San Diego offers a lot in terms of attractions and things to do during summer.

Should you decide to make San Diego the destination for your summer vacation, here are some of the best things you can do during your time here in one of California’s most vibrant cities.

Obviously, hitting San Diego’s beaches is a no-brainer. The city boasts of 70 miles of beautiful beaches, and is home to a deeply-ingrained surf culture. Try out the waves yourself if you love surfing, or you can watch from the beach as some of the world’s best surfers hang ten.

Another must-do thing when you’re in San Diego is a visit to what is arguably the greatest zoo in the world. The San Diego Zoo has probably the most extensive collection of animals in the planet, and is home to a number of endangered giant pandas. The sight of these creatures alone is probably enough to put a smile on your kids’ faces. But if it’s big, wide grins that you want to see from your family, then a visit to Sea World is in order. Lots of really entertaining animal shows, and the chance to be drenched by Shamu, the world’s most famous killer whale.

A vacation to San Diego will never be complete without dropping by La Jolla, a coastal community in the city where you can have fun exploring its coves, beaches and ocean cliffs. But if you want to travel back in time, you can do so by checking out Old Town San Diego, which has some of the best-preserved buildings and icons that speak volumes about the Spanish heritage of the city.

San Diego offers all these, and a whole lot more. With practically no shortage of things to do, travelers are guaranteed an amazing time here in SD during the summertime.

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