There are many fun things to do in San Diego - and despite what you may have heard, not all of them break the bank.

If there’s one thing this area is criticized for, it’s that the high-standards lifestyle often comes with a price tag that’s just as soaring.

But San Diego is called America’s Finest City - not its priciest city. While there are some high-priced attractions and establishments that attract the affluent, it’s also possible to enjoy this amazing area without a big budget.

Today we’ll highlight some of the best restaurants, attractions, and locations that allow you to fill your stomach and your day without requiring you to drain your savings in the process. We’ll also mention some of the spots you can head to when it’s time to splurge and treat yourself.

Let’s plan our San Diego day together!

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Just an hour's drive from sunny San Diego toward the mountains, and you find yourself in a completely different world. Julian is a tiny town – just a few streets and nearby farms and ranches. Because of its location in the mountains, there is a much brighter sense of seasonality – the heat in summer, yellow and red leaves in fall, snow in winter, and flowers in spring.

Tourists love coming to Julian, especially during the fall season, because it is one of the few places in Southern California where you can see colorful fall foliage. Combined with the beautiful scenery, it is also a great place to vacation out of town.

Another reason why Fall is great for visiting Julian is that it is apple picking season. Since the town's culture is associated with pies, this dish is a must-try. In Julian, they are baked and sold hot in all kinds of flavors, though the most popular, of course, is the apple pie.

We visited during the second week of November and in our pictures you can see all the holiday festivities and colorful fall foliage. In this guide you’ll see plenty of Julian family-friendly activities and even some romantic weekend itinerary ideas for a couple’s weekend away. For the foodie fans, I’ve also included all the must-try autumn foods and deserts.

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San Diego is a desirable vacation destination for many reasons. The weather is excellent year-round, the beaches are pristine, and San Diego is home to two of the most world-famous animal parks.

Both the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park are enormous parks filled with a huge variety of rare and endangered wildlife. You can easily spend an entire day exploring each park, which leads to the conundrum of how to decide which park to visit during your trip. Hence this guide!

My husband and I are former San Diego residents, and my entire in-law family still live there. We’ve spent many family vacations exploring both the animal parks with our kids, and we can provide both a local and insider perspective.

In this comprehensive guide you’ll find detailed information about both animal park’s exhibits, top animals to see, location information, baby and kid-friendly pointers, and even what to eat. We’ve left no stone unturned and you can use all these tips to help you make an itinerary decision.

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No matter the type of experience you wish to share with the girls at your bachelorette party, to make it impeccable for you, America’s Finest City will lay it out on the canvas of the finest weather you could dream of.

In the mood for wine-induced gaiety wrapped in classy sophistication? Wanting to explore sites that offer different scenery and heart-throbbing adventures every five minutes of the walk? Driven by the desire to bask in the sun of the finest beaches? Up for a hiking challenge with breathtaking views while compiling a collection of quirky pics?

 Whatever your preferences, the San Diego area has a whole array of body and soul-pampering experiences to make for a stupendous catalog of life-long memories. Let’s jump right to the list of tempting bachelorette destination choices!

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Taking family photos is a great way of documenting memorable events that happen in our lives and capturing important milestones. These moments frozen in time help us see our loved ones grow up and change over the years. Photographs become a precious legacy that can be passed on from generation to generation.

One of the most breathtaking places to take family pictures in Southern California is undoubtedly San Diego. With stunning natural beauty ranging from world-famous beaches, pristine parks and even modern urban neighborhoods, this city has some of the best backdrops in the country.

Choosing to take family pictures in the beloved San Diego city is an easy decision because there's a locale for every kind of vibe you could be going for. Below you'll find 15 of the most Instagrammable places in San Diego where you can have a photo shoot with your loved ones, regardless of the occasion.

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La Jolla is the crown jewel of San Diego, known for its luxurious atmosphere and pristine beaches, which are consistently voted as some of the best beach destinations in the world. The immaculate city blocks in this coastal suburb of San Diego offers visitors delightful and family-friendly experiences.

In La Jolla there are so many water-related sports activities to partake in, from walks on the long stretches of sandy beaches to kayaking and surfing, as well as arrays of coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques to spend your vacation days at. The gorgeous beaches, stunning cliffs, and natural wonders of this coastal inlet provide endless opportunities to explore the outdoors.

La Jolla's charming community vibe is also what makes it so family-friendly. On that same note, a lot of restaurants and stores in La Jolla are fancy and geared for adults and not necessarily appropriate for children. This is particularly true if you have a baby and a toddler like we do. In this guide I provide plenty of options for families with babies, toddlers and older children.

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Your engagement and wedding day are momentous occasions in your life and you will want your pictures to mark the moment and reflect the sentiment. You'll want to capture the beauty and romance of your union with your partner in a location that reflects the happiness you shared in those moments. This is why the unparalleled ambiance and scenic landscapes of San Diego are ideal for booking for photography session.

San Diego is truly a beautiful city, with great weather and plenty of photo opportunities during all four seasons. It offers a variety of unique locations, such as scenic neighborhoods, modern urban backdrops, gorgeous beaches, and picturesque natural landscapes, all just a short drive away from the city, making it an ideal spot for your engagement and wedding photos.

In this blog, I’ll go through some of my favorite spots that you can choose from, I’ll mention some places for family photos in San Diego, and discuss the benefits of investing in a professional photoshoot for your engagement and wedding.

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San Diego is one of those bucket list California road trip destinations. It’s got everything you’re looking for in a vacation - warm sunny weather, beaches, palm trees, trendy restaurants, shopping and of course Insta-worthy photography locations.

In this guide I’ve listed over 30 San Diego spots where you can take bright and colorful vacation photos. The list includes the best neighborhoods to hangout, beaches, parks, where to eat and of course flower fields.

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One of the liveliest neighborhoods in San Diego is the Hillcrest Gay District. The streets are filled with vibrant colors and friends gathering to meet up for brunch, not to mention the thriving nightlife scene.

Hillcrest is known as the most diverse area of the city because they welcome all kinds of people and they have a strong LGBT community. Although San Diego in general is considered to be very gay-friendly, Hillcrest is truly the hub for gay-owned businesses and events.

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The San Diego eateries I’ve chosen for this list are popular with the Instagram crowd because they’ve mastered the art of trendy decor and creating fun photo opportunities for patrons. You’ll find brunch restaurants, ice cream shops, cafes and perfect date night places.

These top picks can be found all over the San Diego area because there’s just so many cute neighborhoods in this colorful city. Whether you’re a visitor on a beach vacation or a local, there’s always be new areas to explore.

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San Diego is one of the most dog-friendly travel destinations in California with a wide selection of hotels and destinations that your pup can enjoy with you. The weather is usually very pleasant so spending the day outside is no biggie.

My husband and I used to live in the San Diego area with our Black Labrador Holly. We would bring her all over the city with us, so we've had plenty of personal experience with finding dog-friendly things to do and places to eat.

This blog post covers San Diego dog-friendly parks, beaches, walkable neighborhoods, restaurants and more.

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