This is how to experience America’s Finest City like you actually live here.
San Diego’s allure of endless sunshine, perfect beaches, and a laid-back vibe is no secret to the millions of tourists who visit each year. Guidebooks and travel blogs point them toward a well-worn path of popular attractions and eateries that promise an authentic taste of Southern California life. The reality is that many of these famous spots are places that locals studiously avoid.
They aren’t necessarily bad, just often overrun, overpriced, or inauthentic. Knowing what to skip is just as important as knowing where to go for a true San Diego experience.
1. Eating dinner at a restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter.
The historic Gaslamp Quarter, with its Victorian architecture and lively nightlife, is the heart of downtown San Diego’s tourist scene. The streets are lined with dozens of bustling restaurants with enthusiastic hosts trying to lure you in. For most visitors, this seems like the obvious place to go for a nice dinner. For locals, it’s largely seen as a place for conventioneers and bachelorette parties.
San Diegans know that the best and most innovative food is found in the city’s distinct neighborhoods. They’ll head to Little Italy for authentic pasta, North Park for craft beer and creative cuisine, or Convoy Street for some of the best Asian food in the country, as shared in Le Travel Style. The Gaslamp is great for a walk, but for a memorable meal, locals almost always eat elsewhere.
2. Spending an afternoon shopping at Seaport Village.
Situated on the waterfront with lovely views of the bay, Seaport Village seems like an idyllic place to spend an afternoon. This collection of shops and restaurants is designed to feel like a quaint seaside town. Tourists fall for the charm. Browse stores filled with nautical-themed souvenirs, quirky hats, and novelty hot sauces. It’s a pleasant, albeit completely manufactured, experience that feels more like a theme park.
Locals, however, view Seaport Village as the definition of a tourist trap. They know the shops are overpriced and that better, more authentic local goods can be found at neighborhood farmers markets or in boutique-heavy areas like South Park or Cedros Design District in Solana Beach, according to San Diego Magazine. A local might walk through it, but they would rarely make it their shopping destination.
3. Taking a photo with the “kissing sailor” statue.
Standing tall next to the USS Midway Museum is “Unconditional Surrender,” a 25-foot-tall statue depicting the famous photograph of a sailor kissing a nurse on V-J Day. Tourists flock to this spot, lining up to recreate the iconic pose for a photo. It’s a prominent feature on the waterfront and has become a must-do for many visitors checking items off their San Diego list.
Most locals have a different take. Many find the statue to be kitschy and out of scale with its surroundings. There’s also a long-standing public debate about the non-consensual nature of the original kiss, which makes the celebratory statue uncomfortable for some residents, as said in So Diego. While they appreciate its patriotic sentiment, you’ll rarely find a San Diegan waiting in line for a photo op here.
4. Relying on the big restaurants in Old Town for Mexican food.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is the birthplace of California and a fantastic place to spend an afternoon. It is also filled with large, colorful Mexican restaurants serving massive margaritas and combo plates. Tourists rightfully assume this is the place for authentic Mexican food. While the atmosphere is festive, locals know these high-volume spots often serve Americanized fare.
A San Diegan craving authentic tacos al pastor, birria, or fresh ceviche will head to the smaller, family-run establishments in neighborhoods like Barrio Logan or even venture further south. They know the truly great food is found in unassuming taquerias, not in the places with the biggest sombreros and mariachi bands playing for tourists.
5. Spending the whole day at Mission Beach boardwalk.
The stretch of boardwalk at Mission Beach, anchored by the Belmont Park amusement park, is a magnet for tourists. It’s a chaotic, vibrant scene of street performers, souvenir shops, and crowds of people. Visitors often rent bikes or skates and spend the entire day navigating the throngs. It’s a classic Southern California beach party scene that seems essential to the San Diego experience.
Locals, however, tend to avoid this specific area like the plague, especially on a weekend. They find the crowds overwhelming and the vibe too hectic. A local will go to the beach, but they’ll choose a quieter spot like the northern end of Pacific Beach, Tourmaline for surfing, or the serene shores of Coronado.
6. Taking a narrated harbor tour.
Seeing San Diego from the water offers a beautiful perspective of the downtown skyline, the Coronado Bridge, and the naval ships. Numerous companies offer narrated harbor cruises that promise to show you all the sights. These tours are incredibly popular with visitors who want a guided experience on the bay. It’s a perfectly fine way to see the sights, but it’s not what a local would do.
For a fraction of the price, a local who wants to get on the water will just take the Coronado Ferry. It runs between downtown and Coronado Island, offering the exact same world-class views without the lengthy narration or the tourist price tag. It’s a practical, scenic, and much more authentic way to enjoy the bay.
7. Driving everywhere and paying for parking.
Tourists often assume that, like Los Angeles, San Diego requires a car to get anywhere. They’ll rent a vehicle and then spend a significant portion of their vacation stuck in traffic on the I-5 or circling endlessly for a wildly expensive parking spot in areas like La Jolla, Little Italy, or near the beaches. It’s a frustrating and costly way to see the city.
Locals know how to work the system. They’ll use the trolley to get to a Padres game or to the Gaslamp Quarter, use ride-sharing for short trips between neighborhoods, or take advantage of the city’s increasing walkability and bike paths along the coast. They know driving to the most popular spots is often the worst way to get there.
8. Going to the La Jolla Children’s Pool to see the seals.
The Children’s Pool in La Jolla has become world-famous for the colony of harbor seals that has taken over the small, protected beach. Tourists crowd onto the seawall, jostling for a photo of the sunbathing seals. It’s an undeniable spectacle that draws huge crowds year-round, making it feel like a must-see wildlife encounter.
Locals, however, often find the scene chaotic and prefer to view the sea lions just a short walk away at La Jolla Cove. The cliffs there offer a better, less crowded vantage point of hundreds of sea lions barking and lounging on the rocks. They also know the long-standing local controversy over the beach’s intended use makes the Children’s Pool a somewhat contentious spot.
9. Visiting the San Diego Zoo on a Saturday.
Let’s be clear: locals love the world-famous San Diego Zoo. It’s a true gem. What they avoid at all costs is the tourist experience of visiting it on a crowded Saturday in the middle of summer. They know that this means contending with massive lines just to get in, shoulder-to-shoulder crowds on the pathways, and long waits to see popular animals.
A local will almost always have a membership, allowing them to pop in for short, targeted visits on a weekday morning or a quiet afternoon in the off-season. They get to enjoy the zoo at its best, without the stressful, overwhelming crowds that visitors often have to endure.
10. Thinking Belmont Park is a major amusement park.
The Giant Dipper, the iconic wooden roller coaster at Belmont Park, is a beautiful, historic landmark. Tourists often see it and assume the park is a full-fledged amusement park worth a significant portion of their day. They’ll buy ride tickets and play carnival games, enjoying the classic beachfront amusement park atmosphere.
Locals see Belmont Park more as a landmark to orient themselves by than as a destination. They might walk through it to get to the beach, but they rarely ride the rides, which they consider to be overpriced and dated. It’s a fun slice of nostalgia, but it’s not an amusement park on the scale that many out-of-towners expect.
11. Trying to get into a top Little Italy spot on a weekend night.
Little Italy is arguably the city’s best dining neighborhood, and locals frequent it often. The tourist mistake is trying to show up without a plan on a Friday or Saturday night and expecting to eat at one of the trendy, top-rated restaurants on India Street. They’ll be met with two-hour waits and packed sidewalks.
A San Diegan knows better. They will either make a reservation weeks in advance, go for a less-crowded weekday lunch, or explore the excellent but less-hyped restaurants on the surrounding streets like Kettner and Fir. They get to enjoy the neighborhood’s fantastic food without the weekend chaos that visitors get stuck in.
12. Only focusing on the museums in Balboa Park.
Balboa Park is the cultural heart of San Diego, filled with an incredible collection of museums. Many tourists spend their entire visit hopping from one paid museum entrance to another, trying to see as many exhibits as possible. They often miss what locals know is the best part of the park.
The real magic of Balboa Park is free. Locals spend their time walking through the stunning gardens, admiring the Spanish Colonial architecture, having a picnic on the grass, listening to the organ pavilion, and watching the eclectic mix of street performers and artists. The experience of the park itself is the main attraction, with the museums being a fantastic bonus.