Experience America's Finest City

San Diego is not only a natural beauty, it’s also one of the nation’s most vibrant cities and the Convention Center is at the heart of all the action. The beautiful bayside building is just a short stroll away from an exciting array of sidewalk cafes, specialty shops, art galleries and clubs in the historical Gaslamp District, thousands of hotel rooms, gorgeous waterfront parks, some of the finest restaurants in Southern California, the dynamic new San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum and PETCO Park – the San Diego Padres’ fabulous new downtown ballpark.

San Diego is a delicious surprise for food lovers, with rich and savory aromas of cuisines – from Afghan to Vietnamese – found in more than 6,400 restaurants located throughout the county.

The best news of all is that because of the convenient location of the Convention Center, the pedestrian friendly neighborhoods, and a near-perfect climate, you probably won’t need a car if you are staying in a downtown hotel.

To assist you in making the most of your visit here, be sure to see below on the best paces to go, sights to see and things to do.

Gaslamp Quarter

The Gaslamp District is one of the city’s premier dining, shopping and entertainment destinations with its old-fashioned gas lamps, brick sidewalks and Victorian-style buildings.  Located directly across the street from the Convention Center, this historic neighborhood featured an eclectic blend of more than 90 restaurants including sidewalk cafes, coffee houses and pubs, art galleries, boutiques, and specialty stores, live theater and dance clubs. 

Downtown San Diego had lost its appeal as more and more shopping malls sprang up in the various communities. Still many people worked downtown, but didn't stay past five. Little by little the streets were taken over by the homeless and some unsavory characters and The fountain in the town square called, Horton Plaza became a place to wash up. The city "fathers" finally devised a plan to change the pending fate of our sad little town and The Gaslamp Quarter was the result. In a few short years--by city development standards--San Diegans had a re-vitalized downtown area that was fun to spend time in, elegant to live in and beautiful enough to be proud of. Even the homeless were hired to walk security detail! Now, instead of avoiding the old section of S.D. we are telling everyone who will listen, "The Gaslamp Quarter" is a Must See in San Diego!! Development is still going on and who knows how far it will spread? The Gaslamp sign as viewed on Fifth Avenue, looking north from the direction of the Convention Center.

We offer San Diego’s most up-close and all-encompassing guided Pedicab tour of the Gaslamp, or if you prefer, we’ll offer you the Gaslamp after dark, which you’ll simply have to see to believe.

View the Dining Directory here
From suave steakhouses and eclectic ethnic fare, dinner clubs to sultry jazz bars, over 100 restaurants are intermingled with dance and drink all situated within blocks of each other. 

View the Shopping Guide here
The Gaslamp Quarter has more than 100 retail businesses that will below you away with their one of a kind styles, unique designs and specialty gifts. 

San Diego’s colorful Spanish-style waterfront dining, shopping and outdoor entertainment venue is just a short stroll from the Convention Center.  Located between South Embarcadero Park and the North Embarcadero, Seaport Village offers panoramic views of San Diego Bay, Coronado and evening sunsets. 

Click here for directions, visitor information, dining and shopping. 

Located on the North Embarcadero near the San Diego Maritime Museum and the Star of India Tall Ship, the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum, which opened in Spring 2004, features the decommissioned Midway as a multi-dimensional, interactive educational and entertainment complex.  The only museum of its kind of the West Coast, the complex includes a below-deck theater, flight simulators, ship tours, permanent exhibits of historical memorabilia and an educational research center.  The complex is available for private parties and educational and community events. 

Click here for details, schedules and ticket prices. 

PETCO Park

Conveniently located across the street from the Convention Center, the San Diego Padres’ new downtown ballpark combines the best sightlines in baseball with breathtaking downtown views.  The 42,000-seat ballpark includes The Park at the Park, an elevated grassy 2.7 acre park, offering a bird’s eye view into the playing field. 

See PETCO Park Website for details and ticket information. 

San Diego Dining

Over the past decade, San Diego has experienced a spectacular culinary metamorphosis. Cuisine and ambiance here are as vibrant and diverse as the region itself, with many restaurants exhibiting a unique local flair. You will discover restaurants ranging from elegant, four-star establishments to fun and casual. With San Diego’s perfect climate, many offer outdoor dining with magnificent views and they are all found in fantastic locations – from waterfront to countryside; mountain views to downtown excitement

Restaurateurs and chefs from San Diego’s North County to the Mexican border delight in competing to serve California’s freshest seafood, fruits and produce. San Diego boasts popular regional menus including:

• California Cuisine
• Pacific Rim Cuisine
• Elegant Continental
• American Bistro
• Contemporary French
• Authentic Mexican and Southwestern Dishes

With so much to choose from, we are pleased to offer you assistance through the following resources to help plan your dining experience in San Diego:

Fodor’s: your guide to San Diego’s exploding culinary scene

Foodie View: San Diego’s guide to the “best of” – from American Cuisine to Wine Lists

San Diego Dining Guide: discover the newest openings, top 20 listings and more

Zagat: the world’s best-selling publisher of restaurant guides