As everyone knows, Shamu is SeaWorld’s biggest star. But SeaWorld Adventure Park San Diego is so much more. In addition to being the place for thrilling rides and live entertainment, SeaWorld is dedicated to protecting and preserving the environment and all its wildlife. No trip to San Diego is complete without a visit to SeaWorld – young or old, all visitors leave smiling and (sometimes) soggy. Directions.

The Gaslamp Quarter is 21 blocks of sidewalk cafes and open air restaurants, jazz clubs, late night dancing, resident artists and micro breweries. "The Historic Heart of San Diego", as it is known, is Downtown, just a short walk from the convention center. Directions.

Styled as a turn of the century bayfront village, Seaport Village is San Diego’s landmark for waterfront shopping and dining. This charming cluster of shops and restaurants attracts tourists and locals alike. Take a horsedrawn carriage ride, ride an authentic Coney Island carousel, pick up a nautilus at the Seaport Village Shell Co., Ltd., or grab some good grub at Buster’s Beach House. Don’t miss a leisurely browse at Upstart Crow, San Diego’s original combination bookstore and coffee shop. Directions.

Coronado Island, located directly across the bay from downtown San Diego, is an ideal vacation destination. Continually recognized for its expansive white beaches, Coronado was recently voted the number two beach in America and the number one family beach by the Travel Channel. Directions.

Located in the heart of San Diego's lovely Balboa Park, which includes so many museums and other facilities it deserves a separate day of viewing, the World-Famous San Diego Zoo is home to over 4000 animals of over 800 different species. Here you’ll find all your favorites including the hands-on Children’s Zoo, the Polar Bear Plunge, Tiger River and the creepy Reptile Mesa. Be sure not to miss the Giant Pandas and the Rainforest Aviary, a huge bird-filled Asian jungle with waterfalls and lush tropical foliage. Directions.

With over 2,000 acres of park areas to explore, the San Diego Wild Animal Park offers a more natural setting to view the animals, birds and fish than the conventional cages of a zoo. Take the hour-long train ride and see giraffes and wild horses or stop at the petting zoo to allow the kids to pet and feed gentle deer and goats. The bird show is not to be missed and don’t forget to pay special attention to the carefully labeled landscape plants. Directions.

Step into San Diego of centuries past as you stroll through Old Town. Don’t miss: San Diego House (originally a saloon owned and operated by a freed slave and a cornerstone of Black American history in San Diego), the Mason Street School (San Diego’s first public school, still holding history classes for the public) and, of course, Bazaar Del Mundo. Bazaar Del Mundo is a permanent fiesta, with fabulous shopping and ethnic (not just Mexican) food. Directions.

LEGOLAND is a 128-acre park that contains 5,000 Lego models made up of more than 30 million Lego bricks. It also features more than 40 interactive exhibits, attractions, family rides and shows. Although LEGOLAND’s broadest appeal is to kids 12 and under, anyone with a young spirit will enjoy San Diego’s newest theme park.