If You Have 1 Day

With only 1 day in San Diego, you'll have to choose between two different kind of itineraries: the wildlife route versus a scenic tour of the city. If you go for the animal agenda, decide on the San Diego Zoo or SeaWorld, both of which require at least a half-day to explore. Either way, get there when the gates open to maximize your touring. Plan to leave the animals by early afternoon for a late lunch; we recommend The Prado near the zoo, or Baleen near SeaWorld. If a late-afternoon shopping spree beckons, explore the classy boutiques of La Jolla or the international shops of Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town. Or, if shopping isn't your bag, breathe in the seaside ambience by walking along the Pacific Beach boardwalk (for the blond and bronzed) or the downtown Embarcadero (which bustles with fishing boats against a naval backdrop).

If you pick the scenic agenda, you don't need to worry about renting a car if you go with Old Town Trolley Tours, where a $24 ticket buys you all-day privileges along the trackless trolley's 30-mile route visiting many of the city's highlights, including Horton Plaza and the Gaslamp Quarter, the Hotel del Coronado, Balboa Park, Old Town, and more. You can get on and off the trolley through the day (one comes by every 30 min.), spending as little or as much time as you want at each stop.

Whichever agenda you choose, finish the day in the Gaslamp Quarter, which always promises a lively evening street scene. Pick from dozens of restaurants, and stick around for live music after dinner--if you have the energy!

If You Have 1 Night

If you're in town just briefly for a convention but on your own for the evening, you'll find plenty of nightlife options in the Gaslamp Quarter. But if the drink-and-dine scene is not your thing, there are alternatives, especially during summer or on Thursday through Saturday nights. In summer months the zoo and SeaWorld are open until 9pm or later. The San Diego Symphony's pops concerts are held on weekends from late June to August at the Embarcadero. Year-round, you'll find several museums open late on Thursdays, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla and the Museum of Art and the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. At the latter, the cinema features a repertory of classic films several nights a week.

Don't forget that the San Diego Trolley system offers an easy and cheap way to access Old Town, Mission Valley, and Tijuana from downtown, and you can take a water taxi or the ferry over to Coronado and stroll the Ferry Landing Marketplace. Or if you want to let someone else do all the work, board one of the harbor dinner cruises for an easy evening.

If You Have 2 Days

With 2 full days in the city, you can devote each one to the zoo and SeaWorld. After the zoo, allow several hours for strolling through the rest of Balboa Park, enjoying the great architecture and peeking into a couple of its fantastic museums. Some, such as the Automotive Museum, the Model Railroad Museum, the Mingei International Museum, the Museum of San Diego History, and the Timken, take less than an hour to visit. If the weather is too perfect to believe, after you've visited SeaWorld, rent your favorite recreational gear (bikes, inline skates, kayaks--they're all available), and spend a few hours at our splendid public aquatic park, Mission Bay.

If You Have 3 Days

Plan the first 2 days as above, and spend the third at Coronado for a tour of the majestic Hotel del Coronado and lunch on the island. Or, devote the day to La Jolla, where there's an excellent contemporary art museum and a bevy of outdoor dining venues. If it's summer or fall, be sure to allow a few hours for swimming or sunbathing at one of San Diego's beaches (don't miss a sunset walk along the coast any time of year). If it's winter, spend the afternoon on a whale-watching cruise. Take in an evening performance at the Globe Theatres, the La Jolla Playhouse, or with San Diego's symphony or opera.

If You Have 4 Days or More

With an extended stay comes the opportunity to indulge your personal passions. For example, you can play one of San Diego's 90-plus golf courses; take kayak lessons along La Jolla's coast; go ballooning in Del Mar; try hang gliding from Torrey Pines; or poke around a historic house museum (like the Marston House or Villa Montezuma). Other worthwhile highlights include the Cabrillo National Monument, Old Town State Historic Park, and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. If you haven't tired of animal sightings, spend the day at the Wild Animal Park. Or, assemble a picnic in Hillcrest with sandwiches from Bread & Cie. or the bountiful deli at Whole Foods; Presidio Park and Torrey Pines State Park are among my favorite spots for a sack lunch.

Another option would be to explore beyond the city limits. Take the trolley to Tijuana and spend a day shopping and sampling south-of-the-border flavor. Or treat the kids to a day at LEGOLAND in Carlsbad (40 min. north of downtown), or the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim (a little more than 1 1/2 hr. away); or enjoy the dynamic desert scenery of Anza-Borrego (1 1/2 hr. away).