Things to do inland San Diego, CA

A few weeks ago I started the series about San Diego, including what it's like living here, what to do in coastal SD and today the series continues with the things you can do inland.

To get a better understanding of the coastal and inland "separation" you have to read the first post about it here.

Inland San Diego is just as pretty as the coastal one, well, in its own way. No matter where you stay when here, you might want to check each of these places I'm sharing below.

One of the places you don't want to miss is obviously in Downtown San Diego - the Gaslamp Quarter, the hustle-and-bustle of the city, the entertainment, architecture, shopping and food "capital" of SD.

Once you got a taste of the Gaslamp Quarter, move to Balboa Park. Called the Jewel of San Diego, it is the most famous park here and rightfully so since it really is something. House to several museums, an open-air organ pavilion, intricate architecture as well as several gardens, it is full of entertainment. and things to see. There's something for everyone to see, from the garden lover (I'm talking a Japanese garden, a rose garden with more than 100 varieties of roses, and even a complete desert garden). The most famous one though must be the Botanical Garden which houses a jungle of tropical plants, including a wide variety of orchids and even seasonal blooms. Find more about Balboa Park and plan your day - yes, I said day here.

Worthy of your visit as well, is the Spanish Village Art Studio, a colorful, charming place right next to Balboa Park. Shop for some unique pieces - from jewelry to painting to home goods, admire the work of artists' exhibits or simply watch them create it.

Another charming place to visit is Old Town San Diego, a historic site where the beginnings of this city are "preserved". Worth mentioning - if you like ghost stories, then you will definitely want to check the Whaley house here, which is said to be the most haunted house in America - so glad I did not know this at the time we visited it, or I would have never slept again, haha.

During this time of the year, you don't want to miss the Carlsbad Flower Fields, where colorful ranunculus flowers (also knows as Persian buttercups) bloom as far as the eye can see. It truly is a spectacle to see. However, be prepared; since the fields are open for visitors for a limited time (usually until Mother's Day), the place gets really busy, so plan accordingly.

If you're more of an outdoorsy person, San Diego also has a lot of "wild" trails where you can hike for miles. When here though, be on the lookout for the rattlesnakes which are literally everywhere. Mission Trails, Cowless Mountain, The Seven Bridge Walk, Miramar Lake are just a few to help you experience true Southern California wildlife and nature.

Now, your visit here would not be complete without seeing the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. I know a lot of people don't like zoos, however, I support these two due to their efforts to end extinction of several endangered species. While the Zoo is typical yet special in some ways, the Safari Park is designed to re-create animals' natural habitat, which makes it quite the sight to see. Just make sure you have comfortable walking shoes because this place is huuuge. My absolute favorite to spend time here is the Tiger trail - the big cats fascinate me.

If you prefer to see the city in one shot, you have to visit Mount Helix (read more about it here), one of the historical landmarks with 360 degrees views of San Diego and the city surrounding it - be aware that parking is limited and the road going up is steep/windy.

Also, check this post for an off-the-beaten-path place which I'm sure you'll also love.