The US Navy is based here and on a harbour tour, you can count a number of monstrous sized aircraft carriers boasting 75 aircraft each. One is located downtown and converted to a museum so you can meet Maverick and Goose who went to Top Gun here.
Balboa Park is filled with small museums, arts and crafts, a huge public outdoor organ, lots of green areas and fun architecture. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon which is nearly always sunny!
Feed Shamu the killer-whale, at Sea World or watch local baseball team the Padres at their downtown stadium. If the game is sold out, watch it from the 22nd floor roof bar “Altitude Skyline” of the Marriott Hotel that also overlooks the bay, Coronado Island, the city and the sunset. Conde Nast Traveller rate this as one of the World’s top 25 bars. It is cool, if only for the view.
On ground level we had dinner in the restaurant which was pricey and “ok” but gave us immediate entry to Altitude which can have queues bigger than the capacity. Just don’t go for the music, you won’t be impressed.
