2 days in San Diego: must-see highlights and local gems

Take the wheel on this speedboat adventure of San Diego Bay! Your experience includes a thrilling self-guided ride across the bay so you can navigate where you go and what you see.The vessels all come with safety equipment that has been approved by the Coast Guard and use super-quiet, eco-friendly, 30-horsepower outboard motors.You don't need to be an experienced driver to pilot the boats either. They're controlled with a steering wheel that handles just like a car, and the throttle only has three positions. And you'll get a full safety briefing with instructions before you set sail.Along the way, you'll get views of the Navy Ships, the USS Midway aircraft museum, Coronado Bridge, famous Star of India, and the Seaport Village.

Stroll around this peaceful garden in San Diego’s Balboa Park – the nation’s largest urban cultural park.The zen design of the Japanese Friendship Garden boasts traditional water and stone elements, two koi ponds, a bonsai collection, and unique attractions such as a cast bronze kannon bosatsu statue from 1735 AD. You'll enjoy the relaxing ambiance of the garden which fuses Japanese aesthetics with southern Californian characteristics.The garden was created as a gesture of friendship between the US and Japan and combines water, pastoral and mountain scenes, also known as 'San-Kei-En' - a three-tiered experience. As you explore, you'll learn about all the little landscaped details and what they represent in Japanese culture.Each calming element will bring a sense of peace and tranquility to your San Diego trip, so don't miss the chance to take some time out and enjoy this cultural sanctuary.

Immerse yourself in the wonders of the natural world at the San Diego Natural History Museum, also known as The Nat! A flagship insitution in stunning Balboa Park, The Nat features regional, natural history and biodiversity of Southern and Baja California over a whopping four floors of exhibition space and more.Enjoy permanent exhibitions, rotating films in the giant-screen theater, a robust calendar of events and activities and the opportunity to see scientists at work. Discover fascinating stories with friends and family about our natural world when you pay a visit to The Nat! 

It's housed in a historic Spanish Renaissance building and features an impressive collection of paintings from around the world. See Spanish and Italian Old Masters, South Asian paintings, 19th- and 20th-century American paintings, sculptures, and more.As well as its permanent collection, the Museum regularly features major exhibitions of art from around the world, as well as concerts and local student exhibits. Head out to the sculpture court and garden after exploring the interiors to browse an outstanding sculpture collection and impressive floral displays.