Little Italy was *truly* the perfect spot to stay as first-time visitors to San Diego. We were…read morecentral to so much by staying in the La Pensione. The farmer's market was right outside on Saturday, and there were dozens of top-tier restaurants and bars within short walking distance. I'm so glad we stayed in this neighborhood over Gaslamp, as that was on my radar too but sounded like it may have been too wild. We didn't have a car, so parking wasn't a problem, and public transportation was close by. It was also easy to call for a Lyft. I also appreciated how close it was to the airport. I'd absolutely stay in Little Italy again in the future if the price permits!

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN FOOD & CULTURE! I came to decompress and explore Little Italy on a Friday…read moreafternoon. My main goal was to explore the walkability, public transport options, and lodging choices. I would give Little Italy an A+ in all three categories! Throughout the district you'll find Italian restaurants at every corner, mini-marts, and boutique stores. If you'd like to vacation here, you can literally spend a couple of days in Little Italy and have everything you need in one spot. A trolley station is available near the center of the main hub and there's plenty of hotels! I wouldn't stay over the Summer as prices are exorbitantly high, I'd visit during the off season. July would be the worst month to stay in my opinion! Little Italy has a massive plaza with bistro-style tables and chairs open to the public. I couldn't help but notice the fact that I felt transported to Italy! Several restaurant owners had an Italian accent or spoke Italian. Additionally, the aroma of pizzerias and pubs were quite enticing. If you're into sports, there's several locations with screens for watching live events. My only issue with Little Italy is the lack of parking. Everywhere you go, street parking and paid parking is FULL. You'll be lucky to find a spot during the summer season. I found a spot after half an hour of circling the vicinity like a San Diego shark. The city needs to create more underground lots or more street parking.

Way more than 5 stars needed! Dave was working in this spectacular garden when we walked by and we…read morehad the pleasure to explore it and learn about some of the succulents and the origin and artistry of the over 10,000 painted rocks. Upon admiring one particular plant, Dave took his shovel and shared a shoot for me to take home! The mural in the background is a wonderful addition! Thanks, Dave for sharing your time today!

This place is just super chill. No matter how many times we have visited we still always find new…read moreand inspirational rocks.

Small park, beautiful scenery. It looks more like a stop while hiking or biking, to smell the…read moreocean, and recharge the internal battery with a yummy picnic. They are 3 or 4 picnic tables, but they should have more as I can see there is a long space that appears semi-empty. No wonder this park is translated into Spanish more or less as The beautiful jewel..,because it is just wonderful. My recent discovery and can't wait to go back. I can't believe I had never been before when all you get there is good vibes and tranquil time! (Plus the views to the sea and the interesting shape of the park is also something different, plus the stairs!).

I'd call this more of a parklet with a great view of the Pacific Ocean below. There is a picnic…read morebench and space to sit while enjoying the view. Limited street parking and no restrooms. And, yes, you can walk down to the beach.

This is my go to park to walk to in the area to enjoy ocean views with my pastries/coffee from the…read morevarious shops in the area. Whether it's foggy or sunny, the view is always nice. Multiple benches scattered around the park, facing the ocean. Lots of people walking their dogs, strolling, and biking around; pretty sure I happened to see a small wedding happening one weekend as well.

Calumet Park is a cozy cliffside park with ocean views, paved walkways, benches, and a green grassy…read morearea.

What a greet place to have your kids growing up playing all kinds of sports. Whether it's soccer,…read morebaseball or football, the park has organized competition. Plenty of parking and a great place to walk around the pond. Afterwards, make your way over to the shopping center just blocks away for lunch or dinner. We love the Mediterranean Restaurant, Panini Grill. Make it an outing even if you don't watch your kids or grandkids play at the park.

Kit Carson is a fantastic free large public park that I cannot recommend enough. It is a wonderful…read moreplace to take a walk, run, play, and explore. There are tons of people each morning taking walks and in turn is a very safe spot. You will likely need to come here several times if you want to explore everything. Come with a friend or enjoy alone.

I've been to Old Town San Diego quite a few times already, and every time I come here I still enjoy…read moreit. The vibe is fun but not too chaotic, and I usually find it pretty relaxing just walking around the area. There are a lot of restaurants around here, especially authentic Mexican restaurants, plus unique little shops and a lively atmosphere with live music and performances here and there. The whole area feels very family friendly, walkable, and parking and restrooms are pretty convenient too. They also sell a lot of random little things that are fun to look at. There's even one incense shop that I really like , the prices are reasonable and I always end up stopping by when I'm here. I just like spending time here. There are also quite a few nice spots for photos, so it's easy to just walk around, take pictures, and enjoy the atmosphere without rushing.

We come here at least once a year......margaritas... guacamole & chips…read more... And people watch... Parking is pretty easy ...

Embarcadero Marina Park South is one of the best bayfront spots in San Diego. Wide grassy lawns,…read morepalm trees, and views of Coronado + the marina make it perfect for picnics or sunset walks. Plenty of space to throw a frisbee or let kids run around. Parking can be pricey during events, and it gets busy when there are concerts at The Rady Shell next door. But on a normal day, it's peaceful. Clean bathrooms, well maintained, and the breeze off the water is unbeatable. Bring a blanket and thank me later.

I love this little spot. It has the best views. It's a cute little fishing pier. One of my favorite…read morefishing pier in San Diego. I came here as I was waiting for my dog to get groomed down the street. It's so peaceful here and it's right next to Rady Shell so sometimes you can hear some of the concerts while you're just hanging out. San Diego is just truly the best city in the United States. there's ample parking in the little parking area. It's about $2.50 per hour. there's a bait shop where you can also buy food and drinks. Great place.

At the end of Kettner Blvd., just beyond Seaport Village is Embarcadero Marina Park North. A…read morewonderful park. I attended a car show there on a beautiful San Diego Sunday. I did not show my car this year, but my buddy entered his car, so I went with him early, our wives joined us later. We were at the back end of the park with great views of the Rady Shell and Coronado bridge. The views are great from anywhere in the park, really. The marina at the convention center with all the yachts, Navy ships, recreational boaters and people zipping about on personal watercraft. The location is perfect for a car show. Embarcadero Marina North is a great venue for anything, really. From a stroll in the park, to a picnic or wedding. A San Diego gem.

Rainy New Year's Eve Day here today. This is still a very beautiful park to be in while in San…read moreDiego. There is ample metered parking today (may be due to the parking rates increase). The views of the water and the beautiful green grassy areas are great. If you are a runner or walker, this is a great scenic route for that. I also saw the normal kite flyers out; pretty cool in the rain to see this. The Port Authority now has a parking app: https://parkingapp.com. The parking for 2 hours is $5.35 on the Passport Parking App with this method. I like that the Port Authority still has reasonable parking rates. Thanks!

On the way down to San Diego. We needed a place to let the dogs run around and stretch their legs…read more Found this place on Yelp. It's not to far from the freeway. It has both a large and small area for the dogs. Both are fenced in. Both have water and poopie bags available. For being in a neighborhood,it was pretty clean. It has a clay surface,like a baseball field. Which is what I prefer,no smell,and easier to keep clean. We lucked out,there was another beagle there today. To bad we really couldn't stay longer to play. But next time we know to plan ahead to stop at this place

This is our favorite local park to go to with my little doggy Chloe and also go with my grandson's…read morepark is always clean and has a cute little splash pad just recently discovered that they have areas that you can rent and I'm excited to host my youngest son's college graduation there the prices were definitely affordable, which I appreciate.