Relax Itinerary in San Diego – A California Student’s Paradise

San Diego is truly an underrated city! Once you’re here, you’ll feel the pace is just perfect for unwinding. Our schedule was super laid-back — most mornings we slept in until almost 11 😄 We stayed at Courtyard by Marriott near Little Italy, which made getting around easy and affordable by MTS/bus/rideshare. Tuesday Morning: San Francisco → San Diego Afternoon: USS Midway Museum – you can explore inside this aircraft carrier! They offer a free 20‑min tour, which felt really fresh. Afterwards, stroll along the waterfront and catch the sunset glowing on the “Unconditional Surrender” (Kiss) statue — so pretty! 🌅 Wednesday Afternoon: SeaWorld – orca shows (choose the “wet zone” carefully — you can get soaked head‑to‑toe by a tail splash, complete with salty seawater crystallizing on your clothes, glasses, phone, and camera 😂). First time seeing a marine park with roller coasters! Rode Electric Eel and Emperor — complete with backward launches, vertical drops, and inversions. Each ride is short, thankfully, or I might have felt queasy. Overall not too intense. Evening: Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market – not too many stalls, but nice for a casual stroll and snacks. ⚠️ Only Wednesdays 4 PM–8 PM. Thursday Afternoon: San Diego Zoo – said to be one of the best in the world! Recommended to turn left upon entry and take the sky tram to see animals from above, then walk or ride back down. We luckily caught the last guided bus tour (about 40‑min loop around the park) to fill in any missed spots (ends at 3 PM — plan ahead!). Evening: Balboa Park – filmed in The Heirs! Lots of Asian visitors come to snap pics. Beautiful European‑style architecture and gorgeous sunset light! Friday Afternoon: Old Town – a vibrant Mexican‑style neighborhood. Compact, with plenty of gift shops (most items made in Mexico). Evening: La Jolla Cove – expansive coastal views, tons of birds and sea lions. A bit windy along the shore, but just sitting and watching the sunset was absolutely stunning. 🌊 #StudyAbroad #USCampusLife #SanDiego #SanDiegoTravel #California #WestCoastUSA #ThanksgivingTrip #USATravel #ChillVibes #StudentTravel