CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO

This travel post is all about visiting San Diego for a weekend. I will discuss about the itinerary which will maximize your time spent in San Diego.

Assumptions: This is a two day travel itinerary and focused on sightseeing mainly on 59 mile route. You need to have a vehicle to drive around. The itinerary does not include visiting Museums, Sea-world, Zoo or Legoland. You can add them as per your availability of time!!

There is a public google map available for 59 mile Drive [credits to vegas-online] which will be handy. Apart from that there are blue and yellow signs with white seagulls which could guide you through the route:

Day 1:
1. Embarcadero:
You would want to stroll in marina park and visit "Star of India" before you begin with your scenic drive. You can also walk along Harbor Drive to enjoy the wind and the cruises lined up.
Location: Cross section of West Broadway and North Harbor Drive.
Parking: You can use metered street parking if you find a spot. You can park for free at Embarcadero Marina Park
Time Spent - 1 hour

2. Harbor Island Drive Park
Exit to Harbor Island drive from N. Harbor Drive, It’s a picturesque Island to drive on. There are less people and great view of San Diego.
Location: You can feed Sheraton hotel address to your GPS. Its 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Parking: Free and available on the Harbor Island Parking lot
Time Spent – 30 mins

3. Spanish Island and Shelter Island Drive
Return to N. Harbor Drive and drive further north on N. Harbor Drive to reach Spanish Island. It’s different from Harbor Island as you will see lot of folks fishing here and having leisure time. Continue further north and take left on Scott St towards Shelter Island Drive. There is Yokohama Friendship bell at the end of the island to signify the Japanese Sister City of San Diego
Location: 1401 Shelter Island Dr., San Diego, CA – 92106
Parking: Free and available facing the water.
Time spent – 30 mins

4. Point Loma & Cabrillo National Monument
Drive back to Scott St and go towards Cabrillo National Monument. On the way you will observe National Rosecrans Cemetery and Historic Point Loma Light house which began operating in 1855. Further down you will reach Cabrillo National Monument built in memory of Rodriguez Cabrillo. Also you would see new point Loma lighthouse which is the Southwestern tip of Continental US. This park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so make sure you are in time. It also has a show at 10 a.m.  depicting history of Rodriguez Cabrillo and San Diego
Location: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego, California 92106
Parking: There is a $5 entry fee to the park, but parking is free.
Time Spent – 2 hours

5. Ocean Beach
Drive back on Cabrillo Memorial Drive which later becomes Catalina Blvd. Drive through Sunset Cliffs Blvd to Ocean beach. You might want to eat out at South beach Bar and Grill if you like seafood. It’s nice Ocean front Grill house. It is also an excellent location for Ocean Side walk.
Location: 5059 Newport Avenue # 104, San Diego, CA 92107
Parking: There is free street parking available
Time Spent – 1 hour

6. Mission Bay Aquatic Park
Continue your drive on Sunset Cliffs Blvd and then drive North on Ingraham St to reach Mission Bay Aquatic Park. Enjoy the drive and continue towards Soledad Mountains
Location: Intersection of La Cima Drive and Crown Point Drive
Parking: Not needed
Time Spent – 30 mins

7. Soledad Mountain
If you want to have 360 degree view of San Diego than this is the place to visit. You can continue to drive north on Crown Point drive which eventually lead to Soledad Road. Enjoy your drive to the mountain
Location: 6905, La Jolla, California 92037
Parking: There is parking available right across Soledad Cross. Also there is ample of parking about 200 yards before reaching the peak.
Time Spent – 1 hour

8. UCSD Campus and Salk Institute
The UCSD campus comes on the right side of N. Torrey Pines Road. The easiest way to reach there is to look out for La Jolla Playhouse which is very close to the campus. The architecture of different buildings are stunning and do watch out for the library. We will conclude Day-1 here
Location: Close to La Jolla Playhouse, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
Parking: Campus parking lot
Time Spent – 30 mins

Day-2
9. Scripps Park and La Jolla Cove
Drive South on La Jolla Shores Drive which ends into Torrey Pines road. Continue through Prospect Pl, where you might want to stop for some breakfast and then drive to Scripps Park and La Jolla Cove. You might want to check out different cliffs in La Jolla Cove and enjoy some seaside activities. From here drive down south along the Coast Blvd and enjoy the scenic route
Location: 1155 Coast Boulevard, La Jolla, CA 92037-3627
Parking: Scripps Park
Time Spent – 1 hour

10. La Jolla Scenic Drive
From Coast Blvd turn into Pearl Street and then continue to La Jolla Blvd. Drive down south and turn left on Nautilus St. Continue your drive on this road till you hit La Jolla Scenic Drive South. From Here continue onto La Jolla Mesa Drive which in the end converges to Mission Blvd.
Location: 2390 Nautilus Street, La Jolla, CA 92037-6421 acting as a mid-point for merging into Scenic drive. 
Parking: Not needed
Time Spent – 30 mins

11. Pacific Beach and Mission Beach
On the right side of Mission Blvd is Pacific Beach. You might want to enjoy the beach by taking a stroll or jogging along the ocean front. Relax and enjoy your time here. Later you can continue on Mission Blvd to reach Mission Beach. Near Mission beach there is also Belmont Park. You can park your vehicle and enjoy the giant roller coaster or if you wish get your meal at any of the ocean front restaurant.
Location: Start from 704 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109 and drive to 3105 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego, CA 92109
Parking: light and park parking lot near Ocean Front walk
Time Spent – 1 hour

12. Sports Arena Blvd
You can pass near this Arena to go to Old Town State Historic Park. If you are a shopping buff you might want to visit the Sports Arena shopping center
Location: 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92110-4973
Parking: Not needed / Shopping Center Complex
Time Spent – 15 mins

13. Old Town State Historic Park
You would want to visit Whaley house and heritage park row. There are lots of restored Victorian styles houses which you would get to see. There are lot of early Californian habitat style restaurants and shops which you can visit
Location: 4005 Taylor Street, San Diego, CA 92110
Parking: There are several building parking lot which you can use
Time Spent – 30 mins

14. Hillcrest
Continue on to Taylor Street and take a right on Presidio drive. You will pass Sierra Museum. Continue right on Fort Stockton Dr to West Washington Street. You are now in Hillcrest which is one of San Diego’s first suburbs.
Location: Via Point is 2727 Presidio Drive, San Diego, CA 92103-1053 and destination is 405 West Washington Street, San Diego, CA 92103-2111
Parking: Not Needed
Time Spent – 30 mins

15. Balboa Park
You will find many Spanish and Mexican style buildings here and there in about 13 museums if you want to visit. Or you could rather drive through from here to the Financial District which starts at intersection of B Street and Park Blvd
Location: Via Point 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 and destination is 1100 B St, San Diego, CA 92101
Parking: Balboa Park Parking lot
Time Spent – 30 mins

16. Seaport Village
It is a nice cozy place of eateries and entertainment. It opens daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you enjoy jazz, guitar or folk music this is the place to be. Unfortunately it is also very crowded on the weekends, so you would want to rush in early here
Location: 849 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA
Parking: Seaport Village (First 2 hours are $1 with any purchase)
Time Spent – 1 hour

17. Horton Plaza
Located between 1st Avenue and 4th Avenue is Westfield Horton Plaza. It is a must visit as it has a blend of unique modern era architecture. You will find all the stores in quite an exemplary style.
Location: 4th Avenue and F Street
Parking: Paid parking in Horton Plaza parking lot
Time Spent = 30 mins to 1 hour

18. Gaslamp Quarter District
This is one of the historic places and boasts of 19th Century Victorian Architecture. It has lot of stores with metal shutters and brick walls. You will find lot of restaurants and antique shops on this route.  Start your drive or take a walk from Market St & 5th Avenue all the way south to Harbor Drive. Enjoy the gone by era here. We conclude our 2 day tour here.
Location: Market St & 5th Avenue
Parking: Hard to find but can use metered street parking.
Time Spent = 30 mins

Hope this was useful information. Below are some useful links:
25 Things to do
http://www.sandiego.org/article/Visitors/795
59 mile drive
http://www.sandiego.org/article_set/Visitors/11/338
San Diego Transit
http://www.sdmts.com/