With just one week until the NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo, we're excited about hosting NAFSAns in this year's conference city, San Diego, California. This beautiful coastal city offers stunning beaches, diverse neighborhoods, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine for conference attendees to explore.
This year, the 2025 Annual Conference Committee's Local Arrangements Team (LAT) has created a comprehensive guide to San Diego, which you can view here. Below, we've highlighted some of their best recommendations to help you make the most of your time in this beautiful city.
Getting Around San Diego
San Diego offers various transportation options to help you navigate the city with ease:
- San Diego Trolley: A convenient and environmentally friendly way to get around town. The trolley has four main lines, passing through many popular neighborhoods and providing easy access to several must-see spots. Use the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System's (MTS) Trip Planner to navigate the city efficiently, whether by trolley or bus.
- Buses: MTS operates almost 100 bus routes throughout the city. According to the LAT, route 992 is particularly useful for travel between the airport and downtown, running every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekdays and holidays.
- Airport Shuttle: The San Diego International Airport (SAN) is conveniently located near downtown. Consider using the San Diego Flyer, a free shuttle service that connects the airport with the Old Town Transit Center. According to MTS, the shuttle operates every 20–30 minutes, seven days a week, from the early morning until past midnight.
- Ride-Sharing and Taxis: Uber, Lyft, and traditional taxis are widely available throughout San Diego.
- Biking: San Diego is bike-friendly, with numerous bike lanes and rental options in popular areas like Mission Beach and downtown.
San Diego Neighborhoods
Downtown San Diego: The bustling heart of the city, offering historic sites, modern attractions, and vibrant nightlife. Don't miss the Gaslamp Quarter with its Victorian architecture and the USS Midway Museum.
Little Italy: A charming neighborhood known for its Italian heritage, delicious cuisine, and lively farmers market. Visit the Little Italy Mercato Farmers Market on Saturdays for fresh produce and crafts.
Barrio Logan: A culturally rich area celebrated for its vibrant murals, local art galleries, and authentic Mexican cuisine. Chicano Park is famous for its cultural significance while Cesar Chavez Park on the waterfront offers picnic areas and beautiful views.
Old Town: This historic area showcases the city's early days from the 1820s to the 1870s, featuring preserved buildings, museums, shops, and excellent Mexican restaurants.
Local Recommendations
The LAT members share their favorite spots and must-visit sites of the city!
Must-Visit Attractions
- Balboa Park: A 1,200-acre cultural park with 17 museums, gardens, theaters, and the San Diego Zoo. Use the free Balboa Park tram to get around easily.
- USS Midway Museum: A historical naval aircraft carrier museum featuring an extensive collection of aircraft and interactive exhibits.
- San Diego Zoo: One of the most famous zoos in the world, housing more than 3,700 animals representing more than 650 species.
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park: Experience San Diego's early days with preserved buildings and cultural demonstrations.
- Waterfront Park: Located near the San Diego County Administration Center, this park features interactive fountains, modern play structures, and plenty of picnic space.
- The New Children's Museum: A dynamic and interactive museum designed to stimulate imagination, creativity, and critical thinking through contemporary art.
- Seaport Village: A waterfront shopping and dining complex with beautiful views and a carousel for kids.
Beaches
- La Jolla Shores: A picturesque beach ideal for families, with a broad sandy expanse and scenic views.
- Mission Beach: A bustling beach destination featuring Belmont Park, this beachfront amusement park has plenty of attractions, including historic rides like the Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster!
- Silver Strand (Coronado) Beach: Situated on Coronado Peninsula, featuring expansive sandy shores and scenic ocean views.
- Sunset Cliffs: Known for its dramatic coastal views and breathtaking sunsets.
- Ocean Beach: A laid-back, eclectic beach with local shops, restaurants, and the Ocean Beach Pier.
- Pacific Beach: Popular among surfers and sunbathers, with a vibrant coastal lifestyle.
Coffee Shops
- Seahorse Coffee
- Birdrock Coffee Roasters
- Spill the Beans Coffee & Tea
- Godchild Coffee Roasters
- Copavida
- Public Square Coffee Cafe
- Paradis
Restaurants
- The Fish Market
- Water Grill
- Taco Centro
- Seneca Trattoria
- Malibu Farms San Diego
- The Mission - East Village
- Richard Walker's Pancake House
- Fairweather Rooftop Bar.
- Tajima Ramen East Village
- Brigantine Seafood & Oyster Bar
Bars and Nightlife
- The Nolen
- The Shout! House Piano Bar
- False Idol Tiki Bar
- The Tipsy Crow
- Happy Medium
- Noble Experiment
- Baja Ricks Cantina
Family-Friendly Spots
- The New Children's Museum
- The Children's Park
- Waterfront Park
- Gallagher Square Park
- Tecolote Shores
- Maruta Gardner Playground
- Cafe 222
- Extraordinary Desserts
- Pappalecco
- Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop
Best Places to Catch a Sunrise or Sunset
- Sunset Cliffs
- Mount Soledad
- Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (and beach)
- Coronado Island
- Cabrillo National Monument (sunrise)
- Cowles Mountain
- PB Shore Club
We hope these recommendations help you make the most of your time in San Diego during NAFSA 2025. Be sure to check out the full guide prepared by the Local Arrangements Team for even more insights and tips. See you in San Diego!