In San Diego, you could spend years exploring a single neighborhood (and many locals do), yet still not discover every hidden gem and weekend ritual. That said, there are a couple key spots you can’t miss that truly capture the spirit of the city and deserve a spot on the itinerary. Whether you’re a born-and-raised […]
In San Diego, you could spend years exploring a single neighborhood (and many locals do), yet still not discover every hidden gem and weekend ritual. That said, there are a couple key spots you can’t miss that truly capture the spirit of the city and deserve a spot on the itinerary. Whether you’re a born-and-raised San Diegan, a first-time visitor, traveling with kids, grandparents, or even flying solo, these attractions are universal crowd-pleasers:
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum (JFGP)
For a day filled with peace, nature, and even a koi fish or two, stroll through San Diego’s Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, located within Balboa Park. Tucked away from the hustle-and-bustle of the park, one step into the JFGP transports you into a world of tranquility, with winding paths guiding visitors through trickling waterfalls and koi-filled ponds. First opened to the public in 1991, the JFGP now invites over 300K visitors a year to enjoy its Japanese-inspired architecture and plants native to both Japan and San Diego. It also serves as a living symbol of San Diego’s long-standing sister-city relationship with Yokohama, Japan.
While it’s worth visiting any time of year, the JFGP is especially beautiful during cherry blossom season, when the gardens transform into a pink fairytale scene. To celebrate, JFGP hosts an annual Cherry Blossom Festival in mid-March, where visitors can enjoy traditional live music, merchant and food vendors, as well as a beer and sake garden amongst the flowers.
With 12-acres to explore, it’s easy to just spend your day at the JFGP wandering around and enjoying the scenery. As a non-profit and accredited museum, however, the JFGP also offers opportunities for education, particularly when it comes to its Japanese art and sculpture exhibits. Their permanent collections include late 18th century woodblock prints, colorful kimonos, a bonsai tree garden, and cast bronze statues. To dive even deeper, sign up for a cultural class, where you can learn everything from kumiko (an ancient Japanese woodworking technique) to koto (Japanese string instrument). If wellness is more your jam, the museum also offers weekly yoga classes, tai chi, and sound meditation.
San Diego Opera
By day, San Diego is known for its perpetually perfect weather and laid-back, board-shorts vibe. But when the sun sets, a whole other world of music and drama comes alive at the San Diego Opera. Located in the heart of downtown, the SD Opera invites audiences into worlds shaped by powerful stories, voices, stage design, costumes, and the music of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. With over 60 years of history, the Opera produces a blend of classic and modern productions, most of which are performed in their original language, such as Italian or French (with English and Spanish subtitles).
Beyond the stage, the Opera plays an active role in the community with a robust lineup of educational and outreach opportunities. These include free Student Night at the Opera, complimentary community concerts, and Words & Music, an in-school residency program to help children create and perform their own operas. For those looking to deepen their appreciation, Pre-Opera Talks offer background on the show, while Post-Opera Talk-Backs invite audiences to engage directly with cast members for a Q&A on the creation of the show. The Opera also hosts Opera Uncorked events, pairing behind-the-scenes insights with Resident Conductor Bruce Stasyna with wines and light bites a few weeks before the opening show.
The San Diego Opera operates out of two locations: the San Diego Civic Theatre holds large-scale productions, while the historic Balboa Theatre is reserved for smaller or specialized shows. Enjoy performances Friday and Saturday nights or Sunday afternoons, with seasons typically beginning in the fall and lasting through late spring. Individual tickets and season passes may be purchased online or in-person at the ticket office.
Most homeowners want two things before they commit to a remodel: a realistic sense of cost and a clear picture of what the finished space will look like. Milan Design + Build helps deliver both through its online remodeling estimator and personalized design consultations, supported by a showroom experience and 3D renderings.
“The online estimate gives homeowners a starting number in about a minute, and the showroom and 3D renderings let them see materials and layouts before anything is built,” says David Noriani, CEO of Milan Design + Build. “Keeping design, permits, and construction with one team helps us manage expectations and keep everyone working toward the same vision.”
Courtesy of Milan Design
Modern design is a particular focus for Milan, with an emphasis on clean lines, natural light, functional layouts, and carefully selected materials. The team adapts each design to the homeowner’s lifestyle and the character of the property. Milan Design + Build combines thoughtful design with construction expertise, creating spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.
The online estimator covers kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, full-home remodels, and ADU construction. At Milan’s showroom on Carroll Road, visitors can review real materials, finishes, and design options, meet the design-build team, and discuss project scope, budget, and timing. Consultations can also be held virtually for homeowners who prefer to start remotely.
At Milan Design + Build, one integrated team works on the entire project. Design and construction aren’t divided between separate firms. The process begins with a consultation and feasibility review, followed by design, space planning, and 3D renderings developed from detailed measurements and digital scans. The team also coordinates architectural plans, structural engineering, city approvals, and material selection, with construction overseen by a dedicated project manager.
Homeowners can explore their remodeling options, get an initial estimate, or request a design consultation at MilanBuild.com.
At any given time, there are roughly 200 research investigations and clinical trials being conducted at Scripps Health in as many as 25 medical specialties. Research and patient care go hand-in-hand at Scripps. Those studies can be categorized as clinical trials of a medication or device that are conducted by Scripps physicians and studies designed by Scripps’ physicians and clinicians. Click here to learn about three exciting studies underway at Scripps and the benefits to patients.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Scripps has recently unveiled new features in the MyScripps patient portal and mobile app to help patients connect with their primary care team and simplify the payment process. Among the recent updates is the addition of primary care E-visits for minor conditions. Patients who have an established primary care physician can schedule an E-visit, complete an online questionnaire and, if needed, send a photo. Their doctor can then advise and prescribe medication, when appropriate. Autopay is also now available through MyScripps. Patients can enable or disable autopay, allowing them to more easily manage payments. Learn more about MyScripps and how it helps patients stay connected here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Farrah Adams had a persistent dull ache in her lower back that her massage therapist suggested might be caused by the way she sat or drove. That explanation seemed reasonable, but when coupled with heavy, painful periods led the then 46-year-old to seek answers. When she looks back on it now, she’s beyond grateful she trusted her gut. She made an appointment with a Scripps OB-GYN, who determined she had Stage 3 cervical cancer that had spread to several lymph nodes. Farrah was overwhelmed, but immediately found a “champion” in Scripps Clinic gynecologic oncologist Jo Marie Tran Janco, MD. After undergoing successful treatment at Scripps Cancer Center, Farrah is now using her story to inspire other women to make time for care. Read more of her story here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
In the last several years, there’s been a surge in FDA approvals for what’s known as oral oncolytics. Oral oncolytics are targeted cancer therapies that come in tablet, capsule or liquid form that patients can take at home, rather than in an infusion clinic. Scripps physicians have seen exponential growth using this approach, with patients citing convenience as a major quality-of-life enhancement in their cancer treatment. This approach also allows treatments to be customized based on specific genetic mutations and a patient’s unique disease biology. Find out more about oral oncolytics here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Meet San Diego’s leading healthcare professionals, delivering exceptional medical and dental care through innovation, expertise, and dedication to patients.
Unio Specialty Care is a multi-specialty practice specializing in urology, gastroenterology, and radiation oncology.
Unio’s Radiation Oncology team—Dr. Donald B. Fuller, Dr. Tahir Ijaz, Dr. Reza Shirazi, and Dr. Siavosh Vakilian—combines extensive clinical experience with a commitment to personalized cancer care. The RO team treats cancerous and non-cancerous conditions using precision therapies including SBRT, IGRT, and the CyberKnife® S7 System, the only system of its kind in Southern California. Their expertise spans prostate, breast, lung, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and central nervous system cancers, as well as low-dose radiotherapy for osteoarthritis.
In 2026, Dr. Shirazi and Dr. Vakilian were recognized as San Diego Top Doctors, joining Dr. Fuller and Dr. Ijaz, who have previously received this distinction.
