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.
Today’s seniors are more connected than ever, with a renewed focus on retirement as a time of discovery and enriching experiences. The ultimate reward for a retirement well-earned is the wisdom to appreciate it all, and what better place to enjoy that unique perspective than Vi at La Jolla Village, in the heart of San Diego.
All-access pass to good living.
As a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Vi provides access to a connected and fulfilling community while making it easy to plan for future care, should the need ever arise. With a care plan in place, residents enjoy greater financial predictability and long-term value, freeing them to focus on making the most out of retirement.
Resort-style amenities at the epicenter of a cultural hub like San Diego offer a retirement experience unlike any other. Paired with exceptional dining, spacious accommodations and dedicated staff, the best of maintenance-free living is all around. And with the introduction of Vista 360 Well-Being, Vi’s panoramic approach to wellness, there are more ways than ever for residents to access it all.
The harmony of mind, body and community.
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
The key to longevity is striking the right balance in maintaining an active lifestyle with an active mind in a fulfilling community. With newly renovated community spaces and restaurants, Vista brings a variety of opportunities for residents to elevate their well-being through Vi-exclusive “Signature Experiences.”
Vista Enrich takes an evidence-based approach to brain vitality, keeping residents at the forefront of cognitive health through exergaming (exercising + gaming), nutritional plans and informative workshops. It is also home to The Brain Vitality Studio, an innovative facility dedicated to cognitive fitness that has garnered national recognition.
Vista Discover invites residents into stimulating educational experiences, from chef-led cooking demos and guided wine tastings to lectures at local universities and intimate lectures following cultural outings.
While Vista Enrich focuses on brain health and Vista Discover engages residents intellectually, Vista Explore cultivates a sense of adventure through curated travel and local excursions. But broadening one’s horizons doesn’t always require a plane ticket. One recent event brought a taste of the world right to the community: an onsite “jazz cruise” featuring live music and global cuisine served at a series of themed “ports” all within the community’s own ballroom.
“Location, location, location”
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
One of the biggest perks of life at Vi at La Jolla Village is its proximity to just about everything. With easy access to transportation and local attractions just steps away, residents can explore and engage with their community at their own pace.
“There are trolley and bus stops within a 5-minute walk that will get you to the beach, UCSD Campus, medical appointments, downtown La Jolla or San Diego, et cetera. We rarely use our car,” said resident Tom Yager.
With the best of San Diego just steps away, residents don’t just live in the city, they live within reach of everything that makes it special.
The best of all worlds.
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
At Vi at La Jolla Village, retirement isn’t a chapter to slow down; it’s an invitation to discover more. Tailored community experiences created by Vista, paired with the vibrant pulse of San Diego just outside the door, mean that residents don’t have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
This is what an all-access pass to good living looks like: the comforts of an elevated lifestyle, a community built for growth and a city made for discovery – all in one place.
To learn more about Vi at La Jolla Village or for details on available floor plans, visit ViatLaJollaVillage.com/SDM.
NewBridge School is San Diego’s only school dedicated to the education of students with dyslexia and related learning profiles. For 30 years we have successfully served students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, receptive/expressive language disorders, ADHD, executive functioning and memory deficits. Students transition successfully into academically rigorous high schools and colleges across the country. Why NewBridge? Training, training, training (plus intensive individualization, and comprehensive program design). All teachers are trained and retrained biennially in Orton-Gillingham, the only approach proven to remediate dyslexia based on Science of Reading research, and complete a year-long training program. Every aspect of our program is designed around our students’ learning styles and needs. Every class is taught by a highly-trained expert, and our Speech/Language and Occupational Therapy teams embed throughout the day. Our multisensory, multi-tiered math program has been developed in conjunction with sister schools and experts across the country. Don’t wait—early intervention is magic!
The Children’s School (TCS) is an independent school in La Jolla working with students from toddler through eighth grade. Rooted in the belief that every child has unique strengths and limitless potential, TCS provides a joyful, challenging education that inspires curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Experienced teachers know each student well and create meaningful opportunities for academic, social, and emotional growth through personalized instruction and hands-on, interdisciplinary learning. A culture of respect, inclusion, and collaboration encourages students to ask questions, take thoughtful risks, and develop a strong sense of responsibility to one another and the world around them. At TCS, learning extends beyond the classroom through meaningful connections with the local community and natural environment. Graduates leave TCS with a strong academic foundation, a sense of purpose, and the character to thrive in high school and beyond as engaged learners, compassionate leaders, and thoughtful citizens.
Enrollment: 240
Grades: Toddler – Grade 8
Tuition: $10,800 – $34,000
Deadline: Priority Application & Tuition Assistance for new students: Feb. 1, 2027
Gender: All-inclusive
Details Progressive, independent school. No religious affiliation
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
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Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
