Interior of the San Diego Convention Center, designed by Arthur Erickson. Photo by Visitor7, Wikimedia Commons

Below, you’ll find our insider's suggestions for making the most of a trip to San Diego during AIA26. All addresses are in San Diego, unless noted otherwise.

Modern Architecture Must-Sees

Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute for Biological Studies (10010 N Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla) is a masterpiece of brutalist concrete and open plazas overlooking the Pacific—timeless, contemplative, and perfectly integrated with the coastal cliffs. — Eric Jones, San Diego studio director, LPA Design Studios

The Salk Institute. Photo by Jason Taellious, Flickr/Creative Commons

The integration of Petco Park (100 Stadium Blvd) into the city and its public benefit as a large and small concert venue, in addition to being home to the Padres, is beautifully executed. — Ben Dalton, partner, The Miller Hull Partnership; president, AIA San Diego

An extraordinary and little-known modern project is the Munk Lab (1962) by renowned San Diego architect Lloyd Ruocco (1907–1981). Spanning over the bluffs of La Jolla Shores, Munk Lab at UCSD (8800 Biological Grade, La Jolla) stands today in an extraordinarily original state, made almost entirely out of timber, a remarkable counter point to Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute. — Daniel López-Pérez, cofounder, Polyhaus; Professor of Architecture, University of San Diego 

Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at UC San Diego. Photo by Christiandflores, Wikimedia Commons

The Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (see address above) at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography is one of my favorites. The wood structure and the way it is integrated into the landscape has left a lasting impression on me and my work. — Jeff Svitak, architect and owner, Jeff Svitak Inc.

Daytime wandering: Best Neighborhoods to Explore by Foot

We may be a little biased because our office is in the neighborhood, but Mission Hills is full of historic homes with lush gardens, parks and nature trails that weave through the canyons, and a collection of locally loved restaurants that tourists don’t usually visit. As a very pedestrian friendly neighborhood it’s easy to wander Mission Hills’ winding streets, take in the beautiful homes and views of the bay, and experience what it might feel like to live in San Diego. — Brett Milkovich, partner/principal, Safdie Rabines Architects

Mission Hills. Photo by Visitor7, Wikmedia Commons

South Park is one of the best neighborhoods to walk around and enjoy the local scene. Have lunch at The Rose (2219 30th St.) and get a drink after at Whistle Stop (2236 Fern St.) — Jeff Svitak

Cultural Hotspots

Balboa Park is considered by many the heart of the city. It offers lots to enjoy: live music, more than a dozen museums, cultural centers, gardens, the world-famous San Diego Zoo—and all of this is in one fully walkable area. Balboa Park is also conveniently adjacent to downtown San Diego, making it accessible for people traveling by car, foot, or public transportation. This area is a must-see for everyone visiting the city. — Alfonso R. Barragán, partner/principal, Safdie Rabines Architects

Mingei International Museum (1439 El Prado) is the only museum of craft and design outside of Japan to be based on Yanagi’s 1920’s philosophy of preserving handcraft in the age of industrialization (and now technology). — Jennifer Luce, founder and principal architect, Luce et Studio Architects; 2005 Design Vanguard

The Casbah (2501 Kettner Blvd.), one of the last truly legendary small music venues in California. Countless indie and alternative bands played here before getting big, and it is still gritty in the best way possible. — Brandon Martella and Chikako Terada, principals, RNT Architects

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (700 Prospect St., La Jolla) and the bayside Rady Shell at Jacob's Park (222 Marina Park Way) for outdoor performances. — Eric Jones

California Building and Tower at Balboa Park. Photo by Antoine Taveneaux, Flickr/Creative Commons

Historic Architectural Draws

Hotel Del Coronado (1500 Orange Ave, Coronado). — Elif Tinney, co‑Managing director, principal, Gensler

The oldest surviving building at Lindbergh Field, the United Airlines Hangar Terminal, is made with Carnegie steel and a rare remnant of San Diego’s early aviation era when air travel was adventurous and handcrafted. — Brandon Martella and Chikako Terada

One of my favorite historical tracts of houses would be the 8th Avenue Cottages (1910), by Irving Gill (1870–1936), amongst which is the Cossitt Cottage (3729 8th Ave.) It comprises four units, which offers a remarkably original synthesis between platonic cubic volumes on the exterior, and organic interior spaces distributed in pinwheel configurations. In this sense, Gill synthesizes the work of Adolf Loos and Frank Lloyd Wright in a single architectural strategy. — Daniel López-Pérez

Beyond the Gallery Walls: Great Public Art

The Murals of La Jolla are a series of murals created by extremely talented and world renowned artists. They occupy private walls, last three months, and are supported by donors in the community. — Jennifer Luce

Fallen Star by Do Ho Suh at UCSD’s Stuart Collection (9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla ) is a house dramatically cantilevered off the edge of a building; the work playfully explores themes of home, displacement, and perception. — Eric Jones 

The community storytelling and murals of Chicano Park. Each column beneath Bob Mosher’s Coronado Bridge tells the layered story of culture, activism, and neighborhood identity. — Brandon Martella and Chikako Terada

Nikigator by Niki de Saint Phalle at the Mingei Museum (see address above). — Elif Tinney

Fallen Star as seen from the Geisel Library at UC San Diego. Photo by Zacharias Mitzelos, Wikimedia Commons

For Foodies: Dining Experiences with Distinct San Diego Vibes

Fish tacos at Mitch’s Seafood (1403 Scott Ct.) and the carne asada burrito at Nico’s Mexican Food (4918 Newport Ave.) — Tom Heffernan, co‑managing director, education leader, principal, Gensler  

Fathom Bistro, Bait and Tackle (1776 Shelter Island Dr.) is a tiny bait shop on Shelter Island that also happens to pour great craft beer and serve housemade sausages. Visitors can sit on the pier with a coastal breeze and views of the downtown skyline across the bay as planes flying in and out of nearby San Diego Airport. This is a little-known spot where the locals fishing off the pier always outnumber the tourists, if there are any at all. — Eric Lindebak, partner/principal, Safdie Rabines Architects

Heavenly Bodega (2765 Fifth Ave.) for lunch in Bankers Hill. — Kyle Fiddelke, partner, OJB Landscape Architecture

San Diego has a lot of outdoor dining options, but Panama 66 (1450 El Prado) takes it to another level. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the fully outdoors restaurant is a combination of sprawling patios and green lawns, California comfort food, and a great selection of local beer within a priceless sculpture garden. Sip on a West Coast IPA while you walk around Henry Moore, Noguchi, and Calder sculptures, then enjoy access to world-class museums just steps away. — Brett Milkovich

For a quiet meal, Wolf in the Woods (1920 Fort Stockton Dr.); for a good meal and excellent drinks, The Lions Share (629 Kettner Blvd.); and for fantastic vegan food and cocktails, Kindred in South Park (1503 30th St.). For tacos, try Lola 55 (1290 F. St.) in East Village or Fish Guts (2222 Logan Ave.) in Barrio Logan. — Ben Dalton

Oscar’s Mexican Seafood in Pacific Beach (746 Emerald St.) — Elif Tinney

Not-a-zoo: Hidden Gems that Most Visitors Might Not Know About 

Spruce Street Suspension Bridge. Photo by mliu92, Wikimedia Commons

The Spruce Street Suspension Bridge in Bankers Hill is a great hidden destination with plenty to do around. Walk over the iconic San Diego canyons on a vintage suspension bridge. — Jeff Svitak

Seven Bridge Walk in Bankers Hill. — Tom Heffernan

Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave (1325 Coast Blvd., La Jolla) is a naturally formed cave accessible via a tunnel from a quirky old shop. It offers a unique, adventurous peek at the coastline that feels delightfully under the radar. — Eric Jones 

San Diego After Dark: Ideas for a Night Out on the Town

Music Box (1337 India St.) in Little Italy for late-night beats! — Kyle Fiddelke

Lou Lou’s Jungle Room, a jazz club at the Lafayette Hotel (2225 El Cajon Blvd.) — Elif Tinney

Dinner in Old Town, grab a drink at Oculto 477 (2414 San Diego Ave.) and a haunted evening tour of the Whaley House (2476 San Diego Ave.) — Brandon Martella and Chikako Terada

Instead of going out downtown, grab an Uber to The Gärten in Bay Park (5322 Banks St.), an outdoor collective of San Diego–owned food and beverage spots that share a central outdoor patio with live music, plenty of communal seating, and a truly local vibe. Visitors can taste their way through a wide variety of beverages from Lost Cause Meadery, Deft Brewing, and Oddish Wine, and everyone must try a slice or a sandwich from Pizza Cassette. — Eric Lindebak

Dinner at Seneca Trattoria (91 Bayfront Ct.), and then a concert at the Rady Shell (see address above). — Tom Heffernan

Obligatory Tourist Traps: Spots Worth Braving the Crowds 

Little Italy is an essential part of experiencing San Diego’s downtown. It can be crowded, but this neighborhood is also consistently lively, cheerful, and equally enjoyed by locals and tourists. There is always something to discover here, from the Saturday morning farmers market to walking along India Street and discovering culinary gems, coffee shops, and piazzas that welcome people to pause and gather. — Alfonso R. Barragán

The Embarcadero. — Tom Heffernan

The Great Outdoors: Best Beaches, Parks, and Public Green Spaces

Any of our beaches are worth the time and the crowds. Mission Beach is great if you want the boardwalk experience, or Coronado Beach if you want deep sandy beaches with the Historic Del Coronado Hotel as a backdrop. — Ben Dalton

Hotel Del Coronado. Photo by Simon Brisebois, Flickr/Creative Commons

Windandsea Beach (6800 Neptune Pl., La Jolla) is the best. It’s a great rocky beach featuring ample neighborhood parking and minimal tourists! — Kyle Fiddelke

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a stretch of protected coastline that blends wide strips of sand with wind-carved bluffs that look out over the Pacific Ocean from heights of more than 300 feet. Miles of trails trace the shore and wind through the bluffs, and this is the only place in the world where the namesake Torrey Pine grows. As a National Natural Landmark, it is also one of the last undeveloped stretches of land along Southern California’s coast. — Eric Lindebak

South of the Border and Beyond: Out-of-Town Road Trips

Visitors looking west from Downtown San Diego’s waterfront can’t miss seeing Point Loma Peninsula, a place that feels close on the map but is best reached by car. At the tip of the peninsula is Cabrillo National Monument (1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr.), which commemorates Spanish explorers landing at this location in 1542. The site offers sweeping ocean views, cliffside trails, a historic lighthouse, and tidepools to explore when the tide is out. The park charges per car, so gather all your friends and enjoy an afternoon at the far side of San Diego Bay. — Brett Milkovich

Cabrillo National Monument at Point Loma. Photo by Steve Lathrop, Flickr/Creative Commons

Borrego Springs is a mini-Palm Springs in San Diego County—a desert community with a ton of midcentury architecture. — Kyle Fiddelke

Tijuana can be a very enriching and fun day trip with good food, art, and culture. For those not carrying a passport or looking for a simpler journey, a trip north by train (take the Coaster) can be a wonderful day with ocean views and fun stops in coastal towns like Solana Beach, Del Mar, and Encinitas. — Ben Dalton   

The Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel (44500 Old Hwy 80, Jacumba Hot Springs) features desert skies, mineral pools, ‘impossible’ railroad history, and a landscape that feels closer to a western film set than Southern California. If you are feeling brave, you can hike the nearby Carrizo Gorge to experience the world’s largest wooden railroad trestle. —Brandon Martella and Chikako Terada

If you can make it to Valle de Guadalupe, it's an hour-and-a-half south of the border. It has an immense number of beautiful destinations, amazing food, and architecture. — Jeff Svitak

The San Diego Botanic Garden (300 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas) offers a quieter, more reflective side of coastal San Diego, with curated gardens across 37 acres that include the largest public bamboo collection in North America and a tropical rainforest with a waterfall. Set on a hillside with glimpses of the ocean, it’s a place to slow down and wander, and is conveniently just a few minutes from downtown Encinitas where afterward visitors can grab lunch and explore this quintessential surf community. — Eric Lindebak

Editors Picks

Geisel Library at UCSD Photo by Photo by Antoine Taveneaux, Wikimedia Commons

San Diego LDS Temple. Photo by Beyond My Ken, Wikimedia Commons

Hotel Del Coronado, Reid & Reid (1888)
La Jolla Woman's Club, Irving Gill (1914)
Santa Fe Depot, John R. Bakewell and Arthur Brown, Jr., (1915)
El Pueblo Ribera, Rudolf Schindler (1923)
El Cortez, Walker & Eisen (1927)
Ford Building, Walter Dorwin Teague (1935)
San Diego Design Center/Futuro Space, Lloyd Ruocco (1949)
Salomon Apartments, Henry Hester (1959)
Loma Starr Building, William Krisel (1960)
550 Washington Street, William S. Lewis Jr. (1964)
San Diego Civic Theatre, Lloyd Ruocco (1965)
Geisel Library at UC San Diego, William Pereira (1970)
Emerald Plaza, C.W. Kim Architects & Planners (1990)
One American Plaza, Helmut Jahn (1991)
San Diego California Temple, Dennis Hyndman and Shelly Hyndman (1993)
Congregation Beth El, Stanley Saitowitz (2000)
San Diego Central Library, Rob Wellington Quigley Architects (2013)
San Diego Central Courthouse, SOM (2016)

Compiled by Matt Hickman