The heart of every city lives in its downtown, and San Diego is no exception. Located only minutes from the airport, San Diego’s thriving downtown districts, including the historic Gaslamp Quarter, offer a plethora of options for accommodations, activities, and dining, shopping, and cultural attractions, all within walkable city blocks.
Weather: San Diego enjoys beautiful weather year round with an average daily temperature of 70.5 degrees Fahrenheit (21.4 degrees Celsius). In April, the city typically experiences 72% sunshine and 70% humidity with an average rainfall for the month of 0.78 inches (1.98 cm). Casual and layering options are ideal for San Diego's comfortable weather both indoors and out. Evenings are cooler, even in the summer, so be sure to bring a jacket or a light sweater.
San Diego's Waterfront Gets a Makeover with a New Embarcadero: Visitors to downtown San Diego's bustling bayside will find a new, more pedestrian-friendly Embarcadero. A new esplanade located along Harbor Drive welcomes visitors. The improved Embarcadero's centerpiece is a beautifully landscaped 105-foot wide promenade. Other additions include new shade pavilions, eye-catching public art by internationally-known artist Pae White, and lush gardens with seating areas.
Downtown San Diego is a Foodie’s Paradise: San Diego is ripe with plenty of dining options for every type of cuisine you can imagine. Many of San Diego’s downtown restaurants feature celebrity chefs, farm-to-table options, and fresh catches of the day. From the freshest seafood and sushi, authentic Italian, Mexican or Thai, to New American and California cuisine, if you crave it, you’ll find in downtown San Diego. The Gaslamp Quarter of downtown is the closest neighborhood to the convention center.
San Diego Emerges as a Live Music Destination: Local music fans have long known that San Diego's live music venues are great places to discover buzz bands before they break nationally, but with the addition of new venues and festivals around the city, visitors are quickly discovering that San Diego is a top destination for live music.
Local Shopping: San Diego has an abundance of shopping choices with a variety of outdoor shopping malls, shopping centers, vintage/antique stores, and quaint neighborhood boutiques.
Known for its colorful architecture with 6½ city blocks of open-air shopping and located only 0.5 miles from the convention center, Westfield Horton Plaza is anchored by Macy's and Nordstrom and has more than 100 specialty stores for necessities or splurges. Some of their shops include: Banana Republic, CVS, Express, Forever 21, GAP, LOFT, Penninsula Luggage, Panda Inn, Teavana, Travelex Currency Exchange, Victoria's Secret, White House Black Market, and many more. Also on site, you'll find Regal/United Artist Theatres, the Lyceum Theatre, Mad House Comedy Club, and the Balboa Theatre.