- Things To Do -

The THINGS TO DO page is a compilation of links to fun activities in the greater San Marcos area. Whether you're in the mood to catch a game, visit a museum, or find the hippest shopping in the area, there is always something to do. This means getting out, having fun, and enjoying life responsibly.

TIPS for "PLAYING IT SMART":

Trouble Free Parties:

Food!!! It helps slow down the rate of alcohol consumption & absorption.
Make alcohol the second or third most important thing at your party.
Provide beverage options - creative mock tails or fruit smoothies.
Keep guests circulating.
Avoid, when at all possible, "common source" alcohol beverages - people can get drunk faster than the host can control their behavior and noise.
Keep the drunks from driving! (and/or riding with drunk drivers)

The Pitfalls of the Overcrowded Party:

Block apartment exits in case of any emergency.
Result in you porch or entire apartment collapsing.
Result in vehicles blocking your street in case fire, police, and/or medical units need to respond.
Force your guests to inappropriately use "outdoor bathroom facilities."

THINGS TO DO IN THE SAN MARCOS / SAN DIEGO AREA:

Balboa Park - View Map
Open Hours: Visitor's Center: 9am-4pm daily; park open 24-hours daily; museum hours vary
Neighborhood: Downtown - Centre City
Category: Tourist Attractions & Sightseeing, Museums & Galleries
Notes: Winding gardens, several museums, I-MAX & science center (great for kids), fountains & incredible architecture. Worth visiting for the scenery alone! Lit up & very romantic at night.

Mission Beach - View Map
Open Hours: 24-hours daily
Neighborhood: Beach Cities
Category: Tourist Attractions & Sightseeing
Notes: Near the manmade islands of Mission Bay, this beach runs along Mission Boulevard and boasts a fabulous boardwalk. One of the best places in San Diego to soak up the city's beach lifestyle, this is an unsurpassed area for people watching or building sandcastles.

Old Town - View Map
Open Hours: 10am-9pm daily
Neighborhood: Old Town
Category: Tourist Attractions & Sightseeing
Notes: History, food and fun are all within easy walking distance. Father Serra established the first mission here more than 225 years ago; Kit Carson helped to raise the first American flag in 1846. Now there are 37 restaurants and entertainment is abundant with artisans, dancers, and galleries.

Sea World - View Map
Open Hours: 10am-7:30pm daily; hours vary by season
Neighborhood: Beach Cities
Category: Tourist Attractions & Sightseeing
Notes: There's no place in the world like Sea World San Diego where you can touch and feed dolphins, count the teeth on a shark and come face-to-face with a polar bear. You can brave the waves on Shipwreck Rapids and experience spine-tingling R.L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse 4-D. Where else but Sea World can you feed a dolphin, count the teeth on a shark and come face-to-face with a polar bear?

LEGO Land - View Map
Open Hours: Winter: 10am-5pm daily; Summer: 10am-8pm daily
Neighborhood: North County Beaches
Category: Tourist Attractions & Sightseeing
Notes: You can spend an entire day living in the land of imagination experiencing more than 40 fun-filled rides and adventures. "Activity" is the word for the day with 128 acres of displays including Mini Land where replicas of famous sites (Hollywood Bowl, Washington, D.C.) are created from Lego's.

The San Diego Zoo - View Map
Open Hours: 9am-4pm daily; also open evenings during summer
Neighborhood: Downtown - Centre City
Category: Tourist Attractions & Sightseeing
Notes: This world-famous establishment is clearly no ordinary zoo. Walk or ride a double-decker bus throughout this expansive park, home to over 4,000 rare and exotic animals exhibited in beautiful garden habitats. More than a park, this zoo is a major research facility although it is cleverly disguised with entertaining shows and inspiring exhibits like Polar Bear Plunge and Hippo Beach.