Under the Radar San Diego Attractions

What happens when friends or family visit from out of town? “Let's go to the zoo!  Let's go to Sea World!...” Somewhere, three years and 66 trips later, the Zoo begins to lose its luster. Likewise, tourists visiting San Diego soon realize there's about a million people out there with similar desires to hit places like Sea World and Balboa Park. On most weekends in San Diego, marquee attractions draw humongous crowds. Suddenly, people are standing in line three hours to watch sleeping pandas. Finding decent parking is a chore. Toilet seats are soiled with unspeakable things. It's enough to second guess leaving the house.

Alternative attractions are abound in San Diego. There's a multitude of hidden gems in the area that tend to slip under the radar, but are great ways to spend the day, see something new and avoid the big crowds.

Discover under-the-radar attractions in San Diego.

Back Alley Tours in Downtown San Diego

Looking at the pristine condo complexes and trendy aesthetics, it's easy to forget Downtown San Diego has a colorful and sordid past. In the early 1900s, the Gaslamp was known as the Stingeree, one of America's most notorious red-light districts. Brothels, gambling halls and saloons littered the city center as diversions for both sailors on leave and most unsavory crime elements (often in cahoots with the police and city officials). Back Alley Tours provide a fascinating walking tour that shows you where and how it all went down — the stories they share about San Diego's sordid past are jaw-dropping. An absolute must for history buffs or anyone interested in San Diego's past. For more information, visit backalleytours.com. 

Chula Vista Nature Center

It's the other cool zoo in town. The monsterous juggernaut that is the San Diego Zoo tends to obscure Chula Vista's wonderful nature center, which serves as both a conservation organization and a showcase of Southern California flora and fauna, many in interactive exhibits or daily shows. The daily turtle, shark and bird feedings are especially cool. Many of the animals are rescues and/or injured, soon to be released back into the wild. Plus, tickets max out at $11, making it much cheaper than the other animal packs in town. For more information, visit chulavistanaturecenter.org.

Palomar Observatory

The Palomar Observatory is northwest of Julian, situated in the hills of the Cleveland National Forest. Getting there means heading up the steep, crazily zig-zagged Hwy S7 to a 5,500 elevation — it's a blast to drive up (especially on a motorcycle) and provides stunning views of the countryside north of Escondido. The Observatory itself is more than 100 years old and remains one of the world's most active and powerful astronomical observation centers, with five different telescopes including one that has a 17-foot-long lens. While not open to the public at night, it does have free visiting hours during the day and it's a great centerpiece for a day exploring the beautiful Julian and Santa Ysabel area. For more information, visit astro.caltech.edu/Palomar.

Adventure R.I.B. Rides

R.I.B. stands for Rigid Inflatable Boat, a high-powered powerboat designed to land Navy SEALs on enemy beaches. Adventure R.I.B. has converted one of them into a kick-ass coastal excursion boat for dolphin and whale watching, eco-tours to Mexico's Cornado Islands and snorkeling/SCUBA trips. They are also available for custom excursions or trips. Unlike the larger whale watching and harbor cruise boats, the R.I.B. goes faster and farther, and is perfect for small groups. The skippers are a mix of naturalists, championship sailors and ex-Navy SEALs all with extensive local knowledge of the waters off San Diego. This should be the first choice for offshore excursions. For more information, visit adventureribrides.com‎.

Torrey Pines Glider Port

Being hurled off a cliff has never sounded better. The Glider Port has a storied past that goes back to 1928. Charles Lindbergh and other aviation pioneers got some flying experience here. Today, the glider port offers para-gliding and hand-gliding instruction, certification and gear rental, and is known as one of the world's premiere gliding service centers. The Cliff Hanger Cafe is a great place to grab lunch and soak in amazing views of the La Jolla coast. It's also a great perch to watch other people hurl themselves off a cliff, if that sounds like a more appealing way to spend the day. For more information, visit flytorrey.com‎.

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