Exploring

We will plan an excursion one afternoon, but if you have time either side of the conference here are some highlights you might consider to extend your trip (in increasing distance from campus):

Birch Aquarium (a 10 minute walk from the venue)
Kayaking at La Jolla Cove (a 15 minute walk from the venue to La Jolla Shores area, where many providers offer these tours)
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (Nice for hiking and good views)
Point Loma
Balboa Park (reachable by bus and train)
Old Town San Diego (historical part of San Diego, accessible via blue line train and bus; lot of interesting 1850's things to see, authentic Mexican cuisine, and sometimes live music at Casa de Reyes)
USS Midway
Drives within 1-2h: Julian (former gold mining town), Palomar Observatory, Anza Borrego (closest desert; famous also for metal statues), Palm Springs, Joshua tree (where you can see real cacti!)

Los Angeles
Las Vegas…
Tijuana, Mexico is only a short drive away - but be sure to check your visa requirements and embassy recommendations, it’s not for the faint of heart.