Best Shopping Malls, Outlet and Places in Rancho San Diego Area

"Located inside Balboa Park, the San Diego Museum of Art is one of the most popular indoor attractions in San Diego and plays host to a large collection of artwork. For those who enjoy viewing masterpieces created by European, American and Asian artists, the museum offers a broad selection of pieces including work from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as some from today’s most recognizable artists. The San Diego Museum of Art is the oldest and largest art museum in the region and welcomes guests from all over the world throughout the year."

"Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is an art museum that is engaged in the collection, preservation, exhibitions, evaluations of artworks from the 1950s to today so far. It is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1941. MCASD offers access to the finest art at two exemplary locations in San Diego, i.e., the La Jolla and downtown location of Santa Fe Depot."

"This museum has a few different exhibits rotating throughout the year and they make plenty of appearances on instagram. These exhibits have already left, but see the ones they have now here."

"Kids can take their pick from empanadas, bao buns, tacos, or pizza followed by sweet crepes, cookies, and bubble waffles at Liberty Public Market, which also has an astroturf outdoor space with tons of seating. Kid-friendly restaurants Officine Buona Forchetta and Stone Brewing are just a short walk away."

"Liberty Public Market is a relatively new marketplace in San Diego. It was built in 2016 and is located in an old Navy building. This is one of the best food attractions in San Diego."

"Pop into the Spanish Village Art Center so your kids can get a look at a working artist’s studio in a charming Spanish town square. Small adobe studios painted with blue walls and yellow trims host a variety of artists and even offer art classes, glass blowing lessons and even more to explore your creative side. From the studios to the flowers, this place bursts with color and reflective energy."

"The Spanish Village Art Center offers a sensational collection of art. For starters, it has a constant rotation of artists who work with felt, paint, metal, beads, photos, glass and clay. There’s always something new to see even if you’ve visited before, so the locals of San Diego enjoy it just as much as the tourists."

"Splish-splash outside the food court at this upscale mall in Chula Vista. Grab a bite from the food court (there are plenty of options!). You can sit on the grass to eat (bring a blanket or towel), then it's time to cool off at the splash pad."

"2015 Birch Road Chula Vista, CA 91915 619-656-1393 150 Stores Monday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM  Sunday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM  Major Retailers: Macy’s, Banana Republic, Bath & Body Works, Barnes & Noble, AMC Theatres"

"Built in the 1930s, La Jolla’s Children’s Pool was created as a family beach space, but since then it's been descended on by herds of seals and sea lions. Despite the pinnipeds' particularly pungent odor, tourists come in droves to see them larking around, swimming, fighting and mating. Visitors can get extremely close via a concrete platform surrounding the cove, and the seals don't seem to mind – but there's strictly no touching, feeding or selfies to be taken with the seals."

"Not all pop-up food retailers find the success necessary to graduate to a brick-and-mortar, but then again not all pop-ups feature bites as decadent nor as memorable as Maya’s Cookies. Born out of the desire to find vegan cookies that passed the taste, texture, and aroma test, owner Maya Madsen got to work crafting what would become the nation’s largest and most successful female and Black-owned vegan cookie retailer. Flavors vary from White Chocolate Espresso to Birthday Cake and Brown Sugar Butterscotch to Classic Chocolate Chip with several gluten-free options."

"What began as a way to earn extra income to put her sons through college grew into a beloved San Diego company that pleases anyone with a sweet treat, vegan or not. Maya Madsen, founder of Maya’s Cookies, wants her customers to know that she and her crew welcome questions and love hearing about their experience with the decadent goodies. “We focus on the quality of the ingredients and everything is artisanal and hand-scooped,” Madsen said."

"Maya now has the number one Black-owned and women-owned vegan cookie company in the country. Since June 2020, when Black Lives Matter supporters began showing her some love, her business took off and she now has her own storefront in Grantville/Mission Valley East. People drive from far and wide to buy her award-winning cookies that she’s been selling at local farmer’s markets since 2015."

"Acai bowls are a huge thing out west, but a lot of the world hasn’t even heard of them before. It’s basically a smoothie bowl comprised of acai or pitaya, or both if you’re lucky. Fruit is piled high on top along with nuts, coconut shavings, peanut butter, almond butter, granola, and the list goes on and on."

"Next up is Roseville-Fleet Ridge's Northside Shack, located at 1255 Rosecrans St., with Yelpers giving the breakfast and brunch spot, which offers juice, smoothies and açai bowls, five stars out of 557 reviews."

"What we found: Evolution is the original vegan drive-through restaurant in San Diego. The menu features fast food classics like burgers, fries, sandwiches, wraps, as well as such California musts as burritos, tacos, and smoothies. There’s also a number of pre-made desserts stacked in a refrigerated showcase by the register."

"I've come to evolution many times prior to covid and had pleasant experiences. Today, was very unpleasant. Our burger was wrong.."