Things to Do in Point Loma, San Diego - What to Do & See in Point Loma

Today I want to bring you my guide to things to do in Point Loma, San Diego. This neighborhood is known for its beaches, parks, and sunset spots, and it has great places to eat and drink besides. It’s worth a trip to Southern California to discover it.

Things to Do in Point Loma

I’m sharing my favorite things to do in Point Loma because my new nephew was recently born in San Diego. My mother and I traveled down from San Francisco, where I was visiting for a few days, for his arrival.

We spent most of our time at the hospital, but when we weren’t fawning over our new family member, we discovered a lot of great things to do in Point Loma.

Point Loma

A quick hop from San Diego International Airport, Point Loma is a pretty peninsula that curls around San Diego Bay and Coronado Island. It offers great views of the downtown area and easy access to places like SeaWorld and Ocean Beach.

Point Loma itself has a lot do to and see (and eat, of course!). Between hospital visits, my mother and I had a chance to take in the highlights.

1. Eat in Point Loma

Since I’m obsessed with food, we’ll start there. There are a lot of great restaurants in the area, and eating quickly became one of my favorite things to do in Point Loma.

The night before the baby arrived, my family drove over to Liberty Station, a former naval training center that’s now a shopping and dining area.

My brother and his wife took us to a restaurant and sports bar called Slater’s 50/50, where we feasted on some of the best burgers I’ve ever had.

I ordered the 50/50 burger, which was made from ground beef and ground bacon. Suffice it to say it was heaven on a plate (or a heart attack on a plate, depending on whether you see the glass as half full or half empty).

And speaking of the glass, they had around 100 beers on tap, including some of San Diego’s famous microbrews.

Keeping it local, we didn’t have to leave Liberty Station to have another good meal in Point Loma. A few nights later, my mother and I found ourselves at Tender Greens, a casual order-at-the-counter restaurant.

I enjoyed a giant Chinese chicken salad while my mother feasted on chipotle chicken and roasted vegetables.

2. Stay on Shelter Island

Beyond food, we also found shelter in Point Loma. Literally. We stayed on Shelter Island, a presque-isle connected to San Diego by a thin strip of land.

Our room at Humphreys Half Moon Inn overlooked the America’s Cup Harbor marina, and we awoke every morning to see thousands of sunny sails.

Out front, the island had a long, art-studded walking path by the bay. It offered great views of downtown San Diego and the naval air station on Coronado Island. Strolling along it was one of my favorite things to do in Point Loma.

3. Go to Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma

The path also had a view of the end of Point Loma, where Cabrillo National Monument lay.

The monument and its adjacent park feature everything from a statue in honor of the first European explorer in San Diego Bay to walking trails and vista points.

My mother had purchased a pass a while back and I went along as her guest. Visiting is one of the most famous things to do in Point Loma, after all.

We explored the small museum dedicated to the history of the European exploration of the Americas, then went to the visitor center, which was full of information about the local flora and fauna.

These included skunks, coyotes, foxes, rattlesnakes, and lots of plants and wildflowers.

We admired the Old Point Loma Lighthouse from afar, then went down to the tide pools to see the waves wash up against the coastal cliffs.