Embarcadero, Downtown San Diego

Take a long walk along the harbor past museums such as USS Midway and Maritime Museum of San Diego, sparkling glass highrises, and cafes! You can walk for two miles from San Diego Bayfront Park in the south to Bravo Dock at Harborview in the north, with views of the city skyline and Coronado Island Bridge.

Note: There are drug addicts laying around everywhere along the walk.
Embarcadero Marina, with two parks, has wonderful views of the stunning highrise buildings nearby, and a modern amphitheater that looks impressive at night called Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. 
Malibu Farm is a modern cafe on the water where you can stop for a meal, or a coffee and pastry at Coffee by Malibu Farm. 
Seaport Village is a touristy area with gift shops and maritime architecture. 
Ruocco Park has modern-art sculptures, one 45 feet tall, on the waterfront. A wonderful place to eat is Puesto at the Headquarters at Seaport,across the street from Ruocco Park, where you can get a burrito (secret off-menu item) browned to perfection with cheese on the outside! The outdoor seating area is very beautiful, at an old police headquarters complex with historic architecture. 
Tuna Harbor Park has the 25-foot tall sculpture Unconditional Surrender, a 3D portrayal of the famous photograph of a nurse kissing a sailor in Times Square. USS Midway looms above the park. There are wonderful statues of Bob Hope entertaining the troops. Coral trees add to the pretty atmosphere.
From Broadway Pier you can take a Flagship ferry across to Coronado Island, every hour on the hour, from 9am to 10pm. 
At Portside Pier, you can buy food from various cafes and take it to eat at the public seating in a modern glassed-in dome. You can get a tea at the window and sip it with views of the water!
Star of India is a beautiful, old sailing ship docked at the maritime museum, along with some other historic sailing ships. They are lit up gorgeously at night, and nice to view from Waterfront Park. 
Waterfront Park has a space-age playground with a sphere climbey, colorful mosaic sculptures, and water fountains in a row.
The city skyline of San Diego owes much of its beauty to developer Doug Manchester. My favorite buildings of his are the two towers of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, topped with flying buttresses, and glowing golden at night. They look amazing from across the water at Centennial Park on Coronado Island.

Directions

There are various public parking lots along Embarcadero where you can pay with an app or credit card.
Malibu Farm, 831 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101. Open daily, 9am-9pm.

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