Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Enter the world of sharks, living coral reefs, seahorses and more.  View a stunning variety of colorful Pacific marine life in more than 60 habitats.  Touch tide-pool animals.  And interact with cutting-edge exhibits.  Open daily 9am – 5pm.  2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla.  858-534-FISH.  aquarium.ucsd.edu.

Calico Ghost Town
Located on the side of towering King Mountain, this place is as “purdy as a gal’s calico skirt” with a history to match.  One third of the town is original, the remaining carefully reconstructed to recreate the spirit of Calico’s 1881 Old West past.  A narrow gauge railroad operates within town limits and a hardrock silver mine offers up underground exploration.  And walking ghost tours are available every night.  Calico is about two hours from LA, set in the city of Yermo.  800-TO-CALICO.  calicotown.com.

Catalina Island
Spend the day 22 miles across the sea.  Enjoy glass-bottom boats, coastal cruises, and scenic trips by golf cart.  Speedy passenger vessels depart from Newport Beach, Dana Point, San Pedro, and Long Beach.  877-612-5252.  catalinaexpress.com.

Want to know more?  Click here for a deeper look into all that Catalina Island has to offer with Explorer.  Let her be your local tour guide.

Hollywood
This is where the magic happens.  About and hour and a half from SD, you can visit the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, stroll down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, check out the Hollywood Bowl and the Hollywood sign, or spend the day cruising down world-renowned Sunset Strip on to Beverly Hills and the fabulous mansions of movie and TV idols.  Coach sightseeing tours available.  Starline Tours.  800-959-3131.  starlinetours.com.

Palm Springs
The Golf and Tennis Capital of the World has a lot to offer, including an aerial tramway, the Desert Botanical Gardens, a day at the spa, or shopping on the main strip.  palm-springs.org.

Queen Mary
Tour this historical ship – now converted into both a hotel and awesome attraction.  It features shops, restaurants, exhibits, night life, and a variety of other activities and fun.  1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach.  562-435-3511.  queenmary.com.

Tijuana, Mexico
It’s just 30 minutes south of San Diego, but once you’ve crossed into Mexico, you’ve entered a whole new world.  This is Tijuana:  a must for bargain shoppers and lovers of Mexican cuisine.  The arts and crafts here?  Beautiful.  The tacos?  Phenomenal.  Plus, the sights are dazzling.  Check it all out by cruisin’ with one of the state-of-the-art buses that cross the busy international border several times a day.  tijuana.com.

USS Midway
How many opportunities will you have to explore an historic US Navy aircraft from boiler to bridge?  Experience the adventure of a lifetime aboard the USS Midway in downtown San Diego.  910 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego.  619-544-9600.  midway.org.