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Santee

Welcome to Santee, California – a hidden gem for outdoor enthusiasts! With hiking trails, parks, and the San Diego River running through town, there's plenty to explore. Don't forget to check out the local shops and dining options in the charming downtown area. Santee is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway filled with adventure and relaxation.

From the Community

Recommendations

Outdoor4.9/5

Mission Trails Regional Park - Cowles Mountain

Rocky trail climbing Cowles Mountain, San Diego’s highest point. From the top, Lake Murray appears among the neighborhoods below.

Shop4.4/5

Trolley Square at Santee Town Center

Eat$$$4.5/5

Wood Ranch

Welcome to Wood Ranch at Hazard Center, a sizzling steakhouse paradise in San Diego! Feast on mouthwatering mesquite-grilled meats and savory sides in a cozy, rustic setting. Whether you’re craving juicy ribs or signature burgers, your taste buds are in for a treat! Perfect for casual dinners or celebratory meals, this spot will leave you delightfully satisfied!

Eat$$4.5/5

Los Pinos Taco Shop

Embark on a flavor-packed journey at Los Pinos Taco Shop! Located in La Mesa, CA, this cozy spot on Lake Murray Blvd serves up mouthwatering tacos, burritos, and more. With friendly staff and a vibrant atmosphere, it's the perfect stop for hungry travelers looking for a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine. ¡Buen provecho!

Cafe$$4.6/5

Kaffee Meister - Santee Coffeehouse

This Santee coffeehouse serves coffee, breakfast and lunch, with chairs and couches inside and out. Outlets line the seats for remote work.

Cafe$$$4.3/5

Starbucks Coffee Company

Stays

Stay3.7/5

Carlton Oaks Lodge, an Ascend Collection Hotel

Featuring an on-site championship golf course, this Santee, California hotel is 3.5 miles from the Creation & Earth History Museum. On-site dining, an outdoor pool and spacious guest rooms are offered. The traditionally styled rooms at Carlton Oaks Lodge, an Ascend Collection Hotel include a refrigerator and coffee facilities. Air-conditioning and cable TV are included. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Oaks Bar & Grill serves American cuisine. Guests check in for flights and print boarding passes at the hotel. San Diego International Airport is 20.5 miles from Carlton Oaks Lodge, an Ascend Collection Hotel. Barona Casino is 13.5 miles from the hotel.

Stay3.3/5

Sonesta ES Suites San Diego - Rancho Bernardo

Sonesta ES Suites San Diego - Rancho Bernardo in Rancho Bernardo offers comfortable rooms with free WiFi, air-conditioning, and modern amenities. Guests enjoy a fitness centre, year-round outdoor swimming pool, and a business area. The hotel features a fitness room, lift, 24-hour front desk, minimarket, outdoor seating area, and luggage storage. Paid on-site private parking is available for guests. A complimentary American buffet breakfast is served daily, including warm dishes, juice, fresh pastries, pancakes, and fruits. Located 33 km from San Diego International Airport, the hotel is near attractions such as San Diego Zoo Safari Park (19 km) and Torrey Pines State Reserve (25 km). Guests appreciate the convenient location and excellent service.

Stay3.25/5

Best Western Santee Lodge

This hotel offers an outdoor pool and hot tub with a furnished sun patio. Sea World is less than 30 minutes’ drive away. Rooms feature cable TV and free Wi-Fi is provided. The modern guest rooms at Best Western Santee Lodge feature air-conditioning and free toiletries. A continental breakfast is provided at this Spanish-style hotel. A garden is available around the pool area. And vending machines are available for guest use. San Diego Zoo is 25 minutes’ drive from The Santee Lodge Best Western. Downtown San Diego is 25 minutes’ drive from the property and San Diego International Airport is 21.5 miles away.

Things To Do
Provided by

5/5

1 h 30 mins

Balboa Park Electric Scooter Tour with Pictures

Join me on a journey through one of San Diego's most iconic places. Since this park is large, we will be touring the major sites with the wind in our hair on electric scooters. No walking required ;) The first stop will be the beautiful botanical building and lily pond where we will pause for some pictures. Next, we will briefly cruise to the entrance to the San Diego Zoo before heading to the Spanish Village Arts Center. We will then scoot to the Morton Bay Fig Tree. It's then time to ride down the iconic El Prado passing fountains & museums along the way. After a quick stop, we will head past the International cottages on our way to the air and space museum. We will wrap up at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion before heading back to where we started. Photos of your adventure are included! If you want to see Balboa park in an efficient & unique way with a local guide, then this is the tour for you! (Tips are not required but are always appreciated :)

$75.00

5/5

5 h

San Diego Private Tour, Coronado, La Jolla, Balboa Park & More

My tour will take you to an Iconic first stop built in 1888 the fabulous Hotel Del Coronado simply know as the Del is an incredible ocean front hotel. Next we visit beautiful Balboa Park with its lovely Spanish architecture built to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal and lots of small houses from around the world. Now we drive south to visit the stunning coastline of La Jolla with its rugged beaches and seals basking in the sun. Time to head south and stop briefly to see the cliffs and surfers at Sunset Cliffs before reaching Cabrillo National Monument with the best views of San Diego. Our last stop will be in Old Town and you will have enough time to try the delicious Mexican food and have a Margarita before heading back to your hotel or the airport. If you want to spend less time in one place and more in another that’s perfectly fine. Can’t wait to show you America’s finest city, you’re going to love it!!!

$479.00

5/5

2 h

E-Bike Tour in Balboa Park

On this Balboa Park E-Bike Tour you will learn what San Diego locals know, that Balboa Park is San Diego’s best kept secret! As the largest urban cultural park in the country, Balboa Park is one of the most unique attractions in San Diego. From hiking trails, to desert gardens and world-class museums, you could easily spend an entire day in this gorgeous San Diego park.

$169.00

5/5

San Diego GoCar: Best Value, Full Day Option

The all day Everything Tour is fun for the whole family, and lets you see nearly everything San Diego has to offer. From the historic Gaslamp Quarter where the fun is always happening and the iconic Horton Plaza where the shopping is just as fun as navigating the mall. You will see the beautiful rose garden of Balboa Park and the natural Beauty of the Point Loma Ecological preserve where you can wade through the tide pools looking at sea anemones, crabs, lobster, fish and the occasional octopus. You can walk around Ocean Beach and San Diego’s famous Maritime Museum, experience the always beautiful Balboa park where a Family photo is a must, and stroll through Old Town San Diego and see how San Diego has changed over the centuries from the small Mission and Mexican community it was to the Most Beautiful City in America. *If booking more than 2 people please submit separate orders!

$163.00

5/5

4 h

Private Customizable Iconic City Highlights Tour - Cultural, Historic, Shuttled

Journey with award winning tour guide Julie Kremen around San Diego’s cultural and historic sites—on a private tour of fun and informative must-see sightseeing hotspots. On this private tour, you will experience and thoroughly understand how San Diego came to be the world-class modern city that it is. We’ll travel through the rich history of San Diego from its discovery by Spanish conquistadores, to the lively and festive Mexican period, to the days when it was the Wild Wild West’s new American frontier. And, of course, you’ll learn about its present-day standing as the 8th largest city in the US and what makes it the epitome of Southern California lifestyle. Discover why we are “America’s Finest City” and watch out… many who come to visit end up moving here! Note: This 4 hour private tour is fully customizable; contact Julie to book as described above or to discuss how to change to suit your needs.

$495.00

5/5

2 h 30 mins

Private San Diego Segway Fanatic Tour

Are you a segway fanatic? If you have ridden segways numerous times. Skip the training arrive and ride. This tour moves quickly to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. With a knowledgeable guide, cruise along the San Diego downtown and urban neighborhoods and see interesting sights along. Check out areas like Balboa Park. The outskirts of Little Italy. The San Diego Embarcadero, with views of Coronado while riding along the bayside waterfront. Making our glide through the popular Gaslamp Quarter.We will cover 12.5 miles in 2.5hrs steady cruisin.

$125.00

5/5

Shared San Diego Tour from South Orange County

Come join us for a fun-filled adventure of touring “America’s Finest City” – San Diego! From the white sand beaches of La Jolla to the oldest Spanish settlement of Old Town, the vibrancy of The Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, Downtown San Diego, Little Italy, and Coronado Island, San Diego has it all and we want to show you the best of it on our sightseeing tour of San Diego! Whether on vacation with your family or in town for the day on business, you will be sure to fall in love with this city on the sea. From our Best Coast Tours family to yours, come cruise with the Best!

$99.00

5/5

9 h

San Diego Private Tour

Perfect to explore the southern city of California in a day and have a feel of the Mexican influence.

$899.00

5/5

2 h

Downtown to Balboa Park Tour

Join us for a unique, private adventure in and around downtown San Diego with a guided tour in a motorcycle sidecar! Learn about the past & present of “America’s Finest City”, the birthplace of California, cruising in style! It's safe, it's fun, & it's an unforgettable experience of a lifetime! With Pegasus Sidecar Tours, your private driver & guide will take you on a tour around the beautiful San Diego area in our top-of-the-line 3-passenger sidecar rigs. This means 2 passengers can sit in the sidecar, and a third behind your personal driver and guide. Our helmets are equipped with industry leading SENA communication system offering 4-person HD audio connectivity, so you can talk directly with one another & with the guide during the entire tour. Pets are also allowed to ride along, for what is life without our furry friends! There is even a convertible top that can enclose the sidecar in case (by some rare chance in San Diego) it rains. Tours are highly customizable. Lets ride!

$295.00

5/5

1 h

Private Vacation Photography Session with Local Photographer in San Diego

Flytographer Private Vacation Photo Shoot Connect with a local hand-picked professional photographer in San Diego and capture your most memorable moments during this private photo shoot. Get insider tips on the best things to do in San Diego, including where to eat & what to see from your vacation photographer. Return from your trip with beautiful, high-quality vacation photos — the best souvenir ever. We specialize in: - honeymoons - family trips - engagements - anniversaries - romantic getaways - multi-generational trips - babymoons - solo travellers - and just because! With over 10,000 5-star reviews, Flytographer is the global leader in vacation photography and has captured over 3 million memories for travellers across six continents. We’ve been featured across A-list media, including Conde Nast Traveler, Oprah, Forbes, Travel + Leisure, New York Times, BRIDES, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle Magazine, Elle, Buzzfeed, Refinery29, Huffington Post, & many more.

$325.00

5/5

5 h

The Private San Diego Highlights Tour

The Private San Diego Highlights Tour introduces our guests to a private VIP guided experience that is unparalleled in its detail and scope. No other tour can include so much fun sightseeing and at so leisurely a pace. In five hours, you will see the best of America’s Finest City! Our tour begins daily at your desired pick-up location and from there we transport you throughout the loveliest and most renowned parts of our city.

$349.00

5/5

All Day San Diego Tour in the GPS Guided Polaris GoCar

This is the ultimate way to see Everything San Diego has to offer. Tour the city in the world's first storytelling car. Visit and learn interesting facts as you pass by San Diego’s biggest attractions. From the historic Gaslamp District with its incredible gastronomy scene to the Horton Plaza where you can find one-of-a-kind shopping in quint small mom-and-pop shops. Visit the breath-taking Rose Garden of Balboa Park and the natural beauty of the Ecological Preserve, Point Loma. The Point Loma tide pools are fun to wade through looking at sea anemones, crabs, and other aquatic life. Stroll around Ocean Beach and the famous San Diego Maritime Museum. Don’t forget the world-famous San Diego Zoo is in Balboa Park. See how Old Town San Diego has changed and grown over the years. Experience the culture and diversity of Mexican culture that has made San Diego one of the most beautiful cities in America. If you want to see everything San Diego has to offer, GoCar Tours is the way to go!

$398.00

5/5

San Diego Highlights Private Tour

DIscover ‘America’s Finest City’ Cozy beach towns, an origin story and incredible wildlife! San Diego offers miles of sandy shores lined with beach towns along the Pacific Ocean. Let us take you on a tour of the best this city has to offer: wildlife viewing in glamorous La Jolla, artsy vibes in Balboa Park and the birthplace of California in Old Town. Nature, culture, and history come together perfectly in this unforgettable tour.

$1,099.00

5/5

2 h

The Gaslamp E-Bike Tour

Come experience the thrill of riding an electric bike while taking in dramatic bay and breathtaking city skyline views on our MOST POPULAR e-bike tour in San Diego. Over the course of a leisurely two hours, you will explore the stunning our boardwalk along the Embarcadero, The Historic Gaslamp Quarter, & beautiful Balboa Park too.

$189.00

5/5

LA to San Diego Day Tour: USS Midway, Harbor Cruise and Old Town

Explore the highlights of San Diego on this full-day trip from Los Angeles. Visit the USS Midway Museum, where you can dive into naval history, and enjoy a scenic Harbor Cruise that showcases military vessels and the stunning skyline. Stroll through Balboa Park with its beautiful gardens and museums, and take in the charm of Old Town San Diego, rich with history and culture. This group tour includes convenient pick-up points in LA, a professional guide, and admission to key attractions, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable adventure. - Full-day guided tour from Los Angeles to San Diego (8-10 hours) - Admission included for USS Midway Museum and Harbor Cruise - Visit Balboa Park and Old Town San Diego with ample time to explore - Comfortable transportation with a maximum of 55 travelers for an intimate experience

$202.00

5/5

4 h

4 Hour Self-Guided Electric Bike Tour or Rental

Get ready for an exciting adventure exploring all of San Diego's greatest sights with our easy-to-use E-bikes! Create your own journey through San Diego or take a self-guided tour, either way, you will get the chance to visit the beach, balboa park, downtown, oldtown and so much more! Our E-bikes will make your journey unforgettable and give you the opportunity to see San Diego's greatest sights. Our self-guided tour will give you more than enough time to park your E-bike, tour the Maritime Museum and check out all of the ships. You'll get the chance to navigate through the unique Horton Plaza Mall, and the Gaslamp Quarter to see all the sights of Downtown. From there, you can peruse Balboa Park on foot and really take in the sights and sounds. You can even go to one of the many other museums and stop to smell the roses in the Rose Garden with over 800 different varieties. Your adventure awaits!

$87.00

5/5

4 h

GoCar 4Hr GoCar Tour: Experience San Diego

This tour is essential for anyone who really wants to get out and really experience San Diego. It takes the best parts of our Downtown, Balboa and Old Town tours, and gives you plenty of time to do all three tours, while also stopping and really checking out the sights of San Diego. You will have more than enough time to park the car and tour the Maritime Museum and check out all of the ships, navigate through the unique Horton Plaza mall, and the Gaslamp Quarter to see all the sights of Downtown. From there you can peruse around Balboa park on foot and really take in the sights and sounds of Balboa and even go to one of the many museums that are always open, and stop to smell the roses in our Rose Garden with over 800 different varieties of roses. All along this tour are many great spots to stop and take pictures, eat, drink, relax and truly experience why San Diego truly is America’s Finest City. *If booking more than 2 people please submit separate orders!

$142.00

5/5

10 h

Shared San Diego Tour From South Orange County

The Shared San Diego Tour: The Full Experience from South Orange County Explore San Diego’s top highlights on this full-day shared tour with pickup from South Orange County. Start at Mount Soledad for panoramic views, then visit La Jolla Cove to spot sea lions and stroll through Ellen Browning Scripps Park. In Old Town San Diego, experience the birthplace of California with historic buildings, shops, and plazas. Enjoy lunch on your own at Seaport Village, a scenic waterfront destination filled with casual dining and boutique shops. After lunch, cruise through the Gaslamp Quarter as your guide shares tales of its Wild West roots. Cross the iconic Coronado Bridge for bay views and stop at the legendary Hotel del Coronado for photos. On the way back, pass through Balboa Park’s lush gardens and Spanish Revival architecture, then finish with a drive through Little Italy. With transportation, narration, and photo stops—it’s the perfect way to see the best of San Diego in one day.

$150.00

5/5

2 h

San Diego Holiday Lights Talking GoCar Tour

Pick up your E-Sport Vehicle and take a holiday lights tour through San Diego's famous downtown and Balboa Park area. Experience the magic of the Holidays on our limited-edition San Diego Holiday lights tour. Explore San Diego under the moonlight and pass by famous attractions such as the USS Midway, Maritime Museum, Seaport Village, Gaslamp Quarter and so much more! Go Car makes it easy for you to navigate around the city because each vehicle has a built-in navigation system that will give you directions and fun facts about the different areas! You'll get to see the famous Gaslamp Quarter and drive through little Italy. Drive along the Harbor and capture the beautiful lights from the boats at sea and check out San Diego's amazing nightlife! Each car hold two people. If booking multiple cars make separate bookings.

$115.28

5/5

5 h

San Diego Driving Tour: Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park & Old Town

On the San Diego half-day highlights tour, you will visit many of the city’s major historical sites, neighbourhoods and parks, including Balboa Park, the elegant architecture of the Gaslamp Quarter, the Old Town’s rich culture and the beautiful coastal stretch of some of San Diego's beaches. Through the local insight of your private guide, you will be introduced to some of San Diego’s lesser-known corners with plenty of opportunities to grab some fabulous photographs of the city’s most picturesque landmarks, be it quaint Victorian streets, bloom-filled gardens, or the stunning cliff-strewn coastline that are home to seals, marine birds and rugged sea caves. Please note that the Botanical Garden in Balboa Park is closed for major renovation until the end of 2024.

$475.00

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Santee, CA, USA