Discover San Diego Scavenger Hunt
Discover America's Finest City with a scavenger hunt across San Diego's sunny corners. Wander Balboa Park's Spanish Colonial museums, climb the deck of the USS Midway, drive over the iconic Coronado Bridge and listen to the La Jolla sea-lion barks. 72 degrees and a Pacific breeze. San Diego is yours for the afternoon.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Balboa Park
Navigate to Balboa Park and check in at the Plaza de Panama in front of the Museum of Us.
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2
Gaslamp Quarter
Rideshare to the Gaslamp Quarter downtown and check in around 5th Avenue and Market Street.
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3
USS Midway
Walk west along Broadway Pier to the USS Midway Museum and check in by the gangway.
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4
La Jolla Cove
Drive north to La Jolla and check in at the Children's Pool or La Jolla Cove on Coast Boulevard.
Challenges (20)
San Diego kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic San Diego backdrop (a palm against blue sky, a hibiscus flower, a navy sailor in dress whites) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Balboa Park
Navigate to Balboa Park and check in at the Plaza de Panama in front of the Museum of Us.
Plaza de Panama pose
The Plaza de Panama is the Spanish Colonial heart of Balboa Park, framed by the California Tower and ornate facades. Take a group photo with the tower behind the team.
Trivia: Balboa Park exposition
Most of Balboa Park's Spanish Colonial buildings were built for the Panama-California Exposition. In what year did the Exposition open?
Answer: 1915
San Diego Zoo entrance
The San Diego Zoo sits on the north end of Balboa Park and is one of the most famous zoos in the world. Find the entrance arch and take a group photo with the zoo sign behind you.
Checkpoint: Gaslamp Quarter
Rideshare to the Gaslamp Quarter downtown and check in around 5th Avenue and Market Street.
Gaslamp Quarter sign shot
The Gaslamp Quarter's iconic neon sign arches over 5th Avenue. Find the sign and take a group photo with the team posed underneath it.
Checkpoint: USS Midway
Walk west along Broadway Pier to the USS Midway Museum and check in by the gangway.
USS Midway flight deck shot
The USS Midway is a retired aircraft carrier that served from World War II through Desert Storm. Find a wide angle on the flight deck or the silhouette from the Embarcadero and take a group photo with the carrier behind the team.
Unconditional Surrender kiss
Across from the Midway stands "Unconditional Surrender", the giant statue of the sailor kissing the nurse. Take a group photo where the bride recreates the pose with a willing teammate or a kissable cardboard cutout.
Trivia: USS Midway opened as museum
The USS Midway opened to the public as a museum in San Diego in what year (between 2002 and 2005)?
Answers: 2004 / 2003 / 2005
Coronado Bridge backdrop
The 2-mile blue Coronado Bridge curves over San Diego Bay. Find a vantage point on the Embarcadero or at Coronado Ferry Landing and take a group photo with the bridge filling the frame.
Trivia: Coronado Bridge opened
The San Diego-Coronado Bridge over the bay opened to traffic in what year (between 1968 and 1970)?
Answers: 1969 / 1968 / 1970
Checkpoint: La Jolla Cove
Drive north to La Jolla and check in at the Children's Pool or La Jolla Cove on Coast Boulevard.
La Jolla sea-lion serenade
La Jolla's Children's Pool and Cove are home to harbour seals and sea lions, often basking on the rocks. Find a viewing wall, listen for the barks and take a group photo with the seals visible behind you (respect the closed beach during pupping season).
Mission San Diego de Alcalá nod
Mission San Diego de Alcalá was the first Spanish mission in California, founded in 1769. If you cannot visit Mission Valley, find any tile, plaque or mural in Old Town honouring the mission and take a group photo with it.
Trivia: First California mission
Mission San Diego de Alcalá, founded by Junípero Serra, was the first Spanish mission in California. In what year was it founded?
Answer: 1769
San Diego classic plate
Order a San Diego classic (a fish taco from Oscar's, a California burrito, fish-and-chips at the Hodad's) and take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time.
Local San Diegan tip
Convince a local San Diego resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
San Diego finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful San Diego spot (the Coronado Bridge at sunset, the Midway in golden light, La Jolla at dusk) and take an amazing closing group photo. Cheers from America's Finest City!
Frequently asked questions
A full day, or split into two halves. Four hours covers downtown (Gaslamp, USS Midway, Embarcadero) plus Balboa Park. Add another two hours for La Jolla Cove and a beach finale. The city sprawls, so rideshare or rentals between the four anchors save the day.
Yes if you have the time, no if you only have the budget for one museum. The Midway is a former aircraft carrier turned museum, with a self-guided audio tour that takes two hours. The hunt photographs the flight deck silhouette from the Embarcadero without admission. Book Midway tickets online to skip the line.
The Children's Pool in La Jolla has a wheelchair-accessible viewing area at street level. Note that the beach is closed to humans during the harbour seal pupping season (December 15 to May 15) but the wall is fully open year-round. Park on Coast Boulevard or rideshare; street parking fills fast on weekends.
Balboa Park is the natural starting point: free parking at the Inspiration Point lot, the Plaza de Panama anchors the first photo, and museums sit on every side. From there rideshare to Gaslamp for lunch, then walk to the Embarcadero and the Midway. End at La Jolla in the late afternoon for sunset.
Yes. Balboa Park has the San Diego Zoo on its northern edge, the USS Midway has hands-on cockpits, La Jolla seals are a guaranteed kid hit, and the Gaslamp has plenty of family restaurants. Skip the rooftop bar challenge at Pendry if kids are along and substitute Liberty Public Market.