Arts and Culture
Beyond its beaches, San Diego shines as a regional hotspot for arts and culture. Often dubbed a city of villages, our wealth of character-filled neighborhoods offer up a creative mix of art galleries, museums and cultural spaces. From heritage institutions such as The Old Globe Theatre, The San Diego Symphony and The San Diego Opera, to newer institutions such as The La Jolla Playhouse and The San Diego Repertory Theater, you are never far from a world-class performance in our city. Meanwhile, museum lovers will relish in Balboa Park’s Natural History Museum, San Diego Museum of Art, Museum of Man as well as downtown’s Children’s Museum, San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art and many more. Our concierges are happy to advise you on San Diego’s many cultural destinations.
The Gaslamp Quarter
Just steps from The Westgate Hotel’s elegant property, discover the heritage and beauty of San Diego’s historic heart. Built from the 1860s onwards and recognized as a nationally designated historic district, San Diego’s Gaslamp district is home to a rich array of Victorian buildings and points of interest. Where saloons and gambling halls of the early 1900s once stood, visitors will now find world-class restaurants, boutiques, wine bars, nightclubs and must-try cafés and coffee shops.
Petco Park
San Diego’s professional Major League baseball team, the San Diego Padres play their home games at Petco Park in the Downtown region of San Diego. With year-round good weather, visitors can enjoy a great baseball experience at the #1 Ballpark in America!
Nightlife
Along with the choice line-up of bars and nightclubs found in our nearby Gaslamp Quarter, our concierge is happy to help you find other local night scenes. Think cool cocktails and on-trend bars in one of our urban neighborhoods, beachside party fun in one of our coastal towns, or international music and cuisine in one of our many richly diverse communities. Just ask and we can help you find everything from small independent music venues to locally-loved clubs.
Shopping
Alongside downtown’s many boutiques, San Diego boasts many covetable shopping destinations. For an upscale blend of high-end apparel stores, designer boutiques, department stores, popular fast-fashion chains and luxury retailers, look no further than Westfield’s Fashion Valley and UTC malls. Or, for outlet shopping, head to Las Americas or Carlsbad Premium Outlets for mall and department store favorites at discount prices. Simply talk to our concierge and we’ll point you in the direction of the shopping experience you’ll love.
Little Italy
Just north of The Westgate Hotel lies Little Italy, a historic Italian community neighborhood and authentic taste of Italy just blocks from your room. Pavement cafés overlooking the boat-dotted bay, authentic pizzerias, upscale Italian restaurants and gelato stands are all guaranteed to transport you on a day trip to Europe. Why not try Little Italy’s Saturday morning farmers’ market? Or, ask our concierge about the neighborhood’s vibrant calendar of art walks and community events.
Balboa Park
Picture-perfect, lush and filled with historic museums and galleries, Balboa Park, host of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and 1935 California-Pacific International Exposition, isn’t just minutes from our property, it is also visible from many of our deluxe rooms. For directions, or ideas on how to get the most from your visit, our concierge is ready and waiting to help.
Golf
Thanks to our generous climate and coastal location, there is little wonder that San Diego has become a popular destination for golf. Better yet, with world-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course situated just north of downtown in the coastal community of La Jolla, a visit to San Diego gives you the ideal chance to play a PGA tour stop course. Our concierge is happy to help you book you a tee time there, or at another course. Visit Sandiegogolf.com for more options.
San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
World famous for its extensive size, beautiful Balboa Park setting and must-see pandas, the San Diego Zoo is located just minutes from the Westgate Hotel. Alternatively, a drive inland will bring you to the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park, where you can board a safari train and see the zoo’s conservation efforts in effect as rhino, elephants and many other endangered animals roam a stunning savannah space.
SeaWorld
Situated in San Diego’s Mission Bay, SeaWorld San Diego’s outdoor aquarium and theme park offers roller coasters, interactive animal exhibits, parades and educational entertainment for the family. Our concierge can help you plan the best time for your visit.
Legoland
As Lego’s west coast headquarters, Legoland California has become a destination for Lego fans young and old. Located north of downtown San Diego in Carlsbad, roller coasters, theme park attractions, Lego shows, a water park and array of attractions all make this a popular spot. We are happy to advise you on your visit.
Beaches
From surfing and sea kayaking, wakeboarding to jet skiing, dinner cruises to coastal walks and picnic spots, no matter how active or relaxed you want your beach time to be, we are here to help. We can advise you on where to find romantic coves, wide sandy beaches, surfing spots and kid-friendly beachside parks. San Diego’s many beaches are ready to be explored.