Sunshine, balmy breezes, and dazzling panoramic views of the San Diego Bay are all on the menu October 16–20 during ACS Clinical Congress 2022 at the San Diego Convention Center. The world-class venue is located both waterside and in a bustling downtown, in a metropolis that’s been nicknamed “America’s Finest City.”

Who can dispute such a moniker given its 70 miles of glorious beaches and year-round, heavenly climate that will make time between sessions a pure delight.

The convention center is within walking distance of shopping, dining, and world-class entertainment venues including Seaport Village, the USS Midway Museum, the historic Gaslamp Quarter, and the San Diego Trolley, a light-rail system that links downtown to other parts of the city.

Eating well will be a cinch with a number of options just footsteps away. The Fish Market, known as San Diego’s premier seafood destination, features a wide array of seafood, an oyster bar, poke, sashimi, and gorgeous views of the bay. Sally’s Fish House & Bar also offers waterfront tables and serves locally sourced seafood and a curated collection of California wines and craft cocktails.

If you’re looking for something a bit more exotic, head to Cafe Sevilla, which has been serving what it calls “the true essence of Spanish culture, music, and cuisine since 1987.”  If you’re craving Mexican food in an urban chic setting, there’s La Puerta, whose motto is Tacos, Tunes, & Tequila. Foodies should check out San Diego’s award-winning eateries such as Herb & Wood in north Little Italy, Juniper and Ivy, and Lola 55.

Liberty Public Market also features dining options as well as produce, arts and crafts, a test kitchen, pop-up dinners, and educational events.

Balboa Park is a can’t-miss destination. Site of the world-famous San Diego Zoo, The Nat (San Diego Natural History Museum), Comic-Con Museum,  Fleet Science Center, and a host of other museums and historic structures, this 1,200-acre urban park also boasts a 112-year-old carousel, performance spaces, natural vegetation zones, gardens, and walking paths.

For art lovers, there are the San Diego Museum of Art and Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

If you’ve got a few hours to spare and want to get even closer to nature, try a harbor cruise or a kayak tour through sea caves and an ecological reserve, or lounge on one of the city’s many beaches. ​​LaJolla Cove, a half-hour drive up the coast, is calm, ecologically protected, and one of the area’s top spots for swimming, diving, and snorkeling.

Head west from Interstate 5 just south of San Diego and over Coronado Bridge to Coronado Island for shopping, dining, parks, beaches, and a visit to the iconic Hotel del Coronado, one of America’s last surviving wooden Victorian beach resorts. 

To find out what else San Diego has to offer, check out the tourism information curated by the San Diego Tourism Authority.

Amid evolving health and safety protocols related to COVID-19, visitors are advised to check with individual venues for the latest information before arriving.