Major New Attractions in 2025
San Diego's theme parks are expanding with significant new experiences. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is opening Denny Sanford Elephant Valley in late 2025, positioning visitors alongside the world's largest land animals as they roam the savanna. This represents the park's most ambitious project since opening more than 50 years ago.
SeaWorld San Diego is launching Jewels of the Sea, the Jellyfish Experience, an interactive aquarium featuring a signature walk-through arch, 18-foot cylindrical display, and giant viewing wall. The park is also reimagining its Journey to Atlantis ride with a new storyline and fresh elements for 2025, continuing its tradition of innovative attractions.
Arts, Culture & Outdoor Events
San Diego's cultural landscape shines with outdoor arts experiences throughout 2025. The La Jolla Playhouse's WOW (Without Walls) Festival returns to UCSD in April with over 20 boundary-busting arts experiences, while annual art walks traverse the streets of Little Italy, Liberty Station, Leucadia, and Carlsbad. The Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival returns in May to enchant music lovers along the Embarcadero.
The San Diego Symphony's Rady Shell at Jacobs Park brings a full summer season of waterfront entertainment under the stars. Additionally, summer welcomes Comic-Con International: San Diego, the globally renowned celebration of comics and Hollywood, while October brings TwitchCon, focused on live-streaming and gaming.
Historic Landmarks & Balboa Park
Balboa Park remains San Diego's cultural heart, home to 17 museums, beautiful gardens, historic buildings, and the San Diego Zoo. The park's iconic Botanical Building, built in 1915 and recognized as one of the world's largest wood-lath structures, has reopened after a complete rebuild. Visitors can now enjoy hundreds of rare, tropical, and indigenous plants alongside serene views of the Lily Pond.
Belmont Park celebrates its centennial in 2025, marking 100 years as a vibrant part of the Mission Beach boardwalk since 1925. The park features the vintage Giant Dipper roller coaster and nostalgic beachside treats, with special events and a lifetime-pass giveaway throughout the year. San Diego's 59-mile Scenic Drive offers views from the Pacific coastline to Downtown's skyline, showcasing the region's 70 miles of pristine beaches.