There are many reasons why San Diego is named “America’s Finest City.” It was where pop-punk legends Blink-182 got their start, the place where the largest avocado crops in the country are grown, where Spanish missionaries set up the first of many California Missions and where the late great author Dr. Seuss called home. But that’s just the beginning of the shoreline.

There are a lot of must-see locations that are mapped out for tourists that they’ve heard from a destination show host, read in a tour guide or on the popular website Yelp.

Here are just a few of the almost endless locations that are must-sees for anyone visiting, which includes a look at the people involved with San Diego’s beginnings, a cultural and historical mecca full of museums, galleries and gardens, one of many amazing beaches and a certain world-famous zoo home to a few popular pandas.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Mark Elliott & Joe Kendall

A San Diego icon, the Ocean Beach Pier is home to surfers, anglers and sun-seekers alike. After a long day of soaking up sun and catching waves, check out the variety of bars and restaurants just down the road.