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    Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial

    4.8 (489 reviews)
    Open • 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Monument
    Katherine A.

    Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial is a significant tribute to our nation's veterans. The site offers incredible 360 degree views of San Diego County and the Pacific Ocean. The pinnacle of the Memorial is a massive white cross at the summit of the hill. Granite plaques, highlighting 3000 sponsored veterans, encircle the cross. Accessible walkways allow viewing of each of the highlighted veterans. U.S. flags and white rose bushes adorn the site. Panels around the monument describe the site, donors and controversy regarding the cross on public lands. The artistic cross was added in 1996 after court battles. Veterans can be added to the granite wall for fees around $3000 each for engraving. Information pamphlets are available at the site. Several benches are available for relaxing. Parking is somewhat limiting, but we were able to find a space. There are no restroom or other facilities at the site. Admission is free, but donations are requested.

    Taura G.

    I highly recommend coming to visit this USA Veterans Memorial Monument. This monument was established in the year 2000 and has been an icon in our community of San Diego for 26 years. It is run by an organization that values and appreciates the sacrifices of our USA veterans. Everything in the middle round monument is run by this organization and not by the City of San Diego. The monuments are so very well presented. Each of the walls of honored veterans have a wonderful photo and a brief summary of their service as well as who they were. This is a great educational opportunity for people to come visit and learn about the people who have sacrificed ultimately for our country. It was very nice to see that there were America 250 years flags flying. Also, I love that they have the POW MIA flag flying. at the top of the monument there is a big bench that says "Papa Doug" Manchester engraved on it. I try to come visit this location every other year if not once a year. It's a wonderful reminder about our veterans and how they've sacrificed for our country and for us to have the freedoms that we have today.

    Michelle R.

    Our third stop on our tour. Nice memorial that honors national veterans. This monument offers 360 degree views of San Diego.

    Veterans Memorial
    Jemiah J.

    What a great well kept memorial for our nation's veterans. Plenty of parking, fantastic views, and well kept monument.

    Amazing
    Arnel D.

    Such a beautiful monument. You couldnt ask for a better view. Lots of parking and several portable potty units help keep this place clean. Stop by, pay your respects and enjoy the one of a kind views that this place offers.

    Views from Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial
    Olga M.

    Mount Soledad Memorial Park is located in La Jolla, CA it's a MUST visit memorial park when in San Diego, CA. It's a unique veterans memorial featuring a prominent cross with thousands of black granite plaques honoring U.S. service members from the Revolutionary War to the present, with images and service details. Mount Soledad Memorial Park offers stunning 360-degree panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, coastline, and city, making it a popular spot for reflection, history, and scenic appreciation. You'll get beautiful photos from the top especially, on a clear day. It's free admission and open daily from dawn to dusk. We always enjoy taking our first time visitors to this location. Check it out! Happy Yelping :)

    Nathan P.

    Beautiful park and veterans war memorial with stunning 360° views of San Diego--truly some of the best views you can find in the city. It's a great spot to visit with kids, with plenty of open space for them to run around. There's a larger parking lot on the left as you drive up, and restrooms are available (porta-potty style). A peaceful, scenic place that's well worth the visit.

    The last day of September 2025
    Nadine C.

    Sightseeing in La Jolla, San Diego, California... I've read reviews and seen photos from my friends, Gabriela, Wendy, Elle, Kelli, Cindy, Christy, and Rob. It was time to visit Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial! Driving up the winding road reminded me of Wilhelmina Rise in Honolulu, but not as dangerously sharp. The views at the top are amazing! The cool, clean, crisp air was so refreshing! It was literally a breathtaking experience! Climbing up the 43 steps or so wasn't too bad! My cousin enjoyed this landmark, too! We had a moment of silence and paid tribute to our Veterans!

    Kathleen D.

    I stopped here briefly on a tour (less than 15 minutes allotted), which was long enough to use their porta pots (clean!), view the Memorial from the circular walkway, and take photos of the sweeping views of San Diego, La Jolla, and the Pacific Ocean. It was rather chilly and windy up so high, but the mountain was clean and well cared for. The houses on the drive down were interesting to see too. I can only imagine being able to afford one!

    View of Scripps Pier in La Jolla
    Jeremy S.

    We traveled to visit scenic viewpoints in the area, and Mt. Soledad in La Jolla was on our checklist. At the summit is the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, an ever-expanding commemoration of living and deceased veterans with walls of ornate plaques surrounding a tall cross centerpiece. Jim and Mike were friendly docents who introduced themselves to us with an offer to share an overview of the geography of San Diego respective to the mountaintop and the veterans plaques. Jim walked us around the plaques and went over a few notable veterans, including past presidents, Medal of Honor awardees, and even himself. We enjoyed viewing the plaques, listening to our docent, and taking in the scenes from the summit. The best photos I got were of the views of Scripps Pier in La Jolla. Another docent was kind to take multiple pictures of us with different views in the background. Overall, this was an educational and peaceful experience.

    Ann V.

    Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial is the most beautiful place to pay respects to our Veterans both living and deceased. It's also a beautiful place to find solace being surrounded by the breathtaking scenic views and just being in nature. The best thing is it's free to the public. I highly recommend this scenic spot to the Yelp Community!

    Alice K.

    Amazing 360 view of Pacific Ocean, UCSD to north, mesa and mountains to east and downtown SD to south. Limited parking on top but overfill lot less 3 min walk down hill. Some benches and picnic tables. Only porta potties available.

    Hope A.

    OMG! If you haven't been, you must go!! This memorial is for everyone who served. So many plaques with names, stories, and pictures of service men and women. It's heartwarming and causes folks to stop and refresh their thoughts on the thousands of men and women who chose to serve our great nation. God bless them all!!

    Beautiful wife and beautiful view

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    Nice view! It's a must visit if you haven't been there. Be warned: it's really windy up there.

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    Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial

    Can I visit Mt Soledad? Can I drive up there and park?

    Yes! There are parking spots in front of the memorial as well as a small lot just down the hill (few minutes walk but uphill)

    Does anyone know when I can get a souvenir that has to do with with this location? Something like a Mount Soledad snow globe or a keychain or anything like that.

    There isn't anything at the site itself. I would try calling the number on this website. https://www.soledadmemorial.com

    Is there a hill you can hike/walk up?

    No not really. You can walk up the local streets to the top of the monument for a good workout, but there are no hiking trails up to the top. The cross sits atop the highest point and there is a road you can drive all the way up to park and take… 

    Is here 24 hour open?

    No, they are open from 7am-10pm everyday.

    View All 5 Questions

    Review Highlights - Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial

    “The cross is perfect and I love that you can climb up the stairs to get right to the bottom of the cross.”

    Mentioned in 102 reviews

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    Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala - 50 of those small candles costs $5 but I paid $100 for them

    Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala

    4.4(163 reviews)
    8.8 mi

    I grew up in the Catholic Church in central Illinois, so coming here was so cool!! It is such a…read morecharming church. I love how the doors and windows were open during mass. The architecture is so cool, and you can tell that a lot of it is original! Father Bill gave a wonderful homily on the gentleness of Jesus, and how we are called to be gentle too. Stopped in the gift shop and got a bracelet and an adorable cross for my room. Love this place, definitely worth the trip!!

    We were blessed to celebrate our wedding at the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, and it was everything…read morewe hoped it would be. A special thank you to Jojo and the entire team for making the planning process so smooth. They were incredibly accommodating and always willing to answer our questions while helping us navigate the requirements for a Catholic wedding. We had a visiting priest officiate our wedding, and the Mission staff was flexible and easy to work with while still preserving the beauty, reverence, and traditions of the Catholic Church. That meant a lot to us because our faith was the most important part of our wedding day. The Mission itself is absolutely stunning, and the history and atmosphere made our ceremony even more meaningful. Thank you, Jojo and everyone at the Mission, for helping make one of the most important days of our lives so special. We will always cherish getting married there.

    Photos
    Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala - The alter at Christmas Mass.

    The alter at Christmas Mass.

    Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala - Long and narrow. This is how they were built in the 1700s.

    Long and narrow. This is how they were built in the 1700s.

    Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala

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    Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden - Sculpture garden

    Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden

    4.5(159 reviews)
    19.6 mi

    Tucked away inside the massive 285 acre Kit Carson Park, you'll find Queen Califia's Magical Circle…read moreGarden by renowned artist Niki de Saint Phalle. Completed and opened to the public on October 26, 2003, this whimsical, meaningful, and colorful sculpture garden is surrounded by an incredible 400 foot snake wall. Once you meander through the mosaic & mirrored mini-maze, there are nine freestanding sculptures: Cathead Totem Birdhead Totem Yelling Man Totem Bullhead Totem Untitled Totem (Bird on a Square) Kingfisher Totem Step Totem Snake Totem Each totem is something marvelous to behold, and de Saint Phalle's mosaic work is simply spectacular. There are also 3 freestanding benches faced in travertine marble by Pierre-Marie Lejeune that measure from 13-20 feet in length. In my opinion, the standout feature of the garden is the central structure called Queen Califia and the Eagle Throne. It is so beautifully unique, and the space underneath almost feels sacred with the golden egg (former) fountain and the spectacular celestial ceiling. Queen Califia was a legendary black Amazonian who was believed to rule a terrestial island of gold and riches "to the right of the Indies." It is only fitting that this special garden has been erected in her honor. In fact, this is the only American sculpture garden by Niki de Saint Phalle! The garden is surrounded by a locked fence and is only open on Tuesdays and Thursday from 9am-12pm, and on 2nd & 4th Saturdays from 9am-2pm. Docents were available to answer questions today, and they are usually onsite during the hours when the garden is open. This special space is certainly worth a visit, and it would be lovely to pair it with a hike and a picnic in the park for sure. Keep in mind that there is a short walking trail that you need to traverse to get to the garden after you've parked your car, Additionally, you can hike in from other areas of the park as well. Be sure to take a look at the story boards to the right of the entrance facing the snake wall before you enter to gain more history and context for this special installation that we are lucky to have in Escondido. Entry is free and parking is free. There are bathrooms in the park. I took about 20 minutes to peruse the area, and that was enough time for this visit (it was also 90 degrees), but do plan accordingly depending on your interests and needs. Peace.

    When I knew I'd be spending a few days in Escondido, I started looking into all that this San Diego…read moresuburb comes to offer. After checking out TripAdvisor, Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden stood out. I'm all about art, especially when the scale is impressive like it is here. We stopped by on a Tuesday morning around 9:30 a.m. Make sure to check out their website to see when they're open because their hours are quite limited (Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. when I was there and every fourth Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.). It's located inside Kit Carson Park. I didn't have any trouble parking in their lot and then walking to the sculpture garden. Once you arrive, take in all the artist, Niki de Saint Phalle, created. It's weird, it's cool, and it's trippy all in one. There's some information you can read to learn more and while we were there, there were some members of the non-profit that is involved with the art installation there that told us more about it. Walk around and take it all in. You can easily do it in 10-15 minutes and it's a free attraction. Saint Phalle has other artwork in San Diego, but the Magical Circle Garden, is by far the most expansive one in terms of scope. And the most interesting in my book.

    Photos
    Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden
    Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden
    Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden - Sculpture garden

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    Sculpture garden

    Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial - landmarks - Updated September 2026

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