JES makes the accurate (imho anyway) observation that our “culture” has been reduced to “mass consumption.” While I personally don’t mind secularism’s rise, it saddens me that Americans seem to have abandoned an active “public” realm for a consumption based private realm. Everyone retreats to their McMansions after shopping in the big box stores, never mind working to get a real public library downtown, more public parks in our older neighborhoods and a truly functional public transportation system.

In response to the OP’s question, some of San Diego’s hidden gems for me are: the summer “Concerts in the Park” series in Mission Hills (other neighborhoods have similar events I believe, e.g. Scripps Ranch and University Heights), Hornblower bay cruises, hiking in the Cuyamacas, Birch Aquariam, Balboa Park and its many museums, the Hotel del Coronado, and the annual airshow at MCAS Miramar.