Private San Diego: Liberty Station - Cradle of the Navy
San Diego, USA
From USD 89.00
Office phone number: +1 (619) 432 7560
Private San Diego: Liberty Station - Cradle of the Navy
San Diego, USA





Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Calling all new recruits! Join a local guide and get an inside look at what it was like to join the Navy. Learn some sailor skills, explore the buildings essential to training, learn fun facts about the recruit experience, and gain an understanding of the history of the Naval Training Center. Then cap off the tour with a snack and your very own certificate of “graduation.”
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Highlights
- Learn important sailor skills without having to drop and give us 20
- Explore recruit life by visiting buildings essential to training such as barracks, the mess hall, and other facilities
- Pay tribute to the 52 submarines and their crew lost in World War II
- Using historic photos, we’ll compare the recruit experience with the modern-day visitor’s experience
- Celebrate the completion of your “training” with a snack and a certificate at the former Enlisted Men’s Club
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Schedule details
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Meeting point:
“USS BRAVE” art piece, in front of Moment Bicycles at 2816 Historic Decatur Rd Suite 135, San Diego, CA 92106.
View on Google Maps
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 10.30 AM
- Ending point:
2750 Dewey Rd #104, San Diego, CA 92106.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, combination of sliders and drinks (or comparable snack), certificate of graduation.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide
By the time it closed in 1997 the Naval Training Center had seen over two million men and women pass through its gates on their way to becoming sailors or to learning a new trade or skill. In subsequent years the area has transformed into Liberty Station, a rich and diverse mixed-use community that honors its Naval past. On this private tour we’ll explore what this area was like when it was a base, and what visitors can see and do there today.
Kick things off by exploring the heart of what was once Camp Paul Jones, the first camp established that housed 100-150 recruits per barracks and get a feel for what it was like to be one of those sailors (without the drill instructor!). Its park-like setting is full of secrets – such as the history of the large tree there and the special requirements for decorating it at Christmas, the design of the barracks’ roof that’s key to keeping it cool, or the connection the current public art on display has with the camp’s Navy past.
Then pass by the former dispensary, where early recruits received medical care – sometimes for the first time in their lives. We’ll view the former Sail Ho Golf Course, because it wasn’t all work and no play on the base. Several golf pros have played here, and the course is even a final resting place for two people! At the historic entrance we get a feel for what it was like to enter the base as a new recruit, hear how the gate played a role in their daily lives, and what impact having the Marine Core Recruit Depot next door had on Naval recruits.
It wasn’t all men who served here, at least not after 1943 when WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) arrived, taking up residence in a nearby barracks away from the men. We’ll then pass by the very first buildings on base which contained the Mess Hall and talk about what it took to feed so many people, multiple times a day.
We’ll pause at a work of art that replicates the whale boat sailors learned to row in the nearby channel and learn a sailor skill or two. Afterwards we’ll head over to the heart of the base – the Command Center – where the top brass kept the base running. There we’ll view an exhibit that highlights recruit life including something dear to everyone – food! From there it’s on to Ingram Plaza, to learn about the person it was named for, and why that’s a better name than its alternative.
Next up we’ll visit the Boats Memorial, dedicated to the 52 submarines and their crews lost during World War II. If time and energy allow, we’ll walk to the landlocked ship referred to by locals as the “USS Neversail.” Then we’ll proceed across Preble Field, where recruits marched during training and on their graduation day. We’ll celebrate their legacy and your “graduation” from the tour and sailor training with a snack at a nearby eatery in the former Enlisted Men’s Club. There you’ll receive a certificate of completion.
From there, your guide will recommend additional ways to explore the Navy’s legacy at Liberty Station, along with how to enjoy the area’s many cultural organizations or provide information on its many restaurants.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, combination of sliders and drinks (or comparable snack), certificate of graduation.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide
Dress standard: Please wear casual dress and comfortable shoes and take current weather conditions into consideration.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Closure of sites: Very occasionally buildings, parks and roadways are closed due to special events or routine maintenance. If this occurs, we will find a similar alternative for you to visit during your tour. If you have any concerns, feel free to email us at info@sandiegourbanadventures.com.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Dietary Notes
We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests. You can do so in the ‘Additional information’ box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@sandiegourbanadventures.com
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Local contact
Office phone number: +1 (619) 432 7560
Email address: info@sandiegourbanadventures.com
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