The Best Ways to Spend Summers in San Diego

After kicking off the season with Memorial Day Weekend, the summer fun soon begins. San Diego is one of the most amazing places to spend the summer months. The weather starts getting perfectly warm enough to spend your days at the beach, hiking, walking the waterfront, or dining out on a restaurant patio. Below I have outlined a few of my favorite summer activities in the San Diego area:

Source: UNSPLASH

Explore Waterfront Park

This huge, 12-acre green space that some call San Diego’s front porch is comprised of several distinct areas where different activities can be enjoyed. The centerpiece of the project is a 40-foot wide, 830-foot long, and 1-inch deep fountain. Resembling what some describe as the country’s biggest wading pool, this is a hotbed of activity for children of all ages to splash around as the 31 jets gush water up into the air. And, in true California, eco-friendly style, the water is recycled and treated daily. Among the other zones within the park, you’ll find areas custom-built for the younger ones with cool obstacle courses, modern jungle-gyms, a rock wall, steep slides, and skateboards mounted on springs. There are Garden Rooms that feature an array of flowering plants, carved out paths, and places to sit and watch the world go by.

Visit Coronado Island

Just across the bay from downtown San Diego, Coronado Island beckons visitors with its pristine beaches, crystal waters, and friendly beach town persona. It’s here that the historic Hotel Del Coronado has been luring guests since 1888 and where those with an affinity for the beach, the ocean, fine food, and eclectic shops gather to relish in its delightful amenities. 

To gain a true appreciation of this magnificent place, take a bike tour. The Coronado Cruise Bike Tour offers fun and adventure for everyone ages 12 and older. This 10-mile ride takes you under the Coronado Bridge, past the historic Hotel del Coronado, and allows you to see many other picturesque spots. The entire tour is bike-friendly, as flat terrains make it a relaxing ride. Afterward, if you want to dial into beach bum mode, Coronado Island offers a plethora of choices for fun in the sun. There are five white sand havens on the island including Coronado Central Beach, Coronado Dog Beach, Glorietta Bay Beach, Silver Strand State Beach, and the Ferry Landing Marketplace. Each beach has its own unique personality and provides a perfect way to enjoy the magnificent San Diego climate.

Check Out Birch Aquarium at Scripps

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography was founded in 1903 and is one of the oldest and largest centers for global science research. Visitors can tour the facility and view the Birch Aquarium and numerous exhibits that teach about the wonders of the ocean and marine species. Educational programs, events, and live animal interactions are offered throughout the year.

See the Horse Races at Del Mar Race Track

Got a few bucks burning a hole in your pocket and want to lay it on a long-shot to win? Spend part of your day taking in the beautiful weather and watch the ponies run at the second largest horse-racing track in the western United States. When the Del Mar Racetrack first opened in the 1940s, it was a destination frequented by the movie stars and entertainers of the day. Some of the most popular events that take place at the racetrack, in addition to the races themselves, are: Opening Day with its beloved hat contest, Friday Night Concerts, Family Fun Day on the weekends, and their Giveaway Days. For parents of young children, they even offer a daycare center.

Enjoy the International Beer Festival

For three days in June, the biggest beer festival in California holds court at the Del Mar Fairgrounds about 20 miles north of San Diego. Here, you’ll find over 200 brewers from all around the world debuting their latest creations, food pairings, and beer stages where the science of brewing is explained. You can even head to the midway and enjoy the rides at the largest county fair in the United States!

Stroll Through Balboa Park

With 19 gardens, 17 museums, 13 recreation venues, nine performing arts arenas, nine various attractions and play spaces, restaurants, dog parks, and trails, San Diego’s Balboa Park offers something for everyone. Balboa Park’s land has been set aside for almost 150 years and has racked up quite the array of family-friendly activities, including summer Food Truck Fridays, where people of all ages can enjoy live entertainment and a unique, rotating selection of gourmet food trucks. Surviving fires, wars, and strife, this mega green space at the city’s center now provides beautiful sights and fun things to do in an alternative outdoor oasis. Offering cultural growth, enrichment, relaxation, community building, educational programs, family-friendly entertainment, sporting programs, creative activities, exercise, mindfulness spaces, and more, Balboa Park welcomes everyone and is open 365 days a year. Check out this must-see attraction on your next vacation to San Diego.

Source: Old Town Trolley