San Diego

With average daily temperatures of 70.5ºF, San Diego is built for outdoor activities year-round. As you’d expect, the ocean is one of San Diego’s most popular natural attractions. Surfers, swimmers, kayakers, divers, snorkelers, and paddleboarders have 70 miles of shorefront to explore. What might surprise you is there is also great hiking, horseback riding, rock-climbing, biking, and more.

The possibilities for outdoor activity really are endless and evidence of San Diego’s outdoorsy spirit is apparent everywhere; you’ll likely see runners swarming the waterfront and Balboa Park, groups of surfers bobbing in the water at dawn, hang gliders swooping off sandstone cliffs, and white sails gliding gracefully along the shore. Outdoor enthusiasts are as much a part of San Diego’s landscape as the sea, sand, and hills, and if you want to get in on the action, it’s easy. Companies offering kayak and snorkeling tours and rentals are prevalent, especially in the beach communities of La Jolla, Mission Beach, and on Coronado. If you want to learn to surf, sign up for a lesson at one of the many surf schools in La Jolla or rent a board in Mission Beach and go out on your own. If sightseeing is more your style you can head out on a fishing or whale-watching excursion aboard a charter boat or take a sunset stroll on a wide, sandy beach. At the end of the day at any beach in the county, you’ll surely see a local ritual: everyone stops what they’re doing to watch the sun’s orange orb slip silently into the blue-gray Pacific.

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  • Ballooning

    Enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean, the mountains, and the coastline south to Mexico and north to San Clemente from a hot-air balloon at sunrise...

  • Baseball

    Long a favorite spectator sport in San Diego, where games are rarely rained out, baseball gained even more popularity in 2004 with the opening...

  • Bicycling

    San Diego offers bountiful opportunities for bikers, from casual boardwalk cruises to strenuous rides into the hills. The mild climate makes...

  • Diving and Snorkeling

    The kelp forests and protected marine areas off the San Diego coast are easily accessible and offer divers ample opportunities to explore. Classes...

  • Fishing

    Pier fishing doesn’t offer as much excitement, but it’s the cheapest ocean fishing option available. No license is required to fish from a public...

  • Frisbee Golf

    Brengle Terrace Park Disc Golf Course. Just inland from Oceanside, the city of Vista has an 18 "hole" disc golf course that's free of charge...

  • Golf

    San Diego’s climate—generally sunny, without a lot of wind—is perfect for golf, and there are some 90 courses in the area, appealing to every...

  • Hang Gliding and Paragliding

    Torrey Pines Gliderport. Perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean north of La Jolla, this is one of the most spectacular spots to hang...

  • Hiking and Nature Trails

    A day hike through the canyons and hills of Mission Trails Park is a great way to escape to nature without leaving the city. Hiking Bayside...

  • Horse Racing

    Del Mar Racetrack. The racetrack attracts the best horses and jockeys in the country—Seabiscuit even won a much-talked-about race here in...

  • Jet Skiing

    Jet Skis can be launched from most ocean beaches, although you must ride beyond surf lines, and some beaches have special regulations governing...

  • Jogging

    Running is a very popular San Diego pastime and organized races like the Rock’n’Roll Marathon ( www.runrocknroll.com ) and La Jolla Half ( www...

  • Kayaking

    There are several places to kayak throughout San Diego. You can spend an especially memorable afternoon exploring the Seven Caves off La Jolla...

  • Sailing and Boating

    The city’s history is full of seafarers, from the ships of the 1542 Cabrillo expedition to the America’s Cup that once had a home here. Winds...

  • Skateboard Parks and Skating

    Skateboarding culture has always thrived in San Diego, especially after the 2001 documentary, Dogtown and Z-Boys about the SoCal history of...

  • Surfing

    If you’re a beginner, consider paddling in the waves off Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and Tourmaline Surfing Park. Several outfitters offer...

  • Swimming Pools

    Sometimes the ocean can be a little too vast and a little too cold. If you prefer pools, there are several noteworthy options to choose from. ...

  • Tennis

    Most of the more than 1,300 courts around the county are in private clubs, but a few are public. Several San Diego resorts have top-notch tennis...

  • Waterskiing

    Mission Bay is popular for waterskiing, although the bay is often polluted, especially after a heavy rain. As a general rule, it’s best to get...

  • Whale-Watching Cruises

    Whale-watching season peaks in January and February, when thousands of gray whales migrate south to the warm weather, where they give birth...

  • Windsurfing

    Also known as sailboarding, windsurfing is a sport best practiced on smooth waters, such as Mission Bay. More experienced windsurfers will enjoy...