San Diego Activities

 

Air Activities	Airjunkies Paragliding: (760) 753-2664 Air Adventures Skydiving: (619) 661-6671 A Ballon Adventure by California Dreamin: (760) 438-9550; 438-3344	San Diego’s spectacular views, sunny skies, and warm climate create a very popular sports and recreational flying activities. The Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Gillespie Field in El Cajon, Montgomer Field in central San Diego, and Brown Field in South County all have FAA-approved flying schools and aircraft rental facilities. Also popular in San Diego are hot-air balloons. Only in coastal communities can you fly a hot-air balloon at sunrise AND sunset. Many companies that offer tours provide special picnics or champagne flights to cater to a couple’s anniversary or birthday. In addition to these activities, are also available in beautiful San Diego!
Beaches	Coronado: (619) 435-4179 Oceanside: (760) 966-4570 San Diego: (619) 221-8884 Solana Beach: (858) 422-2971	When a tourist comes to San Diego, the most common attractions they want to visit are the amazing beaches surrounding the area. and young couples alike can all find the best beach for them. San Diego’s 70 miles of coastline attract people of all sorts. A lot of beaches are patrolled by lifeguards that keep beaches safe during riptides. Anybody eager to learn more about lifeguarding or surfing can enjoy specific classes teaching technique and facts about each. Weather and surf reports are available at the phone numbers above.
Bicycling	County Route S7, Palomar Mountain (800) 895-4427	The bicycling-lover will feel greatly catered to by San Diego's bicycle lanes, which are available on nearly all roads and various bike paths throughout the county. Another popular site among bike-riders are the boardwalks by the beach.
Boating	Oceanside Yearley Sailboats: (760) 722-4940 Seaforth Boat Rentals: (619) 223-1681; 239-2628	As always, San Diego’s famous weather of fair winds, sunny skies, and wonderful climate creates the ideal site for boating, power-boating, and sailing. If you need to rent a boat or even take sailing lessons, there are multiple marinas where you can do so. The boat-launching ramps are plentiful as well.
Camping	California State Lifeguards (Beach): (760) 438-2675 California Park Service Information Center (State Park): (760) 767-5311 California State Park Reservation Center (Fee-paid Beach): (800) 444-4275	San Diego is home to a diverse number of camping spots to choose from; 30 of these campsites have private camping locations equipped for RVs and tents. Whether you prefer camping on creeks, rivers, beaches, deserts, or forests, San Diego is the place for you. o The increasingly popular Cleveland National Forest is home to chaparral, mile-high mountains and coniferous trees. o Anza-Borrego Desert State Park offers the camper miles of deep canyons, desert oasis, and wide plains. o The relaxing beaches of South Carlsbad and San Elijo have campgrounds on the bluffs that overlook the beach. o Cuyamaca Rancho State park features 110 miles of horseback and hiking trails and is around 45 miles east of downtown. o The La Jolla Indian Reservation and Palomar Mountain area each have various campsites that are popular year-round.
Del Mar Fairgrounds and Racetrack	2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar (858) 793-5555	The 375-acre site's 3-week Del Mar Fair is possibly the most popular event in Del Mar. The old-fashioned county fair showcases traditional events such as livestock judging and races, cooking contests, and eating contests, as well currently popular entertainment and the yummy, time-honored fast food that can be expected from any fair. Though the Del Mar Racetrack hosts events throughout the year, “the surf meets the turf” for seven weeks of horse racing during the Pacific Classic race. There is also the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, which hosts home and horse shows, a light show, riding competitions, and a Halloween haunted house!
Gambling		If you are looking for gaming, Barona, Sycuan, and Viejas Indian reservations are all home to popular casinos and can be found in eastern San Diego County. The casinos all have video gaming machines, bingo halls, card tables, off-track satellite wagering on horse races, as well as restaurant dining with live headliner entertainment!
Golfing & Tennis	Balboa Golf: 2600 Golf Course Drive San Diego, CA 92102 (619) 570-1234 Mission Bay Golf 2702 North Mission Bay Drive (858) 581-7880	The celebrated “perfect” weather in San Diego is a golfer's dream. Perhaps delight is the reason San Diego holds 87 amazing golf courses. For this reason also, many high-status golf tournaments are also held in the region. Tennis is another year-round sport in San Deigo. There are over 1,200 public and private tennis courts, many of which are enclosed by large condominium complexes that offer private lessons. La Costa Resort & Spa annually hosts the TIG Tennis Classic, attracting top tennis professionals.
Hiking	Audubon Society: (619) 275-0557 San Diego Trails Council: (619) 563-5025 Sierra Club: (619) 299-1744	Many organizations promote San Diego's appealing characteristics with guided hikes and trips. Afoot and Afield in San Diego County by Jerry Schad is a great reference with a large listing of local trails. See the section on San Diego’s numerous parks to read on all the beauty and wonders available to the outdoorsman.
Horseback Riding, Running, and Jogging		San Diego provides numerous outlets for renting horses, exploring the area’s more pastoral places, or finding equestrian classes for the new rider. The fantastic scenery and beautiful sunny climate of San Diego offer a wide selection of clubs and popular 5K/10K runs. Some examples include the San Diego Track Club and the Camp Pendleton International Triathalon, which offer coached workouts at Balboa Stadium.
Ice Skating	Ice Chalet, University Towne Centre: (619) 452-9110 San Diego Ice Arena, San Diego: (619)530-1825	Regardless of misconceptions, San diego actually offers public ice skating access year round! Popular sports aside from ice skating include hocky and broomball.
Indoor Sports	Balboa Park Activity Center: (619) 581-7100 San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department: (858) 694-3049	For those who appreciate indoor activities such as bowling, bridge, chess, table tennis, and arts-and-crafts clubs, San Diego provides multiple venues. Dance groups featuring international folk dancing, Middle Eastern belly dancing, Hawaiian hula dancing, square dancing, swing dancing, as well as ballet and tap dancing, host lessons and parties throughout the county.
Inline Skating	Hamel Sports on the Mission Beach Boardwalk: (619) 488-5050 Rock & Roll at the Escondido Sports Center: (760) 839-0796	An estimated 80% of the nation’s inline skating industry is based in sunny San Diego. Celebrity professional inline skaters featured on ESPN’s X-Games live in North County so it is no surprise that skating has increased in popularity throughout the city. Many women over 30 are even mixing inline skating into their regular fitness activities!
Shopping	Horton Plaza – Fashion Valley – Mission Valley Mira Mesa – College Grove – La Mesa - Escondido Bonita – Chula Vista – La Jolla – Carlsbad	One of the most widely enjoyed pastimes in San Diego is shopping. You can find major malls at all of the above locations, and outlet stores can be found in Temecula, Carlsbad, San Ysidro, San Marcos, and Alpine. San Diego also plays host to numerous specialty districts such as Solana Beach (off Lomas Santa Fe and Cedros), where you’ll find stores exhibiting interior design and home furnishings. The Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town features Mexican art, clothing and jewelry. In Hillcrest (near downtown) you can find tons of bookstores. Also popular are Orange Avenue (between First Street and Dana Place), where over 200 stores line the streets, and Coronado Island, which is known for its Ferry Landing Marketplace. Finally, the famous Prospect Street in La Jolla is like a miniature “Rodeo Drive” in San Diego. San Diego also has many swap meets if they are your favor. Look in National City, Santee, Escondido, Oceanside, South Bay, Spring Valley, and the Sports Arena in San Diego. However, if fresh produce is what you’re looking for, go and see one of the city’s MANY farmer’s markets where the corn you buy was picked from the fields earlier that day.
Skateboarding	Escondido Sports Center, Escondido: (760) 839-5425 YMCA Skate Park; (619) 298-3576 Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA: (760) 942-9622 Robb Field Skateboard Park: (619) 531-1563	There are numerous designated areas listed above where the skateboard-fanatics can show off their tricks. However, it is important to note that skateboarding is not allowed on any malls, parking lots, shopping centers, or on the street.
Skiing	Big Bear Mountain Resort, Big Bear Lake: (909) 585-2519 Snow Report: (800) BEAR-MTN Snow Summit Mountain Resort, Big Bear Lake: (909) 866-5766 Snow Report: Toll 888- SUMMIT-1 Mountain high Resort, Wrightwood: (760) 249-5808 Snowcrest Snow Park/Ski Area, La Crescenta: (626) 440-9749 Snow Report: 583-9477 Snow Valley, Running Springs: (909) 867-2751 Snow Report: (800) 680-SNOW Tamarack Ski Resort, Mammoth Lakes: (760) 934-2442 Snow Report: (800) 237-6879	What is a place where you can enjoy the sunny surf in the morning and the snowy ski in the afternoon? San Diego is a mere three to four hours away from the San Bernardino Mountains, home to Big Bear Lakes. The skii resorts are equipped with top of the line snowmaking machinery that can provide top quality snow cover no matter what the weather is, and despite the mere 135-180 inches of snowfall that the area receives yearly. Big Bear and Snow Summit are also equipped with snowboard parks for all the non-skiiers. Snow Summit eve has one of the biggest snowboarding schools in the state! For those Southern Californians willing to drive eight hours, Mammoth Mountain is definitely the place to go. An alternative winter sports festival, The annual Winter Gravity Games, is hosted at Mammoth. Talented athletes from around the globe are drawn to California for competition in snow mountain biking, free skiing, snowboarding, and more.
Spectator Sports	Padres Tickets: (619) 283-4494 Chargers Tickets: (619) 280-2121 Gulls Tickets: (619) 224-4625	Major League Baseball Champions San Diego Padres and the National Football League’s San Diego Chargers make their home in San Diego. Charger games can be watched at QUALCOMM Stadium in Mission Valley and the Padres play at PetCo Park in downtown. Additionally, the San Diego Sports Arena hosts the San Diego Gulls Hockey Team.
Sportfishing	Pat’s Fishing Reports: www.biteson.com Helgren’s Sportfishing at Oceanside Harbor: (760) 722-2133 H & M Sportfishing: (619) 222-1144	Whether you prefer a full or half-day trip, short trips closer to home, or week-long trips to Baja, alone or with a group, your specialized sportfishing trip is available in San Diego. Charter fishing boats sail daily from both Oceanside and San Diego and usually offer information by phone about daily catches. Information is also available on runs of particular kinds of fish such as albacore, yellowtail, and rock cod.
Team Sports	YMCA Youth Sports: (858) 292-4034	Both adults and children alike have great opportunities to participate in the camaraderie and skill-building that is the team sport. To participate in any of the wide variety of sports available, contact your local city park and recreation department, YMCA, or school district for more information. Whether you are looking for a highly competitive team or something fun to entertain your spare time, there is no doubt you will find the right league for you! Specifically, the YMCA of San Diego contains the biggest child and family services in the County because of its thirteen branches that each offer a variety of programs. Every sports program, including indoor and outdoor soccer, swimming, gymnastics, flag football, basketball, baseball, tennis, skateboarding, inline skating, roller hockey, and more, features trained coaches and character development. Throughout the year, the YMCA offers Sports Camps complete with specialized training in all activities including even surfing and boogie boarding in the summer!
Water Parks	Wave Waterpark, Vista: (760) 940-9283 Whitewater Canyon Waterpark, Chula Vista: (619) 661-7373	If you are searching for water slides and interactive play structures, these water parks are definitely going to keep you happy all through the summer!
Water Sports		The beaches, bays, and lakes of San Diego attract adventurers interested in kayaking, swimming, water polo, canoeing, waterskiing, sailing, wind surfing, fishing, personal water craft activities, and rowing.
Whale Watching	San Diego Harbor Excursions: (619) 234-4111 Seaforth Sportfishing: (619) 224-3383	For a more serene and calmer setting, between the months of December and March, you can watch the California gray whales pass the San Diego coastline. Watch as the whales make their 7,000 mile journey from Alaska to the warmer lagoons of Mexico’s Baja peninsula where they give birth to their calves.
Wine Tasting		To participate in the social scene of San Diego one can try to learn the ways of the connoisseurs of wine. With the wineries of Rancho Bernardo, Escondido and Julian areas of the Orfila Vineyards, Bernardo Winery, Deer Park Winery, Ferrara Winery, and Shadow Mountain Vineyards so near to San Diego, wine tasting is a popular activity.

City Offers Many Free Activities

Having fun in San Diego doesn’t require a lot of money. In fact, many things to see and do here are absolutely free. With 70 miles of beaches, near-perfect weather and a variety of settings country-wide, San Diego offers a fun and inexpensive getaway during all seasons of the year.

Here’s a partial list of free, year-round San Diego activities:

* Go see San Diego’s many beaches, all free, to swim, body surf or simply hang-ten. Play in the sand, search for seashells or just soak up the sun.

* Visit La Jolla Cove and see the magnificent sunset on the ocean. The cove is a spectacular natural setting.

* Visit Seaport Village during the weekends for free entertainment and hours of leisurely strolling and window-shopping. Or just sit in the grass and gaze at the passing yachts and ships on San Diego Bay.

* Stroll through the 16 ½ block historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego and view the renovated turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture, home to boutiques, art galleries, specialty shops and more.

* Fly a kite along the grassy field in the Tecolote Shores of Mission Bay Park, a 4,600-acre park. Here, away from trees and overhead wires, friends and family can gather to launch colorful kites into the bay breezes.

* Enjoy free organ concerts and 2 p.m. on Sundays at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. The Organ Pavilion features one of the world’s largest outdoor pipe organs, a San Diego landmark since 1914.

* Bike or jog along Mission Bay Park’s many trails. Joggers and wlkers share more than 20 miles of scenic running paths that wind through sunlight and shade near the shoreline and feature workout courses at planned stations along the route.

* Visit the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for a free tour of the 150-acre-facility, including training fields and tracks, athlete dorms and the Otay Lake Reservoir. Tours are offered daily.

-- San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau
 

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