With an average of 266 days of sunshine per year, San Diego offers an irresistible, all-season playground. Whether you define “playing” as spending a day at the beach, riding a roller coaster, or sipping a craft beer on a brewery patio, you’ll find excellent settings for it everywhere you turn. Start with these six options:
Hit the beaches
With 75 miles of coastline, you have your choice of beachy options in San Diego County. Start with Coronado Central Beach on Coronado Island, with its easy waves for beginning surfers, or head a few miles north of downtown to festive Mission Beach, which is walking distance from bars and taco shops. Be sure to check out La Jolla Shores with its wide beach and water play opportunities—like renting a kayak to explore the La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve. In North San Diego County, Torrey Pines State Beach is surrounded by a nature reserve with hiking trails, and Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas comes equipped with both a play area for kids and firepits for hot dogs and evening s’mores.
Find thrills at theme parks and zoos
Families and theme park fans can easily fill a week with San Diego’s bucket-list attractions. Start with the famed San Diego Zoo and its sister property in Escondido, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. For family fun combined with rides, choose from the LEGO-themed attractions at LEGOLAND California, the strolling characters at Sesame Place San Diego (a Certified Autism Center), and the thrill rides and marine-life education at SeaWorld San Diego. For classic rides with an ocean view, don’t miss Belmont Park, an old-school amusement park next to Mission Beach.
Immerse yourself in Balboa Park
You could build a whole vacation around this 1,200-acre park lined with green spaces, 65 miles of trails, 16 museums, and the San Diego Zoo. Smell the roses at the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, stop in the charming international cottages (each devoted to a different nation, sometimes offering tasty cuisine samples) and peruse interactive museums including the Fleet Science Center, the Model Railroad Museum, and the Comic-Con Museum. For a 360-degree view of the city, climb the 125 steps of Balboa Park’s ornate California Tower, built in 1915.
Taste your way through the craft beer scene
San Diego has long been a craft beer hub, ranging from pioneering breweries such as Karl Strauss Brewing Company (opened in 1989) to buzzy newer arrivals like Societe Brewing Company. But with more than 150 breweries around the county, where to begin? Start on the “Hops Highway,” a stretch of Highway 78 that runs across North County, with stops such as Bagby Beer Co. in Oceanside, Belching Beaver in Vista, Lost Abbey in San Marcos, and Stone Brewing World Bistro & Garden in Escondido.
Do a fun foodie tour
Thanks in part to its prime location—both by the ocean and just north of the border—San Diego has become a serious foodie town. And yet, while the city has its share of Michelin-star fine dining, its culinary roadmap is mostly comprised of easy-access delights. Start with this taco-tasting itinerary around the county, then make time for stops in foodie-friendly neighborhoods such as North Park, Oceanside, and Little Italy (where acclaimed fried chicken and brunch spots live alongside Italian eateries). Plus, in San Diego, you’re always within reach of a branch of the SoCal classic In-N-Out.
Make an evening out of a game or concert
With its near-perfect weather, San Diego is a hotbed for year-round outdoor entertainment. Take Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, an architectural stunner along San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park—it hosts concerts by touring acts and the San Diego Symphony, and also offers a full evening thanks to its culinary program showcasing notable local chefs such as Top Chef winner Richard Blais. Just a short walk from the Rady Shell is Petco Park, the state-of-the-art home stadium of baseball’s Padres and a stage for big touring acts. Or, see the San Diego Wave, the National Women’s Soccer League team that plays at Snapdragon Stadium. You can use the bright red San Diego Trolley to easily get to both stadiums and explore both downtown and festive Old Town.
