We all know that San Diego is a pretty fabulous place to live and to visit. But it is easy to overlook and even take for granted a lot of the wonderful things that are available to us throughout the year. In addition, there may be many fun things to do in San Diego that you are not even aware of. So I thought it would be a great idea to share some of them with you.
Of course we all know about the major visitor attractions in San Diego, like Sea World, Legoland, Old Town, Gaslamp District and the world famous San Diego Zoo – which, by the way, are visited by millions of people each year. But in addition to the big touristy attractions, there is unlimited fun and many unique things to do all over the county. Below are some examples:
Torrey Pines Gliderport: If you have ever wanted to take a paragliding or hang gliding flight, the Torrey Pines Gliderport is the place to go. Located in La Jolla, Torrey Pines Gliderport offers tandem flights year round. The world-class tandem instructors are fully qualified and have provided over 45,000 injury free tandem flights since 1997.
Blacks Beach: There are many spectacular beaches along the San Diego coastline. Each beach is very different from the next, with a miniculture of its own. You can sightsee, body surf or board surf, swim, lie in the sun, people watch or just walk barefoot on the beach while the ocean breezes caress you. There is something very magical about our beautiful ocean and beaches. It remains one of the most desirable and attended attractions in all of San Diego. There is even the popular Blacks Beach, which is known for its “clothing optional” policy.
Belmont Park: For guaranteed fun, head on over to Belmont Park, located on the sand in Mission Beach. The park’s main attraction is the giant dipper which is one of two original beachfront rollercoaster’s along the West Coast still providing thrills and chills.
Breweries: There are also breweries in San Diego for you beer lovers. There are over 30 craft breweries operating in the County. Our locally brewed ales and IPA’s can hold their own with the Belgian elite crafts and are cementing San Diego’s reputation as a brewing hot spot; bolstered by strong showings at the Great American Beer Festivals and World Beer Cup competitions since the early 2000s.
Wineries: Wine tasting is usually a favorite event among the adult population. Wineries are like hidden jewels throughout San Diego. Offering the sweet smells of locally grown grapes across a beautiful landscaped country vineyard, with tasting rooms featuring boutique wines and countywide events to please wine lovers and aficionados, visitors can enjoy a “taste of San Diego wine country.”
San Diego’s farmers markets: Located all over the County, there are many farmers’ markets. All are full of deliciously nutritious fruits, vegetables and homemade favorites, making food shopping a fun experience for children and adults alike. Grown through sustainable agriculture techniques, local farmers pride themselves in providing the city with organic produce at an affordable price.
Casinos: If you want a little bit of Vegas, without having to travel the distance, there are fantastic casinos located all over San Diego County. They offer local residents and visitors the excitement of the big world-class casinos right here in San Diego. Some of the most popular casinos in San Diego are Harris, Viejas, Sycuan, Barona and Valley View.
Birch Aquarium: This is located at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla and has over 60 habitats of sea life, including exotic tropical fish, sea horses and a living coral reef from all over the world. Their longstanding mission has been education on the importance of the ocean and the science behind conserving it.
Free Music Concerts: There are free music concerts throughout San Diego in the spring and summer. From Coronado, Seaport Village, Old Town San Diego, University Heights and North Park you can find live musicians playing music for locals and visitors alike.
Mount Palomar Observatory: The night sky enchants and beckons us, daring us to delve into the dark abyss and discover a world beyond our own. Palomar Observatory is the place to be for star gazing and dreaming under the twinkling stars.
The Children’s Pool in La Jolla: For an extraordinary glimpse at nature, watch the seals as they happily lounge in the sun or mate in their natural habitat.
Highway 101 Cruise: For the best views of San Diego and the Pacific Ocean from a vehicle, take a drive on Highway 101. Running parallel to the Pacific, Highway 101 is a scenic alternative to interstates and freeways. From Pacific Beach to Oceanside, this influential highway has positively impacted travel along the coast since the early 1900s and has staked its mark as one of the County’s main attractions.
Theater: San Diego has earned its reputation as a premiere and sophisticated theater town boasting two Tony Award-winning theaters. More shows have been sent to Broadway from San Diego than any other city in America. With over 150 adventurous theaters of all sizes in all areas, San Diego’s theater scene is one of the most active, inspiring, cutting edge and creative scenes around.
San Diego Botanic Garden: If you are a nature lover, you can explore four miles of garden trails, restful vistas, flowering trees, majestic palms and the nation’s largest bamboo collection.
Cowles Mountain: This 1,593-foot mountain is the highest point in the city of San Diego and is great for hiking. It is a prominent mountain within the city limits and is located within Mission Trails Regional Park.
Balboa Park: Everyone knows about fabulous Balboa Park. But it is easy to forget all of the things you can do in the park. You can spend several days exploring and still not experience it all. There are 1400 acres of the city park that has something for everyone. You can simply walk through the park and enjoy the visual beauty of the trees, plants, atriums, fountains and amazing architecture of the buildings, which are all free to enjoy. There are also activities like lawn bowling, volleyball, biking and jogging that you can do. In addition, there are multiple museums, exhibitions, performances and places to eat. You can even just sit and have a picnic lunch or dinner while you enjoy the nature that surrounds you. The activities in Balboa Park are almost endless. Balboa Park is one of San Diego’s most precious gems.
The above attractions are just a handful of the countless unique and fun things you can do in San Diego. For more information on these attractions, go to or Google each one separately and enjoy San Diego!
Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent
and a member of the National, California and
San Diego Association of Realtors. He can be reached at trent@tns.net or at his office in Hillcrest, The Metropolitan Group. DRE#01273643.
