Parasailing off the cliffs of La Jolla, San Diego

Adventurous Things to do in San Diego

San Diego is an adrenaline fiend’s playground, a sprawling city of beaches, cliffs, canyons and theme parks that promise all manner of thrills, from century-old wooden rollercoaster rides to paragliding from the bluffs high above La Jolla’s pristine sands. Brace yourself for our pick of the 10 most adventurous things to do in San Diego...

Kayak Through the Sea Caves

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Set sail from La Jolla Shores and paddle your way gently across the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, an astonishing marine reserve with gin-clear waters where you might spot friendly leopard sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, harbor seals and bright orange Garibaldi fish darting under your boat. You’ll soon reach the seven secret sea caves at La Jolla Cove. Steer your kayak inside to follow in the footsteps (boatsteps?) of smugglers who snuck alcohol and opium into San Diego via these same secret passageways during the Prohibition era. Kayaks are available for rent at La Jolla Shores.

Ride a 100-Year-Old Rollercoaster

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Expect thrills galore with a healthy dollop of nostalgia at Belmont Park, an oceanfront fairground that’s been operating at San Diego's Mission Beach since 1925. Amid ultra-modern scream machines that perform high-speed vertical drops and stomach-flipping somersaults you’ll find more sedate old-fashioned amusements such as mini golf, bumper cars and an aerial assault course. The Giant Dipper rollercoaster is the undisputed jewel in the park’s crown. Here since the park opened, this traditional wooden construction provides rickety thrills aplenty along its 2,800 feet of track. Hop aboard, if you’re brave enough.

Hit the Surf

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San Diego’s gentle rolling waves make for ideal surfing conditions, attracting thousands of surfers to its shores every year. Hire a board to give it a go yourself. Sheltered areas at La Jolla Shores and Pacific Beach are particularly forgiving for newbies, and your inevitable first wipeout should be considered a rite of passage. But, if a mouthful of sand and seawater is enough to confirm that surfing isn’t for you, look on the bright side: you can always plonk your board upright in the sand and use it as a sunshade while you admire the views.

Brave California’s Longest Zipline

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Thrillseekers rejoice! For here’s an extreme sport that will really get the adrenaline pumping. Set in an Indian reservation north of the city in the verdant Pauma Valley, the La Jolla Zip Zoom boasts the longest zipline in California. Here, brave souls can soar high over canyons, forest canopies and the San Luis Rey River at speeds reaching up to 50mph. There’s over 6,000 feet of ziplines to whiz down across the whole reservation, with the longest a whopping 2,500 feet. Not for the faint of heart.

Lace up your Boots

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San Diego’s unique landscape makes for some excellent walking opportunities. Hit the hiking trail through Torrey Pines Nature Reserve, 2,000 acres of rugged cliffs and wild plateaus named for the endangered Torrey pine, which is unique to this reserve. You’ll also find colorful wildflowers, towering cacti and monolithic rock formations; maybe even the occasional cheeky raccoon or lizard. Head to Yucca Point Overlook for fine views across the La Jolla bluffs to the golden beaches and shimmering ocean below. There are also guided tours available at Mission Trails Regional Park and Tecolote Canyon.

Rent a Jet Ski

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Do you feel the need... the need for speed? Tear up the waters of San Diego Bay on a Yamaha Waverunner jet ski ride against the picturesque backdrop of the Downtown skyline. These streamlined dream machines can reach speeds of up to 65mph so you can visit bay attractions including the USS Midway aircraft carrier, Shelter Island and the curvaceous Coronado Bridge in no time at all. Keep your eyes peeled for playful seals and dolphins frolicking in the surf and maybe even racing alongside you!

Leap off La Jolla’s Cliffs

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San Diego activities don’t come much more adventurous than leaping into the unknown on a paragliding experience from the cliffs at Torrey Pines. Take a tandem ride from the Gliderport here and let your expert guide do all the hard work while you admire sweeping views of the coastal bluffs and spot leopard sharks cruising the clear waters below. Top tip: paragliding is also a mesmerizing spectator sport, so those without a head for heights can simply bring along a picnic and enjoy the colorful spectacle from terra firma.

Have a Whale of a Time

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San Diego is prime whale-watching territory, with majestic blue whales often spotted off the coast in summer and fall, and gray whales migrating to and from the warm lagoons of Baja en masse for calving season in winter and spring. Get up close to these magnificent creatures on a boat tour. If you’re lucky you might even spot a mother swimming with her calf, or get close enough to feel the sea spray from a blowhole or disappearing tail fin. Dozens of trips depart daily from Downtown and Mission Bay, with many guaranteeing a refund if you fail to see anything.

Sample Unusual Beers

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San Diego is the craft beer capital of the USA, with dozens of microbreweries concocting weird and wonderful beverages for your delectation, and taprooms on nearly every street corner. It would be simply remiss not to sample a few while you’re here. Head to Hillcrest Brewing for unusual brews including Crotch Rocket Irish Style Red Ale and Banana Hammock Scotch Ale. And stagger on down to North Park for a punchy, hazy Technomancer at Modern Times’ taproom, known locally as ‘the Flavordome’. Major beer festivals hit town in June, October and November, when sampling the gamut of beers, from stouts to sours and frothy IPAs to flavored brews, is positively encouraged.

Go Ghost-Hunting

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Here’s a way to increase your heart rate without going to the extreme lengths of e.g. jumping off a cliff strapped to a man with a big parachute. Once described by LIFE magazine as ‘the most haunted house in America’, The Whaley House in San Diego’s Old Town has seen its fair share of grisly deaths over the years and was reputedly built on the site of a former gallows. Eek. Scare yourself silly on one of the museum’s spooky evening tours – if you dare.

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Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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Woman meditating on a rock at sunset in San Diego
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Relaxing Things to do in San Diego

What could be more soul-soothing than seeing the sun rise from the cliffs on the California coast, watching the world go by from a cute brunch spot or getting up close to some of the most colorful marine life this side of the tropics? Check out our guide to the 10 most relaxing things to do in San Diego. Take a Morning Walk by the Ocean Early morning is by far the best time to get San Diego’s golden beaches all to yourself. Ok, almost all to yourself. Stroll the sands with just fisherman and curious native harbor seals for company, as they vie for the morning catch. Strike out along the wooden pier at Pacific Beach for that perfect sunrise selfie before the crowds arrive, or stroll the deserted bluffs high above La Jolla Shores for sweeping views of the shimmering ocean below. Heck, you could even take your yoga mat along to achieve maximum morning serenity, soothed by the sound of waves breaking gently on the shore. Have Brunch in Ocean Beach Located just south of the river, Ocean Beach is San Diego’s most laidback boho enclave, chock-full of street art, surf boutiques, organic grocery stores, brewery taprooms and tattoo parlors. There are some excellent brunch spots here too, many with outdoor seating that’s perfect for people-watching as locals and vacationers go about their daily business along bustling Newport Avenue. Dishes at the popular Breakfast Republic are inspired by Southern and Tijuana cuisine and include such lip-smacking taste sensations as shrimp and grits with hot sauce and a belly-busting California breakfast burrito. Grab an outside table at The Old Townhouse Restaurant, where buttermilk pancakes and zingy grapefruit juice will start your day right. Visit a Garden Sprawling Balboa Park contains many of the best places to relax in San Diego, not least its formal gardens, of which the Alcazar is among the finest. Wander among ornate fountains, bright blooms and vibrant Moorish tiling, and enjoy the tranquil views from the garden’s shaded pergola, all within view of the striking California Tower. With nearly 200 varieties, the Rose Garden is a riot of scent and color at its peak in late spring, while the neighboring Japanese Friendship Garden’s tranquil koi ponds, tinkling water features, bonsai trees and beautiful spring cherry blossoms are all you need to achieve perfect zen. Spend the Day at Mission Bay With 27 miles of shoreline and 4,600 acres of waterways and beaches to explore, Mission Bay is the largest man-made saltwater bay in the world. Think of a water-based activity and you’re sure to find it here: there’s wakeboarding, paddleboarding, surfing, jet skiing and sailing to name just a few. The beaches here are also ideal for kids, with tranquil waters for little feet to paddle in and oodles of sand to make all their castle-building dreams come true. Pack a picnic and slap on the sunscreen for one of San Diego’s most chilled days out. Explore La Jolla Cove The huge kelp forests off San Diego’s coastline attract all manner of magical marine life. Rent a kayak and paddle gently out to the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, just offshore. On a good day with clear waters, you might spot bright orange Garibaldi (the California State fish, no less) as well as friendly leopard sharks, stingrays and sea turtles swimming underneath your boat. Watch out for seals darting sleekly through the water as you make your way across the bay to the seven secret sea caves, said to have been used by smugglers of alcohol and opium back in the Prohibition era. Picnic in Balboa Park There are dozens of great spots to spread out your gingham blanket and unpack your wicker hamper within the 1,200 acres of Balboa Park. Find a wild spot for a quiet, romantic lunch along one of the marked walking trails around the park’s perimeter. Or – if people-watching is more your bag – tuck in to your lunchtime feast on the east or west lawn of the picture-perfect Botanical Building with its peaceful lily pond. Pro-tip: alcohol is allowed here (and in a few other designated areas around the park). But remember to bring your San Diego craft beer in a can and your Californian wine in a box, as glass receptacles are a big no-no. Take a Hike Hiking is a great way to get to know San Diego’s unique topography. The wild canyons and vast nature reserves here provide dozens of great walking opportunities, with many offering staggeringly good views in exchange for very little exertion. Head up to Torrey Pines on the cliffs over La Jolla, where monolithic rock formations, endangered pine trees and panoramic ocean views are the order of the day. If you prefer your hikes a little more challenging, the ruggedly handsome Mission Trails Regional Park offers over 60 miles of pathways across its 7,000 acres, and features Cowles Mountain – the highest point in San Diego – as its centerpiece. The hard-won reward for your epic climb? Dizzying 360-degree panoramas of the city and beyond. Sink a Couple of Beers In case you haven’t heard, San Diego lays reasonable claim to the title of America’s craft beer capital, with dozens of independent breweries to be found strewn throughout its hip neighborhoods, from Ocean Beach to North Park, and everywhere else in between. The high concentration of taprooms around North Park’s University Avenue and 30th Street make it ideal for a bar crawl, where you can sample the full gamut of imaginative local brews, from citrusy IPAs through flavored pale ales to skull-cracking sour beers and chocolatey stouts. Don’t forget the Alka Seltzer for that difficult morning after. Visit an Aquarium High on a La Jolla hilltop, around 12 miles north of Downtown, is where you’ll find the Birch Aquarium, a superb low-key alternative to SeaWorld that’s affiliated to San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Visit the Hall of Fishes, where 60 huge tanks teem with critters that include a rescued loggerhead turtle and an elusive giant Pacific octopus. Be mesmerized by sharks and rays cruising their 13,000-gallon habitat and – for the ultimate in unusual experiences – head to Tidepool Plaza. Here, there’s plenty hands-on fun to be had with lobsters, leopard sharks and more. So far, so normal. But we’ll let you decide whether the sensation of hundreds of tiny cleaner fish nibbling your fingers is really as relaxing as some people claim. Watch a Sunset Nothing says romance and relaxation like watching the California sky glow various shades of purple, orange, red and pink as the sun disappears over the horizon. Grab a chilled bottle of bubbly and head to any one of dozens of perfect vantage points along San Diego’s whopping 70 miles of coastline. Favorite spots include – deep breath – Torrey Pines, the harbor in San Diego Bay, any rooftop bar along the Mission Beach Boardwalk, Pacific Beach’s picture-perfect Crystal Pier and the aptly named Sunset Cliffs south of Ocean Beach. Perfection. Save on relaxing things to do in San Diego Save on admission to San Diego attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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