Mission Beach lifeguard station at sunset

San Diego in July

July is a great time to visit San Diego, as the summer season gets into full swing and festivals, concerts and outdoor events pop up across the city. The weather is balmy, the sea shimmers invitingly, and there’s a festive holiday atmosphere in the air. Sure, it can also get busy as vacationers arrive in search of sun-kissed sands, swoonsome sunsets and some of the best beer in the States but, well, this laidback buzzy beach town is no LA or Miami in that regard. Read on for our guide to visiting this SoCal stunner in summer, plus all the best things to do in San Diego in July…

Visiting San Diego in July

Temperature: 66-75°F • Average Rainfall: 1 day/month • Average Sunshine: 10 hours/day

Woman in sunglasses playing frisbee on the beach

Leave the umbrella at home and pack light for July trips to San Diego. We’re talking linens and cottons – think floaty summer frocks, shorts, tees and open toes. Don’t stint on the sunscreen either; San Diego enjoys a Mediterranean climate, which means hot, arid summers, so it’s essential you protect yourself against the harmful UV rays while working on that golden California tan. A hat the size of Saturn, a decent water bottle, and sunglasses that would make a Kardashian blush wouldn’t hurt either.

Summer is one of San Diego’s busiest seasons, so it pays to book your flights and accommodation well in advance, although you can also often find last-minute offers for that spontaneous weekend escape. 

Check out our guide to where to stay in San Diego here.

Increased tourist footfall inevitably means longer queues at some of the bigger attractions. Unavoidable, we’re afraid, but you can at least take the edge off by saving some $$$ on regular entry prices. A Go San Diego pass does precisely that, and could save you up to 50% when visiting multiple city attractions. We’re talking SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, Belmont Park, whale-watching cruises, and many more. 

Find out more about Go San Diego pass options, and get yours here.

Things to do in San Diego in July

Pride parade with rainbow flags

July 4th Fireworks

If you’re in town early in the month, you won’t want to miss the multiple firework extravaganzas that light the night sky on the fourth of July. Hit up Mission Bay or Coronado for some of the best views in town.

San Diego Pride

The hip Hillcrest neighborhood is where it’s at for all things Pride. Expect colorful rainbow flags galore, plus processions, parades and an epic weekend-long festival in Balboa Park, featuring drag pageants, international DJs and lots and lots of dancing.

Read our guide to San Diego’s July Pride events here. 

Baseball Season

Petco Park Stadium, home of the San Diego Padres

Cheer on local heroes the San Diego Padres at their home in Petco Park. Baseball season is already in full glorious swing in July and, well, can you really say you’ve been to San Diego if you haven’t seen the Padres in action? No, dear reader, you cannot. Kit yourself out with the essential baseball accessories (a hot dog, a beer and a giant foam finger), and get ready to revel in the thrilling atmosphere of a Major League game.

Pro-tip: tours of the Padres stadium are included with a Go San Diego pass!

Animals After Dark

Extraordinary enough in the daytime, San Diego Zoo is arguably even better by night, when crepuscular critters rouse from sunlit slumbers and go in search of their supper. The zoo is open nights throughout the summer season, with live performers and tribal rhythms adding to the already electric atmosphere. You can of course also go during the day if you prefer: here's our guide to the best times to visit.

S’mores on the Beach

Cooking s'mores on the beach

Nothing says ‘summer in California’ more than sunset s’mores around a beach BBQ, as the waves lap gently against the shore. Pack your marshmallows, chocolate and cookies and hit up s’morish cookout locations at the likes of La Jolla Shores and Coronado Beach. You’ll need to book in advance if you want to nab a spot in front of the iconic ‘Del’ hotel on Coronado. But trust us when we say it’s worth it for the gorgeously soft golden sands and swoonsome Point Loma views.

Summer Ales

There are well over 100 microbreweries operating in beer-mad San Diego, and July is a great time to sample a selection of their superb summer ales. North Park and Hillcrest are particularly dense with taprooms, with Hillcrest Brewing, Modern Times, the Belching Beaver and Fall Brewing Company being among the most popular. Or hit up hippy-dippy Ocean Beach for laid back sun-kissed oceanfront vibes with a sup of ale at the likes of Ocean Beach Brewery and Kilowatt Brewing. Bottoms up!

Whale-Watching

Humpback whale

There’s a whale migration super-highway that passes right by the California coast as humpbacks and their blue and gray cousins head for the warm waters of Baja’s breeding grounds. Summer is prime time to spot humpbacks and blue whales here. Take a stroll up Point Loma with a good set of binoculars if you want to catch a glimpse. Or, to maximize your chances of viewing these majestic creatures, set sail on a cruise of the bay with seasoned operators who’ll know precisely where to look, yet another activity that’s included with a Go San Diego pass.

Mission Bay

Only the largest man-made saltwater bay on the planet, Mission Bay is manna for water sport enthusiasts. This huge playground – some 4,600 acres of beaches, waterways and palm-shaded paths – has something for just about everyone. Surf, paddleboard, jet-ski, wakeboard or sail on its azure waters; take kids to the beach for sandcastle contests and splashing in the shallows, or pack a picnic and take a bird-spotting stroll along its lush shores, saying ‘hey’ to resident coots, ducks and sandpipers along the way.

Save on San Diego Attractions, Tours and Activities

San Diego Museum of Art

Save on admission to San Diego attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.

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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9+ Things to Do in San Diego Besides SeaWorld

San Diego is a fun-filled vacation destination with everything from popular theme parks to world-class museums, surfing, shopping, and more. So if you're looking for things to do in San Diego besides SeaWorld, there are plenty of options. We put together a list of our top recommendations for attractions, museums, cruises, activities, and other recommended things to do in San Diego besides SeaWorld, including: LEGOLAND® California Belmont Park San Diego Zoo San Diego Natural History Museum San Diego Air & Space Museum San Diego Zoo Safari Park USS Midway Coronado Island Bike Rental & More Save on Admission to Popular Attractions Regular admission to a number of these attractions are included on the Go San Diego Card. Choose as you go from dozens of San Diego attractions & activities and save up to 55% off combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available passes and San Diego attractions – Learn more. Please note, some of these special July and 4th of July weekend events may be separately ticketed and not included on the Go San Diego Card. San Diego Air & Space Museum San Diego Air & Space Museum gives visitors an overview of the important and strategic role San Diego has played in naval aviation. You'll also get to explore topics like space exploration and modern aviation with hands-on exhibits. Learn about the first hot air balloon ride in 1783, see the Navy F6F Hellcat, A-4 Skyhawk jet, Wright EX Vin Fiz, the Apollo XI Space Pen, and more. Getting In: San Diego Air & Space Museum tickets are included on the Go San Diego Card. San Diego Safari Park If you love animals, be sure to check out the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. San Diego Zoo Safari Park features large animal enclosures where visitors can observe animals roaming, running, jumping, flying, and more. Special exhibits, shows, demonstrations, and interactive experiences take place throughout the day, so be sure to check the park's schedule before planning your day. Your San Diego Zoo Safari Park tickets include admission to all general exhibits, a ride on the Africa Tram Safari, viewing of the Cheetah Run, and all regularly scheduled keeper talks and shows. Getting In: San Diego Zoo Safari Park tickets are included on the Go San Diego Card. La Jolla Beaches After visiting the Birch Aquarium, make the most of your time in La Jolla and check out its picturesque beaches. Go for a swim, sunbathe, snorkel, or poke around the shops and restaurants located near the beaches. Let’s Recap These are just a few of the most popular things to do in San Diego besides SeaWorld - the possibilities are endless. Part of the reason San Diego is such a popular vacation spot is that it's packed with a variety of attractions and activities, so there's something to suit every type of traveler. Whether you're looking to experience San Diego beyond its theme parks or just want to do things other than SeaWorld, it's all here. Visit each of these above attractions with a Go San Diego® Card and save on combined admission costs.
Casey Makovich
Crystal Pier on Pacific Beach, San Diego
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Things to do in Pacific Beach San Diego

Sandwiched between La Jolla to the north and Mission Beach to the south, Pacific Beach – or P.B. as it's known to locals – is a sun-drenched slice of Californian paradise. Alongside a beautiful sandy beach and fairly calm waters, it boasts some of the best nightlife in the area, with a high density of lively bars and restaurants frequented by the local student‘n’surfer crowd. Dive in to discover our favorite things to do in Pacific Beach San Diego. Beach Party Atmosphere Central Pacific Beach’s party vibe is the stuff of legend. During the day, the sunkissed blonde sands are alive with kitesurfers, kids playing volleyball and everything else in between. Firepits glow red in the twilight of balmy summer evenings as revelers soak up the gentle sea breezes and prepare for an evening in the hip bars and restaurants around the broad, palm-lined Garnet and Grand avenues. Mosey along to the SD Taproom on Garnet to sample a selection of San Diego’s legendary craft beers, from hoppy pale ales to rich chocolate stouts. A bar menu that includes pizza, burgers and giant pretzels will help soak up all that lovely beer. Or hit the Pacific Beach Fish Shop for ocean-fresh tacos brimming over with the grilled fish or crustacean of your choice, plus crab cakes, clam chowder and more. The three-mile oceanfront boardwalk stretches all the way south to Mission Beach and Mission Bay, and bustles with cyclists, skateboarders, rollerbladers and shoppers. Hire a bike to explore this scenic stretch of the California coast, and make a day of it by taking a picnic and meandering south around Mission Bay’s winding shoreline. Or head north into the bluffs of La Jolla, with their spectacular sea views. Fishermen angle for bass and halibut off Crystal Pier, jockeying for position with selfie-takers. Tread its boards as the sun sets, turning the sky several remarkable shades of orange, pink and purple, for some of the finest photo opportunities in the area. You needn’t stray too far from the main drag to find a relatively quiet stretch of beach, either: the calm waters and broad sands just north of the pier are a little less lively and especially popular with families as a result. Like Central P.B., North Pacific Beach has designated swimming and surfing areas, and a reassuring lifeguard presence. Surf’s up! Grab your board and make for Tourmaline Surfing Park. This cute cove where P.B. meets La Jolla is surrounded by cliffs and accessed down a steep, palm-lined road through Tourmaline Canyon. The slow-rolling waves make this beach popular with novice surfers, as well as windsurfers and kiteboarders when the wind is up. Park Life A big favorite with in-the-know locals, Kate Sessions Park is 79 acres of gorgeous greenery set on the verdant slopes of Mount Soledad. Pack a picnic and throw down your blanket on the grassy lawns for fresh sea air, balmy breezes and some absolutely cracking views of Mission Bay, P.B. and San Diego’s famous urban skyline. On clear days you might even glimpse the Coronado Bridge curving across the shimmering blue ocean. There’s a playground as well as plenty of wild trails for walking and biking. As dusk descends, fire up one of the barbecues for a sunset cookout and enjoy that magical moment when the lights come on in downtown San Diego’s distant skyscrapers. Lying east of the Pacific Beach neighborhood on the other side of Interstate 5, Tecolote Canyon National Park makes for a great day out thanks to its unchallenging walking trails and nature center with information on the canyon’s diverse flora and fauna, including a rainbow of butterflies and wildflowers and the occasional snake. Take the 10-kilometer Tecolote Canyon Trail, which weaves its fairly flat way through the narrow valley, and keep your eyes peeled for the majestic birds that give the canyon its name (tecolote is the Spanish word for owl). A shorter trail through the Native Plant Garden is ideal for families. Plants are numbered along the trail, and you can learn the names of each both in English and Kumeyaay, the language of San Diego’s original Native American settlers. Top Nearby Attractions North of Pacific Beach, picture-perfect La Jolla boasts wild, pine-scented hills and valleys and a long stretch of alternatingly rocky and sandy coastline that make it great for surfing, swimming, sunbathing and... seal-spotting. A number of colonies of harbor seals call this sunny spot in California their home. Head on up to Children’s Beach, where you’ll find dozens frolicking playfully in the surf and basking on the warm sand. Originally intended as a safe place for kids to swim following the installation of a concrete breakwater in the 1930s, it’s now one of the best seal-spotting destinations on the coast, with the colony estimated to be over 200 strong. And, if the cute seals have whetted your appetite for marine life, you’re in for an absolute treat at SeaWorld San Diego, just a short distance south of Pacific Beach in Mission Bay. Here’s where you’ll find orca whales and other giants of the deep including beautiful loggerhead turtles, other-worldly Japanese spider crabs and the elusive giant Pacific Octopus, a master of disguise. There are 19 enormous aquariums to explore here, plus stacks of high-octane thrill rides to keep everyone entertained. You’ll find gentler, more old-fashioned fun at nearby Belmont Park on Mission Beach, where the wooden Giant Dipper roller coaster is a century-old National Historic landmark. Other fun amusement rides in this nostalgia-fueled beachfront theme park include bumper cars, mini golf and a traditional painted carousel. Save on things to do in Pacific Beach 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
Mission Beach, San Diego
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Things to do in Mission Beach San Diego

San Diego’s Mission Beach is the laidback California lifestyle writ large, all golden sands, buzzing boardwalks, and tanned kids playing beach volleyball in the warm sunshine. Add to this some of the most amazing theme parks in the region and you have all the ingredients for a fantastic day out. Read on to discover our favorite things to do in Mission Beach San Diego. Hit the Beach Close your eyes and picture sun-kissed Californian sands and chances are you’ll conjure up a pretty accurate image of San Diego’s Mission Beach. The neighborhood’s mile-long stretch of perfectly powdery sand offers any number of ways to while away a day or six. Of course, you may choose to simply recline on a lounger with a paperback in one hand and an ice cream in the other. But other beach activities abound here, from volleyball and over-the-line to swimming, surfing and stand-up paddleboarding. Checkered flags mark out the safe zones for water-based fun and the reassuring lifeguard presence might even give you the impression you’ve walked onto the set of the latest Baywatch remake. Bit cold for a dunk in the Pacific, but still fancy a dip? Make for Plunge San Diego, an enormous indoor pool with a floating obstacle course and a retractable roof for sunny days. Which, to be fair, is most days here. Behind the beach, the broad boardwalk throngs with locals whizzing to and fro on all manner of wheeled transport: expect to dodge skateboarders, cyclists and rollerbladers as you make your way across to the beachside cafés and restaurants. Head to Cannonball for delicious sushi, Pacific Rim-influenced California cuisine and craft cocktails served high above the boardwalk at the biggest oceanfront rooftop restaurant in San Diego. Nearby Draft South Mission, with its whopping selection of over 100 brews is the place for sampling some of San Diego’s famous craft beers at sunset. Perhaps not all at once though. Old-Fashioned Entertainment One of Mission Beach’s undisputed highlights, Belmont Park is an old-fashioned seaside amusement park that’s guaranteed to charm even the most world-weary of travelers. You can’t visit the park without riding the Giant Dipper, a century-old wooden rollercoaster that has been designated a National Historic Landmark. There are also bumper cars, drop rides, mini golf, climbing walls and a traditional carousel, as well as amusement arcades and plenty of fairground food stalls. Not far south of Mission Beach, you’ll find the aptly named South Mission Beach. No less beautiful than its more popular sibling, it’s certainly less crowded. This is the place to come for relative solitude on the sands, though there's a range of beach and watersports to enjoy here too, should the mood take you. The long Mission Bay Jetty is a great spot to cast out a line and catch dinner. There’s an abundance of bass and halibut to be had and – because you don’t require a permit to fish here – the jetty is popular with both experienced fishermen and young kids angling for their first catch. Locals up the ante during lobster season by diving beneath the jetty and attempting to corral their own lunch by hand. Mission Bay Directly behind Mission Beach’s narrow sandbar lies Mission Bay, the largest man-made saltwater bay of its kind on the planet, with 27 miles of shoreline and 4,600 acres of waterways, islets and beaches to explore. Of course, this makes for some great walking and cycling trails, and bikes are available to rent at a number of outlets around the area. This is also the place to get wet, with watersports galore including jet skiing, wakeboarding, paddleboarding, surfing, sailing, and just about any other watery activity that tickles your fancy. Kid-friendly beaches here are also perfect for picnics and building sandcastles. Make like Huckleberry Finn and take to the bay’s tranquil waters on a nostalgic Mississippi-style steamboat, or head out along the coastline on a sightseeing cruise. During the winter migration season, you may even be lucky enough to spot gray whales as they make their majestic way south to Baja’s warm lagoons. A number of sport-fishing excursions also depart regularly from Mission Bay, with options for half-day, full-day and multi-day trips. SeaWorld San Diego Mission Bay is also where you’ll find SeaWorld San Diego. There’s plenty here to keep you occupied for a day or two. And it’s not all about the sea creatures either (though there are plenty of those, too). This sprawling complex also has stacks of high-octane rides, including the absolutely terrifying Electric Eel. The highest and fastest rollercoaster in San Diego, it makes Belmont Park’s Giant Dipper seem positively quaint by comparison. Ride the Shipwreck Rapids for a rapid drenching and take in all the best coastline and San Diego skyline views from the Bayside Skyride gondolas and 98-meter-high Skytower. Kids will love getting up close to the many inhabitants of SeaWorld’s 19 aquariums. Walk through a glass underwater viewing tunnel as sand tigers and whitetip reef sharks cruise silently past, meet loggerhead, hawksbill, and green sea turtles at Turtle Reef, and visit the touch pools at Explorer's Reef to interact with (thankfully harmless) bamboo sharks, rays and horseshoe crabs. You can even enjoy – if enjoy is the correct word for it – the unusual sensation of shoals of tiny cleaner fish nibbling at your fingers. Don’t miss the cuteness overload that is the sea otter zone and, at the other end of the size spectrum, huge killer whales at the Orca Encounter. Save on things to do in Mission Beach 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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