Location: Downtown San Diego, Coronado, La Jolla, Point Loma
Schedule: Daily or by Reservation
Cost: $65 and Up
Features: Guided Bike Tour of San Diego Attractions
Location: Julian (62 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego); Borrego Springs (93 Miles / 2 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego); Palomar Mountain via Lake Henshaw (62 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego).
Time: Cycling Events Take Place at Various Times During the Year
Cost: Starts at $49 per Event.
Features: Go Cycling or Mountain Biking in San Diego’s Desert and Mountains. Rides Range from 11 miles to 100 miles.
Location: Warner Springs (75 Miles / 1.5 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 9AM – 5PM (Weekday reservations strongly recommended)
Cost: Rides start at $125 for 20 Minutes. ($160 for 2 people)
Features: Glide over the Mountains and Desert on a Sail Plane
Location: Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area (150 Miles / 2.5 Hours East of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Open Year-Round (October – May are the Main Months)
Cost: $25 per Vehicle and Up. (See Fee Information Below.)
Features: World’s Most Popular Sand Dunes; Off-Roading; Hiking; Horseback Riding; Camping
Location: Mission Bay (7 miles / 8 minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Water Skiing, Wake Boarding, Sailing, Catamaran Sailing, Wind Surfing, Jet-Skiing, Power Boating, Pedal Boats, Kayaks
Location: La Jolla Shores (12 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
When: Year-Round
Cost: Tours start at about $50; Rentals start at about $25
Features: Kayak Tours of the Ecological Reserve; Kayak Rentals; Kayak Fishing; Snorkeling
Location: La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach, and Other Coastal Locations.
Features: Wreck Alley, La Jolla Underwater Ecological Reserve, Kelp Beds, Very Large Diving Community
Location: Torrey Pines (15 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 9AM – 5PM
Cost: $150
Features: Paraglide or Handglide above Oceanside Cliffs
Location: Downtown San Diego & Nearby Coastal Areas
Schedule: Daily
Cost: $60+
Features: Get a Guided Tour and Great Exercise
Location: Harbor Island (2 Miles West of Downtown San Diego)
Schedule: Year-Round Chartered Tours
Cost: $65 – $75 for Adults ($50 – $60 for Kids)
Features: Naval Tour of San Diego Bay; Wildlife Tours to see Dolphins, Whales, and Mexico’s Coronado Islands; Custom Tours
Location: Mission Bay (7 miles / 8 minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Largest Man-Made Aquatic Park in the Country; Nearly 20 Miles of Beaches and Paved Trails
Location: Mission Beach (8 Miles / 15 Minutes Northwest of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Most Popular Beach in San Diego for the Young and the Young-at-Heart; Place to See and Be Seen; Boardwalk; Beach Volleyball; Amusement Park
Location: Pacific Beach (10 Miles / 20 Minutes Northwest of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Most Popular Beach Area for College Students in San Diego with access to a Boardwalk, Restaurants, Bars, and Shops
Location: La Jolla Shores (12 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Beach area offers Playground, Calm Surf, Kayaking, World-Class Ocean Swimming, Scuba Diving, Panoramic Views, Long Walks
Location: Torrey Pines (19 Miles/ 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Dawn – Dusk
Cost: $8 per Vehicle / Free if You Park on Torrey Pines Road.
Features: Beautiful Landscape of Canyons and Beach-Side Cliffs; Panoramic Ocean Views; Beach; Hiking Trails; Popular Cycling Route; Dolphins, Whales
Location: La Jolla (12 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Dawn – Dusk
Cost: None
Features: Park With Panoramic Views of San Diego County and the Pacific Ocean; Includes Views to Mexico and Los Angeles Mountains
Location: Point Loma (9 Miles / 20 Minutes West of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 9AM – 5PM
Cost: $5 per Vehicle
Features: Best Views of Downtown San Diego, San Diego Bay, and the Pacific Ocean; Tidepools; Hiking; Lighthouse Tour; Whale Watching; Visitor Center Exhibitions and Films about Juan Cabrillo, the First European Explorer to Arrive in California.
Location: Coronado Cays (11 Miles / 20 Minutes South of Downtown San Diego)
Rides Daily: 3PM – Midnight (Starts at 11AM on Weekends); Reservations are Required
Cost: Starts at $85 for Two People
Features: Romantic, Venice-Style Gondola Rides around the Loews Coronado Bay Resort
Location: Borrego Springs (93 Miles/ 2 Hours East of San Diego Coastal Areas)
Time: Most Events Take Place Between October and May
Cost: Starts at $55 per Event.
Features: Desert Jeep Tours; Group Tours on Military Transport Vehicles; Astronomy Nights; Ghosts & Legends; Wine Tasting; Customized Tours
Location: Julian (62 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Time: Reservations Can Be Made for Weekdays and Weekends.
Cost: Starts at $50 per Hour.
Features: Ride Horses in San Diego’s Mountains; Enjoy Mountain Views, Peaceful Meadows, Wildlife, and if you are lucky, Catch a Glimpse of the Ocean on a Clear Day.
Location: Wynola (On the outskirts of Julian – 62 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: 10AM – 4PM on Saturdays and 12PM – 4PM on Sundays. Weekday Reservations also Available.
Cost: Starts at $10
Features: Pan for Gold and Gems as Seen on the Travel Channel; Pick Raspberries and Pumpkins
Location: Pala (53 Miles / 55 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Gem Mining Hours: 10:30AM – 3PM on Sundays and Some Thursdays; Reservations Required.
Cost: $60 ($50 for Kids)
Features: Pan for California Gemstones, including Pink Tourmaline; Tour a Gem Mine that supplies Museum Curators and Jewelers around the World.
Location: Santa Ysabel (75 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: 10AM – 3PM Thursdays through Mondays
Cost: $75 ($37.50 for kids ages 12-15; Free for Kids under 12); $50 for 1PM-3PM only
Features: Mine for Tourmaline from one of the most famous Tourmaline Mines of the 20th century.
Location: Pala (53 Miles / 55 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: Panning is on most weekends by Appointment Only
Cost: $20 for a Bucket of Pilings
Features: Tourmaline Mining at the famous Stewart Mine; Gem Store
Location: Fallbrook (53 Miles / 55 Minutes Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Cost: Free
Hours: 11AM-3PM (Thursday – Saturdays)
Features: Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Museum; Specimens from around the World, including California Tourmaline; History of San Diego Mining; Fluorescent Mineral Display; Gift Shop
Location: Fallbrook (53 Miles / 55 Minutes Northeast of Downtown San Diego) & Carlsbad (31 Miles / 35 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Fallbrook: 10AM – 5PM (Closed Sundays); Carlsbad: 10AM – 6PM
Features: San Diego Tourmaline and Other Gems for Sale
Location: Julian (62 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 2PM
Cost: $10 ($5 for Kids) – Includes Mine Tour and Panning for Gold
Features: Gold Mine Attracted People from across the Country in the 1870s; Learn the History and Pan for Gold.
A Segway is a personal transport vehicle. As long as you can stand comfortably, your motorized Segway will take you around town at about 6 – 9 mph. You can take a guided tour on Segways around San Diego or rent them for your own use. Listed below are the local Segway companies and the tours they offer.
A pedicab is a three or four wheeled bicycle carriage usually powered by a college student, many of whom are visiting from overseas. The pedicabs can generally carry two to four guests. They are a great option for getting around the crowded Gaslamp Quarter and East Village streets on weekend evenings. They are also a good choice to take to the San Diego Padres baseball games at Petco Park. You will see them around the downtown area and at major events. Cost depends on the number of passengers and generally ranges from $15 – $30 for a mile ride. You can also call one of the pedicab companies listed below to arrange for a tour.
Location: Cleveland National Forest (1 Hour Drive from the Coastal Areas of San Diego)
Cost: Most Visitors Will Need An Adventure Pass – $5 per Day or $30 per Year.
Features: Mountains, Meadows, Views of Ocean and Desert; Scenic Drives; Eagles; Falcons; Trails for Hiking, Biking, and Horseback Riding; Campground & RV Sites
Find out what the locals know.
Top 10 Reasons San Diego is more than just a leisure destination.
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Hi: 62° F 53.0° Lo: 49° F |
Inland:
Mountains: 63° / 43° 51° / 37° Desert: Waves: 74° / 45° 4 Feet |
