San Diego’s official motto is “The World’s Finest City.” If you visit during the summer, you will understand how the city got its reputation. With more than 60 miles of stunning coastline, the friendliest locals, internationally famous attractions like the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld, and a relaxed ambience unique to San Diego, this playground has everything for the active and adventurous. You can find oceanside and hillside resorts to pamper you with fine dining, spas, golf and yoga among other luxurious amenities. The Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego has trendy and hip clubs, and restaurants and hotels for some sizzling nightlife. However, if you want to get some exercise in the summer, San Diego has the perfect weather and all of the opportunities you’ll need to participate in some physical activity.
Finding a good gym in San Diego is easy, and you will find that you have a range of fitness clubs from which to choose. At the same time, outdoor sports provide a great way to get exercise and enjoy the scenery at the same time. You can walk, hike, run, jog and bike endless miles of trails here, and several books offer detailed directions and difficulty ratings for every one of them.
If you want to participate in some other fun activities in San Diego, here are five options to help you enjoy the long summer:
Museums and Art
San Diego has a world famous park, Balboa Park, which is home to exquisite, landscaped gardens and architecturally beautiful buildings. Entry to the park remains free, although many of the museums have nominal admission prices. For locals, the museums offer free admission on a rotating basis every Tuesday. In addition, the park offers complimentary guided tours that take off from the Visitor’s Center each day. Except for the Japanese Garden, all of the other gardens and the Botanical Building offer free admission.
Attractions
Get some exercise by strolling through Seaport Village, an outdoor shopping and dining venue with over 50 galleries, restaurants and boutiques. You can wind along cobblestone paths that pass gardens, fountains and duck ponds. In addition, Seaport Village has a half-mile stretch of waterfront boardwalk with stunning views of Coronado Island that connects to pathways leading to Harbor Island for even more bay-front strolling. Seaport Village offers a range of architecture including Victorian, Mexican and New England styles.
Gaslamp Quarter
Several blocks from Seaport Village is the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. With 16 blocks of restaurants and shops, The Gaslamp is situated next to the harbor and across from Petco Park – where the San Diego Padres play major league baseball. Included in the National Register of Historic Places, the Gaslamp district has over 94 historic buildings to see, all of which have a variety of architectural significance and beautiful details such as stained glass windows, carvings and vibrant colors. Many of the boutiques and restaurants can be a bit pricey, but the district hosts events and festivals throughout the year to make it a thrilling and exciting place to visit.
La Jolla
Take a walking tour of San Diego’s version of Bel Air by visiting La Jolla, which means the “jewel of the sea”. This beautiful village has a collection of high-end designer boutiques along palm-lined avenues. You can walk up winding streets from Scripps Park to look down on the village and La Jolla Cove. Alternatively, you can get exercise that is slightly more strenuous by hiking to the top of Mount Soledad. The hill features a stunning panoramic view of the ocean and downtown San Diego. At the top is a memorial to veterans from many wars and all four divisions of the armed services. A 29 foot cross stands above the memorial and is a well-known, if sometimes contentious, landmark in San Diego.
Old Town San Diego
With its historic haciendas and adobe buildings, Old Town San Diego makes for a fun afternoon. Along with restaurants, museums and unique boutiques, the park offers special events every month such as a farmers market with contemporary art and live music, and Mexican style dancers on the mall. We’re so grateful to have gyms in San Diego, in the midst of so much art, culture and history!