Top San Diego Outdoor Activities

Explore San Diego Bay with a glow nighttime pedal boat rental, an affordable and eco-friendly adventure perfect for all ages. Glide through the water on a pedal-powered boat complete with a sunshade and room for up to four passengers—four-legged friends are welcome, too! Enjoy the freedom to chart your own course during the one-hour rental and create unforgettable memories on the bay.

Explore San Diego’s Downtown and Old Town sights in a fun and fast-paced way—on a self-drive GoCar tour. This sightseeing adventure takes the stress out of reading a map, as the car talks and shows you the way with its built-in GPS. Enjoy hearing stories as you explore the city’s most popular areas, including Old Town, Little Italy, Balboa Park, Downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter.

Encounter some of Earth's most magnificent creatures on a 2–3-hour whale-watching cruise in San Diego. The voyage departs right from Mission Bay, so you’ll be out into the open Pacific Ocean and looking for animals in just 10 minutes. Expert Guides and Naturalists on board help you spot whales and dolphins and learn about their lives in the deep blue sea.

Swap city sightseeing for some time on the water with this exciting whale-watching cruise. Avoid the guesswork when trying to figure out where to spot whales, and let the experienced crew take you directly to places known for sightings. As well as whales, you may spot sea lions, sea birds, and sometimes dolphins—with commentary from the naturalist guides who can share plenty of facts about marine life.

Elevate your sightseeing experiences in San Diego with this luxury whale- and dolphin-watching cruise. Instead of doing any research, enjoy having a crew to take you to places known for their whale and dolphin sightings. The luxury vessel is air-conditioned with indoor seating, as well as a restroom and stabilizers to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride.

Drive a GoCar around San Diego's Point Loma area on this self-paced tour. No need for a tour bus or a taxi; you and your party aboard a touring car will follow a GPS route designed to show you the highlights. Depart Old Town and head for Liberty Station, the Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma ecological preserve, Sunset Cliffs, and the Ocean Beach neighborhood.

Go whale watching from San Diego aboard a replica of a historic sailing schooner that won the world’s first America’s Cup sailing competition in 1851. Throughout your cruise, your expert guide shares informative commentary about gray whales, dolphins, and other marine animals, along with details about the US Navy sites you pass as you head out on the Pacific Ocean.

If you want to make the most of the Pacific Ocean when you’re in San Diego, head to this private surf retreat and learn to master the art of surfing. You’ll have two half days with personalized instruction. Your instructor will go over everything you need to know, from the basics, to wave selection, and surf etiquette, leaving you well prepared to surf into your future.

Turn San Diego into treasure-hunting grounds on this self-guided scavenger hunt through Balboa Park. Combining the fun of the Amazing Race with the information of a walking tour, simply use your smartphone to solve clues and complete challenges as you make your way among well-known and hidden parts of Balboa Park—an ideal choice for families, friends, or work colleagues visiting San Diego. Receive a direct entry ticket for seamless access to the adventure.

Skip the traditional walking tours and make San Diego your own personal game board with a smartphone scavenger hunt that leads you through the city’s scenic waterfront, historic sites, and atmospheric downtown neighborhoods. Solve a series of exciting puzzles and challenges, compare your scores to other teams, and enjoy the freedom to explore San Diego at your own pace, with plenty of time to eat, drink, and sightsee.

Explore San Diego the fun and flexible way in a GoCar guided by a talking GPS. The easy-to-drive car is yours for the entire day, so you can go at your own pace as you zip around to highlights like Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, the Maritime Museum, Old Town, and Ocean Beach. There's no need for guidebooks or maps, as a talking GPS leads the way so you can focus on the sights.

Comfortably cover more ground than walking on this fun electric hoverboard lesson and ride along the water near Liberty Station. Go over the “Onewheel” XR electric hoverboard basics with your instructor, learning how to use and ride the board in a safe and effective way. Afterward, ride along a beautiful setting along the water—your hoverboard can reach speeds of 18 mph (29 kph)and has off-road capabilities.

Experience the scenery of downtown San Diego from across the water after you explore the Gaslamp Quarter, USS Midway, and Seaport Village on a fun, electric, open air GoCar ESport by Arcimoto. Then cruise around the highlights of Coronado, the San Diego gem where you'll find pristine beaches, resorts from Hollywood's golden era, and a lively scene of boutiques and eateries. For more than 2 people (1 car), place separate bookings.

This is the ultimate way to explore San Diego by land and sea. Instead of being stuck on a crowded tour bus/boat, take control of your sightseeing and have an independent sightseeing adventure instead. Enjoy the thrill of driving your own speedboat, and have the chance to ride a GPS-guided storytelling scooter. No need to feel time pressures—each segment of the tour can be done on different days depending on your preferences.

Try your hand at catch-and-release fishing on the San Diego pier, with none of the hassle of renting equipment or lugging around poles. An expert fishing instructor brings all the gear, bait, and tackle you need and offers pro tips to get started and increase your chances of catching fish, rays, and even small sharks right from the Pacific Ocean.

If you've always wanted to try surfing, San Diego is the perfect place to start with a private half-day adult lesson at the San Diego Surf School. Learn important surf basics like etiquette, wave selection, and safety, then get out into the Pacific Ocean to try catching your first waves. A surfboard, wetsuit, and rash guard are included, so all you need to bring is a stoked attitude.

Let go and relax with this small-group yoga class on the sands of La Jolla Shores Beach—part of the beautiful San Diego Coastline. Begin with meditation, then take part in an energetic yoga flow while taking in the ocean waves. Finally, wind down with an optional lavender essential oil forehead and temple massage. This practice can be tailored to your experience and ability, and a mat and bottled water are provided for a seamless experience.

Located in the heart of San Diego, Belmont Park combines the best of it all with a unique and memorable setting for any occasion. We offer an unforgettable experience with its beachside location and nostalgic amusement park! Come see a sunset, touch the pacific ocean in Mission Beach or walk the famous boardwalk. Belmont Park has everything you want from a day in Southern California, all in one place.

Explore San Diego bay like never before! Start your adventure at the Coronado Ferry Landing shopping center with breath taking views of the downtown San Diego skyline. Once checked in, you will be given a thorough safety briefing by our qualified team who will detail the use of the jet skis, regulations and restrictions during your experience. Once on the water, you can enjoy sightseeing of the beautiful downtown skyline, the Coronado bridge, navy base, the Midway aircraft carrier museum and if you are lucky, you may just see some seals and dolphins! Speeds up to 65mph!

This leisurely paddle showcases the city's renowned architecture, little known city history, and maritime culture. Embark on your urban retreat by launching off of the calm waters of The Coronado Ferry Landing to explore America's Finest City and the Crown City by kayak. This 1.5-hour, guided, small-group tour has a maximum size of 10 guests.

Family-friendly experience where you can both see and learn about life in our bays and oceans from a marine biologist with over 20 years of combined science, education, and museum experience. Explore San Diego's hidden gem of snorkeling! Everyone who visits San Diego knows about La Jolla, but did you know there's an even better snorkeling spot? Avoid the big waves and crowds with this more relaxed snorkel experience geared for all skill levels. Groups are small (maximum of 5 participants, with exceptions for private groups/families) which makes a more intimate and personal experience. **Important: After booking you will receive a welcome message with important details. Be sure to have notifications and/or emails from your booking platform turned on!**

A boat ride in San Diego Bay offers the perfect vantage point from which to view the city’s Skyline. This luxury sailing adventure on a 40-foot yacht lets visitors take in the sights in comfort and privacy, the perfect activity for those seeking an extra special addition to their San Diego trip.

Drive San Diego’s coastline on a self-guided scenic tour from Torrey Pines to Cabrillo National Monument, passing iconic beaches, coastal cliffs, and oceanfront neighborhoods along the way. This GPS-triggered audio tour guides you stop-by-stop, with commentary that plays automatically as you reach key viewpoints and landmarks. Start at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and follow the coast through La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and Ocean Beach, with highlights including the Torrey Pines Gliderport, La Jolla Cove, Mount Soledad, and Sunset Cliffs. Along the way, you’ll get sweeping ocean views, local insights, and recommendations for places worth pulling over to explore. This flexible, self-paced tour lets you explore on your own schedule, whether you want to stop frequently or enjoy the drive straight through. For the best experience, plan to start earlier in the day to avoid heavier southbound traffic.