Wow what a great park. We stopped by to check out the out the play ground, and there was also a…read morehuge panda event. Which resulted in the playground being loaded with children and families having fun and relaxing in the cool breeze. There are ton of play activities for the kids: blue climbing mountain with slides, cool spaceship looking merry go rounds, swings, climbing, obstacle courses, etc. There are tons of tables, benches, and lots of shady areas for picnics or relaxing while the kids play. It was awesome to find this playground ride down the road from where we were staying. Too bad this is our last full day in San Diego.

This is a big park with a lot of grass area, a fountain, basketball and pickle ball courts, plus an…read moreoff leash dog park. What more can you ask for? What about great views of the harbor and city skyline on the other side? Yup it has that too. I come here many times with my dogs, as the dog park is a decent size for medium dogs to run around in. The dog area may not have grass, but it has dirt, and is usually kept clean. I actually prefer the dirt compared to artificial turf. Something to note is that there is only one park, so big dogs are combined with small ones. Theres a small obstacle course for dogs to jump and run through. And for the humans, there's also a few benches on the side to sit at.

My wife wanted to stopped by here the moment we arrived to San Diego. We been here before like five…read moreyears ago when we first started dating. There different parking lot you can park at but I chose the parking lot near the Organ Pavilion area. Since we came before lunch time, I was able to find a good spot and you'll have to pay for parking here. My wife wanted to check out the Botanical Garden building first and then we went to the Art Center so my wife can shop over there. We also saw a long line of people looking to buy plants at Casa Del Prado. We didn't stay long because the sun was starting to come out and our daughter was getting fussy.

Balboa Park is one of my favorite places to visit in San Diego. Every time I come down here to…read morevisit my daughter who is studying in San Diego, I try to stop by if I have some free time just to walk around and relax. This place is more than just a park. I really enjoy the beautiful gardens, historic buildings, and unique Spanish style architecture. The area around the California Tower is especially beautiful. Walking around here and taking in the peaceful atmosphere is always a nice experience. I usually park in one of the parking lots inside the park (around $10). If you are lucky, you may find free parking in the surrounding areas, but honestly, parking can be difficult, especially on busy days. What I like most about Balboa Park is that you don't need to visit all the museums to enjoy this place. You can simply walk around, enjoy the gardens, take pictures, and relax. One thing to keep in mind is that the park is very large. If you don't plan ahead, you may end up walking more than expected. But that is also what makes this place special , every visit gives you a chance to see something different.

i'm conflicted about this place. i love Point Loma, SO beautiful but i was shocked and kinda sad…read morethat kids are STILL jumping off the cliffs even though someone just got hurt here. We saw the lifeguards come and talk to them and they just waited and jumped anyway. SO dumb. but I guess that's what you do when you're young and foolish lol I'll try to post pics here. I don't have instagram bc i locked myself out of it! lol. Anyway it's really pretty here and def worth checking out.

We live by Pt. Loma and Sunset Cliffs is our go-to spot for a quick weekend walk. This is the…read moreperfect spot to watch the stunning California sunset and the ocean. It's even more beautiful in Spring! I knew about SC when I was living abroad and immediately fell in love then told myself that is where I'm gonna get married! I DID!! It's also a perfect spot for tide pooling. We found cute shells on the shore while exploring the cave. So if you see me, say hello!

Belmont Park sits along the Mission Beach boardwalk, close to everything, with parking lots nearby…read more It's a fun tourist attraction, and we especially enjoy the mini golf and pineapple Dole Whip. The rides can feel rough and jerky, but the kids love them. An all-day pass is usually the best value, since individual tickets add up; some attractions cost extra. Other activities include an elevated harnessed obstacle course, rock-climbing wall, roller coaster, laser tag, arcade, food, and a large indoor pool. Overall, it's a fun spot, though the area can feel sketchy at night due to reports of gang fights and shootings.

I will be honest about why this stood out. Good service has felt rare lately. We have sat through…read moreplenty of counters and plenty of meals where people barely looked up, where the smile was forced, and where the tip went out anyway. Ronan was the opposite of that. He was helpful, patient, and genuinely glad to be helping a family get their day started right. He put a smile on my daughter's face, my son's face, my wife's face, and mine. That is not a small thing. To the management at Belmont Park: Ronan deserves recognition, and he deserves a real shot at interviewing for whatever position he is aiming for. Whatever his vision is here, I believe he will excel at it. People like Ronan are the reason a family comes back. Thank you, Ronan. We appreciated it.

After hearing about this spot from a friend, I have always wanted to come. I was able to on a hot…read moreday, despite it being hot, it was also very windy (cool). I would recommend a light jacket-- of course depending on the day. They have clean restrooms with sinks to wash your hands outside, but no paper towels or drying station. They had many choices of where to sit, where to play, even tables to eat, and more. People rollerblading, skateboarding, yoga, playing soccer, this spot is full of life! I really enjoyed my time here as even the birds and butterflies were all flying around. I will happily come back to explore more of what this park has to offer.

Pros: Spacious, plenty of walking paths, with nice clean facilities, which include 2 family…read morebathrooms with baby diaper changing stations and several drinking fountains. There's also a row of small fountains for kids to play, run through and splash in. Cons: It's a really nice park ON A COOL DAY. Lately, with temperatures 10 to 19° above "normal average" - or maybe it's just the new normal - it's hard to recall the last time we got to experience a cool day. But here, the way the gazebos, tables, and benches are set up reflects a pretty severe case of denial that this is Southern California, and not quite within walking distance from the beach. It WILL get hot whenever it damn pleases, with or without notice. It did so in February already, in case you missed it. We came a few times for the farmers market. Both days were unfortunately " 80°F" her weather report, which in reality feels like 92°F, and we had to scramble to find a little bit of shade, so that we could eat our street food without passing out from heat stroke. We huddled awkwardly on the curb under a small tree. Other people passing by with food in their hands looked at us with envy. NOT A SINGLE PERSON sat on the readily available benches with tables, because they were in the blazing sun, yet lacked any shade. Never mind an umbrella, not even holes to put one in!! Denial much?? It's really sad, because it's a beautiful place. It just DESPERATELY needs more shade for the visitors to feel comfortable without clinging to trees or the bathroom walls.

I always wanted to learn to sail a Hobie beach catamaran and MBAC is one of the very few places in…read moreCalifornia which has them for rent and also offers lessons. I signed up for 2 private lessons and had a great experience with their instructors, being very knowledgeable and patient with a newbie like me. At the end they certified me to take the Hobie out in Mission Bay under my supervision. I then signed up for their monthly membership when you can take a boat out (which you're instructor approved) daily, pending availability. This is the best deal ever! Besides the instructors, the staff and dockmaster are super friendly and helpful. Facilities are very nice with restrooms, showers, and lockers. Highly recommend for anyone interested to learn to sail and/or take one out for an afternoon.

Hidden gem in San Diego! With its own parking lot and plenty of tables, this is our go to for…read morepicnics and parties near the water. The tables are first come first serve, so we went early to snag two nearby a grill pit. Also saw some cute date night set ups near the ones on the sand if you're looking for a more intimate setting. Paddleboard rentals are also discounted for students! This place is dog friendly as well and had a grassy area near the water.

I am pretty spoiled to have dived some waters where visibility is great so it was a bit…read moredisappointing to snorkel here this morning. I came here at 6:45am and was able to find parking literally right at the cove, so come early, its worth it. Lots of wildlife hanging out there. I saw a bunch of sea lions sleeping, tons of cormorants and lots of badass pelicans flying and scooping down for food. By 7am, I was in the water and there were already plenty of people here. I tried out my wetsuit with all my gear and everything worked well. I wasn't too hot in my 4/3 wetsuits. Visibility was crap today and couldn't see much. I'll have to come back again to see if visibility improves. I got out in 30 minutes, no point wasting time with cloudiness. I used the local showers to get the sand and saltwater off myself and gear. Public bathrooms also available. After getting out, I walked around a bit and it was a lovely day. Beautiful area, no wonder everyone likes coming here. I'll be back!

Okay, I'm gonna start off this review by saying everything is perfect (besides one CRUCIAL thing)…read more The atmosphere, the beds, the town, the restaurants, and the living room are great. The negative thing is the shower... This is the worst shower in the entire universe. This pathetic excuse for a shower was so bad that I started reconsidering life. The shower water, straight from the ocean, was freezing even at its max. There was no pressure. It was like 9 consecutive little droplets every 3 seconds and a little bit of Seal semen in the mix, because there is no way that shit was filtered. At first, when I turned on the shower, I didn't notice that the shower head was in the middle of the shower and on the ceiling, so the tiny droplets ricocheted onto my underwear. The problem with this was that this was, like, my last pair, so I had to sleep commando in the same bed as my brother. If you're going to have such a big shower, shouldn't it be angled and have pressure? I swear, the water radius was 20% of the shower, and the other 80% was just there for you to roam around. Don't even get me started on how it felt being under that 20%. It kind of felt like I was sleeping cutely on a beach chair, and some really suspicious obese man approaches me, with his belly hanging right over me. The obese man proceeds to start slowly crying as his wet belly starts dripping on me, and his eye water starts dripping on me too, as he begs for liposuction money. Some dude came over and "cleaned" our shower, and he essentially poked it with a stick and left the room all confident and shit. One of those seals 100 feet away from the hotel would have done a better job than this dude. It's not even just the shower. THE WHOLE BATHROOM SUCKS. 1. Why is the hand soap also body wash? (Weird.) 2. The toilet is in a very uncomfortable spot. 3. The music button on the mirror is unnecessary, and when you click it, it makes a very annoying noise. 4. The body lotion is closer to the toilet than the sink, which symbolizes the encouragement of masturbation. The sink water at its coldest is warmer than the shower at its max. I will admit that the sink does have a little less Seal semen than the shower, though. In conclusion, I will never go to San Diego ever again. If I ever do go to San Diego again, it's probably to harass the seals for what they and La Jolla did to me. Also, this entire area is anti-Dr. Pepper. I tried 6 times at 6 different restaurants, and all the waiters offered me flat Coca-Cola since they thought that was a proper substitute.

Nice outdoor skating ring, I brought my kids to a 6 year old…read morebday party here very clean good atmosphere great music Dj was playing however IRIS a employee there I caught her being very inappropriate mean and impatient towards some kids and parents some in the party I was in and even to others example a kid walks up to a arcade game presses a button she goes "I mean it's off for a reason" In a very rude manner . I just feel she isn't good with kids that's all .

I attended this skating rink for my daughter's field trip. I usually prefer indoor skating, but for…read morean outdoor experience, this wasn't bad--I imagine it looks even nicer at night. The staff member in charge who was using the microphone was very kind and helpful. However, the two employees distributing skates came across as rude and unapproachable. I understand that working with large groups of kids can be frustrating, but their attitude was noticeable. At one point, I even stepped in to help distribute skates because the situation felt a bit overwhelming due to their frustration. Overall, the experience was okay, but improved customer service would make a big difference.

I love Harbor Island Park! Harbor Island Park is the stretch of land along the bay, just across…read moreHarbor Drive from the airport. In my opinion, it has one of the most beautiful views of the San Diego skyline. On a clear day, it is just gorgeous both day and night. There are sidewalks on both sides. Parking can be tricky on busy weekends. There is free street parking and there are free lots, but it is much easier during the week or off-season. Normally, you see fishermen, joggers, and people walking their dogs. There are restaurants, hotel resorts, and conference and event venues. Some of San Diego's best known restaurants are on the edges of Harbor Island Park. You can find some lesser known cafes hidden nearby. There are also some boating clubs along the way. For several years, my husband and I would make a picnic at this park and watch the Fourth of July fireworks. It is one of the best venues, if not the best, to watch the fireworks. I often go for runs or walking with my dog there. Also, it is one of my favorite places to take out-of-town friends to simply check out the view and sit on a bench for conversation. Public bathroom facilities are limited, possibly non-existent, so plan accordingly. All in all, Harbor Island Park is a must for both locals and visitors.

Hard A-port Park…read morelocated inside the Port of San Diego that has some nice features and amazing views. The Good: * As mentioned above, the views are second to none and it's a great place to catch a sunset. *Shoreline path for running and walking *Leashed dogs ok *Restrooms *If you plan on visiting, you really should try and make reservations at Tom Ham's Lighthouse restaurant located right on the shore. The Meh: *Not the biggest park in the world but the views make up for it. The Ugly: *Not a whole lot of shade either, so probably not a place to be during a heatwave. Conclusion: Great place to come check out the Ha'bor and soak up some vitamin sea.

What else is there to say about a place that has close to 500 reviews and everyone loving this…read morelake? I only recently discovered this place and so happy I found it. This is a 5 mile loop around the lake and I can see myself coming back to jog this (like real soon)! I was so excited to find this place! I came tonight to have a quick stroll and do some birding. There weren't that many birds to see but did see cormorants, hummingbirds, pigeons, crows, sea gulls, sparrows...In the future, I'll just probably come here to jog. It was a lovely evening and did about 3 miles of walking. Park closed at 8pm in August and by 7:50pm, 3 of the four gates already closed. And while I was driving back onto main road, saw a coyote sprint right in front of my car and across the street. Handsome looking animal! I will definitely be back here again and again!

Nice five mile loop for walkers and distance runners. Not too hilly, but don't get overconfident…read morebecause there are many switchbacks. There's usually a breeze by the lake, still pack your hats and sunscreen since shade is rare along the trail. There are few cars along the path, and some days you'll see people picnicking and fishing or goats grazing in the upper pasture near the parking lot. Plentiful parking, bathrooms and picnic benches make this a good spot for all.