San Diego is a city built around canyons that provide opportunities to stay connected with nature…read more  Juniper Canyon Open Space is one of these places.  The canyon has numerous native plants and wildflowers that you can enjoy from the trail though the canyon. The highlight of Juniper Canyon for me is its labyrinth which invites you to walk winding paths made of decomposed granite.  From the labyrinth, you can have great views of the Canyon itself. The labyrinth is also a peaceful place where you can escape the urban environment above it. Street parking. I have not seen restrooms.

I liked this trail but not as much as I thought I would for a run. It's a nice secluded area with…read morebeautiful houses around to look at. The issue is that if you're running or less sure footed. There are lots of large rocks along the path so if you're not looking down there's a twisted ankle in your future. And you hit certain stretches that have tons of overgrowth. Good for a light adventure hike but poor for a run. There's a good amount of dog poop out there, but that's not the canyon's fault. And it's about .3 miles in total so you know. All in all it's one of the many nice accessible trails in SD. Wouldn't say this one is my favorite.

Balboa Park is laid out around canyons. Florida Canyon is one of them. I "discovered" it over a…read moredecade ago wandering down from the Desert Garden to a 2+ mile trail that loops through the canyon. It's an easy walk that can be done in an hour or so ... more if you stop and enjoy the desert species along the way. More adventurous, there are dozens of other trails of varying degrees of difficulty in the canyon. Best place to park (free) is across Park Blvd at the San Diego Zoo.

San Diego County Craft Brewery Road Trip Week!…read more When the beer nerd friend I homebrew with (& fellow Yelp Elite) planned a week vacation down in San Diego with the wife & kids, he asked if I might want to take that same week off & go down there too. Hmmm, a whole week of drinking beer at craft breweries all over San Diego County? Oh Hell yeah! While in town, I spent almost as much time trying to explore all the great outdoor places SD has to offer as I did exploring the beer scene. Almost (priorities). After reading reviews from a few Yelp Elite friends, I became interested in checking out Florida Canyon. I rolled out here on a warm Thursday morning. Having really gotten into trail running this year, Florida Canyon seemed right up my alley. It's a compact area with a good number of trails that zig & zag up & down both sides above Florida Dr. Though I only ran 2 miles, I still worked up a serious sweat. It was the heat. It got a lot warmer here than places I usually run up in NorCal. By degree of incline, the trails are moderately challenging. The trail surface itself is mostly smooth. No need for hardcore trail running shoes, street running shoes will do fine. After my quick run, I rehydrated with as much water as I had with me, which wasn't enough. It was obviously time to supplement my fluids with beer...

These days, I come out to this nice big park for the start line of the Silver Strand Half Marathon…read more Most years, it's sunny. However, some years, it's quite foggy! It's a nice place to hang out before the start of the race. It always look to be well maintained and a nice spot for kids to run around and play.

Sunset Park is a small all grass park located right across the street from the Coronado Dog Beach…read moreand Coronado Central Beach. As the name suggests its a nice place to watch the sunset if the beaches are not for you. Or a place to dry off before you get back into your car. Parking can be at best tight. Its also heavily trafficked and it also serves as an entrance Naval Base Coronado so there can be a lot of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. It was clean and well maintained. However, beyond the large field, and a small play structure in the corner, there is not much else.

This is the only way in & out of San Diego's Mission Bay for boaters. North of the jetty is Mission…read moreBeach, Pacific Beach and LA Jolla. On the South side is Ocean Beach, Dog Beach and Point Loma. The boat traffic makes it difficult to fish, sailboard & dive inside the jetty. Fishing from the rocks is safe, common & sucessful. Parking on the North is plentiful at the terminus of Mission Blvd. It's fun to explore & photograph.

This is a great spot to hang out, bon fire, play volleyball and just kick. Nice views of OB and…read moremission beach

I love Mission Trails Regional Park! There are many entry points for hiking, and it's not overly…read morecrowded like an ant hill! We usually like to do North Fortuna from North Fortuna Trailhead entrance in the neighborhood of Catalina. It's about 6 miles roundtrip. We like this one because the trails are wide and we barely see anyone. Then there's South Fortuna from the Mission Trails Clairemont Mesa Trailhead, which turns out to be about 5 miles round trip. The South Fortuna trailhead has mountain bikers and smaller trails at the beginning, which is annoying because they come at full force speeding and you don't have much space to move over. I'm pretty sure they are supposed to share the trail and walk their bikes on tight space. But you have some that don't. The trail gets wider and then mountain bikers cannot continue to the summit. South Fortunas summit consists of stairs, so it helps. We haven't done Kwaay Paay Peak or Pyles yet. Cowles is on the east side of mission gorge road. Which that one is super popular and that's ant March to the top! We like sticking to the west side of Mission Gorge! More space and room. Trails are nicely maintain and for the most part pretty wide. Some portable potty's if you need it. Views of downtown, UTC and the ocean on a nice day.

Perfect trail for a walk/hike/bike ride! We did the trail marked easy for our kiddos. Dog friendly,…read moreI saw one doggie bag station. There is a small parking lot and street parking. Bring your water and sunscreen. I will definitely be back to explore another trail.

Three of the July 4, 2026 Big Boom Bay Fireworks can be seen from this spot…read more People were fishing, on picnic blankets, at food filled tables and lawn chairs for the spectacle. Be prepared for limited parking and traffic on nights like these.

It is hard to differentiate the East side of the park from the West side of the park, but I think I…read moredid it. I believe that the demarkation line is the parking lot in the middle, but I feel that it should be one park anyway. You will find this park near the airport. It has a decent sized metered lot and is a thin park that runs along the West Basin and is butted up against the west side of the park. It is rumored to be the site of the 1769 meeting of the Gaspar DePortola and Father Junípero Serra expeditions. It is very scenic and popular among joggers/walkers. This is the side of the park that you will find a restroom facility and the Cancer Survivor's Plaza. This is one of the better Cancer Survivor Plazas in the nation.. This area of the park also has picnic tables, and some green space suitable for a picnic, playing catch or other small field activities. There are a few trees that offer shade and you will also find a few benches that look out to the water here. The park seems relatively well maintained and clean. On a side note, there is an antennae by the restroom facility that is masterfully disguised asa tree. It is really nice and worth a look. This is a lovely park that has historical significance, in addition to providing some picturesque and scenic views. I wish parking was free here, but understand that may not be possible due its proximity to the airport. Because it sits in the shadow of the airport, the peacefulness of the park is also periodically disturbed by roaring planes taking off and landing. Most people that visit this park are either runners and bike riders. This is not a destination park, even though it appears that some people make a special trip here to visit the Cancer Survivor's Plaza.

Such a great spot to relax for a bit while exploring the park. It's right outside the botanical…read moregarden and behind Timken. There are a lot of spots to sit around the large pond and just enjoy the sun and people watch. It's a great spot for photos looking towards the botanic center or down towards the plaza

This man-made pond in Balboa Park is stunning. The history behind it is also very interesting. Men…read moreused to learn how to swim in it. Now, it is home to turtles, fish, ducks, and more. There are lilies on the surface of the pond, and beautiful flowers growing around the outside of it. It is a perfect place to take photos or sit and relax.

LA JOLLA (hikes and beach) This place is BEAUTIFUL and…read moreabsolutely doable for a first time hike. It was super rewarding with great reviews, gets a little busy but overall decent parking and would totally go again!

I have a love and hate relationship with La Jolla!! La Jolla is that gorgeous friend who has…read moreperfect weather, eats clean, and somehow stays humble. Gosh, how annoying! LOL As a vegan, this area is paradise yet also pretentious! That can be overbearing with overpriced boutiques, jewelry stores, art galleries, and lots of plastic (IYKYK)! I do have my favorite spots. Trilogy Sanctuary is my absolute favorite spot! The rooftop cafe, the ocean views, the plant-based menu that makes you feel so nourished and amazing after. Food for your mind, body, and soul. A yogi's paradise! Try out their aerial yoga classes! There are also other vegan-friendly cafes around town. The beaches are breathtaking! La Jolla Cove has crystal clear water, dramatic cliffs, and sea lions who steal the show (especially for tourists). Windansea is quieter and scenic! Weather is perfect nine times out of ten since it's heyyy San Diego. Downtown La Jolla does have cute boutiques so it's fun to window shop because my wallet could never. Cafes all around as well. Outside downtown, there's chill neighborhoods, hidden beaches, and views that make you want to stay. The La Jolla Open Aire Farmers Market is a must for fresh produce and local treats before hitting the beach. Who doesn't love supporting local businesses?! Cons? Parking will test your patience. This area will draw tourist crowds so be prepared. Oh, and the sea lion smell is a nice surprise. hehe Overall, 4 stars! Amazing food if you know where to go, perfect weather, gorgeous beaches, fun wildlife, and a great farmers market!