Husband-wife hosts Rami Abdel and Shantel Seoane created Alter Experiences as a haven away from city hustle. They thought of everything to make tent camping accessible and hassle-free (including luxurious linens and outdoor kitchens), but what makes this place extra special are the tree hammocks. Equipped with super cozy, warm sleeping bags and lights that make them glow like fireflies or aliens (depending on your imagination), they offer a unique, weightless outdoor sleeping experience. –CG
Best Club for Long Runs and Bar Crawls
Black Flag Running Club
Back in the day, there used to be something called Ed’s Run, an event loosely organized through meetup.com that brought 50 to 100 people together by the harbor to jog five miles and then consume many beers at the Waterfront Bar & Grill. These days, Ed’s Run is no longer, well, running, but there are still social exercise clubs to be found. Black Flag Running Club has weekday evening meetups and Saturday long runs that are well-organized and held at a rotating list of locations. The group has no pretensions about speed or ability, is welcoming to all, and is heavy on the socializing—with plenty of drinking and parties to counteract the miles you’re putting in. –CT
Say you’ve tackled most of the region’s hikes and are looking for a new challenge. Well, what about climbing all five peaks in Mission Trails on the same day? There are plenty of people—some as young as four or five—who’ve hiked all the mountains. But doing all the treks in 24 hours scores you special status. If you complete the challenge without any driving between peaks, you’ll have earned endless bragging rights. –CT
You can rent jet skis from just about anywhere around the city, but to really feel the power of these bad boys, head out of Coronado with San Diego Jet Ski Rentals and skip the slow-paced bayside options. Because of the many motor boats and the distance to the ocean, renting from here gives you more opportunities to wave-jump and feel the wind in your hair. –NM
Even the youngest thrill-seekers can experience the epic adventure of a tandem paraglide at Torrey Pines Gliderport. Expert instructors answer all your questions and ease pre-jump jitters with clear guidelines. While waiting, the gliderport offers the ideal picnic spot with a view. Then, gear up in a helmet equipped with a GoPro and soar for 25 minutes of pure exhilaration over the serene coastline. Check that one off the bucket list! –CG
If you haven’t tried pickleball yet, what are you waiting for? The Hub is San Diego’s largest dedicated pickleball facility, boasting 26 courts, a pro shop, restaurant, event space, and clinics for beginners and pro picklers alike. Memberships start at $99 a month, with discounted youth prices and drop-in options also available. Ready to watch, but not play? Don’t miss the World Series of Pickleball at The Hub from Oct. 27–29. –BD
Dress in all white to look dapper outdoors during a game of lawn bowling hosted by the Coronado Lawn Bowling Club. Operating since 1935, the nonprofit club offers free lessons to San Diego County residents on the artificial green adjacent to the Coronado Public Library. Trainees get to feel boujee with 30-day access to the green and equipment to master their throws. Call to request gratis instruction. –MK
Guests from across the continent travel to luxury retreat The Golden Door for relaxation and rejuvenation. The all-inclusive health spa pairs activities like yoga, hiking, and meditation with pampering such as massage, skin, and nail services for a full-body reset. This utopian property got a facelift with a multi-million dollar renovation, including complete overhauls of the bathhouse and pools, plus upgrades to their 40 guestrooms. While the bathhouse dates back to 1958, improvements include a new Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, cold-plunge pool, and an LED light therapy bed. –KO
All due respect to lunges, but frankly, you’re terrible and everybody hates you. Luckily, it’s always leg day on Lake Murray. Vessel rentals–which include pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and motorboats–are first come, first served at the concession stand Wednesdays through Sundays. Pedal boat rates start at #30 for the first hour and $15 every hour after. It’s a surprisingly easy (and scenic!) way to develop thighs of steel. –BD
Held just before Christmas, this annual half-marathon starts on Carmel Mountain Road and then lets you roll on downhill for the entire course. It traces the State Route 56 bike path and finishes at Torrey Pines State Beach for a net 714 feet of elevation loss over 13.1 miles. It’s pretty tough to run it and not set a personal record—or at least feel like it was a super fun and easy time. And you can get your racing done right before the holidays, then kick back and feast until the new year. –CT
On February 28, 1926, the Fine Arts Gallery of San Diego (now called the San Diego Museum of Art) opened its Plateresque doors to 3,000 guests for opening day. Over the next century, the museum changed with the times—even once functioning as a naval hospital after Pearl Harbor. This year, the museum is celebrating its 100th birthday with an exhibit (open through January 24, 2027) featuring photographs, ephemera, and film footage spanning the museum’s history.
Courtesy of Tim Novara
Free Concerts at Spreckels Organ Pavilion
Every Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m., stop by the historic Spreckels Organ Pavilion for a free concert presented by the City of San Diego on the largest outdoor organ in the world (more than 5,000 pipes). The pavilion seats 2,400 for performances by the civic organist or guest artists.
Some think natural history museums are just cemeteries for dioramas that haven’t received an update since the Reagan administration. When it comes to The Nat, which just finished a $7.5 million rejuvenation, they’re totally wrong. The museum debuted a new rooftop that replaces its 25-year-old atrium. The old roof created a greenhouse effect that steamed up some exhibits, so the new one—which includes 200 solar panels and better temperature control—will help preserve the artifacts inside. Each Friday in the summer, The Nat also becomes one of the season’s vibiest hotspots during Nat at Night, with food from places like Wolf in the Woods and The Craft Taco, bars and signature cocktails on several floors, and a rooftop DJ.
Fleet Science Theater Remodel
The Fleet Science Center just received its most significant update since the 1990s. It expanded its exhibit space by 20 percent and introduced a newly designed entrance gallery (formerly the IMAX theater lobby) that includes free exhibits for visitors who want a taste of the science without paying an admission fee. The former ticketing area now houses the Mindbender Mansion exhibit, and there’s a new café, Element 8, that will, of course, sell the center’s famous soft serve.
Boredom's not an option. These are a few of the top events in the city each year, including a rodeo, free summertime music festival, and a chili cook-off
Meet some rodeo queens (or be crowned as one yourself) in R-Town’s annual celebration of the Wild West. Three days of mutton bustin’, tie-down roping, and barrel racing are all doing the community some good: Proceeds from the event funnel into local organizations like Ramona Town Hall and the Guy B. Woodward Museum. This month marks the 45th annual Ramona Rodeo, which takes place in the Fred Grand Arena and draws more than 12,000 attendees each year.
For nearly half a century, OB has hosted a chili cooking competition that has drawn thousands of hungry locals. (Buzz Cannabis presented this year’s event, so taste testers could have been under the influence of munchies-enhancing drugs.) Non-chili-related street fair festivities include beachfront live music, Fun Zone family-friendly play areas, and a Dirty Birds wing-eating contest.
Photo Credit: Cole Novak
Chicano Park Day
In 1970, Chicano Park was set to become a California Highway Patrol station. The problem: The city had promised a community park in that area. After decades of development fractured Barrio Logan and displaced thousands of families, Chicano locals were tapped out. So, for 12 days, locals occupied the area under the Coronado Bridge, blocking bulldozers and planting cacti. It worked. Construction stopped, and that area is now Chicano Park. Each year, locals celebrate the successful preservation of Chicano Park and the resilience of the Chicano Movement.
Solana Beach gathers at Fletcher Cove Park at the start of each summer for two days of live music ranging from country to pop to Chicano rock, plus an arts and crafts fair, an international food court, a beer and wine garden, and the Solana Beach Firefighters Association’s pancake breakfast. The event is free, but if you want an elevated experience, grab Seaside Pavilion ($75) or VIP Deck ($160) tickets for reserved seating, private cash bars, exclusive restrooms, and discounted swag.
Courtesy of North Park Music Fest
North Park Music Fest
The entire North Park neighborhood hosts an annual music festival, meaning a dozen venues—from Queen Bee’s to Bacari to North Park Community Park—become live music spaces each June. Some locations are open to the public, but if you’d prefer lounge access at Granada House and line-skipping privileges, check out the $65 VIP passes. General admission otherwise starts at $25.
Lemon Festival
It’s weird if you don’t wear a lemon-themed outfit at Chula Vista’s annual Lemon Festival. For one day each August, Third Avenue pays tribute to the city’s former “Lemon Capital of the World” status with live music, citrus-themed photo ops, arts and crafts vendors, a lemon cook-off competition, and plenty of other food that doesn’t include the famed hesperidium. But who would want that at Lemon Fest?
For thousands of years, the Kumeyaay who lived in this area called a mountain south of Julian Cush-pii, meaning “sharp peak.” Then, after the Civil War, Confederate sympathizers saw that same mountain and decided to rename it Stonewall Peak—after General Stonewall Jackson. The name stuck for nearly a century and a half, until Cuyamaca Rancho State Park announced earlier this year that the name will return to its original, Cush-pii. Hike to the summit for expansive views of the Coronado Islands to the west and Mexico to the south.
Courtesy of Culture Shock San Diego
Best Pop and Lock Spot
Culture Shock
In 1993, Angie Bunch gathered a group of hip-hop dancers—called Culture Shock Dance Troupe—and gave them a space to practice and perform. As hip hop grew through the ’90s, so did Culture Shock. It has since become a nonprofit, a space for young and old, beginner and expert dancers. Culture Shock has also expanded to Los Angeles, Oakland, Las Vegas, Chicago, Atlanta, New York City, and Washington, D.C., as well as Ottawa and Toronto, Canada.
In 2019, Amanda Leach created the Yoga Box method, which takes high-energy flows and adds strength-building poses in heated, vibey, lava-lamp-lit studios. What started on Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach has spread to 15 locations across the county, with even more trickling into Denver, Chicago, and Brooklyn. The best part? Mindfulness newbies who can’t touch their toes and six-packed contortionists can hang in the same class. You can customize each session based on your ability and fitness level.
Courtesy of Fit Athletic Club
Best Leg Day Turned Social Hour
Fit Mission Beach
A gym taking over a historic beachfront pool sounds like the setup for a new season of Love Island, but Fit Mission Beach operating the nearly 100-year-old Plunge at Belmont Park is real. The independent fitness brand has spent the past several years building a loyal following through group fitness classes, community events, and a members’ social club overlooking the ocean. Upstairs, members can work remotely, meet friends, or hang out long after their workout ends. Between the Plunge, the coworking-style lounge, and a packed calendar of events, Fit has evolved into something bigger than a gym. It’s a clubhouse for San Diego’s fitness crowd.
Best Place to Learn What a Vagus Is
Breathe Degrees
The wellness world is finally transitioning away from HIIT workouts and cult-like spin classes, where your heart rate hits Zone 5 within minutes and stays there until cooldown. Good. At Breathe Degrees, wellness takes the form of zenned-out communal breathing sessions or vagus nerve–activating cold plunges. Breathwork is said to boost your mood in the short term and improve your heart health in the long term, and maybe that’s why everyone’s coming back for more. You can’t run into someone in Carlsbad who hasn’t dropped into at least one breathwork session, and now the studio has opened a second location in Liberty Station.
Photo Credit: Shot On Us
Best Pilates Studio for People With Tiny Roommates
Soul Pilates and Care
Pilates wasn’t just popular this year; it was practically a requirement for maintaining your San Diego residency. New studios seemed to appear weekly across San Diego, each promising stronger cores and better posture, but Soul Pilates and Care found a way to stand out by addressing a challenge many parents know well: finding time to exercise at all. Fitness doesn’t have to compete with parenting responsibilities. Parents can drop their kids off with trained caregivers while they head into reformer classes, eliminating one of the biggest barriers to working out. The studio has earned strong reviews for both its instruction and family-friendly approach.
The Hotel del Coronado’s sweeping $550 million restoration touched nearly every corner of the historic resort, but one of the most anticipated unveilils was the debut of its redesigned spa. The oceanfront wellness destination now features 21 treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge, a sauna, steam room, and a treatment menu inspired by the coastal environment just steps away. The redesign blends the Del’s Victorian legacy with a cleaner, more contemporary aesthetic, creating a space that feels distinctly SoCal rather than generic luxury hotel. For locals who don’t have time for a vacation, it’s the next best thing.
Best Cheers Without Beers
Good News Bar
As non-alcoholic beverages continue their meteoric rise, Good News Bar has become one of San Diego’s most compelling arguments for a booze-free evening. The University Heights hotspot serves a menu of carefully crafted zero-proof cocktails that borrow techniques and ingredients from traditional cocktail programs (it’s not just fancy juices and soda water), minus the hangover. The space also hosts regular community events and has quickly become a gathering place for everyone from sober San Diegans to the merely sober-curious. In a nightlife industry built around alcohol sales, Good News proved there’s plenty of demand for connection without the buzz.
Meet ArtsConnect, UC San Diego’s Invitation to SoCal Arts Lovers
ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.
Ask most people what UC San Diego is known for, and the arts may not be the first answer. Yet this fall, San Diegans can watch Ghostbusters with a live orchestra, try their hand at glassmaking and wander among more than 20 works of public art woven throughout the university’s La Jolla campus.
ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.
Courtesy of UC San Diego | Photo Cred: Erik Jensen
“The arts are at the heart of UC San Diego’s student-centered mission and vision,” says Alysson Satterlund, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life. “Whether creating, participating in, or experiencing performances, the arts are essential to a healthy and truly fun Triton student experience.”
That invitation often begins where the arts intersect with other fields.
“Some of the most innovative work and discovery happen where disciplines don’t usually share a stage,” says Cristina Della Coletta, Dean of the UC San Diego School of Arts and Humanities. “So through our unique intersection of the arts with science, technology, and medicine, we are improving lives, physically and emotionally.
Take The Inaudible Ocean, a collaboration between Department of Music Professor Lei Liang and Scripps Institution of Oceanography Assistant Project Scientist Josh Jones. Over eight years, the pair recorded earthquakes, ship noise, whale songs and other sounds in remote underwater locations. They transformed those recordings into a live music experience that allowed audiences to hear the ocean in an entirely new way. The work premiered on campus in May and continues to evolve.
The arts also connect the campus to the global art world and diverse perspectives. Chief Campus Curator Jessica Berlanga Taylor recently curated the Mexico Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, featuring RojoNegro, the collective formed by Noé Martínez and María Sosa. The collective will unveil a compelling new permanent installation for UC San Diego’s celebrated Stuart Collection later this fall.
ArtPower offers another easy entry point, bringing touring performers to venues including the outdoor Epstein Family Amphitheater and the intimate Loft. The nearly three dozen performances featured through its 2026-2027 season span music, dance, film, theater and conversation.
Among the fall highlights is Ghostbusters in Concert on Sept. 25, pairing the beloved 1984 film with a live performance of Elmer Bernstein’s score. Tickets start at $35, and the amphitheater is located next to the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley station.
“Every member of our community should have access to world-class art, so we work hard to remove the barriers that stand in the way,” says Colleen Kollar Smith, executive artistic director of the Campus Performances and Events Office. “That means affordable ticket prices, and performances, voices and experiences where people see themselves reflected on stage and know they belong.”
The arts at UC San Diego are not only something to watch. The Craft Center offers public classes and workshops in ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, culinary arts and even surfboard shaping. At the new Glass Center, beginners and experienced makers can explore glassmaking through classes, demonstrations and studio experiences.
Whether you want to attend a performance, make something yourself or spend an afternoon exploring public art, there is an easy way in. And the invitation extends well beyond students and alumni.
Kollar Smith says it best: “Visit, participate, spectate or create. You’re invited, and we hope you’ll connect with us soon.”
New year, new fitness goals, right? Like many people, we’re starting the new year with a focus on health and staying active. No matter what your fitness objectives may be, there are plenty of activities around town prepared to help you achieve them. From more traditional gym settings to unique ways of getting your body moving, these nine San Diego studios, wellness programs, and activities will help you start the new year off right.
Start the year on the right foot with Activate House, the San Diego fitness studio and gym located in North Park offers spin, sculpt, and yoga classes. Calling themselves a “new-age fitness studio,” AH emphasizes intentional training through movement and encourages mental balance and well-being. The sense of community the studio cultivates is accentuated with eucalyptus towels, a juice bar, and highly trained staff.
2855 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, CA 92104
Courtesy of Black Girls Run
Black Girls Run
Hit the pavement with Black Girls Run, a community that’s working to tackle obesity and motivate women to get out and move their bodies. Created in 2009, Black Girls Run has served the San Diego fitness scene as a resource for those looking to practice a healthy lifestyle, whether you’re an avid gym-goer or looking to start a fitness regimen. With national meet-ups already planned throughout the year, this movement is determined to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the community.
Regardless of your fitness level, Body University in La Mesa caters to individuals’ needs and goals. The boutique gym offers small group private training services (6-8 people at a time) and focuses solely on one-hour weight lifting sessions. Though open to all gender identities, you’ll most often find it packed with women only, which can be less intimidating for women who may be new to lifting. BU also offers body building competition services as well as customized nutrition programs and lifestyle guidance. With fitness equipment including free weights, cardio equipment, personal training, and highly trained staff, you’re sure to achieve your wellness goals.
A staple in the San Diego fitness scene, CorePower Yoga offers both yoga and high-intensity strength training classes. Their newest class, Strength X focuses on helping you build lean muscles via targeted weight circuits and invigorating breath work. Five San Diego studios are hosting Strength X classes currently, and the Point Loma studio also offers scholarships to the CorePower Yoga Teacher Training program for BIPOC.
Various locations
Courtesy of Wheelchair Dance Organization Inclusive Dance
Wheelchair Dance Organization Inclusive Dance
Wheelchair Dance Organization (WDO) Inclusive Dance is making dance more accessible for everyone. The nonprofit organization works to decrease feelings of isolation among those living with disabilities by building a community of dancers at any and all levels. The variety of dance classes offered—Latin jazz, samba reggae, hip hop, Bollywood—are free, taught by professionals, and include modifications for those in wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Courtesy of The Experience Fitness and Mobility Studio
The Experience Fitness and Mobility Studio
When the Experience Fitness and Mobility Studio came onto the San Diego fitness scene, they were dedicated to creating a safe space for anyone wanting to reach their health and fitness goals, regardless of identity, race, age, sexual preference, or athletic ability. The openly LGBTQ, wife-owned gym offers a place to reach your fitness aspirations. With a variety of training styles and methodology, you’ll build muscle, improve your range of motion, and eliminate pain. Beyond physical fitness, studio recognizes the inclusion of mental and emotional well-being for overall health and wellness.
1264 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92103
Courtesy of Madhouse Dance
Madhouse Dance
Spice up your workouts with dance fitness classes at Madhouse Dance. The nightclub-inspired studio is a welcome place to try out fitness choreography and get your heart racing through movement. Daily classes include chair choreography, beginners heels, and the studio’s flagship dance cardio. These classes are only open to women, non-binary, and femme-identifying individuals. If you want to try out Madhouse Dance from home, their website also features on-demand dance workouts.
Jordyn Berg is a freelance writer whose favorite topics include food and travel. A Pacific Northwest native, she delights in exploring the best of San Diego, by searching for hidden gems, experiencing must-try restaurants, and soaking in the city’s amazing views.
Much as you’ll want to, you can’t move into Thread Spun, a sustainably minded Encinitas boutique on North Coast Highway. But you can stock up on beautifully made, thoughtfully curated homewares, apparel, accessories, personal care items, and goodies for kids to turn your own abode into the closest approximation, knowing you’re doing good in the process—Thread Spun donates two percent of its sales to charitable causes. Excellent excuse to pick up a seabuckthorn facial serum for yourself when you grab beaded coasters for your bestie’s birthday.
Best Retail Relocation
REI
Every climber’s favorite store just got fresh digs: North County’s REI moved from Encinitas to Carlsbad in the La Costa Town Square in February. The grand-opening ceremony included free camping mugs, activities, and a ribbon-chopping ceremony (starring an axe instead of scissors)—a fitting debut for an adventure-focused outpost in one of America’s outdoorsiest cities. Stop by for anything you might need to live your best life al fresco, whether that means an off-the-grid camping trip or a day at the beach with a reusable water bottle and a nice, new umbrella.
Courtesy of Architectural Salvage
Best Spot to Source Century-Old Doorknobs
Architectural Salvage
Egyptian doors from the Napoleonic era, North Park street lamps from the early 1900s, and 100-year-old Hungarian workbenches are just a few of the eclectic treasures you’ll find at Architectural Salvage. Walking into the home and building materials shop feels like stepping into a real life I Spy book—a world of whimsy packed with storied relics. Formerly located in Little Italy, the beloved store reopened this past November in a new Barrio Logan location. Whether you’re giving an antique a second life or hunting for a hidden gem, this spot delivers surprises you didn’t know your home needed.
In February, heaven on earth for toy lovers and collectors—Replay Toys—moved from Ray Street into a newer and larger location on University Avenue in North Park. Mom of two Kim Nabours started selling her kids’ old playthings at the swap meet 14 years ago. Her side hustle turned to a permanent brick-and-mortar where kids can pick out new and used toys and grown-ups can chase down rare collectibles and nostalgic mementos.
Get out your grimoire—North Park’s Datura (named after a lovely but hallucinogenic and potentially deadly f lower) carries everything you need for witchy business: candles and crystals, incense and oils, plus more than 200 different dried herbs and plants. Seeking shatavari for boosting libido? Gentian root for better intuition? Frankincense for warding off the haters? It’s all here.
People call Uniqlo the “Japanese Gap” for a reason: It’s an affordable, reliable, wildly popular source of wardrobe staples. So, last year, when the first San Diego location opened at Westfield UTC in La Jolla, the 1,000-person crowd that gathered at its grand opening celebration came as no surprise. The store had a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a taiko drum performance, and even Japanese pastries and tea. Now, the beloved store will unveil an outpost at Fashion Valley Mall later this year. Get in line early.
Courtesy of Maxwell’s House of Books
Best Bookshop That’s Old Enough To Drink
Maxwell’s House of Books
Maxwell’s House of Books’ 22-year tenure in La Mesa makes perfect sense once you learn that owner Craig Maxwell’s grandpa Vernon Wahrenbrock ran the iconic Wahrenbrock’s Book House in downtown for more than seven decades. Maxwell’s packed used book emporium stocks rare editions and budget-friendly finds alike across genres. While you’re digging for your next read, don’t forget to say hi to the shop’s most esteemed bibliophile: its chubby resident cat.
Best Rose-Scented Ode
David’s Daughter
A surefire way to brighten a loved one’s day? Flowers—especially ones as thoughtful and artfully arranged as the bouquets at David’s Daughter in North Park. Owner Chandler Rossi named the chic, welcoming shop in memory of her father, a fellow florist and lifelong inspiration. Offering custom or premade arrangements, floral subscriptions, cute knick-knacks, and collaborative workshops like Pilates & Petals, David’s Daughter purveys everything you need to express sympathy, say thank you to a devoted family member, or help a new romance bloom.
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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