Yoga and Beer / Green Flash Hoppy Yoga People are religious about beer and people are religious about yoga. Why not pair them together? Every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to noon, before the Green Flash brewery opens, you can downward dog in the tasting room. For $15, you get one class and a free pint […]
People are religious about beer and people are religious about yoga. Why not pair them together? Every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to noon, before the Green Flash brewery opens, you can downward dog in the tasting room. For $15, you get one class and a free pint afterwards. Try the Citra Session IPA, out this month. 6550 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Mira Mesa
Instructor Jaylin Allen is a perky, funky, talented ball of energy. She’s also a master of every dance style thrown into her 60-minute Zumba classes, making for stellar entertainment in addition to great cardio. The playlist is super current, students are torching calories, and she never stops smiling. No wonder Jaylin has such a loyal following. Saturdays at 9 a.m., Sundays at 10 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Dance Place at Liberty Station, 2650 Truxtun Road, Point Loma, bootiquefitness.com
Community Gym / Physical Culture 101
Owners Michael Kugler and Tommy Moring are all about serving the community. They’ve created a friendly exercise venue where staring at a TV is not an option. Equipment lines the perimeter, with open space in the middle for events like paleo dinners, seminars, and workshops specific to snowboarders or surfers. 1144 North Coast Highway 101, Leucadia
Girl-Power Fitness / Girls on the Run
Anyone who has ever finished a 5K knows the endorphin-driven self-esteem boost that comes from a good run. That’s the idea behind Girls on the Run San Diego, a nonprofit org that empowers middle school girls through fitness: a 10-week afterschool running program that culminates in a twice-yearly, tutu-friendly 5K. gotrsd.org
Spinning / The Rush Indoor Cycling Studio
This spin studio puts an emphasis on quality instruction and the latest technology, with Keiser M3+ bikes that monitor your heart rate and themed classes like “Summer Jams Ride” and “Throwback Thursdays” (preview the music on Spotify; request songs on Facebook). Costumes encouraged. Class: $20. 5628 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla; 11130 East Ocean Air Drive, Carmel Valley
Juice Bar / Fully Loaded Micro Juicery
Opened last fall in Leucadia, this spot offers 18-oz. bottles of cold-pressed, certifiably organic juices mixed with hard-to-find superfoods like blue algae and moringa. We’re excited about the juice cleanse menu and the almond milks made in-house. Bottles start at $10. 466 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Class Variety / Fortis Fitness
So many of us piece together fitness memberships, with cycling at one studio, yoga at another, and Barre classes at yet another. With yoga, hot yoga, TRX, cycling, Zumba, barre, and more all under one roof, Fortis offers everything but excuses. 2712 Gateway Road, Carlsbad
One-Stop Shop / Mantra Yoga Studio & Juice Bar
This ultra-clean, modern facility is the first of its kind in San Diego, as it’s part heated yoga studio, part juice bar. Juices and boosters packed with superfoods like kale, beets, coconut water, and acai serve as the perfect post-sweat refresher. Bottoms up! 5617 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad
Trampoline Workout / SkyRobics
If you want to get moving, but cringe at the thought of a treadmill or dumbbell, take a SkyRobics class at Sky Zone San Diego. You’ll literally bounce off the walls in the hour-long trampoline workout, which combines calisthenics, core exercises, and strength training; burns up to 1,000 calories per class; and makes you feel like a kid again. 851 Showroom Place, Chula Vista
Outlaw Yogi / NamaSteve
Last year, Steve Hubbard (aka “NamaSteve”) took the city to court for trying to shut down the free yoga class he teaches weekend mornings on a stretch of grass overlooking the ocean at the end of Law Street in Pacific Beach. We are happy to report the code forbidding more than 49 people to gather in a public park was ruled unconstitutional, and you can still find upward of 200 people doing downward dogs on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. namasteveyoga.com
Boot Camp / Gut Check Fitness
Elliptical, schmelliptical—try a beachfront boot camp that was voted “Hardest Workout” by Competitor Magazine. Although the interval-style session designed by “World’s Fittest Man” Joe Decker is challenging, high-fives abound. With scenic venues in North and South San Diego and the motto “The Earth is Your Gym,” this workout puts the gym (and your gut) in check. 2707 Third Avenue, Bankers Hill
5K for Beginners / Carlsbad 5000
We love the Carlsbad 5000 because it’s scenic and the course is flat (hence the designation “World’s Fastest 5K”). Beginners and parents pushing strollers partake in the same event as elite athletes, and it’s not another color or costumed run. This year, 24-year-old Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia beat 39-year-old multiple Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat, clocking in at 13:13. Lagat, who came in at 13:22, beat the American 5K road record (see? fast). There are also kiddie events like the two-year-olds’ Diaper Dash. Next race is March 29, 2015. carlsbad.competitor.com
Unleash your local loves and insider favorites once again in 2024, Powered by You! It’s time to nominate and vote for San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Reader’s Choice Award. The winners will be revealed in the upcoming Best of San Diego issue this July and showcased on our website.
Your nomination and vote play a crucial role in giving your favorite businesses the recognition and bragging rights they deserve for the year ahead. So go ahead, show some love to your cherished local spots.
As a token of our appreciation, every vote enters you for a chance to win 2 tickets to The Best of San Diego Party on Friday, August 2, 2024.
How to Win
A business, place, or person must be nominated at least once to appear on the voting ballot. Once the voting period concludes, the business, place, or person with the most votes within their respective category will be selected as the Reader’s Choice category winner.
When submitting your nomination, please provide as many details about the business as possible, including its name, address, website, and phone number. Businesses and individuals that cannot be verified will not be eligible for voting.
Deadlines for Nominations and Voting
Nominations: March 11 – 24, 2024 Voting: March 25 – April 14, 2024
The San Diego region has some challenging hikes, and one of the toughest is the 11-mile out-and-back trek to climb almost 3,600 feet to reach the top of El Cajon Mountain. The views all along the way are sensational, and the challenge of reaching the top is extremely rewarding. But it’s not a hike you should attempt without a fair amount of preparation.
I could go on. For all of these fantastic but challenging hikes, they require some training and a solid fitness base.
To help those looking to do some of these more challenging treks, we asked expert Gordon Janow, director of programs and founder of Alpine Ascents about the best workouts to get your body ready for these hikes.
“We guide technical peaks, mountaineering around the world, help people climb the highest mountain on each continent and run schools and summit climbs in the Cascades, Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan and Mount Rainier,” says Janow. “My background is as a Himalayan historian and logistics expert. I run the company and also work with people in terms of getting fit or training for mountaineering expeditions.”
None of the day trip 10-mile expeditions listed here compare to climbing Mount Rainier, but Janow says they do still take training. He laid out his best advice. Here are his fitness tips on the best workouts to help you get ready for hikes over 10 miles.
Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service
Mimic the Climb
The guiding principle to training for hikes is sports-specific training, or doing something that’s as close to the sport as you can to get ready for it as one of the elements, Janow says. He recommends three days in the gym of using a treadmill or step mill (like an escalator that helps you continuously climb stairs, not a stair climbing machine) and then a hike on the weekend to build up endurance.
Gym sessions should be around 45 minutes with an emphasis on increasing your speed. “One misconception people have is like, ‘Oh, I’m slow but I can go all day.’ But if you’re hiking for 11 hours, your body is still working for 11 hours. So you want to achieve a certain pace,” Janow says.
You don’t want what would normally be a six-hour hike to take 12 hours, because that’s too much wear on your body, he says. So before you go out, you can work on boosting your speed with interval training on the treadmill.
Interval Training on the Treadmill
The goal for hiking at a good pace is usually 1,000-vertical feet per hour, Janow says. His training plans ask you to vary your incline from 5 percent to 15 percent, and then he says you can do intervals to build your speed. This could mean walking two minutes at a slower pace, then one-minute at 3 mph, and repeat. That way, you can build your speed over time.
Train on a Step Mill
You can also use the same method to pick up your pace on a step mill, going faster for one minute and slower for two minutes until you build up speed.
“There’s benchmarks, like being able to ascend 1,000-vertical feet per hour with a certain pack weight,” Janow says. “Each trip has a different pack weight. So you would prepare differently depending on the trip that you’re going on.”
Try to climb at your anaerobic threshold, Janow says. “An easy way to determine [this threshold] is that if you can be next to somebody and kind of yell out a few words, but you can’t hold a conversation,” he says, then you’ll know you’re in the right spot. “But you also shouldn’t be entirely out of breath.”
“What we’re trying to do is to increase this anaerobic threshold. It’s not about going as hard as you can for certain periods of time,” he says. “I want your anaerobic threshold to be something that’s pretty close to an all-day pace where you’re walking and I can talk to you.”
Strength Training
In addition to cardio, one fitness tip to remember is weight lifting to build up your strength, says Janow. That includes squats and lunges to strengthen your legs and glutes, but don’t forget about your back and shoulders so that you can carry supplies.
“You’re going to be like, ‘My God, the backpack on my shoulders is killing me.’ Or, ‘My hips really hurt.’ Or, ‘My calves, my thighs…’” he says. “If it’s your thighs that are hurting, let’s say, then you start working weights there doing squats or box steps or things like that.”
Weekend Hikes
There’s no substitution for actual time on the trails, so Janow says whenever possible, get out and do some shorter hikes to build up your mileage. Do shorter climbs with the pack you’d carry on the longer trek and get used to the weight and pace.
Claire Trageser has been writing for San Diego Magazine for 10 years. She also is a reporter at KPBS and writes for The New York Times, National Geographic, Marie Claire, Elle and Runner's World.
At Ringer’s Roller Rink in La Mesa, San Diego Wildfires player Hedy LaScar slams hard into Legs Get Em, knocking her down as she flies around the track. But when, a split-second later, a whistle blows to signal the end of the jam, Hedy skates back to slap the opposing teammate a high-five. In roller derby, these dualities are everywhere: fierceness and friendship, brutality and camaraderie.
“We, as women, grow up being told we can’t do these things, that we’re small, that we’re gonna get hurt,” says one Wildfires player, who goes by the name Xicana Heat. She wrote her master’s thesis on roller derby as a form of social and political resistance. “But everyone [I talked to for my thesis] felt … very strong, very empowered. And you’re surrounded by people who do nothing but support you.”
Photo Credit: Becka Vance
While a few players graduated to the Wildfires from Ringer’s youth league, most found derby as adults. For some, familial expectations barred them from sports as kids, so developing the strength and balance needed to play what’s essentially high-speed Red Rover was a slow (but rewarding) road. The Wildfires have members as young as 18. Others are in their 50s.
In derby, groups of five face off during two-minute “jams,” with each team’s “jammer” aiming to barrel past four opposing blockers and earn points. Invented in the 1930s, the sport drew serious crowds for a few decades, then declined, but a grassroots, women-led revival is bringing it back. The players take on punny derby names—and, for many, those monikers are a way to unleash the truest versions of themselves.
Photo Credit: Becka Vance
Though the players sometimes don’t know one another’s “real” names, their bond is palpable. At the team’s recent derby-themed art show at Convoy’s Hopnonymous Brewing Company, one player helped another study for a college Spanish test while SoCal Derby board member Reckem Ralph clarified details for their upcoming bout.
Each Wildfire I spoke to cited those bonds—even more than the love of the game, which they have in spades—as the reason they stay, strapping on their skates each week. “If I had to choose between playing derby and keeping you people,” Reckem Ralph says, gazing at her team, “I’d keep you people.”
Amelia Rodriguez is a writer and journalist and winner of the San Diego Press Club's 2023 Rising Star Award and 2024 Best of Show Award, she’s also covered music, food, arts and culture, fashion, and design for Rolling Stone, Palm Springs Life, and other national and regional publications. After work, you can find her hunting down San Diego’s best pastries and maintaining her five-year Duolingo streak.
For Executive Chef Emily Brubaker, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa feels like home. She grew up just a mile-and-a-half away from the 400-acre property and fondly recalls walking the golf course perimeter as a kid. Though her ambitions led her away from San Diego for nearly two decades in which she honed her craft in some of the highest of high-profile Las Vegas restaurants—including triple Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand—they ultimately brought her back to North County.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Today, the classically French-trained chef, who’s fresh off a victory on NBC’s Yes, Chef!, judged by Martha Stewart and José Andrés, oversees Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s seven distinct dining concepts. Her goal is to elevate the resort’s culinary program with her creative, hyperlocal ingredient-driven approach while maintaining the Spanish- inspired flavors and fresh California coastal cuisine that are the bedrock of its culinary identity.
“The San Diego food scene is really growing, and in North County alone, it’s really exploded in the last five years,” Brubaker says. “There are Michelin stars, beautiful tasting menus, craft bakers, and all this food—when I was growing up in La Costa, it was fish tacos. Now there are really cool things popping up, and I’m so happy to be here to see where it’s going to go.”
Brubaker gives chefs de cuisine at each individual restaurant autonomy, however, her influence is evident across the resort.
For example, lobby restaurant Bar Traza serves as Omni La Costa’s culinary centerpiece and features bold Spanish flavors in a lively, social atmosphere. Brubaker overhauled the menu to be more consistent and centered on casual bites with that signature vibe. Think smoky paprika, vibrant citrus, and Spanish meats and cheeses.
At VUE, the focus is on seasonal offerings, California coastal cuisine, and Baja-inspired dishes. She and Chef de Cuisine Cameron Dixon change the menu biannually, which heading into summer, will highlight farm-fresh produce and hyperlocal ingredients—the resort even has its own herb garden and honeybee hives.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Poolside dining options are leaning into the country’s 250th this summer with a selection of classic American dishes with an Omni La Costa twist. And Bob’s Steak & Chop House (Brubaker is a trained butcher) offers a classic steakhouse experience with elevated service.
The chef and company also plan menus for special events at the resort where her creativity can really shine. For an upcoming National Ski Association dinner, the banquet hall will be transformed into an Alpine-themed winter wonderland complete with a snow machine, savory sausages, and melty, decadent raclette. A recent dinner was built around the Carlsbad Flower Fields and each course was matched to a color of ranunculus (Did you know pink dragonfruit are grown in North County? You do now.).
“It’s my zen to be in the kitchen playing with food,” Brubaker says.
Omni La Costa’s culinary program is a key part of the resort experience. And with Brubaker’s leadership, it’s becoming a draw for visitors and locals alike.
“These aren’t just hotel restaurants, these are restaurants that you should go to. They’re destinations, and I’m really hoping for the future that’s where we’re going,” Brubaker says.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Brubaker is also channeling her experience on Yes, Chef! into the culture at Omni La Costa—more emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, empowering her staff to share constructive critiques, and embracing different perspectives. Alongside her leadership role, Brubaker has become an advocate for mental health in the hospitality industry, serving as chief ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Apex Culinary Program, where she mentors and develops future talent.
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
It all started in Berlin. Five hours into a trip with a guy who could have been my ticket to EU citizenship, I fell. Hard. But not for him. I landed on the extremely sturdy sidewalks I chose to careen down on my fahrrad, which is German for “mechanical harbinger of seven stitches.” Or, bicycle.
I’m not afraid of bikes because of the accident, but I’m not the carefree girl I used to be when it comes to riding (nor is my right knee). So, when I scored a deal on a Masi road bike, straight from the Haro Bikes headquarters in Vista, I had some apprehension about getting back in the saddle. That trepidation—and healing from my stitches—has lasted five years.
Now, I feel ready to reclaim the road. My journey back to the bike lane starts now, and I’m here to learn and ride alongside you as a beginner urban biker. Here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way on how to approach your steel steed with confidence. Roll up that right pant leg and hop on…
Take Care of Your Bike
Bike maintenance is essential to enjoying life on two wheels—whether you purchased a $2,000 bike or copped a used one for $200 off Craigslist.
First thing’s first. You’ll want to take it to a local bike shop to get it tuned and cleaned. A visit to Stay True Cycle Works in City Heights is like taking your bike to a spa (seriously, it gets a gentle steel wool scrub and a plushy polishing massage). Owner and bike mechanic, John Cooper, will have your ride back in fighting shape within 20 minutes.
And if you’re pulling out their bike for the first time in a while, you can make sure it’s road-ready with Cooper’s “ABC Quick Check:”
A – Air “If you can pinch your tire, pump it up, even if it does feel kind of firm,” says Cooper. When in doubt, pump.
B – Brakes “Squeeze your brakes. I like to call it a ‘rule of thumb’. Put your thumb [in between the handle and the handbrake] and squeeze—not hard, but until it stops. Then, if [the handle] is touching your thumb, chances are you might need a brake adjustment. Something might be obstructing it,” he says. Alternatively, it may be time to “bleed your brakes,” a process that drains out air trapped in your brake system.
C – Chain “Check your chain,” says Cooper. Not shifting smoothly? Then stop by a bike shop.
Quick – Quick fastener “Check your quick releases to see if you can pull them off with your fingers,” Cooper shares. If that’s the case, you’re in need of a tightening.
Use The Bicycle Lane On a roadway with a bike lane, bicyclists traveling slower than traffic must use the bike lane except when making a left turn, passing, avoiding hazardous conditions, or approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
Ride With Traffic Bicyclists must travel on the right side of the roadway in the direction of traffic, except when passing, making a legal left turn, riding on a one-way street, riding on a road that is too narrow, or when the right side of the road is closed due to road construction.
Be Seen Day & Night Being conspicuous is an essential part of traffic safety! At night cars and bicycles are required to have a working front and rear light. Bikes are required to have many other reflectors as well. Even during the daytime lights, reflectors and hi-visibility accessories can be a key part of safety and visibility.
Cooper adds, “Try to make eye contact with the drivers. Scan the road.” Keeping an eye out for cars—and making sure they’ve got eyes on you, too—goes a long way in preventing collisions.
You knew it was coming, but here’s the big one: wear a helmet. Don’t be afraid to feel dorky. That beautiful brain of yours is worth protecting. Though it’s not mandated by San Diego City or California law for adults to wear helmets, it is required for anyone under 18.
Cyclist.jpeg
Beginning Bike Rides
My vote? Start close to home. Depending on your neighborhood’s proximity to major thoroughfares, beginning with short jaunts down side streets is best. Once you’ve gained some confidence, try these starter routes.
This 12-mile loop offers great views, flat surfaces, and even picnic opportunities for a pit stop. The 8-mph speed limit ensures a safe and leisurely cruise for all.
San Diego Bike Coalition suggests a colorful ride through the streets of Barrio Logan. The route includes nine stops for urban art patronage, starting at Chicano Park.
The 1,200-acre park provides ample promenades—pedal down a few, then head over the bridge and back for a simple, outdoor roll.
Your New Cycling Community
Already an excellent resource for safety and bike advocacy, the San Diego Bicycle Coalition is also a local beacon of the biking community. The organization offers classes—including collaborations on bike mechanics with Stay True Cycle Works, Family Bike Education onsite at schools, and virtual Smart Cycling courses—and a thorough schedule of riding activities for all skill levels. (The Community Bike Rides stand out as a family-friendly highlight.) May 1–31 marks Bike Month in San Diego, so you can look forward to several events honoring all things cycling.
Be sure to also check out local cycling groups which can be an easy way to make new friends with the same interests. Bikingis.fun is another great resource for cycling events. Don’t be dissuaded by its spartan Web 1.0 interface—this website launched earlier this year and maintains an up-to-date bulletin board of riding opps of all kinds, including Velodrome racing for the more seasoned rider or eager spectator (think NASCAR or Formula 1, but for bikes).
Danielle is a freelance culture journalist focusing on music, food, wine, hospitality, and arts, and founder-playwright of Yeah No Yeah Theatre company, based in San Diego. Her work has been featured in FLAUNT, Filter Magazine, and San Diego Magazine. Born and raised in Maui, she still loves a good Mai Tai.
The iconic 1,200-acre preserve’s history dates back more than 150 years, evolving from a scrub-filled plot atop a mesa overlooking what’s now Downtown to an urban oasis—the largest of its kind in the country—filled with an array of museums, attractions, gardens, trails, restaurants, and more. Balboa Park is an epic playground where San Diegans and visitors alike can experience the great outdoors just as easily as they can enjoy a world-class performance or explore groundbreaking discoveries.
Tucked away in the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture are 18 diverse museums that allow visitors to spend the day learning about, well, anything. A great place to start is the San Diego History Center. Located in the Casa del Balboa building, the museum tells the story of the city’s past, present, and future through photographs and art, clothing and textiles, and interviews with people who witnessed history-making events firsthand. The San Diego Natural History Museum takes visitors even farther back with interactive exhibitions that show what the region was like up to 75 million years ago.
Blast off on a simulated trip to space at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, then check out artifacts from aviation legends, including the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Buzz Aldrin. Discover new perspectives revolutionizing the science world, learn about an often overlooked but overutilized utility, and exercise your creativity at the Fleet Science Center.
Calling all theater-lovers, Balboa Park has something for you, too. The San Diego Junior Theatre will present their musical take on beloved children’s book A Bad Case of the Stripes from June 26 through July 12. And laugh, cry, and marvel in awe as the pros of The Old Globe perform Kim’s Convenience, the award-winning comedy that inspired the popular series, from May 15 to June 14.
There’s nowhere else in Balboa Park quite like WorldBeat Cultural Center. The institution celebrates African diaspora and indigenous cultures around the world using art, music, dance, and education. The building, a renovated water tower covered in colorful murals, houses a performing arts center, museum, gift shop, cafe, and outdoor classroom.
If you’d like a side of nature with your culture, Balboa Park has you covered there, too. Stroll through the gardens of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, a monument to the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, Japan. Inspired by traditional Japanese design dating back centuries, the 10-acre respite features a living exhibition that showcases plants native to both cities.
If there seems like a lot going on in Balboa Park, it’s because there is. Let theBalboa Park Cultural Partnership be your guide. The organization is the umbrella for 24 of the park’s institutions and offers an Explorer Pass that allows visitors to access multiple museums for one affordable price. The hardest part is picking where to start.
16 Museums, One Pass
Save on admission to San Diego’s top museums with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass. Explore 16 museums of art, science, history and culture across Balboa Park — all with one affordable pass. Choose the option that fits your pace: the Limited Pass (one day for up to four museums), the Parkwide Pass (seven consecutive days of access to all 16 museums) or the Annual Pass (365 days of unlimited exploring).
Looking for an experience-driven gift? Let the museum lover in your life enjoy their favorite museums all year with a Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass gift voucher.
Bigger experiments, brighter ideas, and boundless curiosity await at the newly reimagined Fleet Science Center. This summer, the Fleet debuts Element 8 Cafe, an expanded theater queuing and concessions space, two new gallery spaces, and, for the first time, a free entrance gallery exploring science in and around San Diego. The transformation marks a new chapter for the Fleet, keeping it a vital, innovative, and accessible science hub for the region. Visitors are invited to explore the experience this summer and connect with the power of science like never before.
Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:FleetScience.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Phone: 619-238-1233
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
An accredited cultural gem, the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum brings traditional Japanese garden design to life with koi ponds, curving walkways and layers of greenery. Guests explore bonsai trees, streams and peaceful nooks while taking part in exhibits, educational programs and festivals that illuminate Japanese culture. Situated in the heart of Balboa Park, the garden doubles as a meditative retreat and a dynamic gathering place, welcoming visitors to slow their pace and connect more deeply.
Address: 2215 Pan American Road E, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:Niwa.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; last admission at 6 p.m. Phone: 619-232-2721
The Old Globe
A San Diego summer favorite, The Old Globe invites audiences to experience a beloved local tradition in its outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
This summer, the 2026 Shakespeare Festival presents two thrilling tales of power, passion and romance. Measure for Measure, running June 14 through July 12, 2026, is a riveting story of justice and hypocrisy that asks who holds power, who is punished and what it truly means to be virtuous. Much Ado About Nothing, playing Aug. 2–30, 2026, is a classic rom-com packed with schemes, sparks and laughter as opposites attract. Audiences can enjoy both shows for $44.
Address: 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:TheOldGlobe.org Hours: Box office open Tuesday–Sunday, 1 p.m. to final curtain Phone: Box office, 619-234-5623
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Aviation and space exploration come to life at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. See an airworthy replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, a Gee Bee racer and historic aircraft from World War I, World War II and the Korean and Vietnam eras. Get up close to the Apollo 9 command module — one of only 11 of its kind in the world — along with Mercury and Gemini capsules, Mission Control and space shuttle simulators, and a selfie spot beside a lunar lander on the moon. Running through 2026, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brings oddities from around the world to Balboa Park.
Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:SanDiegoAirAndSpace.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-234-8291
San Diego History Center
History belongs to everyone. At the San Diego History Center, two experiences bring that history to life this summer: America at 250 and the Center for Women’s History. America at 250 traces San Diego’s place in 250 years of U.S. history, while summer programs invite children to learn and explore. The Center for Women’s History amplifies the voices of women whose leadership and creativity have shaped our region.
By understanding our past, we build a more vibrant and inclusive community together. These vital educational experiences are only possible through generous community support. Discover your roots, spark meaningful dialogue, and help keep San Diego’s stories alive for future generations.
Address: 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SanDiegoHistory.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday Phone: 619-232-6203
San Diego Junior Theatre
Junior Theatre is San Diego’s longest-running youth theatre program, empowering students ages 4 to 18 to explore storytelling, performance, and collaboration in a supportive environment. Through classes, camps, and productions, young artists build confidence, creativity, and lifelong skills onstage and off. Each season features a wide range of opportunities, from introductory experiences to advanced training in acting and musical theatre.
Looking for a summer adventure? Junior Theatre’s Summer Camps deliver dynamic programs for grades K–12, including musical theater intensives, acting academies and immersive JT Studio experiences. It’s a place where imagination truly takes center stage.
Address: 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:JuniorTheatre.com Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-239-1311
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
This summer, The Nat is talking trash—literally. Their newest exhibition, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, features larger‑than‑life marine sculptures made of ocean debris collected from beaches. It invites visitors to explore the impact of plastic pollution and discover ways to take action.
But the experience doesn’t stop at the gallery doors. Friday nights, the exhibition transforms into an ocean-themed “dive bar” during Nat at Night. Select Sundays bring something brand new: a rooftop brunch with sweeping Balboa Park views. Add two new giant-screen films and five floors of nature to explore, and The Nat is shaping up to be one of the season’s must-visit destinations.
Address: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SDNat.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays in summer Phone: 619-232-3821
WorldBeat Cultural Center
The WorldBeat Cultural Center is a nonprofit multidisciplinary cultural organization dedicated to promoting, presenting and preserving Indigenous cultures worldwide through music, art, dance, education, sustainability and community programs. WorldBeat elevates multicultural artists, expands opportunities for cultural enrichment and fosters deeper understanding across traditions. WorldBeat offers a holistic cultural experience that inspires pride, unity, connection and belonging for all ages.
Address: 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 Website:WorldBeatCenter.org Hours: Classes: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 6–9 p.m. Exhibits and café: Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Phone: 619-230-1190
Event Calendar
Throughout 2026: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
Step into a world of the weird and wonderful at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. Explore hundreds of bizarre artifacts, interactive displays and unbelievable stories that celebrate the curious and the extraordinary.
Presented in partnership with the San Diego Museum of African American Fine Arts, San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods uses augmented reality, oral histories, and archival materials to explore communities and residents displaced by redlining, freeway construction, and other discriminatory policies.
Spend a summer night at The Old Globe. The Lowell Davies Festival Theatre stages Measure for Measure (June 14–July 12) and Much Ado About Nothing (Aug. 2–30), offering two unforgettable Shakespeare productions for just $44.
The Old Globe | 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
June 8–Aug. 7: Theatre Summer Camps
Summer camps at Junior Theatre spark creativity for grades K–12 with hands-on training, musical theatre intensives, acting academies, and JT Studio experiences.
A museum visit turns into a Sunday Funday with the addition of rooftop brunch, featuring mimosas, bloody Marys, and brunch bites from Wolfish by Wolf in the Woods (June 14, August 9) and Hash House a Go Go (July 12).
Nagashi at the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum by floating a lantern to honor loved ones who have passed. Stroll merchant booths, enjoy cultural performances in the Inamori Pavilion, and sample food vendors plus a beer and sake garden in the lower garden.
Explore arts, science, history, and culture in the Balboa Park Cultural District with one convenient, affordable Pass. The Balboa Park Explorer Pass is your ticket to up to 16 museums and endless fun! Purchase your pass at BuyMyExplorer.com.
