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With its sunny, mild climate, and the incredible scenery afforded by its 75 miles of coastline, San Diego beckons residents and visitors outdoors year-round. The people who live in San Diego long ago embraced the healthy outdoor lifestyle and outdoor activities.
On weekends in the summer, it seems like everyone is enjoying some kind of outdoor activity–sports, sightseeing, cultural events or just taking in the natural world around them. With all that is going on, there are plenty of things to do in San Diego with teens.
Hiking Even With Little Kids
Torrey Pines State Reserve covers more than 2,000 acres and has eight miles of hiking trails. This park offers hikers incredible ocean views and the opportunity to have close encounters with native plants and wildlife, including the pine tree the reserve is named after.
Guided nature walks are fun things to do and are offered on weekends. Ocean Beach has 68 acres of bluffs above the beach with walking paths where visitors can get a rugged hike in before heading down to the beach to enjoy activities such as surfing and volleyball.
Balboa Park And San Diego Zoo For A Unique Experience
This 1,200-acre park is home to 15 museums, among them the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Balboa Park is also the home of the Old Globe Theater renowned for its performances of Shakespeare’s works.
The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park. Put on comfortable walking shoes because seeing all the exhibits and wild animals at this 100-acre zoo can be both a healthy walk and a fascinating learning experience about exotic animals.
Golf For Family Fun
Golfers of all skill levels and budgets can find a golf experience in San Diego County that is just right for them. Not to be missed is the Torrey Pines Golf Course, which has hosted many PGA Tour events, including the United States Open Championship.
Torrey Pines’ two 18-hole championship layouts are extremely challenging and also a good place. Anticipate a longer, but undeniably memorable round of golf.
Further north is a relatively new course, The Crossings at Carlsbad. It challenges golfers with its rugged canyon terrain and offers spectacular ocean vistas.
Water Sports On The Most Beautiful Beaches
Taught by professional lifeguards, the San Diego Junior Lifeguard Program instructs teenagers on first aid and CPR techniques. Participants also gain ocean and beach safety training. Teens will learn swimming skill development and water sports such as snorkeling and surfing.
Upon completion, junior lifeguards can compete in aquatic sports locally, regionally, and nationally, according to the United States Lifesaving Association.
Events include distance swim, swim relay, and rescue relay. Active teenagers eager to play in the ocean and San Diego beaches should register for surfing school. Find private, semi-private, and group lessons or clinics in Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, La Jolla, and Ocean Beach.
Participants receive training on the beach and in the ocean in either leisure paddling or high-performance stand-up paddle surfing.
The Best Places For Surfing, Kayaking, And Scuba Diving
La Jolla Shores Beach is a haven for water sports enthusiasts. The north end has gentle surf conditions ideal for those learning this sport. Surf schools are on-site there. Renting a kayak is also popular. The main beach is a family-friendly stretch of sand where kids go boogie boarding in the shallow water.
You can find scuba divers exploring the underwater environment at the southern part of La Jolla Shores. More accomplished surfers enjoy going to Black’s Beach, which combines hiking and surfing because you reach it by descending a cliffside path. The hike is worth it. Surfers enjoy year-round forceful surf conditions and waves with long hollow peaks.
Dog-Friendly Best Beaches For A Great Time
You don’t need to leave your best friend behind when you set out for a day at the beach in San Diego. Several beaches welcome dogs. A section of Ocean Beach is even designated “Dog Beach” because canines can romp off their leash all day long there.
Most dogs enjoy running in the sand or feeling the cool surf on their paws. Some more adventurous pups have even taken to learning surfing. The North Beach Dog Run in Coronado is located at the north end of the beach near the U.S. Naval Station entrance. Del Mar Dog Beach is a dog-friendly beach in the off-season months from October through May.
Filmmaking And Sports On Your Family Vacation
Spark a teenager’s imagination with art and technology. The University of California San Diego offers teen summer camps that merge sport with filmmaking in their Action Sports Filmmaking or Skate Boarding and Filmmaking programs.
Musically-inclined teens will favor UCSD’s music and video production or digital audio and music production where they will cover the “technical fundamentals of recording and editing digital audio while exploring the concepts of songwriting and arrangement.”
Skateboarding And Deck Design
Teenagers who need more zip in their summer can design their skateboard deck and then take lessons or improve their skills. Working with skateboard designers from Soul Ryde, Inc., teens can personally design their deck and logo.
In a group setting or one-on-one, programs aim to challenge both the novice and the advanced boarder. With their individualized skateboard in hand, teens will find lessons at the Mission Valley YMCA Krause Family Skate Park, Robb Field Skate Park in Ocean Beach, or the indoor skate park at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center.
Theater Programs Is The Best Way To Sharpen The Skills
“Student involvement in creative activities (such as performing arts and group activities) has been found to reduce dropout rates and improve student motivation,” cites Michael S. Brockman of the University of California, Davis, and Stephen T. Russell, Ph.D. of the University of Arizona. The high school Summer Shakespeare Intensive sharpens the skills of aspiring performers.
Through the program and interactive exhibits, teens develop their technique and voice, study classical theater, and rehearse for two bilingual productions of Shakespearean plays in Balboa Park’s Old Globe Theater.
For Music Lovers Acoustic Music Is The Perfect Place
Head over to Acoustic Music in downtown San Diego for a great night of music for older kids. All events start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise stated. The events happen in a church that is 95 years old and still has pews. Tickets are required and exact seating is not guaranteed. The venue boasts hundreds of performers since its conception from the likes of the Weepies to Ramblin’ Jack Elliot.
Comedy Night For The Whole Family
Plan to laugh a lot at Comedy Under Construction, a venue appropriate for the under-21 crowd. Enjoy the improvisational shows and plan on adding your suggestions for the performance as the actors take crowd suggestions to add to their skits.
A Beach Bonfire Is One Of The Best Things
Hit up the beach for a nighttime bonfire with some friends. San Diego allows bonfires at Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Mission Bay, and Mission Beach all for free. Be sure to learn how to make a bonfire and bring all the materials you need to have a successful night. Ask friends to bring guitars, food, and blankets to make it a night of camaraderie and creativity that you won’t forget.
In the downtown area of San Diego, teens can discover summer programs through the Parks and Recreation Department, a maritime museum, local universities, and schools to keep them active in both mind and body.
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in San Diego With Teens
Teens can explore activities such as investigating marine natural habitats or career options in oceanography in and around San Diego. They can take skating lessons from professional skateboarders, or enroll in an indoor rock-climbing camp to learn “bouldering” and top-roping. When summer rolls around, your teens will discover that there is a plethora of healthy, fun activities for them in the great place that is San Diego.
