Mission Bay in San Diego is a great place to visit when looking for family-friendly fun and relaxation. With 19 miles of shoreline, four public boat launches, two sand beaches and a host of recreational activities, Mission Bay is a perfect place to spend the day or week exploring. Located just a short drive from downtown San Diego, visitors to Mission Bay have access to numerous attractions, restaurants and activities. Here’s what you need to know about Mission Bay:
First and foremost, Mission Bay offers some of the top beaches in California. Two of the most popular beaches are South Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. South Mission Beach offers the ideal location for watersports, like surfing, bodyboarding, and stand-up paddle boarding, as well as several nearby attractions, like the Giant Dipper rollercoaster and Belmont Park amusement area. Pacific Beach is a great spot for beach volleyball, bonfires and watching the gorgeous San Diego sunsets. There are also several beach front bars and restaurants to check out, as well as nearby shopping opportunities.
Aside from its beaches, Mission Bay offers locals and visitors alike plenty of outdoor pursuits. Nearby Fiesta Island serves as home to numerous birding habitats and trails perfect for horseback riding, biking and jogging. A few miles away lies the Mission Trails Regional Park offering over 6200 acres of hiking trails, lakes and streams.
Boaters will love exploring Mission Bay with its eighteen plus miles of shoreline offering places to launch their own boats or rent a kayak or motorboat. Visitors to Mission Bay can also find 3 sailing clubs that offer lessons and charters for novices as well as experienced sailors swinging around for races on the weekends. There are also nearly twenty small cruises available out on the bay offering amazing views of downtown San Diego.
Fast forward to modern day, Mission Bay continues to be one of the most popular destinations in San Diego. Its long stretches of sandy beachfronts provide boundless opportunities for water activities including swimming, fishing, surfing and boating. Its wide waterfront paths offer some of the best biking trails in the city, with many tours taking you around some incredible sites including Sea World and Fiesta Island where you will be able to spot numerous species of birds along with a spectacular view of downtown San Diego.
Those looking for family-friendly entertainment need not look any further than Belmont Park offering fun activities such as an amusement park complete with a Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, wave house wave machine ride, bumper cars and arcade games. There are also unique food experiences located along the beachfront such as Baja Fish Tacos, Seaside Bar & Grill specializing in classic beach favorites as well as The Crack Shack serving up delicious fried chicken dishes influenced by Mexican heritage.
Friends looking for an ideal night out should head down to PB Cruise Lane where you will find a continuous line of bars which has been named one of San Diego’s best landmarks by one magazine writer. Lastly but certainly not least let’s not forget about Skate World located directly across from South Mission Beach – this amusement park gives roller skaters an opportunity to skate on Friday nights or during private group events complete with live music playing in the background!
There’s something for everyone in Mission Bay – whether you’re looking for an opportunity to spend quality time with family or wanting some nightlife excitement with friends – it has it all! So if you’re looking for a day full of adventure or just wanting to take in some beautiful views with your loved ones – then it’s time you explore Mission Bay with all that it has to offer!
Image by @pegaair