{"id":20857,"date":"2016-10-13T22:00:38","date_gmt":"2016-10-13T22:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/?p=20857"},"modified":"2021-10-28T16:56:44","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T16:56:44","slug":"16-san-diego-activities-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/16-san-diego-activities-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"16 San Diego activities to do before 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year\u2019s Eve, we get the urge to draft up a long laundry list of resolutions and things we want to do in the next 12 months, but why\u2019s it always got to be at the beginning of the year? You still have two and a half months until the ball drops, so there is plenty of time to knock some must-do San Diego activities<\/a> off your list. Here are 16 things in 2016 we suggest you try before 2017 rolls in:<\/p>\n

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    1. Drink local brew<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Everyone likes to claim fame to being the brew capital of the U.S., but at the end of the day, as long as you have some craft beer in your hand, do titles really matter? Stone Brewing Co., Ballast Point, and Karl Strauss Brewing Company are staples in SD, but new brew hubs are popping up every day. Bitter Brothers Brewing Co. and Resident Brewing Co. are just two of the latest on the scene.<\/p>\n

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        1. Hike Torrey Pines<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          You\u2019ve heard everyone talk about Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, and there\u2019s good reason. The coastal park has a number of trails that let you choose your own adventure. Quit saying, \u201cI\u2019ve been meaning to hike Torrey Pines,\u201d and just do it today. Some trails meander through chaparral and others hug the coastline. Our favorite? The Beach Trail, which leads straight down to the sand and sea, where you can cool off after the long haul.<\/p>\n

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            1. Explore the farmers market<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              The beauty of sunny San Diego<\/a> is that there are farmers markets open every day of the week, all year long. Not many people can say they can pick up fresh flowers and fruit in the dead of winter, but in SD, it\u2019s less about the season and more a matter of which market to choose that day. Beyond produce, you\u2019ll find handcrafted goods, homemade snacks, and local food vendors. Live music resonates through the stalls, as fortune tellers offer guidance and buskers do backflips.<\/p>\n

              [viewfinder-image-landscape]<\/p>\n

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                1. Get some history lessons in Old Town<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Pop quiz! Where is the city\u2019s first public school house, newspaper office, and courthouse located? The correct answer is Old Town San Diego Historical Park. You might know this area for its kitschy shops and Mexican restaurants, but it\u2019s also home to some of the city\u2019s earliest foundations. Take a tour of the Mason Street School, San Diego Union Museum, and First San Diego Courthouse to get a sense of the region\u2019s history, and then treat yourself to a margarita at a nearby cantina.<\/p>\n

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                    1. Paddle board in the bay<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      The winter waves are well on their way, so taking your first surfing lesson can be a little lofty during this season. Skip the rough whitewash, and head to Mission Bay to paddle board across calm and glassy water. Don\u2019t be intimated, all it takes is a little balance and motivation. The water\u2019s generally pretty chilly year-round, so squeeze yourself into a wetsuit in case you take a plunge!<\/p>\n

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                        1. Catch the sunset at the cliffs<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                          You can never see enough sunsets in your lifetime and each one in San Diego is seemingly more beautiful than the last. Pack a picnic and head to the bluffs of Sunset Cliffs, where there\u2019s nothing but the ocean between you and the sun.<\/p>\n

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                            1. Experience fall in Julian<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                              The lack of seasons in San Diego can be great if you love comfortable temperatures and practically perpetual sunshine, but some do miss those crisp autumn days when the leaves start to change. If you\u2019re craving some autumn vibes, head east to the nearby mountain town of Julian, where you\u2019ll find fall foliage and cooler temperatures. Between the hot cider and apple pies, it\u2019s easy to forget you\u2019re in SoCal.<\/p>\n

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                                1. Eat your weight in food at Public Market<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                  Perhaps the closest thing you\u2019ll get to Seattle\u2019s Pike Place Market in San Diego is the Liberty Public Market. You won\u2019t see any fishmongers throwing fish, but you can get some tasty seafood, from lobster rolls to raw oysters. Open seven days a week, this permanent market serves up craft coffee, gourmet cheese, cold-pressed juices, authentic tacos, artisan pastas, and oh, so much more. Come hungry and graze the stalls for a taste of SD.<\/p>\n

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                                    1. Ride on the Belmont Rollercoaster<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                      You haven\u2019t thrown your hands up in the air on a rollercoaster ride in ages. Actually, you can\u2019t even remember the last time you went to a theme park. It\u2019s time to remedy that\u2014step right up and get your tickets for the Giant Dipper at Belmont Park. Built in 1925, this seaside coaster flies down a wooden track, stirring up memories of your childhood. Go on, get a little nostalgic\u2014and maybe woozy\u2014at this amusement park in Mission Beach.<\/p>\n

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                                        1. Cheer on the Gulls<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                          It\u2019s been a while, but San Diego is back in the game! The hockey game, at least. As of last year, Valley View Casino Center is now home to the San Diego Gulls. The team will hit the ice for their first home game of the season October 15. Throw on your favorite jersey and flock to the rink to watch the puck fly.<\/p>\n

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                                            1. Pet the kitties at The Cat Caf\u00e9<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                              San Diego is known as one of the most dog-friendly cities in the nation with pet-friendly parks, beaches, and restaurants galore. If you find yourself more feline inclined though, make yourself comfortable at the city\u2019s Cat Caf\u00e9. First a cup of coffee and then a cat in your lap: Does life get any better than this? At this downtown hot spot, you can purchase food and drinks, and then receive admission into the play area, where you can hang with the cats\u2014all of which are available for adoption.<\/p>\n

                                              [viewfinder-image-small-horizontal]<\/p>\n

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                                                1. Cruise along the boardwalk<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                                  You don\u2019t ride a bike in San Diego, you ride a beach cruiser. OK, technically a beach cruiser is a bicycle, but it\u2019s unique in that it is single-speed with balloon tires and a stylized steel construction. Do as the locals, and pedal your way around the city. The Mission Bay Boardwalk is one of the best places to cycle with the sand and sea to the west and shops and restaurants to the east. You\u2019ll whiz by the weird and wonderful along this popular stretch.<\/p>\n

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                                                    1. Brave the paranormal<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                                      With Halloween just around the corner, you\u2019ve got spooky on the mind. If you\u2019re feeling brave, head to the Whaley House Museum, which is considered one of the most haunted places in the states. Story has it, the Whaley family built the home in the mid-1800s, on property where convict, James \u201cYankee Jim\u201d Robinson, was hung. After moving in, the family reported hearing the footsteps of Yankee Jim. The home was later turned into a museum in 1960, and visitors have said they seen apparitions of the Whaley family lurking around the home.<\/p>\n

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                                                        1. Catch the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                                          Contrary to popular belief, it does get chilly in December–enough to wear a jacket! This December, at least fake that it feels like winter and get in the holiday mood for the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, one of the best Christmas things to do in San Diego. Sip on hot chocolate as a huge procession of boats adorned with Christmas lights cruise around the bay spreading holiday cheer.<\/p>\n

                                                          Viewfinder Tip: If you\u2019re celebrating NYE in SD, downtown is one of the most popular spots to go out on the town.<\/span><\/p>\n

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                                                            1. Ice Skate at Hotel Del Coronado<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                                              Yes, it\u2019s a tourist trap, and yes, it\u2019s a bit pricy, but how many people can say they\u2019ve ice skated on a beach? It\u2019s all about the novelty of the beachfront ice rink at the fabulous Hotel Del Coronado. Every year, between Thanksgiving and January 2, the hotel sets up a rink on Windsor Lawn, overlooking the ocean, proving to be one of the best thing to do in San Diego in December. Glide across the ice with a view of the seaside, and you\u2019ll find yourself in an unconventional winter wonderland.<\/p>\n

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                                                                1. Hang ten at the California Surf Museum<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                                                  You\u2019re in surf country, so drop into the city\u2019s past. The California Surf Museum in Oceanside showcases some of the state\u2019s most revolutionary surfers over the years. Between the vintage footage and the original \u201cwaterbox\u201d camera used to take surf photos back in the day, you might find the urge to ride the waves yourself.<\/p>\n

                                                                  What San Diego winter activities are on your list?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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