A walk in 25 parks

30 parks in San Diego

Whether you’re looking for a place to play with the kiddos or to decompress with some off-screen time, San Diego County features 340+ parks and recreational spots for you to enjoy.

Ready to plan your trip to the park? Grab your shades and trusty water bottle — here are some of the best in America’s Finest City.

🌳 Nature parks

Mission Trails Regional Park, 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail

With 8,000+ acres of natural and developed areas, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature at this park. Outdoor lovers will enjoy the ~65 miles of trails, access to Lake Murray, and ability to observe wildlife. Plus, there’s a calendar packed with events to take exploration to the next level.

👥 Family parks

Civita Park, 7960 Civita Blvd.

Mission Valley’s 14-acre park is packed with fun for the whole family. You’ll find two shaded playgrounds, a community garden, game areas, walking trails, and separate dog parks for large and small pups. Pro tip: Take a trip on Saturday mornings and catch the Civita Farmers Market.

Kit Carson Park, 3333 Bear Valley Parkway

Head north to Escondido to find this park that blends history, art, and activities. You’ll find areas for baseball, soccer, disc golf, and tennis — and an amphitheater that can hold 3,000 people. Also, admire “Queen Califia’s Magical Circle,” a sculpture garden by Nicki de Saint Phalle.

The Plaza de Panama Fountain at Balboa Park

📖 Historic parks

Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado

There’s a reason this park is nicknamed the “Jewel of San Diego.” Balboa Park encompasses 1,200 acres filled with gardens, museums, Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, the San Diego Zoo, and more. This space has become intertwined with San Diego’s history and hosts many cultural events and holiday celebrations.

Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Rd.

Take a trip back in time at this park that celebrates its early twentieth century history. You can take a ride on the Poway-Midland Railroad, visit the Heritage Museum, or look through history at the Nelson House.

Ready to visit these local parks but don’t know where to start? We’ve created this handy map so you can find all of these featured parks.

20 MORE PARKS TO EXPLORE

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Tuesday, Jan. 24

William Mulholland: The Controversial LA Aqueduct | Tuesday, Jan. 24 | 1 p.m. | Mission Valley Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway, San Diego | Free | Dive into one of the greatest civil engineering feats in American history: the doomed Los Angeles Aqueduct designed and built by William Mulholland.
San Marcos Farmers Market | Tuesday, Jan. 24 | Times vary | San Marcos Farmers Market, 251 N. City Dr., San Marcos | Free | Stock up on fresh produce, grab a hot meal from a vendor, and enjoy community fun.
That Good Good Market | Tuesday, Jan. 24 | 4-8 p.m. | Evolution, 2965 Fifth Ave., San Diego | Free | Browse vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainable foods with local restaurants Evolution + Donna Jean.

Wednesday, Jan. 25

San Diego Business Summit 2023 | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | North San Diego Business Chamber, 10875 Rancho Bernardo Rd., San Diego | $69-$149 | Learn from local business leaders and exhibitors via panel discussions and keynote presentations — in-person or virtually.
Lovely Leaps Pop-Up Event | Wednesday, Jan. 25-Thursday, Jan. 26 | 10 a.m. | San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, 320 North Broadway, Escondido | Free | An interactive dance session.
San Diego Gulls vs. Bakersfield Condors | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | 7 p.m. | Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego | $21-$103 | It’s a Cali hockey showdown.

Thursday, Jan. 26

Cal State San Marcos vs. Cal Poly Pomona | Thursday, Jan. 26 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | California State University-San Marcos, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., San Marcos | $6-$8 | The Cougars take on the Broncos in this women’s basketball game.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MORE WAYS TO GET OUT

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Life should be a balance of adventure and relaxation — not finances. Enter: Working with a financial advisor. But choosing the wrong one could potentially wreak havoc on your retirement and investments.

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Weather

64º | Sunny | 1% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 6:48 a.m.
Set: 5:12 p.m.

Tide

Low: 4:37 a.m. + 5:34 p.m.
High: 10:43 a.m.
Water Temperature: 59°

Civic

Mayor Todd Gloria held a press conference to address plans to fill the increased number of potholes after recent storms. At the time of his speech, there were ~2,000 pending repair requests — about 10 times the standard amount — and the city has 150 dedicated employees to address the backlog. 🦺 (NBC 7)

Development

Due to a growing need for organic waste recycling, San Diego County officials plan to build a $77 million composting site in Miramar — the largest in the county. The facility will allow trash haulers to comply with regulations established in Senate Bill 1383 without having to travel to locations outside of the city. ♻️ (San Diego Union-Tribune)
A new, affordable housing community is on its first-level of construction in La Mesa. The apartment complex — located near transit stations at 8181 Allison Ave. — will have 147 units for individuals living on fixed incomes. The development is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. 🏗 (Fox 5)

Concert

Call it magic, Coldplay is heading to Snapdragon Stadium. The British group will perform the “Music Of The Spheres World Tour” on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 6:30 p.m. If you’d like to viva la vida with the group and guests H.E.R. and 070 Shake, tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. 🎶

Edu

The San Diego Promise grant has expanded its eligibility to help students get back to class. The funding provides residents with free tuition at local community colleges, but was previously limited to first-time college students. Returning students are now eligible, and applications for the grant are open until August. 🎓 (ABC 10)

Drink

Thorn Brewing Co. has selected Hector Villegas, an artist from Barrio Logan, to design the artwork on the can of its Portal Hazy IPA — the brand’s first release of the year. This is the first in its “Shades of Haze” series, a project that highlights the works of local artists on cans. We’ll cheers to that. 🍻

Closed

Your next trip to Disneyland will be a bit drier. “Splash Mountain” has closed for renovations as the ride gets transformed into “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.” The new attraction is expected to open in 2024. 🪵 (ABC 10)

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A splash of pink 🌊

Pink dyes released in Torrey Pines State Beach and Natural Reserve

A wave a pink from the PiNC project. | Photo by Erik Jepsen / UC San Diego.

Local researchers wanting to study the relationship between fresh water and coastal tides had to think PiNC. On Friday, Jan. 20, pink dyes were released into Los Peñasquitos Lagoon in Torrey Pines State Beach and Natural Reserve.

Scientists from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of Washington will observe the tinted tides for the Plumes in Nearshore Conditions (PiNC) project. This experiment aims to study how plumes of fresh water carry materials into ocean waters — especially in the surf zone.

The pink coloring only lasted for a few hours — but caused quite the splash. Research teams used land, sea, and aerial tools to collect data. The dyes are nontoxic and won’t harm animals or plants — but beachgoers are advised to avoid dyes and research sites as the project continues.

This was the first of three dye releases. The second will be later this month and the third in early February during ebb tides.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Michael.

Editor’s pick: Good morning, San Diego. Last week, we reported that Pop Pie Co. and Stella Jean’s Ice Cream are coming to Pacific Beach, which I’m super excited to try. However, it also means Bird Rock Coffee Roasters is leaving its PB location.

I’m sad to see them go — Monica and I have pumpkin-spiced memories at that shop. But, the other locations are still brewing, so I can get my caffeine fix.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Explore the latest construction updates at the State Route 11 and Otay Mesa East Port of Entry.

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Editorial: Monica Garske, Michael Beausoleil, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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