Things to do in San Diego

Surf's up San Diego

San Diego is something of surfing mecca. It may not have super-sized swells, but the city is wrapped up in the West Coast image of boards, breaks and beach bums. Black’s Beach is a hotspot for those with some experience, while San Diego Surfing School (tel: +1 858 205 7683; www.sandiegosurfingschool.com) offers lessons for beginners.

Set sail for Catalina Island

During spring and summer, a gentle coastal breeze makes sailing around San Diego an inviting prospect. Visitors who don’t know their boom from their bow should speak with Seaforth Boat Rental (tel: +1888 834 2628; www.seaforthboatrental.com) to charter a sunset sail or cruise to Catalina Island. The operator also offers whale watching in winter.

Find the fairway on a championship golf course

Pleasant year-round weather makes San Diego a great golf destination. Whether you want to tee off accompanied by sea views, mountains or desert, there are over 90 courses to test your swing. Run by San Diego Park & Recreation, Torrey Pines (www.torreypinesgolfcourse.com) is a first-rate course that has hosted the US Open.

See the fireworks with a nighttime kayak

From June through to September, Seaworld hold a nightly firework display at Shamu Stadium. It might seem a little naughty and it certainly is novel, but instead of the stadium enjoy the spectacular with a night-time kayak. Lit by lanterns, San Diego Kayak Adventure (tel: +1 619 260 1880; www.sandiegokayakadventure.com) offers the excursion around Mission Bay.

Dive down to Wreck Alley

For scuba divers, surely there’s no better named site than Wreck Alley. Okay, so it may hold more weight if the ships weren’t intentionally sunk, but regardless these artificial reefs make for a brilliant dive. The Coronado Islands, in Mexican waters, are another popular spot. Waterhorse Charter (tel: +1 619 224 6195; www.waterhorsecharters.com) sail to both.

Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.