10 Best Pacific Beach Activities to Try This Summer

Pacific Beach, California, is one of the top neighborhoods in the San Diego area. Pacific Beach brings together all of the sun, sand, waves, shops, restaurants, entertainment, and more that you expect in Southern California, all with its own unique flavor. You can watch whales, eat ice cream, and hit the spa all in the same day. Try out some of these 10 best activities in Pacific Beach this summer, and you’ll want to come back every summer thereafter.

Let’s get the low-hanging fruit out of the way: Pacific Beach has all of the shining water, warm sand, rolling waves, barnacled piers, and sun-bleached deck umbrellas that you expect to see when you’re in the San Diego area. If you’re looking not just for sunbathing and beach-combing but also for some waves to catch, Tourmaline Beach is among the best surf spots in the area. If you don’t know how to surf and you’d like to give it a try, you can easily find surfing lessons locally. Even if surfing is not your thing, Tourmaline Beach is a great place to explore when the tide goes out and leaves behind tide pools that are replete with sea life.

In addition to conventional beachside activities, there are various opportunities for yoga and other events at the beach. Whatever you like to do by the seashore, you can enjoy the luxury version of it in Pacific Beach.

When you’re not enjoying a day by the shore, there are other opportunities to get outdoors in Pacific Beach, and the local parks offer some of the best spots for enjoying the sunshine. Kate Sessions Neighborhood Park is a particularly good spot to relax, play, have a picnic, and enjoy a lovely Pacific Beach sunset.

Fishing is a great pastime to enjoy when you’re in Pacific Beach. Fishermen’s Channel is a great spot for shore fishing locally, but there are several other places to check out. One of the best, most convenient, and easily accessible spots is Crystal Pier, which is open to the public for fishing during the day. For whale watchers on Crystal Pier, there’s no need to sit on a boat eating clam chowder for 90 minutes. Particularly at certain times of the year, you can spot whales right from the pier. If the whales don’t come out when you’re there, you can still catch a stunning sunset over the sea from the edge of Crystal Pier, so be sure to visit this local landmark while you’re in Pacific Beach.

Even when you’re not hitting the waves, you’ll want to be outdoors when you’re in Pacific Beach. The boardwalk in Pacific Beach runs parallel to the shore for over three miles, beginning in North Pacific Beach. Enjoy a leisurely walk, a lively jog, or a relaxing bike ride while you take in the sights of Pacific Beach and the Pacific Ocean simultaneously.

If you love seafood, living in a coastal town is always a plus. If you don’t, you’ll still find excellent cuisine in Pacific Beach and throughout the San Diego area generally. There are lots of unique opportunities for outdoor dining for those looking for yet another way to enjoy the Pacific Beach sun, with patios and rooftop bars for a range of different experiences. You can find several great restaurants and cafes right by the oceanfront. Whether inland or by the sea, you’ll find a variety of great dining in Pacific Beach. After you’ve had your fill, you can stop for soft-serve ice cream or drinks at a variety of spots near the beach.

When you’re ready for some deeper relaxation in Pacific Beach, check out one of the local hotels, resorts, or spa facilities in the area. In particular, the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa deliver a classic beach town resort experience.

There are plenty of venues for music, entertainment, and fun throughout Pacific Beach as well as the surrounding area. There is also Quicksand Escape Games on Garnett Avenue, where you’ll find a variety of different escape rooms in order to enjoy an exciting challenge with friends or family.

Pacific Beach is a great place for shopping, because you can enjoy a variety of niche local boutiques and shops, or you can wander into adjacent neighborhoods of San Diego to find even more. One place to check out would be Pangea Outpost, where you can find eclectic goods from dozens of different local artisans and vendors, as well as imported gifts, all under one roof.

Pacific Beach is an ideal area to just lounge around by the shore. However, if you want to take in as much history, culture, and interesting sights as you possibly can while you’re in Pacific Beach, check out a local tour. Electric bike tours, in particular, are a great way to get a feel for the lay of the land while you get some exercise and enjoy the sunshine. You can see different views of the beach, discover new spots to check out and find unique examples of Pacific Beach real estate. This is a terrific option for those who want to find an active way to check out as much of the Pacific Beach community as possible.

With so much to do in Pacific Beach this summer, you won’t want to leave. If you’d like to be able to relax in your own slice of luxury Pacific Beach real estate at the end of a long day in the sun, local realtor Jamie Lennon would love to show you what’s out there in the market right now. If you’re interested in owning an investment property in the area, Jamie would also be happy to be at your service. Pacific Beach and other great neighborhoods in the area form the bedrock of Jamie’s real estate portfolio, with new listings coming in all the time for properties inland, near the beach, or in between. Contact Pacific Beach real estate expert Jamie Lennon to buy — or sell — your next property in the San Diego area.