SAN DIEGO BEACHES, BAYS and PARKS

All beaches, bays and parks are free to enter. Beach parking includes metered parking and in some cases, parking for $6-8 per day.

San Diego, CA

Embarcadero Marina Park
DESCRIPTION: this popular park on the rejuvenated southern waterfront near to modern high rise hotels features stunning views of San Diego Bay and is walking distance from San Diego Convention Center; as locals know, this is a great park to cast a fishing rod, jog or bike, people-watch and gaze at million-dollar yachts and the post-card skyline; as conventioneers quickly discover, the vendor kiosks, inviting gift shops and seafood restaurants lining the marina walkway and next to Seaport Village can easily soak up hours and make your wallet lighter
DAYS & HOURS: daily 6a-10:30p
ADDRESS: between Kettner Blvd and Marina Park Way  MAP
PARKING: paid lot on premises
PHONE: 619-686-6570
WEBSITE: Link

La Jolla Shores & Cove
DESCRIPTION: Consists of two beaches, La Jolla Shores is a sandy one mile long beach adjacent to a residential area; in summer, waves are usually the most gentle of all San Diego beaches, making it perfect for families; a permanent lifeguard station is located adjacent to the main parking lot at the foot of Calle Frescota; the south end of the beach near the foot of Vallecitos is heavily used by scuba diving classes; La Jolla Cove is one of America’s premier intimate beaches and so romantic, its been featured in several movies and TV programs; you can scuba dive or snorkel in the underwater park, it sits between La Jolla shopping district and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
DAYS & HOURS: daily 6a-dusk
ADDRESS: 8200 Camino del Oro  MAP
PARKING: Plenty at the foot of Calle Frescota
PHONE: 619-235-1169
WEBSITE: link

Pacific Beach
DESCRIPTION: A 2-mile stretch of beach along the ocean that connects to the Mission Beach District, The Strand (not to be confused with Silver Strand) is known as San Diego's most popular beach area and draws large crowds in the summer; as always, check out surfers and divers, play volleyball or just lounge; a narrow cement boardwalk parallels the entire beach for walking and biking; use caution and courtesy in using the popular boardwalk; gift shops, restaurants, and beach rental outfits can be found north of Pacific Beach drive; the southern end is predominately residential; main lifeguard station and restrooms are at the foot of Grand Avenue
DAYS & HOURS: daily 6a-dusk
ADDRESS: Mission Beach  MAP
PARKING: on-street in the median at the foot of Grand Avenue and along Ocean Boulevard
PHONE: 619-235-1169
WEBSITE: link

Mission Bay Park
DESCRIPTION: A case of urban re-development gone right, this park was dredged, filled in and landscaped in all the right places of its 4600 acres. The world’s largest aquatic park has separate areas for swimming, fishing, powerboating and sailing. Bike riders, kite fliers and joggers also experience a taste of heaven here. World famous attraction, Sea World, allows Shamu The Killer Whale to headline a collection of trained dolphin, otter, penguin, polar bear and sea lion acts
DAYS & HOURS:
ADDRESS: 2688 East Mission Bay Drive  MAP
PARKING: paid lot on premises
PHONE: 619-221-8900‎
WEBSITE: link

Mission Beach
DESCRIPTION: as the center of a 2-mile stretch of beach beginning at the Mission Bay channel entrance and ending at the north end of Pacific Beach, The Strand is the most popular beach in the City of San Diego and draws large crowds in summer; for people-watching, check out surfers and divers, play volleyball or just lounge on this classic California beach; the main lifeguard station and restrooms are at the foot of Ventura Place, the south side of Belmont Park, and at the commercial mall adjacent to the Mission Beach lifeguard station
DAYS & HOURS: daily 6a-dusk
ADDRESS: Mission Beach  MAP
PARKING: plenty free spaces next to Belmont Park and at the foot of West Mission Bay Drive
PHONE: 619-235-1169
WEBSITE: link

Ocean Beach
DESCRIPTION: Municipal Pier is located at the south end of the beach and is available to the public for walking and fishing; there is a restaurant and bait shop on the pier; fishing from the pier does not require a fishing license, but catch regulations are enforced; numerous restaurants, surf shops, and other commercial establishments are available near the south end of the beach. The north end of the beach is primarily bordered by residential properties; check out surfers and divers, play volleyball or just lounge on this classic California beach; the main lifeguard station and restrooms are at 1950 Abbott Street
DAYS & HOURS: daily 6a-dusk
ADDRESS: 1950 Abbott Street  MAP
PARKING: Plenty at the foot of Voltaire Street
PHONE: 619-235-1169
WEBSITE: link

Balboa Park
DESCRIPTION: In 1892, in exchange for 32 acres of land in the northwest corner of the Park for her commercial nursery, Kate Sessions offered to plant 100 trees a year within "City Park" and donate 300 trees and shrubs for use elsewhere in the City; thus, Kate Sessions became the early designer of the park's beautiful landscaping and the park has expanded to ; home to most museums in San Diego, one of the world's great public parks also features a planetarium and large expanses of open space for picnics and outdoor sports; the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition Art and Culture, Gardens and Spanish-Renaissance Architecture left many residual venues in the park: San Diego Zoo, Fleet Science Center, Air & Space Museum, Natural History Museum, San Diego Museum of Man, San Diego Museum of Art, Mingei International Museum, Museum of San Diego History, Centro Cultural de la Raza, Balboa Park Carousel, San Diego Art Institute, Timken Museum of Art, Photographic Arts Building, Japanese Friendship Garden, San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum, Miniature Railroad, World Beat Center, Veterans Museum, Japanese Friendship Garden and Visitors Center; also contains performing art venues The Old Globe, Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Starlight Theatre and Starlight Bowl
DAYS & HOURS: daily 9:30a-4:30p, with expanded summer hours
ADDRESS: visitor center at 1549 El Prado #1  MAP
PARKING: plenty around the park
PHONE: 619-239-0512
WEBSITE: http://www.balboapark.org

Cabrillo National Monument
DESCRIPTION: Perched on a bluff near the tip of this rocky green Point Loma peninsula, this park is immaculately beautiful; in Spanish, “loma” means “hill", a fitting description of the rolling topography of the area; archaeological remnants tell of human occupation of the Point as far back as 7,000 years; the large stone monument is dedicated to Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to lay eyes on it in 1542; visit the old Point Loma Lighthouse from outside and inside; as both the entrance to San Diego Harbor and a peninsula on the windy Pacific Ocean, plants and animals have adapted to this harsh environment which can go months without rain, yet get plenty of morning chills; Point Loma has also played an important part in this country's military history - Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery honors over 86,000 veterans and dependents who are interred here; scenic Catalina Boulevard is part of San Diego’s 59-mile Scenic Drive, and affords panoramic, if not bucolic, views of the ocean and city on your way to Cabrillo National Monument
DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-5p
ADDRESS: Point Loma  MAP
PARKING: free on premises
PHONE: 619-557-5450‎
WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/cabr

Coronado, CA

Silver Strand State Beach
DESCRIPTION: this long strand of beach no more than a few blocks wide in sections, spans several miles while connecting Coronado with the South Bay; you can visit Hotel Del Coronado along the way; this beach is known for camping, swimming, surfing, boating, water-skiing, volleyball, picnicking and Navy SEALs, who often run along the beach for exercise; anglers can fish for perch, corbina, grunion and yellow-fin croaker; the beach also attracts party hounds, so if you're looking for quiet relaxation pick your location carefully; dogs are not allowed on the beach, but are allowed on the camping spaces; the beach offers Wi-Fi Service
DAYS & HOURS: daily 6a-dusk
ADDRESS: 5000 Highway 75  MAP
PARKING: hundreds of public parking spaces
PHONE: 619-435-5184‎
WEBSITE: Link