For young professionals and busy parents, free weekends tend to be few and far between. We’re often overloaded with work obligations, weddings, baby showers, kids’ birthday parties and more, not to mention needing to prep for the week ahead. So if you happen to find yourself with a weekend where you have 0 plans, it’s a BIG DEAL.
Thankfully, we live in San Diego, a city that is a mecca for weekend fun. There are so many different neighborhoods to explore, you’ll never run out of possibilities of places to go and things to do.
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If you’re trying to lead a more active lifestyle, lose weight, gain muscle, or perhaps you’d just like a change of scenery from your normal day-to-day gym session, there are plenty of opportunities to take your exercise outside in San Diego and work up a sweat doing something new and fun!
We’ve gathered this list of a few fitness-focused fun options for you in a variety of different San Diego hoods, so you can spend your precious free time getting in a good calorie burn instead of trying to plan out where to get one. If you're looking for more ideas to stay fit and active in San Diego, download our free Ebook: Push Ups & Tacos!
1. Hydro Bike in Mission Bay
San Diego’s newest and coolest adventure is here. Mission Bay’s HydroBikes provide an Instagram perfect fitness moment. A bike is mounted on two pontoons and boom, hydrobiking. You can have a chill or competitive ride with your friends around Mission Bay. Get a deep lower body burn and have a blast while doing it. You’ll be remiss if you miss out on this new MB spot.
2. Hike Iron Mountain
Hiking options in San Diego are plentiful. You can’t go five miles without stumbling along a trail. However, the typical paths like Cowles Mountain can get a little crowded during the weekends. But, there’s a little overlooked trail to our East out in Poway: Iron Mountain. This out and back 5.2 mile trail will take you up 1,102 feet to some pretty amazing inland vistas. If you can hold out until the fog rolls out, you’ll be able to catch views of Catalina Island. There’s little to no shade, so just make sure you pack all the full sun essentials when you set off from the trailhead.
3. Bike North Park
Mix a calorie burn with pleasure during a leisurely ride through North Park. Let the beautiful historic (and hipster!) backdrop provide a nice visual as you wind through museums, cafes, and breweries. It’s the weekend, so you can even dip into one of North Park’s finest dining spots. The mix of street and paved paths begins at The Bea Evenson Fountain and end at the El Prado. Enjoy the ride, just be mindful of the traffic as you get closer to Balboa Park.
4. Paddleboarding
If the above mentioned HydroBiking is not your thing, then stick with the classic paddleboard. With tons of spots from Mission Beach up to La Jolla coves, paddleboarding is a sure win. You can get a killer core workout and spot some of SoCal’s aquatic wildlife while you’re at it.
5. Apple Picking in Julian
It’s Fall (well, as Fall as SD will ever get) right now so head up to Julian. Julian is the place for quaint roads, country stores, and some of the best fresh fruit picking in all of SoCal. Many U-Pick farms not only offer a wide variety of apples but pears, oranges, and avocados. Stock up on healthy snacks while you get in a little cardio. Get two bags, fill them to the brim, and do actual Farmer Carries up and down the orchard.
6. Run Banker’s Hill to Hillcrest via the Footbridge
Get a good cardio session with a run through Banker’s Hill over to Hillcrest via San Diego’s only suspension bridge. This 375- steel suspension is located on Spruce Street just west of First Avenue. The bridge is suspended, so just know that you will sway and move with every footstep. It’s a fun way to spice up your typical run- if you’re brave enough. If you’re looking to extend your run you can find your way to several other footbridges, trails and canyons trails in the area as well.
7. Explore Slot Canyon
Slot Canyon, located in the Anza Borrego Springs State Park, is a place you might never know exists. A true hidden gem in SoCal, Slot Canyon is definitely an adventure. It’s not easy to get there, but once you’re there it is totally worth it. Along with Slot Canyon, there’s HellHole Canyon. It's a hike that leads to a palm tree oasis in the middle of nowhere. This place is for the serious adventure seeker. Your hard work will definitely pay off, as you won’t find canyons like this anywhere else in SoCal.
8. Stroll through Coronado
Hop on the Downtown Ferry and head over to the famous Coronado Island. Since the whole island is catered towards pedestrians, there is no safer neighborhood to stroll and explore. Once you are there, you can choose to kick the adventure up a notch on a paddleboard, bike, or kayak. There’s also a huge variety of healthy eating options available, so you could easily spend a day (or a weekend!) exploring the island and all it has to offer.
So the next time you find yourself with a free weekend, don’t spend it laying on the couch binge-watching Netflix. San Diego is one of the greatest cities in the U.S.- get out and explore it! You can combine fun with fitness and even burn some calories while you’re taking in the sights and experimenting with new activities. Is there anything you think we should add to this list? What’s your favorite thing to do in San Diego on the weekend? Comment below!