Happy New Year! During your next visit, you will still be able to enjoy San Diego’s amazing weather (it’s in the 70s as I am writing this) and gorgeous beaches all while checking out these 14 things to try in 2014:
1. Explore San Diego’s Breweries
With over 80 breweries currently operating and 30 more in the works, it can be a challenge to visit all of them. Of course, the best way to sample San Diego’s award-winning beers is to visit the breweries themselves. If you want to visit a few and enjoy many samples, take advantage of a built-in Designated Driver on a brewery tour offered by Brew Hop, Brewery Tours of San Diego, and San Diego Beer & Wine Tours.
Since San Diego’s beers are so delicious, please remember to drink responsibly.
> Sample more of San Diego’s Craft Beer Scene
2. Discover Something New at a Museum Exhibition
In 2014, museums throughout San Diego will be hosting new and exciting exhibitions. Just a few include Real Pirates at theNAT, GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked the World at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Tattoos & Scrimshaw, the Art of the Sailor at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, and BEERology: Craft, Culture, and Civilization at the San Diego Museum of Man.
> Discover more new exhibitions at museums throughout San Diego
3. Tull Family Tiger Trail at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
A forested habitat providing a new home for the Safari Park’s Sumatran tigers, a critically endangered species, Tiger Trail offers up-close views of the fascinating felines and highlights conservation efforts for the species. The five-acre exhibit includes three separate yards with rocks for climbing, ponds for swimming, deadwood trees to use as scratching posts and long grasses for catnaps.
Where: 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027
When: Opening Memorial Day Weekend 2014
Cost: Included with admission
> Visit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
4. LEGO® Legends of Chima Water Park
Based on the popular LEGO set “Legends of Chima,” the new three-acre addition to LEGOLAND Water Park will feature an interactive wave pool designed for families with young children; an iconic 30-foot tall floating “Mount Cavora;” Cragger’s Swamp is a hands-on water play area featuring water slides, water cannons and jets, and a slide through the head of a massive crocodile; Eglor’s Build-A-Boat gives young guests the opportunity to build their own boat and learn how to change the currents, build and dodge obstacles and race against their friends; and a dining area called Wolves’ Cantina.
Where: One LEGOLAND Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008
When: Opening Summer 2014
Cost: Included with water park admission
> Visit LEGOLAND California Resort
5. SeaWorld’s 50th Anniversary
A Sea of Surprises awaits at SeaWorld San Diego! SeaWorld will celebrate their 50th year (and they look so young) with the Surprise Squad handing out prizes to random guests, new roaming entertainment including a bubble lab and even more meet-and-greets with some of the animal-ambassadors throughout the park.
Where: 500 SeaWorld Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
When: Starts in March 2014
Cost: Included with admission
> Visit SeaWorld San Diego
6. Explore the Pan-Asian Foods of San Diego
There’s much more to San Diego’s dining scene than fish tacos and California burritos. San Diego is also home to amazing restaurants highlighting foods and dishes from across Asia:
- Korean/Pan-Asian – The new Zion Market in Clairemont Mesa started out as a Korean market but is now a foodies dream with a pan-asian supermarket and food court (there’s even a French bakery just for fun).
- Vietnamese – Taste delicious Vietnamese dishes at over 10 restaurants in San Diego’s Little Saigon, a six-block stretch along El Cajon Boulevard from Highland to Euclid.
- Filipino – Head a few miles south to Little Manila on Plaza Boulevard in National City for amazing Filipino restaurants like Manila Sunset, Tita’s Kitchenette and Goldilocks Bakeshop.
- Indian – From exotic spices to delicious curries, Little India on Black Mountain Road is a spice lovers dream.
Darn it, now I am hungry! 🙂
7. Lakeside Rodeo turns 50
Break out the boots and put on your favorite cowboy hat for the Lakeside Rodeo’s 50th Anniversary! Since 1964, the El Capitan Stadium Association has brought top rodeo talent and entertainment to San Diego’s East County to put on a world-class rodeo all while raising funds for the local schools.
Where: 12584 Mapleview St., Lakeside, CA 92040
When: April 25-27, 2014
Cost: $5-$250
> Find out more about the Lakeside Rodeo
8. Taumata Racer® at Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark
Are you ready?! Taumata Racer, the new slide at Aquatica, will zoom riders down a 375-foot slide, around a 180-degree swooping turn, and in and out of tunnels before racing them across the finish line. This head-first mat-racer water slide is a unique blend of competitive racing and high-speed thrills, featuring six side-by-side lanes. After that adrenaline rush, you might want to spend a few minutes in the lazy river and calm down!
Where: 2052 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista, CA 91911
When: Summer 2014
Cost: Included with admission
> Visit Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark
9. The Need for Speed on San Diego Bay
Fulfill that need for speed with massive 1,400 HP engines propelling you over San Diego Bay at very high speeds! A ride aboard Flagship’s Patriot will take your breath away with amazing views of San Diego and 360-degree hairpin turns. Or, hop aboard Speed Boat Adventure’s Sea Rocket for a thrilling tour, blaring music and a ton of fun. A word of warning to thrill chasers – Watch out, you will get wet!
10. Jetpacks
Live on the edge and soar up to 30 feet above Mission Bay with a water-powered jetpack from Jetpack America! Within minutes, you can learn all the basics of jetpack flight, such as take-off, landing, elevation control, turning and hovering. I took a flight a few months ago and it was amazing!
Where: 1010 Santa Clara Place, San Diego, CA 92109
Cost: $159-$549
> Find out more about Jetpack America
11. Bike San Diego
Whether on a beach cruiser or a 24-speed, San Diego’s year-round beautiful weather makes it an amazing city for a bike ride. Explore the city with paths along San Diego Bay, Mission Bay and Ocean Beach. Up for a challenge, try the 24 mile Bayshore Bikeway.
In early 2014, the City of San Diego and Deco Bikes will install the first of many bike sharing locations throughout the downtown area. Once the stations are ready, visitors and locals will be able to quickly move around the city on two wheels.
Please Note: California law requires anyone under the age of 18 to wear a helmet when on a bicycle. It is also recommended for adults to wear a helmet when riding in the city.
> Explore San Diego on Two Wheels
12. Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Wizard of OZ Week
Coronado is gearing up for its premier Wizard of Oz week, August 1-10, 2013 being held in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the Wizard of Oz movie and 50th anniversary of Winkie Con at the Town & Country Resort. There will be Wizard of Oz walking tours of Coronado, Oz film screenings and storytelling, an exhibition of Oz memorabilia, Wizard of Oz character costume contests and more.
Did you know: Author L. Frank Baum lived in Coronado and wrote three of his famous Oz books on the island; the Hotel del Coronado was his inspiration for the Emerald City!
13. Without Walls Festival
After a successful first year in 2013, the Without Walls (Wow) Festival will return in 2014 with over 20 theatre and art performances by local, national and international artists brought together by Festival founder La Jolla Playhouse and partners UC San Diego, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) and The New Children’s Museum.
When: Fall 2014
> Find out more about the Without Walls Festival
14. Del Mar Races in November?!
Up until last year, Del Mar Racetrack only held races from mid-July through early September. However, with the close of the Hollywood Park, Del Mar will have a second season this year in November. Now you have two opportunities to wear a fancy hat on opening day!
> Start Planing Your San Diego Vacation at SanDiego.org
Have something you’re looking forward to seeing and/or doing in San Diego during 2014? Let us and others know in the comments below.