Morley Field Sports Complex

North Park

Where: 221 Morley Field Dr, San Diego, CA 92104
Located in the eclectic North Park neighborhood, Morley Field Sports Complex is a recreational area boasting wide-open spaces. Couples and friends can spend the day relaxing in its gardens and picnic areas. Or better yet, engaging in fun like disc golf, archery, and hiking. The park's playground and unique Nature Exploration area are fun spaces for kids to play and explore. A few blocks away, you will find Communal Coffee, a lovely coffee shop and flower boutique. Stop here to grab everything you'll need for an unforgettable picnic. In addition to specialty-crafted coffees, lattes, and lemonades, their menu offers a variety of food options. Choose between the artisanal cheese board or one of their delicious pizzettas. Don't forget to pick up one of their stunning flower bouquets for that extra special touch.

Ellen Browning Scripps Park

La Jolla

Where: 1100 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
With a sun-kissed coastline and dramatic coves, La Jolla has one of San Diego's most striking landscapes. In the heart of La Jolla Village, you’ll find George's at the Cove, a local favorite for delicious fare. You can order take-out from their Ocean Terrace menu featuring their famous fish tacos plus salads, pasta, sandwiches, and more. Their children’s menu includes mac and cheese, chicken strips, and regular or plant-based burger options. Grab your food and head down to the Ellen Browning Scripps Park. This picturesque park offers expansive green lawns, picnic tables, and sweeping ocean views. Afterward, enjoy a stroll along La Jolla Cove and marvel at the seals resting on the rocks down below.

Kate Sessions Park

Pacific Beach

Where: 5115 Soledad Rd, San Diego, CA 92109
If you want to enjoy one of the best views of San Diego, head up to Kate Sessions Park. This 79-acre park located on Mount Soledad is a preferred picnic spot among locals. Its gentle, grassy slope gives way to incredible vistas overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Mission Bay, and downtown. The park has parking areas, barbecues, restrooms, drinking fountains, and two playground structures. Picnic tables are scarce, so bring your picnic blanket and enjoy the shady spots among the trees. Nearby Pacific Beach offers a diverse selection of casual eateries with grab-and-go options. Pacific Beach AleHouse's lunch and dinner menu feature shareable dishes like flatbreads and a fun kid's menu. Stay for the sunset and bring your furry friend; dogs are allowed on leash.

Liberty Station NTC Park

Point Loma Peninsula

Where: 2455 Cushing Rd, San Diego, CA 92106
From green spaces lined with trees to seating areas by unique murals, Liberty Station offers diverse picnic setting options. This former Naval training center in the Point Loma neighborhood is an ideal spot for an outdoor getaway. There are just as many restaurants as picnic spaces to choose from. Whether for two or a small group, you can't go wrong with Liberty Public Market. This artisan food hall offers handcrafted pasta, Argentinian empanadas, craft popcorn, lobster rolls and everything in between. Don't forget dessert! Add a French flair with Le Parfait Paris' colorful macarons and freshly baked baguettes. After a delicious meal, families and couples can enjoy a walk along the waterfront or a paddle board session on the San Diego Bay.

Waterfront Park

Downtown

Where: 1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101
The Waterfront Park along downtown San Diego's Embarcadero offers 12 acres of open grassy spots, shaded sitting areas, gardens, and a children's play zone. The park's centerpiece is the 830-foot-long interactive fountain that doubles as a splash area for kids and adults. The waterfront boasts magnificent views highlighted by the Maritime Museum of San Diego's historic tall ships. The San Diego County Administrative Center, a Beaux-Arts/Spanish Revival-style building, serves as the perfect backdrop. The park's prime location offers many to-go dining options. A few feet away, the recently renovated Portside Pier is home to four great restaurants. Craving seafood? Brigantine's has a great selection of dishes, including small bites, fish plates, sandwiches, and oysters. Other restaurant options include the Portside Coffee & Gelato, Ketch Grill & Taps, and Miguel's Cocina.

Centennial Park

Coronado

Where: 1101 1st St, Coronado, CA 92118
San Diego will take your breath away with Centennial Park's impressive skyline views. Its fantastic location across from downtown San Diego is why this Coronado gem is a hot spot for weddings and photoshoots. Arrive before sunset and watch the skyline light up as the sun goes down. The park is conventionally located near the Coronado Ferry Landing, a shopping destination with art galleries, eateries, and dessert shops. Down the street, Coronado Brewing Company Pub is a San Diego staple for casual dining. Take-out options include wood-fired flatbreads, pub favorites, pasta, burgers, and kid food choices. Make the experience extra special and sail across the bay aboard the Coronado Ferry departing every 30 minutes from Broadway Pier and the San Diego Convention Center.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park

Where: 1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
San Diego's cultural heart is also one of its most photogenic destinations. For years, Balboa Park's lily pond and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture have captured the hearts of visitors and locals. The park's 1,200 acres offer many spaces for the perfect picnic setting. Couples, friends, families, and their pets can be seen lounging on grassy or stroll along its promenades and gardens. Before finding the ideal spot, grab delicious take-out at Panama 66, located at the San Diego Museum of Art's sculpture court. Their menu includes salads, sandwiches, and protein plates. Nearby, the Bankers Hill neighborhood also offers a wide selection of restaurants for pick up. Adults can indulge in San Diego's craft beer scene with to-go beers from Pure Project Balboa Park paired with Donna Jean's all-vegan pizzas and pasta. Alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed in designated lawn areas between noon and 8 p.m.