Discover new attractions, exciting events, venues and restaurants to stay ‘cool’ as the San Diego summer heats up!
Attractions and Events
LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA
Where: One Legoland Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008
The world’s first LEGO® Ferrari “Build and Race” interactive attraction opened in May at LEGOLAND® California. Featuring a life-size Ferrari F40 model developed by the LEGO® Group, “Build and Race” features three zones, offering different obstacles and challenges for riders as they try to clock the fastest time.
SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO
Where: 500 Sea World Dr., San Diego, CA 92109
Electric Ocean, SeaWorld San Diego’s electrifying all-ages summer event featuring both daytime and nighttime entertainment, returns this summer through Aug. 14. After a day of exploring the park, guests can continue their visit after dark, and enjoy environments of light and music while experiencing fan-favorite SeaWorld attractions and other fun surprises.
LITTLE ITALY
Where: 523 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101
ArtWalk Little Italy Summer Series is back and taking place at the Piazza della Famiglia as well as the adjacent block of West Date Street. The event will run every other Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 26, July 10 and July 24, giving attendees the chance to purchase one-of-a-kind art from local, national and international artists in a variety of media.
THE RADY SHELL AT JACOBS PARK
Where: 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego, CA 92101
The San Diego Symphony has returned to The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, its new, permanent bayfront performance venue, for its annual summer concert series. The season runs through September, with additional programming October through December.
BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS
Where: 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037
In July, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps will open the Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins habitat, becoming the only aquarium in the western U.S. to house the world’s smallest penguins. Visitors will learn about the challenges facing these birds in the wild. The 2,900-square-foot exhibit will include rocky and sandy shore habitat, an 18,000-gallon pool, a small amphitheater, and a discovery cave for children to closely observe the Little Blue Penguins on land and inside nesting burrows.
COMIC-CON 2022
Where: 111 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
For the first time since 2019, Comic-Con, the largest comic and pop-culture event in the U.S., returns to the San Diego Convention Center July 21-24. The popular event attracts thousands of artists, celebrities and fans from around the globe with hundreds of hours of programming that includes films, panels, gaming, animation exhibits and all things related to pop culture.
DEL MAR RACING
Where: 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014
The Del Mar Racetrack is back with a 2022 summer racing season running from July 22 to Sept. 11. Fans will flock to the iconic racing track where “the turf meets the surf” to bet on the nation’s top racehorses, trainers and jockeys while having a bit of fun in the sun.
LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY
Where: 7600 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
La Jolla Music Society (LJMS)’s SummerFest 2022 will return to The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center from July 29 to Aug. 26. Music Director Inon Barnatan, who is returning for his fourth year, has created an ambitious program, evocatively titled “Under the Influence,” which aims to explore the muses who inspired renowned composers throughout history.
DAY.MVS XL
Where: 1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA
Aided by a strong debut in 2021, San Diego’s DAY.M in downtown San Diego’s scenic Waterfront Park. DAY.MVS XL, a FNGRS CRSSD production, will be a 21+ event, featuring home to house, techno and live electronic music, including such popular acts as Eric Prydz, Vintage Culture, ANNA, Purple Disco Machine, Dixon, Claptone and more.
WONDERFRONT FESTIVAL
Where: 400 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
The highly anticipated Wonderfront Festival 2022 will return to San Diego’s downtown waterfront Nov. 18-20, 2022. The festival will feature seven-plus stages and 80+ bands throughout the three-day music, culinary and arts festival. This year’s lineup will include Zac Brown Band, Kings of Leon, Gwen Stefani, G-Eazy, Young the Giant and more.
New Hotels & Renovations
CORMORANT BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Where: 1110 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
After an extensive three-year renovation, the Cormorant Boutique Hotel, formerly the La Jolla Inn, opened in May, bringing a midcentury-modern aesthetic to the heart of this upscale seaside community. The hotel includes 26 nautical-inspired guestrooms, each with a balcony and expansive views of the Pacific Ocean; a new rooftop terrace bar, Birdseye, which features craft cocktails and small plates; and Prospect Market, an upscale grab-and-go marketplace.
New Venues
ASYLUM – OUTDOOR BOULDERING
Where: 46 19th St, San Diego, CA 92102
Asylum Rock Gym, which opened in April in the Logan Heights neighborhood, is a one-of-a-kind facility with an outdoor rock wall, yoga and live DJs as well as food and drink. Aside from the unique outdoor aspect, Asylum operates like most gyms, with standard memberships costing $60 a month and day passes at $22.
TOP GOLF SWING SUITE
Where: 333 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina’s Topgolf Swing Suite opened in April, featuring indoor putting grounds perfect for everything from corporate happy hours to special occasions with loved ones. Outfitted with games ideal for golfers and non-golfers alike, including Topgolf target games, carnival classics, zombie dodgeball, hockey and jewel jam, the Topgolf Swing Suite provides an activity filled with playful competition, and with views of San Diego Bay.
MIC DROP COMEDY
Where: 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92123
Mic Drop Comedy. a comedy club in Kearny Mesa, pays homage to its 30-year-old predecessor, Comedy Palace. The club holds 90-minute stand-up shows every Wednesday through Sunday with unique programming such as boozy Sunday brunch shows, a comic hypnotist and more. Mic Drop Comedy also offers a full dinner menu and extensive cocktail offerings, with no drink or food minimum.
HILTON SAN DIEGO BAYFRONT
Where: 1 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
In May, the Hilton San Diego Bayfront unveiled its newest waterfront event space, The Pointe. Located on the ground floor of the hotel, this recent renovation features refined details with the picturesque backdrop of San Diego Bay, making it the perfect location for a variety of events and occasions.
SNAPDRAGON STADIUM
Where: 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego, CA 92108
The centerpiece of the SDSU Mission Valley campus, Snapdragon Stadium is slated to open in September. The 35,000-seat stadium will serve as the home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team as well as the San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League and the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby. The year-round entertainment destination will also host over 300 projected events and serve as a community hub.
Arts and Culture
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LA JOLLA
Where: 700 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
The Shop @ MCASD at the reimagined Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s La Jolla location features a finely curated, site-specific shopping experience, including artist-inspired beach towels, special-edition surfboards and a signature picnic blanket for a sunset on the beach. Unique items for sale reflect not only the permanent collection and rotating exhibitions but also echo its coastal location and vibe. The Shop @ MCASD is open Thursday through Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.
SAN DIEGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Where: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
In May, the San Diego Natural History Museum opened its new, permanent exhibition Expedition Baja, which invites visitors to explore the Baja California Peninsula and follow researchers on their quest to conserve its wild beauty. Featuring museum specimens, immersive imagery and stories about conservation work happening there, Expedition Baja brings the region to life.
TIMKEN MUSEUM OF ART
Where: 1500 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
The reopened Timken Museum of Art has spent the past two years under renovations to honor the museum’s historic architecture and mission while improving the visitor experience. Called Balboa Park’s “jewel box,” the Timken is a treasure of midcentury architecture filled with European and American masterpieces, including the only Rembrandt publicly on display in San Diego, as well as European art icons. The museum’s admission is always free.
COMIC-CON MUSEUM
Where: 2131 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101
Debuting July 1, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing – The Exhibition. This major event at the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park celebrates the 60th anniversary of Marvel’s friendly neighborhood superhero. The exhibit will feature interactive installations; an extensive collection of priceless Marvel artifacts from the past six decades, including original comic art; and animation materials and film production elements from the web-slinger’s rich legacy. The museum closed in June to prepare for the exhibition in July.
Restaurants, Breweries and Bars
HAPPY DOES BAR
Where: 340 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Happy Does, in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, features a playful selection of drinks served on a retro indoor-outdoor bar. DJ Legend, the bar’s resident DJ, focuses on ‘80s, ‘90s and throwback hits mixed with current pop tracks. Happy Does offers a fruit-forward and refreshing cocktail menu in addition to a selection of wines, beers and bubbles, with a limited food menu focused on chicken tenders.
GOODBAR
Where: 1872 Rosecrans St, Point Loma, CA 92106
GoodBar, Point Loma’s popular neighborhood bar, reopened its doors in April after a two-year hiatus. The bar now features new cocktails and dishes, a refreshed décor and a hilarious comedy lineup. The menu includes small bites, sandwiches and burgers, and cocktail options include the Rosecrans Mule, the Good Ol’ Fashioned and the Loma-Rita.
MADAM BONNIE’S
Where: 411 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101
Madam Bonnie’s, located in the historic Hotel Lester building, opened in May, featuring a food menu comprised of protein-driven plates such as Crispy Skin Porchetta, Prime Rib, Garlic & Thyme ½ Organic Chicken, salad, sides and rotating fresh seafood specials. The libation menu includes cocktails named after iconic women from the ‘20s through the ‘40s, such as Amelia Earhart, Valentina Ramirez and Clara Bow, plus a variety of wines and daily selection of draft beers.
HUDSON & NASH
Where: 1 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Hudson & Nash is the Hilton San Diego Bayfront’s new on-site, waterfront restaurant concept inspired by a classic Pacific Coast Highway road trip. With a something-for-everyone menu, the kitchen sources fresh ingredients from regional purveyors alongside beverages that span coastal-inspired cocktails, California coastal wines and craft beers from local breweries.
MARISI ITALIANO
Where: 1044 Wall St, La Jolla, CA 92037
Debuting in early summer, Marisi Italiano in La Jolla will feature a menu rooted in regional dishes from the whole of Italy, including handmade pasta and hearth-cooked meats and seafood. The international cocktail program features an array of Italian aperitivos, homemade limoncello, rare spirits and an Italian pilsner made specifically for Marisi.
PART TIME LOVER
Where: 3829 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
The popular San Diego restaurant group CH Projects unveiled its newest concept, Part Time Lover. This is a hi-fi listening bar and record store in the hip North Park neighborhood. A cultural hub rooted in music, Part Time Lover features specially curated soundtracks, pastries, coffee and cocktails inspired by Japan’s listening-bar culture.
LAVO SAN DIEGO
Where: 611 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Opened in June, Tao Group Hospitality’s LAVO San Diego brings Italian cuisine to San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter. LAVO San Diego caters to locals and visitors alike, featuring 235 seats and occupying a prime corner in the lively neighborhood. Guests can expect a boisterous dining experience juxtaposed with a laid-back yet sophisticated Southern California flair. The restaurant will first be open for dinner, followed by lunch and brunch later this summer.
MISSION & GARNET
Where: 800 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Slated to open in June, Mission + Garnet is a 4,000-square-foot restaurant space with six distinct food concepts under one roof. Situated at the intersection of Mission Boulevard and Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach, the venue houses three of local restaurateur Scott Slater’s existing fast-casual brands: the healthy salad shop Head Lettuce, Spitfire Tacos, and breakfast burrito outpost Early Bird. Joining them is a gourmet churro outfit, a sandwich shop based around whole cuts of meat, and an outdoor hot dog stand that features a bacon-stuffed, all-beef hot dog that Slater developed for Slater’s 50/50.
FISHER’S SAN DIEGO
Where: 555 W Beech St, San Diego 92101
Scheduled to open in August, Fisher’s San Diego will bring an “avant-garde” Mexican seafood style of cuisine to San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood. Guests can expect to find an oyster bar, seafood bar and the freshest and finest shellfish available on dry land. Fisher’s other locations are mostly in Mexico, making San Diego its first U.S. eatery.
CHICK & HAWK
Where: 145 Leucadia Blvd, Encinitas, CA 92024
Chick & Hawk, which is scheduled to open this summer, is a collaboration between pro skate icon Tony Hawk, a North County resident, and chef Andrew Bachelier of Jeune et Jolie and Cucina Enoteca. The pair developed the menu out of their mutual fondness for spicy fried chicken as well as their commitment to sustainable poultry. The “fast fine” restaurant’s open kitchen will serve a variety of plates based on locally sourced ingredients, including a raw bar and seafood dishes. The artwork and design of the restaurant will celebrate ‘90s skate and surf culture.
Awards and Recognitions
POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY
Where: 3900 Lomaland Dr, San Diego, CA 92106
Recently, Major League Baseball (MLB) recognized Point Loma Nazarene University’s Carroll B. Land Baseball Field as “America’s Most Scenic Ballpark,” highlighting its panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean as well as its recent upgrades that have improved the field and experience for players and spectators alike.
PETCO PARK
Where: 100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
The hits keep on coming! USA Today named San Diego’s Petco Park the best MLB stadium in America for 2022. Home of the Padres, Petco Park received USA Today’s praise for its great downtown location, local weather, food, beer and, of course, the stadium itself, which offers views of both the skyline and the waterfront.
Start Planning Your Summer in San Diego
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