San Diego is the perfect place if you love to exercise and spend time outdoors. The destination boasts nearly perfect weather and 270 days of sunshine annually. Additional, San Diego offers diverse terrain from the ocean to the mountains to the desert. Ideal ingredients for anyone who likes to workout, stay fit and be healthy.
You can enjoy a plethora of great outdoor workout spots and activities in San Diego. Whether you’re a hardcore fanatic training for the next Ironman race or an occasional exerciser who just wants to burn off that second (or third) piece of pie, below are 7 outdoor spots to include in your next workout schedule.
Waterfront Runs
You can train for a future marathon or enjoy a leisurely jog at many scenic waterfront running routes. Warm-up along the popular 3-mile Mission Beach-Pacific Beach boardwalk, and check out the local surf culture. You can also jog along lesser-known Sunset Cliffs for a 2-mile stretch of breathtaking ocean views. Need to log more distance? Get in a good 5-mile workout while taking in all the sights along downtown’s Embarcadero. Or lace up the trainers for the approximate 9-mile Silver Strand trail between Coronado and Imperial Beach. This is considered one of the most beautiful routes in Southern California.
Stair Running
Strengthen your muscles, heart and lungs running the steps of outdoor staircases, many found in scenic settings. You’ll get a great workout on the 100-step staircase of the San Diego Convention Center in downtown.Sprint the 145 steps leading down to Swami’s beach in Encinitas, one of San Diego’s most popular surfing spots. Although challenging to find, search out the La Mesa Secret Stairs, nicknamed the “Hidden Stairs,” and cross-train on La Mesa’s 245-step stairway. Treat yourself to spectacular panoramic views when running the steps of the huge outdoor amphitheatre in Mt. Helix Park, also located in La Mesa.
Parcourses
Circuit train at a variety of parcourses around San Diego. These workout courses provide a mix of strength building, calisthenics, stretching, and good old-fashioned cardio. Head over to downtown to the Embarcadero Marina Park South parcourse with stations for push-ups, dips and pull-ups. There are also nearby benches and picnic tables perfect for step-ups and box jumps. At the De Anza Cove Parcourse along Mission Bay, find about a dozen stretch and strength stations with signage explaining how to use them. Check out the Tecolote Shores Parcourse along Mission Bay. The mile-long course and stations for box jumps, push-ups, decline sit-ups, and vaults. At the Perrier Parcourse in Morley Field, start on the grassy patch near the park’s sports complex. Run a 2.5-mile course with 18 stations along the way, including pull-up bars, log hops, sit-ups, and a balance beam.
Outdoor Yoga
Interested in exercising your mind, body and soul? Bring your mat to one of San Diego’s many outdoor yoga classes. Head over to the grassy lawn overlooking the ocean at the end of Law Street in Pacific Beach at 10:00 to 11:30 AM on weekend mornings. Enjoy an all level class that will leave you feeling alive and invigorated. Find your inner Zen on the glittering sands of Coronado Beach with the Hotel del Coronado’s Sunrise Yoga, held 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Fridays–Sundays. Enjoy the calming rhythm of the Pacific as you find inner peace with Sunset Cliffs Yoga, held on scenic Sunset Cliffs, 3:30 to 4:30 PM, Mondays and Tuesdays. Join The OM Experience 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Sundays in Balboa Park, a joyful Vinyasa-style yoga class that features nature, live music and the beautiful outdoors. Namaste.
Hiking Trails
Enjoy incredible sights while hiking San Diego’s many scenic trails. Start at the 2,000-acre Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, a coastal wilderness of pine forests, sandstone canyons and breathtaking ocean views. Venture along connecting trails that allow you to create hikes ranging from easy to moderately difficult. Enjoy sweeping views of downtown and San Diego Bay when hiking the trails at Cabrillo National Monument. It’s the birthplace of California, located on the tip of Point Loma. You can also see neighboring Mexico on clear, sunny days. Hike the trail to Cowles Mountain in Mission Trails Regional Park, the highest point in the city of San Diego at 1,592 feet, for 360-degree panoramic views. Trek the trail to the top of Volcan Mountain in rural East County. From the summit, you’ll enjoy spectacular vistas that span the area from the Salton Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
Outdoor Pools
You can swim and water exercise with day and resort passes in many outdoor pools at local hotels and resorts. Log some laps in the 25-meter Olympic-style pool designed by legendary swimmer Johnny Weissmuller in the Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club and Bungalows in trendy North Park. Enjoy a luxurious Mediterranean setting with beautiful views of the ocean at the spacious pool of the iconic La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla. Your resort day pass at the bayfront InterContinental San Diego allows access to a rooftop pool featuring sights of the downtown skyline and scenic Embarcadero. Swim in the Junior Olympic–sized pool (25 yards) at the rooftop AquaVie Fitness + Wellness Club in the Westgate Hotel in downtown.
Outdoor Gyms
If you’re looking for an al fresco workout, check out Crunch in Pacific Beach. The gym offers 9,000 square feet of tented outdoor space loaded with free weights, dumbbells, squat racks and more. At The Movement Warehouse in Pacific Beach, you’ll find 2,500 square feet of private outdoor space also loaded with tons of workout equipment. Head over to Grinder Gym in the Morena neighborhood. It specializes in old-schoolequipment and coaching for strongman, powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting and arm sports. Hit the 1/10-mile running track and cardio and strength training equipment at the rooftop AquaVie Fitness + Wellness Club.