With 70 miles of coast, including bays, lagoons and inlets, you can bet San Diego has a wide range of water sports and activities to keep you entertained. If you're looking for calmer waters, the area lakes, streams and ubiquitous swimming pools will provide some fresh water adventures. Here's a quick guide to help with your vacation plans:
SURFING - One of the best surfing beaches for beginners includes South Carlsbad State Beach, where the San Diego Surfing Academy gives lessons. It even goes as far as to guarantee your success. Another great locale for nocices is La Jolla Shores, which has the calmest waves of any beach in the area. For more proficient surfers, the south end of Black's Beach or anywhere along Windansea Beach provide some "righteous" waves.
KAYAKING & CANOEING - Lake Moreno, the highest and most remote lake in the region is surrounded by pristine, rugged wilderness. It provides 3,250 acres of kayak and canoe trails, and you never have to be bothered by noisy jet skis or worry about running over a swimmer since neither are allowed. Lake Hodges is another favorite of local kayakers and canoeists and is just minutes from north San Diego.
SNORKELING - For some great snorkeling, including a lesson and an experienced guide, try San Diego Snorkeling Adventure, where you'll explore La Jolla Cove's amazing underwater reserve with its caves and colorful fish. This is simply the best snorkeling around. Frequent visitors include sea lions and harbor seals, so you might just make some new underwater friends! Tide Beach Park, with its unusual table-top reefs, is another wondeful venue for snorkeling in the area.
SCUBA DIVING - A number of dive boats will take you to prime locations like the Ruby E wreck, where you'll explore the remains of the 165-foot ship while viewing a plethora of marine life, or the HMCS Yukon, a Canadian destroyer purposely sunk to create an articial reef, and one of the favorite dive sites in the area. If you need lessons, check out the Aqua Teck Dive School.
FISHING - Fishing is everywhere in the area! Fish from piers, from shore, or in in the surf, or charter a boat for some exciting inshore or offshore trolling or some deep-sea-bottom fishing. Catches include bonito, wahoo, dolphin, cod, cobia, marlin, halibut and massive yellowfin tuna. Or try one of the numerous lakes for freshwater catches like monster bass, rainbow trout, channel catfish and tasty bluegills.
CRUISING & TOURS - Take one of the many local cruises in the area for whale watching, sightseeing, historic tours or a sunset cruise to watch the setting sun paint the evening sky. Viewing the San Diego skyline from the water is truly magnificent. Treat yourself to a gourmet meal and dancing on one of the dinner cruises. San Diego even offers Sunday brunch cruises with lavish buffets and day-cruises to Mexico.
BEACH FUN - For water activities for the whole family, head to Mission Beach, where you can rent a jet ski, a boogie board and all kinds of other gear to ensure a day of fun in the gorgeous water. La Jolla Shores is another popular beach in the area. Because it has the calmest waves of any San Diego beach, it's a wonderful site for water sports. Rental outfits at the beach offer boogie boards, wetsuits, kayaks, surf boards, swim fins, snorkel gear, and all kinds of sand and water toys.
San Diego is all about water. It's just like Coleridge said, "Water, water, everywhere...." With so many amazing water-based adventures, you might just become happily water-logged by the end of your stay!
This tidbit of real travel advice was contributed by Holly Abee.
If you plan to exercise your love of water sports and the beach, why not book an oceanfront condo in San Diego?