From our friends at www.goosehillsport.com
San Diego has been one of the biggest tourist attractions in California. And when it comes to paddle boarding San Diego is also a place you shouldn’t miss. In San Diego paddle boards can be spotted in a lot of different places. The mild weather throughout the year, the beautiful harbor and extensive beaches make it one of the best destinations for paddlers. Here are several hotspots in San Diego for paddle boarding.
-Perfect Paddles Travel Brief-
Best Time of Year to Visit:
The best times to visit San Diego are March through May and September through November. You can find some great deals on travel rates during the low seasons in comparison to the peak summer season. (travel.usnews.com)
Average Temperature:
The temperature typically varies from 50°F to 77°F and is rarely below 44°F or above 84°F.
SUP Environments to Paddle In
Ocean
Bay
Marinas
SUP Activity Highlights:
Excursions
SUP Surf
Tours
SUP Yoga
Excursions
Wildlife Paddles:
San Diego is one of the most beautiful cities on the west coast! And easily one of the best places to experience all types of marine wildlife including dolphins, seals, whales, manta rays, and more! To get in on a wildlife paddle, use our Locations/Activities guide HERE!
Best Places to SUP Surf:
La Jolla Windansea: This is not a surf spot for beginners. If you are a beginner it might be best to sit and watch. Absorb the technique of the professionals and take notes! You’ll be out there before you know it.
Oceanside: Great for beginners! If you are new, the gentle waves at Oceanside are a great place to begin your SUP surfing journey.
Pacific Beach: Another great spot for beginners! The breaks at this location and usually soft and easy on paddlers, just be sure to not get lined up in the crowd. Paddleboards are often big and can be dangerous for crowded sections. Be aware of your surroundings!
La Jolla Black’s Beach: This is the spot for the professional looking to upgrade their skills. The unpredictable waves can be a blast or a serious danger. Make sure you have the skills and the day you go it looks safe before heading out.
Lower Trestles: This famous break has been dubbed by Kelly Slater as his favorite surf spot in the world. World-class waves on a beautiful stretch of beach.
Perfect Paddles Deals to Get Your Ready for Your Trip:
RHEOS (Floating) Sunglasses- 15% off with Member Benefits
Duk Gear- 20% off a waterproof cell phone case with Member Benefits
Check out more of our gear options HERE!
Interested in any of these extra activities? Be sure to head HERE to find a list of paddle pros in the area and what they offer!
Additional Attractions (source here):
San Diego has been attracting new visitors and year-rounders for good reason! Besides the beautiful beaches and pristine weather, it also offers other additional world-class attractions.
Balboa Park: Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre historic urban cultural park in San Diego, California, United States. In addition to open space areas, natural vegetation zones, green belts, gardens, and walking paths, it contains museums, several theaters, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
San Diego Zoo: The San Diego Zoo is a zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, housing more than 3,500 animals of more than 800 species and subspecies
USS Midway Museum: The USS Midway Museum is a historical naval aircraft carrier museum located in downtown San Diego, California at Navy Pier. The museum consists of the aircraft carrier Midway. The ship houses an extensive collection of aircraft, many of which were built in Southern California
Old Town: Old Town is a neighborhood of San Diego, California. It contains 230 acres and is bounded by Interstate 8 on the north, Interstate 5 on the west, Mission Hills on the east and Bankers Hill on the south
Cabrillo National Monument: Cabrillo National Monument is at the southern tip of the Point Loma Peninsula in San Diego, California, United States. It commemorates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542
For reference, be sure to check out our Perfect Paddles Activities map! For Hawaii, you will find it below:
Perfect Paddles Shops/Outfitters in San Diego:
1. The SUP Connection (Buddy Deal)
2. SUP Pups California (Buddy Deal)
3. Paradise Paddle Yoga
4. Bliss Paddle Yoga (Buddy Deal)
5. Wandersurf Board Company
6. West Coast Paddle Sports (Buddy Deal)
Buddy Deals: Don’t forget to take advantage of our fantastic Buddy Deals for exclusive discounts for our members! To become a member head HERE.1. Mission Bay
Your day at Mission Bay might entail a roller coaster ride if you'd like, nice calm waters to ride on, and a lovely view of the boardwalk. This location is a mere 15-minute drive from the San Diego Airport and you'll have parking access in close vicinity to the boardwalk.
2. Shelter Island Shoreline Park
In San Diego paddle boarding is as easy to do as swimming. A nice SUP spot can be found in close vicinity to the urban area of the city. This location is close to downtown San Diego, although a bit further away than Tidelands Park. Being further out from the city, you get undisturbed sea views and a clear look at the horizon, perfect for catching sunrises and sunsets. The waters are calm and inviting for paddle boarding.
3. Tidelands Park on Coronado Island
Coronado Island and its surrounding locations are perfect for a paddler's day out. You will be surrounded by miles of flat waters (an added bonus of no rocks or reef), breathtaking views of the San Diego city skyline and the Coronado Bridge. Miles of sandy shores stretch out and you can enjoy a picnic after a long session of paddle boarding.
4. Lake San Marcos
Lake San Marcos is one of the best places in San Diego for a relaxed day on the water.This destination easily wins the most scenic SUP boarding spot in San Diego. Surrounded by rolling green hills and miles of outstretched flat lake water, it's a hidden gem. Lake San Marcos is the only lake in the county that has calm enough waters to paddle board. If you like tucked-away gems that aren't crowded, you must visit this location.
5. Agua Hedionda Lagoon
Located on the northern part of San Diego, the three-mile coastal wetland adjacent to the Pacific Ocean is part of the larger Carlsbad collection of lagoons. Getting to the destination is pain-free as the I-5 freeway traffic is friendly and parking is available close to the beach. Here, you would be able to enjoy the leisure paddle boarding experience on flat waters, the diverse surrounding flora and fauna, and a fresh seafood dinner at the end of your day.
6. North Beach (Del Mar dog beach)
If you want to bring your furry canine friend along for the sun and water adventure, the Dog Beach in Del Mar is perfect for just that. You can spend a nice day on an inflatable SUP board with your pet or let them run free, chase birds, and frolic in the sand.
7. La Jolla Cove
Considered the ideal destination for all water sports, La Jolla Cove is an all-in-one experience. Not only do you get to paddleboard on calm waters, but you get to see caves surrounding the water and a teeming aquatic life beneath your board. You can follow kayaking routes on your paddleboard where you will be moving along the coastline and towards the caves and loop back to your start point. Expect to see leopard sharks, sea lions, and yellowtails in their protected ecological sanctuary here. If you are a beginner, you can consider starting your very first paddle boarding session in here. Make sure you get the best inflatable paddle boards from a reliable brand like Goosehill or redpaddle since a suitable SUP board can go a long way to provide you with the best paddle boarding experience.
8. Oceanside Harbor
Located on the northernmost point of San Diego County, this is the ideal spot for whale watching, stand up paddle boarding, and a wide range of other water sports to keep you entertained. The waters are calm and perfect for paddlers of all skill levels. Visit the marina after your SUP session or catch a view of whales. After the SUP session, you can directly grab some food at the nearby Jolly Rodger.
In San Diego paddle boarding is growing very rapidly. Typically, Europe is most people's first choice for vacations and recreational activities and they might think paddle boarding in Europe is the best possible way to enjoy the sport. But San Diego really can give it a run for its money. There are a lot of wonderful paddle boarding spots in the world and San Diego is one of those spots that's worth your visit. If you are looking for a nice spot for paddle boarding San Diego won’t let you down. And summer would generally be a nice time of year to pay a visit for paddle boarding. But if you only have time for a trip in the winter, check out these winter paddle boarding spots in America you can go to.
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- Location Info Guide