San Diego’s Hidden Gems
Parks & Recs
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
222 Marina Park WayBelmont Park
3146 Mission BlvdThe park, which consists of a huge outdoor amphitheater and 35' tall cross, was originally built as a memorial to an early pioneer and owner of the mountain, Mary Yawkey. Later, Easter sunrise services began to be held there, which the tradition has continued ever since. It is considered the second oldest continuous Easter sunrise service in the country, the oldest being Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside County. Today it is a beautiful park (with horrible parking) offering great panoramic views. Regardless of the parking issues, it's still definitely worth a visit and has some of the best scenic views!
92 locals recommend
Mt. Helix Park
4901 Mt Helix DrThe park, which consists of a huge outdoor amphitheater and 35' tall cross, was originally built as a memorial to an early pioneer and owner of the mountain, Mary Yawkey. Later, Easter sunrise services began to be held there, which the tradition has continued ever since. It is considered the second oldest continuous Easter sunrise service in the country, the oldest being Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside County. Today it is a beautiful park (with horrible parking) offering great panoramic views. Regardless of the parking issues, it's still definitely worth a visit and has some of the best scenic views!
Coronado Ferry Landing Park
1201 1st StPalomar Observatory
35899 Canfield RdSightseeing
Mushroom beach house
9036 La Jolla Shores LnGorgeous beach, with a clothing optional section towards the northern side.
144 locals recommend
Black's Beach
Gorgeous beach, with a clothing optional section towards the northern side.
Wow, talk about a view! Mt. Soledad offers a stunning panoramic glimpse of San Diego. Come here to catch the sunset and be sure to bring your camera! Just note that this is a very popular viewpoint and there are almost always a ton of people with limited parking spots.
146 locals recommend
Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
6905 La Jolla Scenic Dr SWow, talk about a view! Mt. Soledad offers a stunning panoramic glimpse of San Diego. Come here to catch the sunset and be sure to bring your camera! Just note that this is a very popular viewpoint and there are almost always a ton of people with limited parking spots.
The Secret Swings were originally put up by UCSD students. That does not surprise me as UCSD is filled with arty, hidden gems! Unfortunately the swings are at a constant battle with the city. The city tears them down, the people put them back up. For this reason, do not be surprised if the swings have been torn down if you visit. Give it another shot another day and they might already be back up! This has some of the best scenic views of the La Jolla coast around!
10 locals recommend
Hidden Swing
2555 Ruette NiceThe Secret Swings were originally put up by UCSD students. That does not surprise me as UCSD is filled with arty, hidden gems! Unfortunately the swings are at a constant battle with the city. The city tears them down, the people put them back up. For this reason, do not be surprised if the swings have been torn down if you visit. Give it another shot another day and they might already be back up! This has some of the best scenic views of the La Jolla coast around!
The scenic Lucy Evans Lauren Memorial Garden is a public garden located in Point Loma. This garden was a sweet testimonial from a loving husband to his late wife. The views are some of the best around! This is a short but sweet trip with many beautiful plants, pathways, benches and even a gazebo to sit in and reflect. For those that enjoy pretty gardens, you should definitely add this one to your list!
Lucy Evans Lauren Memorial Garden
854 Golden Park AvenueThe scenic Lucy Evans Lauren Memorial Garden is a public garden located in Point Loma. This garden was a sweet testimonial from a loving husband to his late wife. The views are some of the best around! This is a short but sweet trip with many beautiful plants, pathways, benches and even a gazebo to sit in and reflect. For those that enjoy pretty gardens, you should definitely add this one to your list!
Spanish Village Art Center
1770 Village Pl4 miles away! Open Tuesdays and Thursdays only, from 9am to noon.
32 locals recommend
Queen Califia's Magical Circle
3333 Bear Valley Parkway4 miles away! Open Tuesdays and Thursdays only, from 9am to noon.
San Diego Botanic Garden
300 Quail Gardens DrCaves, Boulders, and Tide Pools
23 mile drive away, known forever by the locals as the Mushroom Caves, this once no-trespassing hike has been cleaned up and opened to the public as Annie's Canyon Trail. Millions of years ago this canyon was underwater, which is how the unique slot formations were created. Annie's Canyon is a must-visit spot for the true adventurers. There are secret caves and footsteps carved out of the delicate sandstone everywhere. It is super-slippery so I really don't recommend too much climbing.
53 locals recommend
Annie's Canyon Trail
2550 Solana Hills Trail23 mile drive away, known forever by the locals as the Mushroom Caves, this once no-trespassing hike has been cleaned up and opened to the public as Annie's Canyon Trail. Millions of years ago this canyon was underwater, which is how the unique slot formations were created. Annie's Canyon is a must-visit spot for the true adventurers. There are secret caves and footsteps carved out of the delicate sandstone everywhere. It is super-slippery so I really don't recommend too much climbing.
26 mile drive away, The Sunny Jim Cave got its name from ‘Wizard of Oz‘ author Frank Baum, who remarked the cave’s silhouette had a striking resemblance to Sunny Jim, the British Force wheat cereal’s mascot in the 1920’s. As the legend goes, the Sunny Jim Cave also has a more sinister side, being used to funnel whiskey to San Diego during the Prohibition era. It is also said to have been used to smuggle immigrants into the U.S. Today it is open to the public to tour!
17 locals recommend
Sunny Jim's Sea Cave
1325 Coast Blvd26 mile drive away, The Sunny Jim Cave got its name from ‘Wizard of Oz‘ author Frank Baum, who remarked the cave’s silhouette had a striking resemblance to Sunny Jim, the British Force wheat cereal’s mascot in the 1920’s. As the legend goes, the Sunny Jim Cave also has a more sinister side, being used to funnel whiskey to San Diego during the Prohibition era. It is also said to have been used to smuggle immigrants into the U.S. Today it is open to the public to tour!
27 mile drive away, are these low tide adventures, which often happen in the winter when the tides are super low during the day! La Jolla's coast is large so you will probably need multiple trips to explore it all. It is amazing how many new opportunities sprout up when the tide goes down though.
65 locals recommend
La Jolla Tide Pools
303 Coast Blvd27 mile drive away, are these low tide adventures, which often happen in the winter when the tides are super low during the day! La Jolla's coast is large so you will probably need multiple trips to explore it all. It is amazing how many new opportunities sprout up when the tide goes down though.
31 mile drive away, with its rugged coastline and panoramic views, this area is popular with surfers, ocean-gazers, and folks who like to cruise Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, which runs the length of the cliffs. Many of the cool caves cannot be reached unless it's super low tide. There is no way in them otherwise unless you swim and that's obviously not safe. I recommend going on a low tide day and just walking along the shore. There are many caves to explore, including a couple quite large ones.
19 locals recommend
Sunset Cliffs Cave
800-898 Sunset Cliffs Blvd31 mile drive away, with its rugged coastline and panoramic views, this area is popular with surfers, ocean-gazers, and folks who like to cruise Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, which runs the length of the cliffs. Many of the cool caves cannot be reached unless it's super low tide. There is no way in them otherwise unless you swim and that's obviously not safe. I recommend going on a low tide day and just walking along the shore. There are many caves to explore, including a couple quite large ones.
78 mile drive away, across the parking lot from the Desert View Tower is a jumbled mass of boulders just aching to be scrambled. Random faces and animals are waiting to greet you at every turn. Certainly not easy for the claustrophobic. Boulder Park has been a fixture in the desert since the early 1930s. W.T. Ratcliff, an out-of-work engineer, carved into the granite during the Great Depression for a reported $1 a day... in desert temperatures. Ouch.
Boulder Park Mystery Caves
78 mile drive away, across the parking lot from the Desert View Tower is a jumbled mass of boulders just aching to be scrambled. Random faces and animals are waiting to greet you at every turn. Certainly not easy for the claustrophobic. Boulder Park has been a fixture in the desert since the early 1930s. W.T. Ratcliff, an out-of-work engineer, carved into the granite during the Great Depression for a reported $1 a day... in desert temperatures. Ouch.
77 mile drive away, when most think of a boulderer’s paradise in So-Cal, places like Bishop, Mt. Baldy and Joshua Tree probably come to mind. Many don’t realize that on the outskirts of Jacumba is San Diego’s very own rock-climbing mecca.
Valley of the Moon is a mysterious place. There are wind caves and potential secrets filling every corner. Marveling at its majestic beauty can mask the tougher undertones associated with this place though. Afterall, this area is a hotspot for smuggling so please keep that in mind when you decide whether or not this is a place you want to visit. This is also an area of migrant and refugee crossing I am told.
Valley of the Moon Trailhead
48549 Old Highway 8077 mile drive away, when most think of a boulderer’s paradise in So-Cal, places like Bishop, Mt. Baldy and Joshua Tree probably come to mind. Many don’t realize that on the outskirts of Jacumba is San Diego’s very own rock-climbing mecca.
Valley of the Moon is a mysterious place. There are wind caves and potential secrets filling every corner. Marveling at its majestic beauty can mask the tougher undertones associated with this place though. Afterall, this area is a hotspot for smuggling so please keep that in mind when you decide whether or not this is a place you want to visit. This is also an area of migrant and refugee crossing I am told.
Speakeasies
Raised by Wolves
4301 La Jolla Village DrProhibition Lounge
548 Fifth AveCover charge, live music.
False Idol
675 W Beech St
Noble Experiment
777 G StMuseums
San Diego Archaeological Center
16666 San Pasqual Valley Rd