Couple walking through greenery palm trees
21 Apr 2025

The Best Adventurous Outdoor Spring Activities in San Diego

By builtbygcommerce

Spring is one of the best times of the year to plan an exciting outdoor adventure getaway to San Diego. The near-perfect weather makes it a great time for an adventure-focused SoCal vacation chock-full of the best San Diego activities to enjoy outside this spring.

From blood-pumping adventures like paragliding at Torrey Pines to whale watching at Point Loma, check out the best San Diego activities this spring via land, sea, and sky!

Best Exciting San Diego Activities to Experience Outdoors This Spring

Beach Time (2.0 Miles from Hotel)

Pacific Beach

The beach is the perfect place for some of the best San Diego activities this spring. Grab some delicious food to go from the onsite Oasis Pool Bar for a picnic at Sunset Cliffs with unmatched views, take a stroll along Ocean Beach and explore the restaurants and shops (3.5 miles from hotel), or try surfing at Pacific Beach (6.6 miles from hotel) with San Diego surfing lessons. Local San Diego beaches are a great place to spend some time doing as little or as much as you’d like during your spring getaway to San Diego.

Take a Scenic Bike Ride (4.8 Miles from Hotel)

Guests riding bikes in front of entry sign

Spring in SoCal is exciting, and getting out and exploring all the fun-in-the-sun San Diego activities during your April vacation getaway is a breeze. It’s also a great experience to enjoy one of the most popular activities in the area - biking in San Diego! The city is home to a variety of bike paths, including the Mission Bay Bike Path, conveniently located near your suite at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn. Pedal to more than ten public parks and two wildlife reserves that are popular for picnicking, swimming, throwing the Frisbee, and more. Here are some of the best bike paths in San Diego to explore.

Whale Watching in Point Loma (5.1 Miles from Hotel)

whale in ocean

If you want to experience the thrill of whale watching during your spring adventure in San Diego, the cliffs in Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma are a great place to see them just offshore. The old Point Loma lighthouse offers the best view for whale-watchers to see the graceful creatures migrating south. Be sure to keep a lookout west, to your left, over the ocean from the Cabrillo National Monument for the best views. Such an amazing way to spend a spring day in San Diego.

Go Tide Pooling at Cabrillo National Monument (5.5 Miles from Hotel)

Cabrillo Monument

Best explored at low tide, the local tide pools, shallow pools of ocean water that are filled with sea and plant life, offer an up-close and personal view of sea treasures. These “intertidal zones” are typically located close to the coast where the water and land meet. The tide pools San Diego locals enjoy most contain a variety of different sea creatures, including starfish, octopus, sea anemones, barnacles, sea urchins, crabs, sea stars, and more. Also known to make an appearance in local tide pools are seashells, small fish, and sea hare snails. Explore the area just past the lighthouse, known as the sandstone cliffs, as their rocky coastal shelf is home to many different fish, plants, crabs, barnacles, mussels, and even lobsters and is a great way to spend the day!

Kayaking Through La Jolla’s Sea Caves (11.6 Miles from Hotel)

La Jolla

(Photo: @lens_salt)

There is truly no better way to explore San Diego’s magnificent Pacific Ocean coast than by kayak. Spend the day kayaking through La Jolla’s Sea Caves for the ultimate spring adventure. See a variety of marine animals and wildlife, including sea lions, pelicans, leopard sharks, and more. Also, visit 5 different types of marine environments, including sandy beaches, rocky reefs, sea cliffs, a kelp forest, and deep-water canyons blooming with spring flowers. Enjoy one of the most popular San Diego activities at the La Jolla Sea Caves.

Hang Gliding at Torrey Pines Gliderport (14.7 Miles from Hotel)

Torrey Pines beach

Have the adventure of a lifetime while hang gliding at the Torrey Pines Gliderport. One of the most popular San Diego activities, Torrey Pines Gliderport offers tandem hang gliding flights for a phenomenal guest experience. This world-class flying site offers lessons, tandem flights, and certifications and is one of the most exciting and unique San Diego activities to experience this spring.

Hiking Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (18.0 Miles from Hotel)

friends hiking by the ocean

Home to the nation’s rarest pine tree, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a wilderness island that offers an amazing place for a spring hike to see the unique natural features the area has to offer. Hikers will love the views that include high broken cliffs as well as ravines on headlands that overlook the ocean. Spring is especially gorgeous, as the wildflowers will be in bloom and the weather will be near-perfect for a hike.

CONCERT

After a day of exciting San Diego activities and exploring the fun places in the area, head back to your suite at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn to prepare for a relaxing evening at the resort. Make plans for dinner and a live show at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, where music lovers will appreciate our phenomenal outdoor concert venue and Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay concert season. See the best national music and comedy acts at this intimate outdoor venue that is perfectly situated on San Diego Bay. Be sure to book a SPECIAL CONCERT PACKAGE that includes dinner, hotel accommodations, and a show! Check out the Summer 2025 concert schedule here.

Are You Ready for an Outdoor Spring Adventure Getaway to Enjoy All the Best San Diego Activities?

The team at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn is ready for your arrival this spring! From waterfront dining and live concerts to seaside pools with tropical landscaping and creative frozen concoctions, your spring vacay in San Diego has everything you need to enjoy a true island getaway in SoCal.

Book your Shelter Island escape at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn today with one of our fantastic springtime offers. Whether you want to experience the very best San Diego activities or simply relax by the pool with a fruity cocktail, Humphrey’s on Shelter Island is here to make sure it’s your best spring vacay ever!

large field of flowers in carlsbad
04 Mar 2025

Where to See Spring Flowers in San Diego

By builtbygcommerce

San Diego is a year-round paradise, but there’s something truly special about springtime. As the temperatures warm and the days grow longer, the city bursts into color with spectacular seasonal blooms. From vibrant wildflower fields to lush gardens, spring in San Diego is a dream for nature lovers and photographers alike.

If you're looking to experience the beauty of spring flowers in full bloom, we’ve rounded up the best places to see (and smell!) them across the city. Get ready to explore San Diego’s most breathtaking floral displays!

Balboa Park (4.9 miles away)

(Photo: @balboapark)

If you’re looking for a one-stop destination to experience San Diego’s most breathtaking spring blooms, Balboa Park should be at the top of your list. This iconic urban oasis bursts into color each spring with more than 2,100 varieties of plants flourishing across its lush gardens and green spaces. Be sure to visit the Japanese Friendship Garden, where delicate cherry blossoms steal the show during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, creating a picture-perfect pink canopy. The Inez Grant Memorial Rose Garden is another must-see, with over 1,600 vibrant rose bushes in full bloom. History and horticulture lovers alike will also be captivated by the newly restored Botanical Building, a stunning landmark that has been home to thousands of rare and exotic plants for more than a century.

1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (19.7 miles away)

torrey pine gliderports

A stunning stretch of unspoiled land, 1,500-acre Torrey Pines Reserve is one of San Diego’s favorite outdoor spaces. It’s home to the namesake Torrey pine — one of only two places in the world you can see this species of tree. And along the reserve’s miles of hiking trails lie endless gently-waving fields of natural vegetation, all of which spring to life in captivating clusters of color that don’t stop until they give way to ocean views.

12600 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla CA, 92037  

San Diego Botanic Garden (26.5 miles away)

Visitors to this grandiose garden will discover a true treasure. Nearly 40 acres of native and globally sourced plants (organized by region and theme) are presented along four miles of serene, winding walkways. San Diego Botanic Garden is one of the only spots in the state to see certain carefully tended species, so it’s well worth the trip. The Garden also supports educational kids’ programs, as well as local eco-conservation efforts.

Quail Gardens Drive and Ecke Ranch Rd, Encinitas, CA 92024   

Carlsbad Flower Fields (31.3 miles away)

carlsbad flower fields

Instagram alert: the breathtaking Carlsbad Flower Fields draw tens of thousands of visitors to a beautiful super-bloom of giant Tecolote ranunculus flowers every year. Row after row of brilliant rainbow colors ripple across the landscape during the peak months in spring. When visiting, guests are treated to not just the brilliant botanical display, but also a wide range of family-friendly activities, such as antique tractor rides, fruit picking, and more. 

5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008  

San Diego Zoo Safari Park (34 Miles from Hotel)

child with giraffe

Believe it or not, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is one of the best places to experience stunning spring blooms! Beyond the incredible animal encounters, this park is home to lush botanical gardens and a vibrant tropical rainforest. Stroll through a paradise of lantanas, orchids, and bromeliads, where thousands of fluttering butterflies create a magical, colorful display in the Hidden Jungle. Whether you're planning a fun family outing or a unique date, this hidden gem in San Diego is the perfect spot to soak in the beauty of spring!

Anza-Borrego State Park (92.4 miles away)


Anza-Borrego offers mild year-round temperatures perfect for hiking, golfing, horseback riding and tennis, and the landscape is also dotted with some magnificent public art. But the area’s most popular attraction occurs in the spring months, when mountain rains often result in an explosive superbloom of desert flora, including dandelions, sunflowers, verbena, heliotrope, primrose, and other vibrantly beautiful floral displays. 

200 Palm Canyon Dr, Borrego Springs, CA 92004

Enjoy Springtime at Humphreys Half Moon Inn

Planning to head to San Diego for some beautiful blooms this spring? Don’t forget to check out the latest Special Offers at Humphreys Half Moon Inn and get the best rates on your stay.