The seasons change in San Diego with out numerous fanfare. We now have year-round sunny and delicate climate, so many of the bushes don’t shed their leaves within the fall and also you received’t truly want to place in your favourite flannel-checked scarf. We make up for what we lack in autumn climate, nonetheless, with numerous seasonal actions, festivals, and fall enjoyable.
There are many fall actions in San Diego, so should you’ll be visiting and in search of seasonal actions in September, October or November, seize a pumpkin spice latte and take a look at this checklist.
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1. Take Benefit of Children Free San Diego (TOP PICK)
Children Free San Diego is without doubt one of the finest annual occasions in San Diego. For the entire month of October, youngsters get free admission (with a paying grownup) to 50+ museums, plus San Diego theme parks, excursions, and sights — together with our main theme parks.
There are additionally restaurant reductions and resort reductions, making October the best time to go to San Diego with youngsters.
Residents also needs to benefit from these Children Free San Diego offers as nicely. With regards to our sights, some would require a qualifying ticket, which you may get (at a reduction, too) over at aRes Journey. Be taught extra about San Diego in October.
2. Peep Fall Foliage on the Japanese Friendship Backyard
Visiting the Japanese Friendship Backyard is certainly one of my favourite issues to do in Balboa Park. It’s particularly stunning in autumn, and it’s among the best locations to see some fall colours close to downtown San Diego.
The Japanese maple bushes flip sensible shades of crimson right now of yr, and also you’ll see different bushes and shrubs turning brilliant orange and yellow. Children love the koi fish, too.
3. Rejoice Halloween at LEGOLAND Brick-Or-Deal with
This contains LEGOLAND®’s Brick or Deal with Social gathering Nights. Many of the theme parks adorn and weave in some seasonal enjoyable.
4. Or, at SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular
SeaWorld San Diego hosts their annual Halloween fun-fest SeaWorld Spooktacular on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays via October 29. The enjoyable, family-friendly occasion is included together with your park admission ticket and is nicely value a go to.
Kids can get within the Halloween spirit by taking part in a fancy dress social gathering or becoming a member of the Halloween Dance Social gathering. They’ll additionally get pleasure from secure trick-or-treating alongside the park’s Sweet Path, wander via the Hay Maze, go on a Pumpkin Hunt, or take a look at the brand new O.P. Otter’s Spooktacular Shock present on the park’s Mission Bay Theater.
As well as, company will encounter SeaWorld’s many out of doors and indoor animal reveals, marine life animal displays, and crowd-favorite reveals, together with Dolphin Adventures, Sea Lion & Otter Highlight, and the Orca Encounter.
There’s additionally the scarier night Howl-O-Scream occasion that’s for the older teenagers and adults. A separate ticket is required.
Talking of tickets, you possibly can learn my information for getting low cost SeaWorld San Diego tickets. Annual Move and Enjoyable Card holders obtain free entry. However you possibly can select a Dine + Drink possibility that features meals all day lengthy in addition to different upgrades.
5. Go to Bates Nut Farm
One in every of San Diego’s favourite family-owned farms, Bates Nut Farm, hosts its annual Pumpkin Patch and fall actions via October 31. Go purchasing for scrumptious nuts and sweet, but additionally pick your Halloween pumpkin among the many fall foliage, multi functional enjoyable place.
Company can get pleasure from hay rides, face portray, bounce and slides, mountaineering, balloon artwork, pony rides, and the farm’s well-liked petting zoo. There’s even a mechanical bull for these courageous sufficient! Exercise tickets are bought in $2 increments and can be utilized in direction of every attraction’s requirement.
The farm’s Fall Friday Competition takes place on October 13, 20, and 27 this yr and contains all of the actions above, plus stay music from 3:30–6:30 p.m.
As well as, company can even get pleasure from stay leisure each Saturday and Sunday all through October on the farm, plus choose dates in November. You possibly can test their occasion calendar for particulars, and also you’ll additionally discover the occasion’s opening hours right here.
Different fall particular occasions embody the thirty second Annual Scarecrow Contest on October 7. Design and construct a scarecrow to exhibit on the farm all through October, and also you’ll get a jack-o-lantern pumpkin to your efforts, plus there are money and reward card prizes for the profitable entries. However be warned, Bates Nut Farm owns all scarecrows as soon as entered so as to add to their well-known assortment! Get the entry particulars.
There’s additionally a Howl-o-Ween Doggie Costume Contest & Parade on October 21 and the Annual Costume Contest & Parade for the entire household on October 22. All the small print are included within the farm’s occasion calendar.
Parking is free on the farm from Monday–Friday however prices $10 per automobile on weekends in October.
6. Go Tenting at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
When fall comes round, so does the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s distinctive Roar and Snore Safari. This sleepover journey happens on most weekends in October, November, and December.
Numerous safari choices could be loved by kids and their households, and even an adults-only possibility. All sleepovers embody guided after-hours wildlife walks, camp actions, s’mores across the fireplace, dinner, and breakfast.
Company can improve to the Supreme Roar & Snore Safari package deal, the place you’ll soar via the park on a zipline journey, seize binoculars for a Night time Imaginative and prescient Safari via the Africa and Asia wildlife sections, get pleasure from a VIP viewing of wildlife encounters over breakfast, and expertise an up-close Wildlife Safari into the park’s savanna habitats in an open-air safari truck.
Tent choices vary from fundamental (convey your personal sleeping baggage) to luxurious (wooden floors, retailers, a fan and heater, a queen mattress with linens, and two cots).
Whether or not you favor to tough it or “glamp” in type, this can be a memorable approach to spend an evening in San Diego with your loved ones. Costs per individual begin from $155 up. The Supreme Roar & Snore Safari package deal begins at $315 per individual.
Roar and Snore runs via December 31, 2023, and contains this yr’s particular themed sleepover choices, Creepy Camp and Holly Jolly Jungle.
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7. Discover Carlsbad Village and Seashore
Fall is a superb time to go to this stunning coastal city in North County San Diego. The summer season crush is gone, and you’ll benefit from the miles of sandy seashores with many extra parking alternatives. Look out for dolphins, too, as they’re usually noticed within the ocean there.
Carlsbad Village is true subsequent to the seashore, albeit up a protracted flight of stairs from the seashore. The village is a superb place to spend a day with the household. There’s plenty of parking proper within the middle by the city sq. advanced, and you’ll stroll all over the place from there.
The fountain within the city sq. is the right spot to loosen up with the little ones, who can roam round and do cartwheels on the factitious turf surrounding the fountain. There are many reward retailers to peruse, loads of cafes for lunch, a gelateria, and even a connoisseur popcorn store.
The streets surrounding the primary sq. are dotted with cute however well-priced boutiques, extra retailers, cafes, and eating places. Household favorites embody Handel’s Selfmade Ice Cream on State Avenue and a brief stroll alongside the identical highway will lead you to The Items, the place the large connoisseur donuts are to die for!
Eating choices are aplenty. Well-liked eating places embody 264 Fresco and Campfire, or Pure Taco is a superb household possibility.
It’s also possible to get the Coaster practice to Carlsbad Station from the town or different stops alongside the coast. And you may lease E-bikes at Pedego Electrical Bikes.
8. Rejoice Dia de los Muertos in Outdated City
San Diego’s atmospheric and exquisite Outdated City district is stuffed with enjoyable issues to do within the fall, and the weeks main as much as Dia de los Muertos are a good time to go to.
This Mexican custom celebrates family members who’ve handed, and the streets of Outdated City are embellished with ofrendas (altars) and plenty of conventional Dia de los Muertos arts and crafts, together with painted sugar skulls.
This yr, the annual Dia de los Muertos candlelit procession takes place on November 2, beginning on the Immaculate Conception Church at 6:15 p.m.
There will even be a free out of doors screening of Disney Pixar’s Coco within the Plaza de Armas on October 28 at 7 p.m.
Numerous festivities will happen within the State Historic Park all weekend, the place you possibly can honor your personal misplaced liked one on the Neighborhood Altar, additionally positioned within the Plaza de Armas.
And don’t overlook to absorb one of many incredible Mexican eating places that line the streets of Outdated City, or go to the famed haunted Whaley Home Museum, should you dare!
You possibly can test the entire calendar of occasions.
9. Attend the Autumn Competition at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
For these eager to mingle with animals of all sizes on the Safari Park however only for the day, head to the park’s Autumn Competition, which is held each Saturday and Sunday all through October.
Enjoyable household actions embody a maze, a Jamboree dance, and stay nation and bluegrass tunes by The Barn Owls trio.
Pleasant scarecrows are readily available to information you thru the park. And you should definitely keep until darkness falls for the Reflections present within the Nairobi Village. The enchanting 7-minute musical journey of floating, flickering lanterns dancing in a choreographed musical journey world wide is bound to be the right finish to your go to.
There’s additionally the Halgloween night celebration at San Diego Zoo!
10. Take a Sightseeing Tour
Guests to San Diego usually look into our enjoyable sightseeing excursions like Outdated City Trolley (they’ve a haunted tour which is enjoyable throughout Halloween time), San Diego SEAL excursions, and our number of San Diego harbor cruises. A few of these tour operators take part in Children Free San Diego.
Another tour concepts embody snorkeling excursions, kayaking excursions, bay excursions, whale watching excursions, or a guided tour across the USS Halfway, the historic naval plane provider and museum.
It’s also possible to tour the grounds and numerous museums in Balboa Park with their Explorer Move. The park’s free tram runs each 10-Quarter-hour.
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11. Go Horseback Using
Fall is a superb time for the entire household to saddle up and luxuriate in certainly one of San Diego’s many stunning trails, and even the seashore, on horseback. The new solar has cooled, however nonetheless, seize a hat and sunscreen for this enjoyable outing.
Picturesque-guided horseback path rides can be found via Surfside Ranch, which is positioned 15 miles south of downtown. You possibly can select from seashore or path rides, pony rides for the little ones, or stand up near different furry mates on the ranch’s Petting Zoo. There are llamas, goats, pigs, and even chickens.
Surfside Ranch is at present open seven days every week from 9 a.m– 5 p.m., however test their web site earlier than you go in case hours change. 1-hour path rides begin from $80 per individual.
An alternative choice is San Diego Horse Connection in Valley Middle, which provides a lesson of their area earlier than you head out on the paths. A one and half hour session with two folks max, prices $140 per individual.
12. Take a Vineyard Tour
There are some nice vineyard choices round San Diego County. For a singular expertise, you possibly can hop aboard the Vineyard Prepare Tour of San Diego, the place you’ll cruise up and down the coast. Company disembark at chosen stops for guided historic walks and a few pattern sipping at native wineries and tasting rooms.
San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Excursions runs this 5-hour journey. Tickets price $128 and embody tastings at 4 wineries, a wine-pairing gentle lunch, and different goodies. Company could also be 18+, however you should be aged 21+ to drink alcohol.
Different choices for wine lovers embody heading north to the famed Temecula wine nation, the place award-winning wineries abound. It’s also possible to soak up a sizzling air balloon journey over the gorgeous vineyards whereas there. Costs for a shared balloon journey price from $170 per individual.
13, Go Avenue Eating in La Jolla Shores, Gaslamp Quarter, and Little Italy
Three well-liked areas the place eating places have continued to increase out of doors eating into streets and parking heaps for the reason that pandemic embody La Jolla Shores, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Little Italy.
Eating alongside the streets on a balmy fall night is a well-liked selection for locals and vacationers alike, due to San Diego’s year-round sunshine and the vitality felt by being in the midst of the motion.
A preferred selection for each locals and guests is the Pendry San Diego, the place you possibly can dine and drink outdoors within the Gaslamp Quarter.
14. Choose Apples in Julian
Escape your fall scarves and boots for a day journey to this historic gold mining city that’s well-known for its fall foliage and apple choosing. There are just a few U-pick farms to select from in 2023, and after you’ve acquired a superb haul you possibly can head into downtown Julian to browse the lovable little reward retailers.
You possibly can convey your bushel house and make your personal apple pie, however there are some fantastic native pie retailers right here that make near-perfect apple and pumpkin pies. Be taught extra about what to do on a day journey to Julian.
15. Hike with Assist From theNAT (San Diego Pure Historical past Museum)
The San Diego Pure Historical past Museum Canyoneers provide free guided hikes on numerous trails all through San Diego County from September via June, totally on weekends. Enjoyable choices this October embody the Torrey Pines Loop via Gonzales Canyon and the picturesque Sundown Path via Cleveland Nationwide Forest.
The Canyoneers put collectively an inventory of their favourite trails and ideas within the Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Path Information to San Diego Outside e-book that you could find at native retailers or on Amazon.
How superior to go mountaineering with consultants via the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This hike is obtainable in each November and December this yr, and you’ll test the schedule, which incorporates many extra guided mountaineering choices, right here. As well as, month-to-month midweek hikes permit contributors to get pleasure from limited-access trails which are usually crowded on weekends.
The Backside Line
As the tip of October attracts nearer, often, some San Diego neighborhoods go all out with incredible Halloween events, occasions, pub crawls, cruises, and extra.
Fall is a superb time to go to San Diego. Most children are again at school, so well-liked sights are usually much less busy, there are extra rooms accessible at San Diego resorts, and the climate is sort of all the time fabulous, with clear skies and comfy temperatures.
Whether or not you’re keen on celebrating Halloween or Dia de los Muertos, there are many choices. Simply you should definitely test the hours for sights and actions earlier than you go.
What are your favourite fall issues to do in San Diego?
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