Mission Bay Neighborhood Guide
A Sailboat in Mission Bay
Welcome to Mission Bay Park
Bike Path Under Clear Blue Skies
By Sue Varga
Located just minutes from downtown San Diego, Mission Bay Park is a 4,600-acre water wonderland, the largest park of its kind in the world. Offering 27 miles of shoreline and 15 miles of bayfront beaches, Mission Bay is a place where visitors can take advantage of a wide range of water activities including swimming, powerboating, fishing, sailing, waterskiing and kayaking.
Vacationers will find this popular family destination offers such free park facilities as barbecues, fire rings, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, children's play areas, and scenic bike/walkway paths that are ideal for jogging and rollerblading.
Mission Bay is also home to SeaWorld San Diego, one of the region's most popular year-round attractions, along with a variety of upscale resorts and family hotels; restaurants; Campland by the Bay, a popular bayfront camping and RV park; the Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center; and the San Diego Visitor Information Center.
Cruising around
As the largest facility of its kind in the world, Mission Bay Park is a paradise for those who embrace an outdoor lifestyle. From Jet-skiing to jogging to spending a fun-filled day at SeaWorld San Diego, there are endless choices of things to do both on and off the water.
Cool breezes, tranquil waters and soft sand beaches make Mission Bay the ideal place for all types of water recreation. Swimmers can choose from eight designated locations that are off limits to boats and include picnic facilities and restrooms. Water-skiers have their own 1-½ mile straight course, and Jet-skiers are allotted a special area free from boat traffic. There are several public boat-launching ramps around Mission Bay and places to rent watercraft of every description. Fishing enthusiasts will delight in the fact that most areas of Mission Bay is open to fishing where an abundance of halibut, bass flounder, croaker and perch can be found.
With 27 miles of scenic pathways winding through the park, those favoring staying ashore will find plenty to keep them occupied. Joggers and walkers can take advantage of a workout course that combines walking, jogging and exercise stations. Plentiful bicycle rentals make it easy to take a leisurely ride along scenic bike trails. Tecolote Shores, with its open, grassy field, is a favorite of families who like to picnic or engage in flying colorful kites. Outdoor activities such as volleyball, basketball, softball and horseshoes can be enjoyed in special areas of the park. Golf aficionados can practice their swing at the 18-hole Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center, which includes a driving range, miniature golf, and a full service pro shop.
For those who engage in the popular pastime of birding, Mission Bay is the site of several wildlife preserves. These protected areas provide an excellent opportunity to observe a profusion of sea birds including the endangered least Tern, the great blue heron, the lightfooted clapper rail, and Belding's savannah sparrow.
Numerous annual special events that take place in Mission Bay make it an ideal spot for year-round family fun. The Annual San Diego Crew Classic rowing regatta, held each April, draws men's and women's teams from throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. San Diego's original beach softball event, the annual World Championship Over-the-Line Tournament returns to Fiesta Island in July. In September, you'll hear the roar of thunderboats, the world's fastest boats, as well as other racing classes, during the popular annual Thunderboat Regatta. Yuletide cheer fills the bay in December as local boat owners embellish their craft with colorful lights and festive holiday decorations. This spectacular parade ends with the lighting of SeaWorld San Diego's 320-ft Skytower Tree of Lights.
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Surfer Beach Hotel – Stay More, Save More! Save 10% on 1 Night Stays! Rates from $99 based on availability.
The Dana on Mission Bay – Save 10% off your stay. Rates from $129 based on availability
Bahia Resort Hotel – SeaWorld Adventure Package: Rates from $134 per person based on double occupancy and availability.
Best Western Blue Sea Lodge – Stay More, Save More! Save 1% on a 2 night stay. Rates from $149 based on availability.
Ocean Park Inn – Stay 3 or more nights and save 15% plus a $25 dining gift card. Rates from $199 based on availability
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Inside tips
With more than 27 miles of shoreline, a wide range of recreational activities, open parks for picnics and barbecues, shopping, dining, resort hotels, and a world-famous marine park, Mission Bay has something for everyone.
Mission Bay offers the following hotels, attractions and services that can be enjoyed year-round.
One block from the Pacific Ocean the Catamaran Resort Hotel offers 315 luxurious deluxe studios or suites, all with their own balconies or patios commanding views from the La Jolla coastline to the shores of Mission Bay. Explore hidden gardens of over 1,000 tropical plants and palms while exotic island birds perch in the lush tropical gardens. Watch koi and other tropical fish dapple in a pond with rainbow colors beneath a plunging 30 foot waterfall in the lobby atrium. Other resort offerings include a new, 9,300 sq. ft., world-class spa and health club, lush tropical gardens, fine dining in Atoll Restaurant, exciting nightlife in the Moray's Bar offers nightly entertainment, and the popular Bahia Belle sternwheeler.
Secluded on its own private 14-acre peninsula, the Bahia Resort Hotel offers 320 guest rooms including beachfront cottages, studios with panoramic views and spacious bayside suites. The Bahia is home to two 1860s era sternwheelers that offer complimentary moonlight cruses with dancing and cocktails for guests. The resort sports an Olympic-sized swimming pool, whirlpool, two lighted tennis courts and a state-of-the-art exercise facility. The award-winning Bahia Café offers festive cuisine, and the Tangier Bar's Piña Coladas are the most talked about in Mission Bay.
A recent expansion at The Dana on Mission Bay has brought the total number of beautiful guestrooms to 270. The resort also offers a 4,000 sq.-ft. ballroom, new lobby, lounge, fitness center, pool, and spa. The Dana offers two pool areas where guests can relax and soak up the sun - the Bayview Pool and spa or the Tropical Pool - along with an area for ping-pong, shuffleboard and football. The resort's Blue Pearl restaurant is a casual eatery serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Styled after a Mediterranean village, awash with color, style and texture, the 357-room Hilton San Diego Resort offers impeccably appointed rooms and a prestigious Four Diamond rating. Resort amenities include tennis courts, putting green, a spacious pool, jogging track and fitness center. The Bayside Terrace Grille offers causal California cuisine and spectacular Mission Bay views. Banana Cabana, opened seasonally, is a poolside grill perfect for snacks and refreshments.
The Hyatt Regency Islandia is a spectacular 421-room waterfront property adjacent to a full-service marina and features magnificent ocean, harbor, tropical garden, or city views. Resort activities include a sun-splashed heated pool, sportsfishing and sailboat rentals, and relaxing massages in the resort's Massage Therapy Center. Located at the base of the hotel tower, the California Blue Bay Bistro overlooks the hotel's marina through glass walls offering spectacular views and plenty of sunshine.
In 2004, the Paradise Point Resort & Spa was honored by Forbes.com as one of the Best Family Resorts in the World. The 462-room resort's family-friendly diversions include five swimming pools, a lagoon pool and sandy beach, a spa, 18-hole putting course, NBA regulation basketball court, bicycle rentals, sand volleyball court, full-service marina, five lighted tennis courts, and lawn croquet. Paradise Point Resort is also home to Baleen Restaurant and Bar, set in a lush garden on the very edge of Mission Bay.
Campland On the Bay RV & Tent Camping Resort serves campers and RVers with 650 tent and recreation vehicle camping sites, a beach, marina, boat launch, cafe, market, laundry, pools, and Jacuzzi. Open 365 days of the year, this popular spot offers a variety of fun activities, games, live music, and parties for the whole family.
One of Mission Bay's most popular year-round attractions is SeaWorld San Diego, a 189-acre marine park that features several major shows including the park's famous killer whale, Shamu. Dozens of other fascinating exhibits contain marine life from around the globe, such as Wild Arctic, Penguin Encounter, Shark Encounter, and Manatee Rescue. A new thrill ride, Journey to Atlantis, features a splashy 60-foot plunge, a heart-pounding G force drop and a 130,000-gallon Commerson's Dolphin exhibit.
Conveniently located just off Interstate 5, the San Diego Visitor Information Center offers free directions, area maps, restaurant guides and informative brochures for all of San Diego's best activities. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will assist travelers by booking discount hotel, motel or Vacation/Beach rentals. Discount attraction tickets to SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, LEGOLAND, Old Town Trolley Tours, San Diego Harbor Excursion and Hornblower Cruises & Events are available. Great San Diego gifts and collectables can also be purchased. Open since 1969, the San Diego Visitor Center has graciously assisted over one million visitors to San Diego each year.
Designed by the acclaimed golf course architect, Ted Robinson, the 18-hole Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center is open to the public and includes a driving range, miniature golf, a full-service pro shop and a lit course allowing for nighttime play.
Located adjacent to the launch ramp at Mission Bay's Dana Landing, the Dana Landing Market and Fuel Dock offers a market, deli and tackle shop - everything the fishing, boating, and water-sports enthusiast needs for a day on the water. A wide array of rental watercraft is also available.
The scenic location of the Marina Village Conference Center & Marina makes it a popular site for meetings, conferences, seminars, or weddings. In addition, the Marina Village Marina offers a wide range of amenities and conveniences for boating enthusiasts.
Getting there
From the North or South:Take Interstate 5 to the exit for East Mission Bay Drive, Grand Avenue/Garnet Avenue, Clairemont Drive or SeaWorld Drive.
