San Diego's 17 to Try in 2017

The Perfect Checklist for the New Year

Splashing in the waves, playing in the sand and soaking up the sun are a must during a visit to San Diego. However, there is so much more to do away from California Beach City's 70 miles of picturesque coastline.

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Here are 17 things to try, taste, do and see when you visit San Diego in 2017:

1. Torrey Pines Golf Course's Redesigned North Course

Originally designed by William F. Bell and opened in 1957, the renovated North Course now stands to rival the popularity of the world famous South Course, host of the U.S. Open in 2008 and in 2021. All 18 greens were completely reconstructed to United States Golf Association standards, with the existing poa annua grass replaced with 100 percent bent grass - a Tyee 007 blend. The front and back nines were also reversed, allowing golfers spectacular ocean and canyon views as they finish their rounds.

> Tee Off at Torrey Pines Golf Course

Photo By 2006 MLB Photos

2. World Baseball Classic

When: March 14-29, 2017

The North American venues for the 2017 World Baseball Classic include San Diego! The Padres' Petco Park will host second-round games from March 14-19, 2017 with potential teams including: United States, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia, Canada, and Italy.

> Learn more about the World Baseball Classic

3. The Craft Beer Capital - Now With 130+ Breweries

Hoppiness isn't far from happiness in San Diego. The craft beer experience is massive in this region, with more than 130 breweries, countless beer bars, innovative tasting rooms and a beer culture that's undeniably San Diegan. It even has a signature style - the West Coast-Style IPA - known for its massive flavor and ridiculous amount of hops packed into one glass. Cheers to awesome beer!

> Sip and Savor San Diego's Craft Beer

4. Ocean Explorer: Deep Sea Discovery

Dive in to SeaWorld's new realm of deep-sea discovery, Ocean Explorer. With multiple undersea bases featuring unique aquariums and digital technology. Unlock the ocean’s greatest mysteries and plunge to new depths in your mini-sub on the interactive ride Submarine Quest. Get up close to some of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures like a giant Pacific octopus, elusive moray eels and Japanese spider crabs that measure nine feet from claw to claw! Then take a spin on three new family-friendly rides inspired by the sea.

Scheduled to open Spring 2017

> Discover SeaWorld San Diego

Bonus: Electric Ocean

A brand new, end-of-day Summer spectacle event. As the sun goes down, the lights and energy go up, offering guests a different kind of fun after dark. The ocean comes to life with bioluminescent lighting, music and pathway entertainment, immersing guests in a glowing sea of wonder.

Scheduled to start Summer 2017

5. San Diego's 7 Natural Wonders

Home to a variety of habitats ranging from intertidal wetland and chaparral cover canyons to alpine mountains and pristine desert wilderness, San Diego teems with photo-worthy sites. So put on your hiking shoes, grab the camera and explore one of the most diverse and Instagram-worthy regions in the USA.

> Discover San Diego's 7 Natural Wonders

6. Africa Rocks at San Diego Zoo

This spectacular, eight-acre exhibit complex will transform an entire section of the Zoo, replacing the 1930s-era exhibits in Dog and Cat Canyon. Africa Rocks will showcase Africa's diverse habitats, from kopjes and woodlands to highland savanna, tropical forest, and rocky shoreline. The distinctive wildlife that calls these areas home will be the stars: rock hyrax and klipspringers, baboons, leopards and vervet monkeys, sociable weavers and sunbirds, several species of lemurs, and - returning to the Zoo since the 1970s - African penguins. Africa rocks will include a spectacular, state-of-the-art habitat for a large flock of endangered African penguins.

Scheduled to open in Summer 2017

> Explore the San Diego Zoo

7. A Two Nation Vacation

A trip to San Diego means easy access to international travel with the Mexican border just 17 miles from downtown. Explore Baja California's culture in the bustling city of Tijuana, the resort community of Rosarito, the port town of Ensenada and the Valle de Guadalupe wine region. Travelers will find the Cross-Border Express airport terminal an efficient way to plan a trip to both sides of the border.

> Welcome to Baja California

Photo By MEXSPORT

8. CONCACAF Gold Cup

When: July 9, 2017

San Diego will host an opening round double-header at SDCCU Stadium featuring the Mexican national team as the seeded nation of Group C. Drawing large crowds and millions of television viewers across the region, the Gold Cup is a celebration of soccer, sportsmanship, and culture. The winner of the 2017 tournament will win continental bragging rights and an assured spot in the CONCACAF Cup play-in game to qualify for the 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup, if needed. Taking place every two years, the CONCACAF Gold Cup includes North and Central America and the Caribbean.

> Find out more about the CONCACAF Gold Cup

9. Surfer's Bay

This competitive water raceway is designed for children to compete against each other by jumping on a mat and racing down one of six water slides in this California beach themed expansion of LEGOLAND Water Park. Surfer's Bay includes a new "spray ground" with multiple water jets splashing on and off and plenty of new LEGO models to create a fun place to cool off.

> Explore LEGOLAND California

Bonus: LEGO® Star Wars™: The Force Awakens Miniland Model Display

The display will be in the center of LEGO Star Wars Miniland and will include these scenes: Kylo Ren’s capture of Poe at planet Jakku; Rey’s rescue of BB-8; Poe and Finn’s escape from the Star Destroyer Finalizer; The wreck of Finn and Poe's TIE Fighter; Rey, Finn and BB-8’s escape from Niima Outpost; and the escape from the Starship Graveyard. Opens just in time the fan-favorite LEGO® Star Wars™ Days on March 4 and 5 in 2017.

10. KAABOO Festival

When: September 15-17, 2017

KAABOO is three days of fun, packed full with memories and it has all of the makings of a comfortable event. We have plenty of shade and seating, all restrooms are clean with flushable toilets (no porta-potties), and there is no dirt, dust or mud to fight through just to have a good time. Enjoy the world-class music, hilarious comedy, incredible cuisine, craft libations, inspiring contemporary art, and personal indulgences. Get ready for this journey of discovery!

> Find out more about KAABOO Del Mar Festival

FOOD SHOWING SAN DIEGO'S UNIQUE CALI-BAJA FLAVOR

11. San Diego's Unique Cali-Baja Flavor

There has been a flavor revolution in San Diego, and it has a name: Cali-Baja. The cuisine came to life with a collaboration of chefs from both sides of the border, combining Mexico's Baja-Med scene with California's emphasis on fresh and local ingredients. Don't be surprised if you see locally caught uni on a taco or grilled octopus on a tostada. Cali-Baja is all about blowing your taste buds away with the unexpected. Grab a fork and dig in!

> Discover San Diego's Cali-Baja Flavor Revolution

Photo By Jesus Renedo/Lloyd images

12. Extreme Sailing Series

When: October 19-22, 2017

The Extreme Sailing Series™, the world’s leading Stadium Racing series, will return to the Americas for the first time in six years in 2017 in what promises to be another action-packed season. Alongside existing host venues of Muscat, Qingdao, Madeira, Hamburg and Cardiff, the Series is now set to visit San Diego. In San Diego the Race Village and all the other elements of the Extreme Sailing Series set-up - including the VIP area and the pontoons - will be based at Harbor Island, and the racing action will take place just five meters from the shore.

> Find out more about the Extreme Racing Series

Photo By 2016 Eclipse Sportswire

13. 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championship

When: November 3-4, 2017

The Breeders' Cup makes its debut at another iconic racing venue for the first time: Del Mar, where the turf meets the surf Southern California style. With San Diego's vibrant nightlife, beautiful beaches and sunny days creating a perfect trifecta.

> Find out more about the 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championship

14. Downtown After Sundown

Follow the music to San Diego, where the nightlife is one of the most buzzing scenes on the West Coast. The nightclubs are bumping with world-class DJs, the craft cocktails are true works of art and dance floors are filled with people soaking up the bright vibes of San Diego after sundown. It all starts in the Gaslamp Quarter - 16 blocks with 180 restaurants, 50 bars and 10 nightclubs - but the good times are rolling throughout the city, from sunset to sunrise and back again. Party on, San Diego.

> Join the Hottest Party on the West Coast

15. Wild Encounters

Sky Falconry

Take to the sky and experience flying a trained bird of prey to the glove & learn about one the world's oldest hunting traditions. Sky Falconry classes are held in the picturesque settings of the San Diego mountains in Alpine and at the sea cliffs of La Jolla.

Shark Diver

Or swim with massive great white sharks off the coast of Baja California. Shark Diver's 5-day live-aboard excursions take you to the waters surrounding the volcanic island of Isla Guadalupe (about 150 miles west of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula) to see these magnificent creatures up close.

Children's Nature Retreat

Enjoy and explore the beautiful and tranquil surroundings at your leisure. This magical and serene ranch-style retreat, with its 20-acres of terrain, is a safe haven to over 70 domesticated livestock from around the world. The retreat is specifically designed to help children develop a sense of wonder for nature and its inhabitants through unstructured exploration and learning. Fun and educational interactive presentations' are available for everyone to learn and foster an appreciation for animals, nature, sustainable farming and the ecosystem.

> Get Out and Play in San Diego

16. Hike San Diego's Amazing Trails

On San Diego's coastline, you'll find miles of sparkling beaches overlooked by hikable sandstone bluffs containing the rare Torrey pine. Head inland just a few miles, and you can climb rugged peaks to attain panoramic views of landmarks over 100 miles away. A trip to the mountains will let you wander tranquil, stream-lined meadows under the shade of oaks and pines. You can discover hidden palm oases and contemplate silence and space in the vast expanses of Anza-Borrego Desert. This hiker's paradise truly has something for everyone.

> Explore San Diego's Hiking Trails

Photo By Myles McGuinness

17. Epicurean Adventures in Little Italy

Once home to San Diego's flourishing tuna fishing industry in the early 1900s and generations of Italian families who made their living on the sea, Little Italy is a charming cultural hub that edges downtown and the harbor. Today, San Diego's most dynamic food and drink scene is centered in this bustling neighborhood that's peppered with quaint cafes, al fresco eateries, craft brew stops, urban wineries, and myriad restaurants. It's a place where the past meets the present, where Top Chef alums have set up shop and old-school eateries remain as treasured landmarks.

> Learn More about Where the Culinary Past Meets the Present

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