Catch a ball game

The San Diego Padres step up to the plate and begin another exciting season starting with the home opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 1:10 PDT on Thursday, April 1 at Petco Park, the Padres' state-of-the-art baseball stadium in downtown. With limited capacity for safety at Petco Park, you can still cheer on the Padres at plenty of restaurants and bars in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, East Village and throughout San Diego featuring spacious outdoor patios, numerous wide screen TVs and spirited fans.

Savor cuisine from around the globe

There is no tastier time to savor San Diego's dynamic culinary scene than San Diego Restaurant Week, April 11-18. More than 180 participating restaurants are offering three-course prix-fixe dinner menus and/or two-course prix-fixe lunch menus for delectable dining experiences. Outdoor dining in sunny San Diego comes with expanded patio spaces and curbside service at restaurants located around the destination. Tickets are not necessary, but reservations are recommended for San Diego Restaurant Week offers.

Take a spring break

Springtime means spring break, and San Diego is the perfect place to relax or rejuvenate your spirit. Expect plenty of fun with family and friends at popular attractions, from the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld to Balboa Park and Old Town San Diego. You can golf on 93 courses and hike along scenic trails located throughout the county. Shopping, dining and savoring a frosty mug of local IPA or glass of flavorful Chardonnay can be experienced in 100 distinct neighborhoods. Many San Diego resorts and hotels are offering special deals and a variety of amenities for guests.

Learn about Chicano culture

San Diego's Latinx and Chicano residents celebrate their history, art and culture with traditional music, dance, a lowrider car show, and more during the annual Chicano Park Day in historic Barrio Logan. This year's celebration is being held virtually on April 19-24. To experience an important part of local Chicano history and culture throughout the year, you can visit colorful Chicano Park, home of the world's largest collection of Chicano murals. The murals are best viewed in daylight to appreciate their spectacular vibrant colors. Chicano Park was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017.

Take a scenic drive

San Diego';s scenic and historic roadways offer lots of unique sights and unexpected surprises en route. The 59-Mile Scenic Drive loops its way through many charming neighborhoods and reveals unique attractions and natural wonders. A road trip along Highway 79 is a great way to explore San Diego's charming mountain communities, home of animal encounters, waterfalls and epic views. Traversing 50 miles, Historic Highway 94 is a two-lane country highway in rural East County. Along the historic route, you can relive the region's colorful past and enjoy many roadside attractions.

Discover the Embarcadero

You can find plenty of things to see and do along downtown's scenic Embarcadero. Displayed on the flight deck of the popular USS Midway Museum are the fighters, bombers and helicopters that took naval aviation into the jet age. The Maritime Museum of San Diego consists of several historic sailing vessels including the iconic Star of India, built in 1863. Along the Embarcadero, you can jump aboard a 1- or 2-hour harbor tour with live narration highlighting the unique sites along the way. Popular whale watching excursions occur through April. You can view California gray whales journey along San Diego's coastline on their return trip to chilly Alaskan seas.

Enjoy water activities galore

With 70 miles of coastline and picturesque Mission Bay, it is no surprise water activities rule San Diego's outdoor scene. There are designated areas for jet skiing, waverunning and water skiing on Mission Bay. La Jolla Shores is popular for kayaking, paddle boarding and surfing, especially for beginners. Seasoned surfers hang 10 at Sunset Cliffs, Pacific Beach and Swami's Beach in Encinitas. Snorkelers an divers head to the La Jolla Underwater Park and Wreck Alley off Mission Bay, where five sunken vessels including a Canadian destroyer rest on the bottom.

Bonus: 25 Fun & Free Things to Do

Having fun in San Diego doesn't require a lot of money; in fact, many things to see and do are absolutely free. This April, visit San Diego for a fun and inexpensive getaway with these 25 free things to do.