Have Tons of Fun

Take your family and friends to San Diego's attractions which recently reopened for visitors. It's time once again to enjoy fun and excitement at the world-famous San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park and SeaWorld San Diego with their Seven Seas Food Festival, March - May. Hop aboard the popular USS Midway Museum and Maritime Museum of San Diego. Take a relaxing sightseeing cruise along San Diego Bay or an exciting whale watching excursion. Learn about the ocean and its inhabitants at Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla.

Head to the Desert

Head out to the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in rural East County. It is California's largest state park and a boundless living museum. See roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer, bighorn sheep, desert iguanas, and more. During March through April, you can also enjoy a spectacular wonderland of color when the spring wildflowers bloom. The wildflower bloom depends on timing and amount of winter rainfall and can last two to six weeks. Call the Park's 24-hour "Wildflower Hotline" at 760-767-4684 before planning a tour of the desert flora.

Wear Your Green

Get in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day San Diego style with outdoor dining and hearty Irish fare paired with classic ales at popular neighborhood eateries and pubs. Dance a jig to downtown's Gaslamp Quarter for delicious Shepherd's Pie and a pint of Guinness at The Field, an authentic Irish pub that was shipped piece by piece from Ireland. Just a few steps away, feast on Guinness Stew with a Harp Lager at the Stout Public House. On the lively outdoor patio of McP's Irish Pub in Coronado, enjoy live music, frosty draft beers and tasty burgers like the Ol' Dubliner or St. Patty's Patty.

Discover Colorful Outdoor Art

On mild March days, put on your walking shoes and discover many of San Diego’s best artworks that are exhibited outdoors. Tour the Murals of La Jolla, an outdoor contemporary art gallery displayed throughout the village of La Jolla, with a self-guided map. Explore the unique Stuart Collection on the campus of the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla with a self-guided walking tour. View more than 80 eye-catching murals in Barrio Logan's Chicano Park, designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017. The murals are best viewed in daylight to appreciate their spectacular vibrant colors.

Enjoy Latinx Cinema

Sit back and enjoy acclaimed movies by Latinx filmmakers or about the Latinx experience. San Diego's proximity to Mexico makes it a natural venue for the prestigious 28th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival, held March 11-21. View both in-person screenings at drive-ins, movie theaters and select venues along with virtual screenings. Notable past festival directors and actors include Alfonso Cuaron, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Danny Trejo and many more.

See Flowers Galore

During March through May 10, stroll through fifty acres of beautiful Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers in glorious bloom at the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. For more than 60 years, this annual burst of vibrant color has become one of nature's official ways of announcing the arrival of spring in San Diego. You can also celebrate one of nature's most cheerful blossoms during the annual Julian Daffodil Show. This flower-filled event occus March 20-21 at the Julian Town Hall in the charming mountain town of Julian in rural East County.

Drive Historic Highway 101

Drive along Historic Highway 101 from luxurious Del Mar to laid-back Oceanside and discover North County's beautiful beaches and vibrant communities. Enjoy some retail therapy at Cedros Design District in Solana Beach, a seaside niche of artist studios, galleries, home furnishing stores, travel outfitters, and boutique shops. Hang 10 at Encinitas' Swami Beach which was made famous by the Beach Boys' hit song "Surfin' USA." Spanning 1,942 feet, the Oceanside Municipal Pier is the longest wooden pier on the West Coast.

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 September, visit San Diego for a fun and inexpensive getaway with these 25 free things to do.