The seasons change in San Diego with out a variety of fanfare. Now we have year-round sunny and gentle climate, so a lot of the timber don’t shed their leaves within the fall and also you gained’t really want to place in your favourite flannel-checked scarf. We make up for what we lack in autumn climate, nevertheless, with a variety of seasonal actions, festivals, and fall enjoyable.
There are many fall actions in San Diego, so if you happen to’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 listing.
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1. Take Benefit of Children Free San Diego (TOP PICK)
Children Free San Diego is among the finest annual occasions in San Diego. For the entire month of October, children get free admission (with a paying grownup) to 50+ museums, plus San Diego theme parks, excursions, and points of interest — together with our main theme parks.
There are additionally restaurant reductions and lodge reductions, making October the best time to go to San Diego with children.
Residents must also reap the benefits of these Children Free San Diego offers as nicely. Relating to our points of interest, some would require a qualifying ticket, which you will 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 probably the greatest locations to see some fall colours close to downtown San Diego.
The Japanese maple timber flip good shades of crimson presently of yr, and also you’ll see different timber and shrubs turning vivid orange and yellow. Children love the koi fish, too.
3. Have a good time Halloween at LEGOLAND Brick-Or-Deal with
This contains LEGOLAND®’s Brick or Deal with Social gathering Nights. Many of the theme parks beautify 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 by way of 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 collaborating in a dressing up celebration or becoming a member of the Halloween Dance Social gathering. They’ll additionally take pleasure in secure trick-or-treating alongside the park’s Sweet Path, wander by way of 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 shows, and crowd-favorite exhibits, 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’ll be able to learn my information for purchasing low cost SeaWorld San Diego tickets. Annual Move and Enjoyable Card holders obtain free entry. However you’ll be able to select a Dine + Drink choice that features meals all day lengthy in addition to different upgrades.
5. Go to Bates Nut Farm
One among San Diego’s favourite family-owned farms, Bates Nut Farm, hosts its annual Pumpkin Patch and fall actions by way of October 31. Go purchasing for scrumptious nuts and sweet, but in addition select your Halloween pumpkin among the many fall foliage, multi function enjoyable place.
Visitors can take pleasure in hay rides, face portray, bounce and slides, mountaineering, balloon artwork, pony rides, and the farm’s fashionable petting zoo. There’s even a mechanical bull for these courageous sufficient! Exercise tickets are bought in $2 increments and can be utilized in the 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 reside music from 3:30–6:30 p.m.
As well as, company also can take pleasure in reside leisure each Saturday and Sunday all through October on the farm, plus choose dates in November. You may examine their occasion calendar for particulars, and also you’ll additionally discover the occasion’s opening hours right here.
Different fall particular occasions embrace 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 on your efforts, plus there are money and reward card prizes for the successful 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 main points 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.
Varied safari choices might be loved by kids and their households, and even an adults-only choice. All sleepovers embrace guided after-hours wildlife walks, camp actions, s’mores across the fireplace, dinner, and breakfast.
Visitors can improve to the Supreme Roar & Snore Safari package deal, the place you’ll soar by way of the park on a zipline experience, seize binoculars for a Evening Imaginative and prescient Safari by way of the Africa and Asia wildlife sections, take pleasure in 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 primary (convey your individual 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 model, this can be a memorable option to spend an evening in San Diego with your loved ones. Costs per particular person begin from $155 up. The Supreme Roar & Snore Safari package deal begins at $315 per particular person.
Roar and Snore runs by way of 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 Seaside
Fall is a good time to go to this stunning coastal city in North County San Diego. The summer season crush is gone, and you may benefit from the miles of sandy seashores with many extra parking alternatives. Look out for dolphins, too, as they’re typically noticed within the ocean there.
Carlsbad Village is true subsequent to the seashore, albeit up an extended flight of stairs from the seashore. The village is a good place to spend a day with the household. There’s plenty of parking proper within the middle by the city sq. advanced, and you may stroll in every single 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 outlets to peruse, loads of cafes for lunch, a gelateria, and even a gourmand popcorn store.
The streets surrounding the principle sq. are dotted with cute however well-priced boutiques, extra outlets, cafes, and eating places. Household favorites embrace Handel’s Home made Ice Cream on State Road and a brief stroll alongside the identical highway will lead you to The Items, the place the large gourmand donuts are to die for!
Eating choices are aplenty. Standard eating places embrace 264 Fresco and Campfire, or Pure Taco is a good household choice.
You too can get the Coaster practice to Carlsbad Station from the town or different stops alongside the coast. And you may hire E-bikes at Pedego Electrical Bikes.
8. Have a good time Dia de los Muertos in Outdated City
San Diego’s atmospheric and exquisite Outdated City district is filled 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 lots 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 may 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.
Varied festivities will happen within the State Historic Park all weekend, the place you’ll be able to honor your individual misplaced beloved one on the Neighborhood Altar, additionally positioned within the Plaza de Armas.
And don’t overlook to absorb one of many improbable Mexican eating places that line the streets of Outdated City, or go to the famed haunted Whaley Home Museum, if you happen to dare!
You may examine the whole 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 embrace a maze, a Jamboree dance, and reside nation and bluegrass tunes by The Barn Owls trio.
Pleasant scarecrows are available to information you thru the park. And make sure you 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 around the globe is certain 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 embrace snorkeling excursions, kayaking excursions, bay excursions, whale watching excursions, or a guided tour across the USS Halfway, the historic naval plane service and museum.
You too can tour the grounds and varied 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 good time for the entire household to saddle up and revel in certainly one of San Diego’s many stunning trails, and even the seashore, on horseback. The recent solar has cooled, however nonetheless, seize a hat and sunscreen for this enjoyable outing.
Picturesque-guided horseback path rides can be found by way of Surfside Ranch, which is positioned 15 miles south of downtown. You may select from seashore or path rides, pony rides for the little ones, or stand up near different furry associates on the ranch’s Petting Zoo. There are llamas, goats, pigs, and even chickens.
Surfside Ranch is at present open seven days per week from 9 a.m– 5 p.m., however examine their web site earlier than you go in case hours change. 1-hour path rides begin from $80 per particular person.
An alternative choice is San Diego Horse Connection in Valley Heart, which gives 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 particular person.
12. Take a Vineyard Tour
There are some nice vineyard choices round San Diego County. For a novel expertise, you’ll be able to hop aboard the Vineyard Prepare Tour of San Diego, the place you’ll cruise up and down the coast. Visitors 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 value $128 and embrace tastings at 4 wineries, a wine-pairing gentle lunch, and different goodies. Visitors could also be 18+, however you have to be aged 21+ to drink alcohol.
Different choices for wine lovers embrace heading north to the famed Temecula wine nation, the place award-winning wineries abound. You too can soak up a scorching air balloon experience over the gorgeous vineyards whereas there. Costs for a shared balloon experience value from $170 per particular person.
13, Go Road Eating in La Jolla Shores, Gaslamp Quarter, and Little Italy
Three fashionable areas the place eating places have continued to increase out of doors eating into streets and parking tons for the reason that pandemic embrace 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, because of 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’ll be able to dine and drink outdoors within the Gaslamp Quarter.
14. Decide 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 bought haul you’ll be able to head into downtown Julian to browse the lovable little reward outlets.
You might convey your bushel house and make your individual apple pie, however there are some fantastic native pie outlets 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 varied trails all through San Diego County from September by way of June, totally on weekends. Enjoyable choices this October embrace the Torrey Pines Loop by way of Gonzales Canyon and the picturesque Sundown Path by way of Cleveland Nationwide Forest.
The Canyoneers put collectively an inventory of their favourite trails and suggestions within the Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Path Information to San Diego Open air ebook that you’ll find at native retailers or on Amazon.
How superior to go climbing with specialists by way of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This hike is obtainable in each November and December this yr, and you may examine the schedule, which incorporates many extra guided climbing choices, right here. As well as, month-to-month midweek hikes permit contributors to take pleasure in limited-access trails which might be usually crowded on weekends.
The Backside Line
As the top of October attracts nearer, normally, some San Diego neighborhoods go all out with improbable Halloween events, occasions, pub crawls, cruises, and extra.
Fall is a good time to go to San Diego. Most youngsters are again in class, so fashionable points of interest are usually much less busy, there are extra rooms obtainable at San Diego motels, and the climate is nearly all the time fabulous, with clear skies and comfy temperatures.
Whether or not you like celebrating Halloween or Dia de los Muertos, there are many choices. Simply make sure you examine the hours for points of interest and actions earlier than you go.
What are your favourite fall issues to do in San Diego?
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