San Diego In September: Best Things To Do, Weather & More

While there are no bad times to visit San Diego, September has got to be one of the best months in the city. The glorious summer weather continues into September, but crowds have dispersed following the conclusion of school holidays. This means affordable prices are easier to come by than in other months.In addition to fabulous Labor Day Weekend celebrations, San Diego plays host to a range of events and festivities in September. All of which will keep you occupied throughout your stay. Take a look through our comprehensive guide for everything you need to know about San Diego in September.San Diego September WeatherSeptember is the perfect time to experience the warm weather San Diego is famous for, without being so scorched, you can’t leave the hotel. San Diego September temperatures hover around 66 – 77°F. These are ideal conditions for enjoying the outdoor activities available throughout the city. Keep tabs on the weather forecast, as the famously powerful, dry Santa Ana winds can sometimes hit San Diego in September. These can easily interrupt your plans and cause considerable destruction. During the month of September, San Diego receives less than 5mm of rainfall. It’s one of the driest months of the year, and many visitors can expect no rain during their stay. There are about 12.5 hours of daylight in September, but that tends to decrease as the month progresses, and you can enjoy approximately 9 hours of sunshine each day.This is the perfect time for a dip in the Pacific Ocean. The sea in September has an average temperature of around 68°C, making it the best time of year for swimmers. Below are average temperatures and rainfall in San Diego over the year:What Should You Wear In San Diego In September?Summer attire is still very much appropriate, thanks to the gorgeous San Diego weather in September. Be sure to pack all the usual summertime essentials, including shorts, t-shirts, lightweight trousers, flowy dresses, and flip-flops. The sun tends to be quite strong this time of year, so be sure to invest in SPF, a sun hat, and protective sunglasses. A light cardigan or jacket is worth bringing in case of an occasional chilly evening. Although there’s a good chance you won’t need it. Also, remember to include your swimsuit if planning to lounge on the beach or take to the ocean. Things To Do In San Diego In SeptemberSeaWorld Craft Beer FestivalWhen: August 25th – September 10th, 2024 (Friday-Sundays+Labor Day Monday)Where: SeaWorld San DiegoWebsiteWhen you think of SeaWorld, craft beer is probably not what springs to mind. However, the famous marine theme park presents its very own Craft Beer Festival every summer weekend until September 10th. Entrance to the event is included with your tickets to the park, and visitors can pick from over 100 craft beers, ranging from lesser-known local offerings to domestic favorites. Mouthwatering wines, seltzers, and cocktails will also be available if beer doesn’t tickle your fancy. You can even order some food to pair with your drink of choice, with menus tailored to compliment the selection of beers. Please note that tickets include entry to the event but do not cover the cost of food or drink. Boots in the ParkWhen: September 14, 2024Where: Waterfront ParkTicketsThe 2024 Boots in the Park Music Festival is happening on September 14, 2024 at Waterfront Park in San Diego. It’s a country music event that brings in big names like Jason Aldean, Dustin Lynch, and Ian Munsick.Beyond the music, there’s plenty to do. Expect a lot of local food trucks, beer gardens, and even a mechanical bull for anyone feeling brave. It’s a good time to hang out with friends, grab some drinks, and enjoy live music outdoors. The venue is right by the water, so if you need a break, you can always take a stroll along the bay. Tickets can sell out fast, so it’s worth planning ahead if you want to catch some of the top country acts without leaving San Diego. Parking is limited, so public transportation or rideshares might be your best bet.Grape Day FestivalWhen: September 14th, 2024Where: Grape Day Park, EscondidoWebsiteHead up to North San Diego for the annual Grape Day Festival in Escondido. One of the county’s oldest and best-loved events, the Grape Day Festival celebrates the city’s history as one of the finest places to grow sweet grapes, a source of pride for Escondido. The event has drawn crowds to the area for decades. Today, the festival features live jazz and bluegrass music, plus arts and craft demonstrations. Guests can even jump on the grapes just as locals did in the past. Additionally, this is a family-friendly event that will keep the kids entertained. The festival provides face-painting, old-school children’s games, and a petting zoo. Plenty of food will be available on the day, from hearty BBQ and Mexican offerings, to sweet treats like ice cream and shaved ice. Hot Wheel Monster Truck Glow PartyWhen: September 21st – 22nd, 2024Where: Pechanga ArenaTicketsThe Hot Wheels Monster Truck Glow Party is coming to Pechanga Arena San Diego on September 21, 2024, with two shows—12:30 PM and 7:30 PM. It’s an action-packed event featuring life-sized Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, like Mega Wrex™, Tiger Shark™, Demo Derby™, Bone Shaker™, Bigfoot®, and Gunkster™ performing stunts and crushing cars. There’s a lot to see, with glowing lights adding to the excitement. The show also features competitions like the Powersmashers Pre-Show Party, which lets you get up close to the trucks before the action starts. This is a family-friendly event, and kids are sure to love seeing their favorite Hot Wheels toys come to life. If you’re going, plan for parking and grab your tickets early since it’s likely to be packed. Expect plenty of noise and thrills—it’s one of those events where ear protection might be a good idea!Miramar Air ShowWhen: September 27th – 29th, 2024Where: Marine Corps Air Station, MiramarWebsiteOne of the most unique and thrilling events taking place this September is the Miramar Air Show, one of the largest military air shows. Here, you can witness incredible aerobatic demonstrations and get close to modern and vintage aircrafts. Visitors can even experience what it’s like to take flight in one of the many flight simulators. Also set to feature is the Innovation & Tech Expo. This allows you to explore the ever-evolving technologies the U.S. Marine Corps uses and learn about the latest research and findings. A free San Diego event, this is one of the most unique days out you can have in the city.Spend An Afternoon At Balboa ParkWhen: AnytimeWebsiteA superb place to explore under the San Diego sunshine is the city’s much-loved Balboa Park. Larger in size than New York’s Central Park, Balboa Park is full of exciting things to do and is one of the top spots to include in your San Diego itinerary. Wander through the colorful Spanish Art Village Center, admire the beauty of the Japanese Friendship Garden, and explore the famous Botanical Building. If you want to take a break from the warm weather, some of the finest museums in California call Balboa Park home. A few include the San Diego Air & Space Museum, the Natural History Museum, and The Museum of Us.Balboa Park frequently hosts different events and exhibitions each month. Check out their website to explore the September schedule. Go Beach-HoppingWhen: AnytimeWhere: Various LocationsBest Beaches In San DiegoIn a city renowned for its pristine coastline, it’s safe to assume most visitors plan to kick back at a San Diego beach during their stay.From lively boardwalks to serene hideaways, San Diego is home to a huge array of spectacular beaches. For a vibrant beachside atmosphere, head to Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, or Ocean Beach. Both are part of bustling neighborhoods filled with chilled-out beach bars and restaurants with a view. Head to affluent Coronado Island to see the iconic Hotel del Coronado. Otherwise, go a little further afield to quieter spots like Del Mar City Beach or Torrey Pines State Reserve, where fewer crowds tend to form, and you can unwind in peace. `If you’re up for an adventure, make your way down to hidden Black’s Beach, which is notoriously tricky to reach. Try Your Hand At SurfingWhen: AnytimeWhere: Various LocationsBest Surf Lessons In San DiegoIt’s no secret that San Diegans, and Californians in general, love to surf.For visitors new to the sport, surf lessons are available at many of the city’s top beaches. No matter your skill level, instructors can cater to most through private or group instruction. La Jolla Shores is one of the best beaches in San Diego for beginners, as the waves are consistent, and the area is free from strong winds. Pacific Beach is another excellent learning spot, thanks to the gentle waves. Experienced surfers should check out Oceanside and Windansea Beach, though all of San Diego’s surf spots will keep skilled surfers enthralled. Photo courtesy of Visit OceansideEnjoy A Fantastic Day Out At San Diego ZooWhen: AnytimeWhere: Balboa ParkWebsiteIf San Diego is most famous for its beaches, the zoo is undoubtedly in second place. San Diego Zoo has been attracting visitors for over 100 years and is currently home to over 4,000 animals and 700,000 plants. Open every day of the week, the zoo allows guests to interact with some marvelous creatures, including koalas, polar bears, hippos, baboons, and so many more. The zoo’s team of conservationists will also provide insight into how they care for and preserve these fascinating animals, some of which are nearing extinction without the intervention of organizations like San Diego Zoo. If you purchase tickets online, you get access to a number of extras you won’t get if you buy tickets at the entrance.Visitors in early September can witness the wonderful Nighttime Zoo, one of the popular seasonal events. Nighttime Zoo features live entertainment and once-off encounters with the zoo’s inhabitants. September in San Diego is a perfect mix of summer sunshine and entertaining events, with the added plus of smaller crowds. Every month brings with it different pros and cons, though it’s difficult to find any drawbacks to visiting the city in September. As usual, this is shaping up to be an awesome month in San Diego.Last Updated on September 4, 2024 by Maria HaaseThe post San Diego In September: Best Things To Do, Weather & More appeared first on San Diego Explorer.

MORE

Discover One of the Best Golf Resorts in San Diego: Fairmont Grand Golf Club

We’ve got a lot to be thankful for in San Diego. We have the best weather and some of the best beaches and golf courses in the world–Torrey Pines, Aviara, La Costa, and Maderas. Another course that certainly belongs in that conversation is one that I hadn’t played in nearly 20 years, The Fairmont Grand Golf Club in Del Mar.Only a 20-minute drive from my house in Carlsbad and just minutes off Interstate 5, the Grand is the only San Diego course designed by Tom Fazio, a legend in the field of golf course architecture who’s crafted courses in 38 states. The semi-private course is part of the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, an award-winning luxury resort on 400 acres of a pristine coastal canyon. The Fairmont Grand is one of 14 properties in the world to earn the prestigious Triple Five-Star award from Forbes Travel Guide.GOLFING THE FAIRMONT GRAND GOLF CLUBWhen I last played here in 2005, the course was debuting as the Grand Golf Club, having been rebranded from Del Mar National and before that Del Mar Meadows, a high-end daily fee facility that opened in 1999. The late 1990s was the golden era of golf in San Diego, when new golf courses were opening every month or so in San Diego County.The original Tom Fazio routing through the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve has remained intact. A few tee boxes have been added to give the par 3s additional distance and the downhill 16th hole has been lengthened and converted to a par 5 from a par 4, making the 7,160-yard course a true par 72. Just off the course, the practice facility has been built out– there’s now two-sides to the driving range and a short game and teaching area have been added.I didn’t experience the redesigned 16th hole as I only played the front nine of the Grand, but I was struck by the course’s playability as a 16 handicap. After losing a ball left on my opening tee shot, I didn’t lose another ball and finished with four pars on the remaining eight holes. Fazio did a masterful job of blending lush fairways with dramatic elevations and diverse bunkers. He also makes you feel as if you’re alone out there, as no holes are visible other than the one you’re playing.“Fazio carves out a course much differently than a lot of designers,” said Erik Wilson, The Grand’s Director of Golf. “Fairness and playability are two of his best attributes. Our course may look tight off the tees with native brush left and right, but there’s more room out there than your eyes give you credit for. You have these rolling fairways with a bowl effect on a lot of the holes. You may miss one left or right, but it’s not like a Donald Ross [design] where you’re going to fall off the planet. The greens are also very generous, and they also have that bowl effect around them.”Multi-million dollar Del Mar homes hover high above the canyons, barely visible from the fairways, so there’s no claustrophobic feeling while standing over the ball. “You go from the canyons, then you’re on a vista and then back down to the canyons,” Wilson said. “Fazio really used the canvas of Los Peñasquitos Canyon to lay out the routing. Even though we played on a day when temperatures climbed into the 80s, the Pacific Ocean breezes cooled us off throughout the round.JOE, THE OG OF CADDIESSince I hadn’t played the course in two decades and my partners were Grand rookies, we needed a guide–someone to help us navigate the fairways, read putts, fix divots, rake sand traps, and keep us relaxed. Joe, our forecaddie, was that guy. A former caddie at Bandon Dunes (Oregon), a world-class golf resort in Oregon, Joe has been at the Grand for over 15 years.He provided the perfect combination of information, morale-boosting, and comedic relief. He knew every clipping of grass on the entire course and every golf movie ever created. His Bill Murray impersonation from the classic golf movie Caddyshack was spot on. My only other forecaddie experience was last year in Northern Ireland at Royal County Down, the No. 1 rated course in the world. I’ve never played a course in San Diego that provided one. “We added the forecaddies to personalize the experience,” Wilson said. “Our caddies have all been here 10-plus years, they’re our property ambassadors. We want to provide a luxury golf experience, but we also want to harness and embrace So Cal vibe.”FRESH LOOK FOR MEMBERS CLUBHOUSETo accommodate a growing membership, The Grand recently renovated its golf clubhouse and member spaces. The clubhouse refresh includes a variety of updates, from upholstered furniture in luxurious textures and warm colors, pendants and sconces with brass and Venetian glass, window and wall treatments with softer and lighter fabrics, and custom patterned carpeting. The Ladies’ Lounge renovation includes adding an indoor-outdoor bar and a grand infrared sauna with an illuminated Himalayan salt wall. The Mens’ Lounge added more locker space, and the club’s reimagined outdoor space now features more patio seating and umbrellas, offering a flexible, transitional space for dining and club events.Just off the clubhouse sits Addison, San Diego’s first and only three-star Michelin restaurant. The seasonal tasting menus from Chef William Bradley offer a culinary perspective through an experience that celebrates Southern California’s ingredients and influences.HOW TO PLAY THE GRANDThe Fairmont Grand Del Mar is offering stay-and-play packages. They include luxury guestroom or suite accommodations, two rounds of golf daily at the Grand Golf Club, and a complimentary one-level guestroom upgrade or suite upgrade based on availability at check-in.Another way to play The Grand is to become a club member. The initiation fee for golf membership is $100,000. Benefits include priority tee times, an unrivaled pace of play, access to Fairmont Grand Del Mar amenities, and member-only events. Wilson said 70% of total play at the Grand comes from members and their guests and 30% from resort guests at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar.Do you need another excuse to treat yourself to a stay at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar and play some golf? Disclaimer: This post was written by Dave McKibben for San Diego Explorer. As customary in the travel writing industry, the writer was hosted to experience the golf course and new club house to research this article. This has not influenced the author’s opinion of these experiences.The post Discover One of the Best Golf Resorts in San Diego: Fairmont Grand Golf Club appeared first on San Diego Explorer.

MORE

Go Car Tour San Diego – A Fun Way to Explore

If you’ve seen the small yellow cars driving around San Diego, you should look up Go Car Tour San Diego and book a slot immediately.For those unfamiliar, the Go Car San Diego Tours provide one of the most unique and fun ways to explore America’s Finest City. Whether you’re only here for a weekend or you’ve lived here for years, the tour takes you to some of the most well-known areas in town.Don’t let the size of the car intimidate you — I’m 6’6” and fit in just fine. That said, the friend I brought along with me was much more petite, and I don’t know if we both would have fit if her legs were the same size as mine.The car itself operates as a three-wheeled vehicle that’s a mix between a scooter and a bike. The built-in GPS also guides you through an effortless journey that won’t leave you lost in the city. You also have a physical map with you to help you map out where you’ll go before you do so, which could provide valuable information for you to plan.To start your adventure, meet at the headquarters of the San Diego GoCars to watch a safety video that gives you the essential information needed for a successful trip. It explains the two brakes on the side of the driver’s handlebars, which work the same as brakes on a bike. You’ll find the gas on the right handlebar, and you simply pull it toward you to give it a go.Even if you’re nervous, that’ll disappear by the time you get to the end of the street. The tour avoids major freeways and takes you effortlessly around some of the busiest streets. Downtown & Balboa Park Go Car Tour San DiegoYour tour choice determines where the tour takes you, and the tours range from one hour all the way up to eight. Personally, I did the 2-hour Downtown & Balboa Park Tour, which the company dubs “THE essential San Diego tour.” It costs $173 per vehicle, not per person, but each vehicle only seats two, so keep that in mind. You’re free to extend your tour if you’d like, but they charge in 15-minute increments when you do. Although I didn’t experience any of the other tours, I would agree that the Downtown & Balboa Park Tour is essential, especially if you’ve only got a few days to spare. It begins in Old Town, where all tours do, then takes you down toward the Maritime Museum, the U.S.S. Midway, and Seaport Village along the harbor next to the ocean. You’ll learn some random facts along the way, including a story about the iconic statue of a couple kissing and its influence from the LIFE magazine photo snapped at the end of World War II.Once the ocean’s in your rearview, follow along through the historic Gaslamp Quarter, which highlights some of the older architecture and is still one of the most popular nighttime spots in the area. When it takes you through Little Italy, just know that all of the smells coming from the restaurants will make you hungry, so either give yourself a little extra time to stop or take note of a place you’d like to try out once you finish the tour.The exploration of Balboa Park is the best part of this tour if you ask me. This park has so much more to offer than what initially meets the eye. Even if you frequent the museums or attend shows at The Old Globe, the GoCar Tour will still fill you in on some fun facts you may or may not know, especially when it comes to the organ.Other San Diego Go Car ToursOutside of the Downtown & Balboa Park tour, there are a number of other tours including, but not limited to, the Downtown and Old Town Tour, the Coronado San Diego Tour, the Sunset Cliffs & Beaches Tour, the Full Day Tour (5 hours), the Night Owl Special Tour, and the Land & Sea Tour that also comes with a speedboat adventure that looks super fun. Tours have different durations, but all require a valid Driver’s License to operate the vehicle. Outside of the tours, they also offer scooter and e-bike rentals for you to explore a little more on your own. The next time you’re looking for an experience you’ll never forget, check out the GoCar San Diego City Tours for one of the most unbeatable explorations of this city. Allow yourself some extra time if you have it, grab a bite to eat along the way, and see what all the fuss is about San Diego, whether you’re a local or not. Last Updated on August 29, 2024 by Maria HaaseThe post Go Car Tour San Diego – A Fun Way to Explore appeared first on San Diego Explorer.

MORE