Even though we’re blessed with mild weather for most of the year, there’s just something about spring in Southern California that gets me excited. The soft breezes, blooming flowers, and sun puts me in the mood to explore our gorgeous state!
As a San Diego family photographer, I love booking outdoor sessions that celebrate the beauty of this season. One of my favorite parts about this job is scouting locations for perfect family photo sessions in Southern California. Along the way, I’ve also discovered some fun outdoor San Diego activities for local families or tourists visiting our beautiful city.
As I’ve explored, I’ve come across some amazing outdoor activities in and around San Diego that are fun for the entire family. Whether you’re a mom of little ones looking for a place to let your toddlers run around, a family hoping for a weekend activity that will keep everyone happy, or a couple in need of a springtime date away from the kids, this list has something for you!
(I have no affiliations with any of the following entities or links)
Flower Fields Carlsbad
5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008
The flower fields in Carlsbad is the ultimate outdoor San Diego activity and the highlight of the Spring seas. The flower field attracts a lot of locals and visitors everywhere simply because of its beauty. Open annually from March 1st to mid-May, The Flower Fields boasts 55-acres of gorgeous blooming ranunculus flowers. With various other floral arrangements, green-houses, and fun seating spread around and across the fields, this outing feels like stepping into a magical garden in Carlsbad. Throughout the spring months, their calendar is booked with activities and events for the whole family, from flower-crown workshops to tea in the garden. Bring your little ones to run between the rows of rainbow-hued flowers, or stroll with your partner for the perfect afternoon date! Tickets can be purchased online.
Beach Day in San Diego
Living in San Diego gives you access to a coastline of beautiful and clean beaches for everyone in the family to enjoy. Even the drive from Orange County to San Diego gives you a beautiful coastal view, with or without traffic. This scenic drive makes it much better than LA traffic; I would never want to drive in LA traffic unless I had an important business there. The beach is not solely reserved for your hot summer months, but it can still be added to your outdoor San Diego activities list. Here’s a list of some beaches you can check out when in San Diego (list is in no particular order):
- Del Mar Beach’s Seagrove Park
- Torrey Pines State Park (FYI, Black’s Beach is also part of Torrey Pines State Beach, and just a heads up….there is nudity, and it’s normal to locals. If you’re uncomfortable, then I recommend going early in the morning).
- Pacific Beach
- La Jolla Cove & La Jolla Cave
- South Mission Beach
- Coronado Beach (The small sand dunes there is a great place for family photos)
- Carlsbad Beaches
- Solana Beach
Strawberry Picking at Carlsbad Strawberry Company
1050 Cannon Rd., Carlsbad, CA 92008
As a fine art family photographer in San Diego, the strawberry-picking experience creates the memories I love to capture. Whether you’re going for those adorable photos of your little ones exploring a strawberry patch for the first time or you’re hoping to stock up on fresh, family-grown strawberries, this is such a sweet and timeless Southern California experience. I recommend the Carlsbad Strawberry Company, which has been family-operated for four generations and has 25 acres of strawberries to choose from. Get there early to skip the long lines and enjoy their petting zoo (with sheep, goats, and adorable rabbits!) later in the spring. Strawberry season usually runs from February to July.
P.S. At this same location, pumpkin season begins 9/20/2024 to 11/3/2024.
Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum
Relaxing Outdoor San Diego Activities
Another beautiful location, the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum in Balboa Park, also offers an educational experience of Japanese culture. As a traditional Japanese garden, it showcases an array of gorgeous blooms in the spring and summer. The cherry blossoms are some of my favorites, reaching their peak blooms in March and April. Take a stroll through their permanent exhibits, which include a bonsai garden and Japanese artifacts. Little ones will be enamored with their brightly colored and diverse koi collection!
Olympus Park
701 Olympus St., Encinitas, CA 92024
Sometimes you just need an easy, fun, and free spot to entertain the kids. Olympus Park in Encinitas is way more fun than your average playground, with a zipline, mega-tube slide, and grassy hill to “sled” down. This is a great playground for slightly older kiddos (5 and up) who enjoy rope climbing, but there are baby swings and smaller slides for toddlers. Another awesome feature? A “reflexology path” with stones of different shapes and sizes to walk on. If there’s one thing kids love, it’s an excuse to walk around barefoot, right? There’s also an enclosed dog park, a skate park, basketball court, and picnic tables for that inevitable park snack. Quite honestly, any public park is always a great idea to add to your outdoor San Diego activities.
San Diego Theme Parks & Animal Exhibits
Most Common Outdoor Activities in San Diego
I simply cannot write a blog post about family-friendly outdoor activities in San Diego without including the list below. If you’re local and have children, I would invest in getting a pass because it gives you the flexibility to come and leave whenever you’d like.
- Legoland – I haven’t been here yet, but it’s definitely on my list!
- San Diego Zoo – I’ve been here numerous times, even when I was living in Orange County. I love going here and when I’m tired of walking, I take the bus tour or the aerial tram.
- San Diego Safari Park – Some don’t know, but the safari park is completely different from the zoo and also in a separate location from the zoo. If you’re planning a trip to San Diego, make sure you buy tickets for the correct park and arrive at the correct park.
- Seaworld – My favorite is the beluga whales! I had an opportunity to watch the trainers feed them and they were simply the cutest.
Family-friendly Hikes in San Diego
Best Outdoor Activities in San Diego for Beautiful Views & to Stay Healthy
Spring and Fall in San Diego are my favorite times to go hiking because they’re not hot, you get that nice breeze, and both seasons offer beautiful foliage. I love checking out new hiking locations because it’s good exercise and the perfect way to scout for new photoshoot locations.
- Mission Trails (Oak Canyon Trail)
- Mission Trail Regional Park (Old Mission Dam – I love hiking to the sound of water)
- Cabrillo National Monument
- Blue Sky Ecological Reserve
- South Lake Park in San Marcos (California Lilac Blooms in Spring)
Go Watch a Game & Support your San Diego Team
- Snapdragon Stadium – Check out their website to find out what games or events are available. I usually go to support the San Diego Wave FC. The last game I saw at Snapdragon was the Gold Cup (USA vs. Brazil). USA won 1-0 and it was during that live game when I first met Alyssa Naeher (Goalkeeper). I love everything about her, she was fierce, she defended the goal like no other, and I love her energy.
- San Diego Padres Baseball Team at Petco Park – I’ve heard that you can get tickets at the last minute or nearly close to game day because most sellers will almost always put their tickets for sale, and prices may drop.
Share Your Favorite Outdoor San Diego Activities with Me!
These are just a few top outdoor activities in San Diego that I love recommending as a family photographer! Do you know of any hidden gems in Southern California that are fun for the whole family? Let me know in the comments and happy spring!
San Diego Family Photographer | Sarah Nguyen Photography
Sarah is a San Diego Family Photographer specializing in a portrait experience that focuses on finding the natural light to achieve her light and airy style. Her portrait experience is very thorough with a selection of beautiful dresses in a variety of sizes for moms to wear. Professional hair and make-up for moms is an additional add-on for those who need help from professionals to look extra glam and flawless. Sarah also offers an array of heirloom albums, museum-grade frames, and fine art prints. Her goal is to help you make it happen and make it extra meaningful by getting those images printed.
Interested in more than one session to document your entire motherhood journey or family milestone? Sarah offers a special membership, which includes discounts and priority booking. You are more than welcome to reach out to Sarah for more details or even DM her on Instagram @sarahs_photobooklet. She will be so happy to answer your questions and help you figure out what’s best for you.
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I developed a beautiful vision of weddings since childhood. This vision was inspired and nurtured from my childhood experience singing for weddings in the Vietnamese children's choir. Those weekends were the best memories of my childhood and I always made sure those important dates were on my calendar. Fast forward to present day, I get to photograph couples on their wedding day and there is nothing more rewarding than delivering a gallery full of love, laughter, and precious memories for future generations to relive and celebrate.
Photographer, Traveler, and Wife
meet Sarah Nguyen
Creating artistic and visionary images — captivating hearts and minds in memorable destinations
my mantra and vision
Stylish Imagery for Wondrous Hearts
