Want to go on an awesome adventure? If so, California is the state to check out, and San Diego is the city you’ve been dreaming of. From rock climbing to surfing, this place is packed full of incredible ways to get your thrills and satisfy your need for extreme sports and other adrenaline activities.
The best way to make your amazing, thrill-seeking experience even better? RV camping in San Diego, of course! This allows you to park right in the middle of the action and immerse yourself in the adventure the entire time you’re away.
So how does one go about planning an RV vacation full of extreme sports in San Diego? Well, despite the fact that adrenaline-filled activities wait around every corner, it’s still important to do your research and even book some tours, rentals, and activities in advance.
Here’s what you need to know before you go.
The Allure of San Diego for Thrill-Seekers
We mentioned that San Diego is the perfect place for extreme sports, but we want to reiterate this fact and help you understand why that is. You see, this area of the country features a variety of amazing landscapes, from awesome beaches to desert landscapes to spectacular mountains. This means it’s possible to enjoy mountain biking in the morning and a parasailing session in the afternoon!
On top of all that, the climate in San Diego really can’t be beat. The weather is warm and sunny all year long, and while it does get hot in summer, it’s rarely so hot you can’t get out and enjoy the great outdoors. This makes this area ideal for those who like to be outdoors participating in extreme sports and other thrilling adventures.
Of course, you do have to relax sometimes. Fortunately, San Diego is great for that too! This city has a rich cultural scene, meaning you’ll find plenty of good food, amazing art, exciting performances, and more to fill the evening after you’ve finished your adrenaline activities for the day.
Skydiving Over San Diego’s Scenic Beauty
First on our list of incredible extreme sports one should consider when visiting San Diego? Skydiving. If you’re an adrenaline junkie looking for the ultimate thrill, skydiving is the activity for you.
The exhilaration as you leave your cares behind and fall toward the earth below is something that you’ll never forget. Add in the gorgeous views you get when skydiving in SoCal, and you’ve got an experience that really can’t be matched.
There are several options for skydiving in San Diego. Some of our favorites are listed below:
- Pacific Coast Skydiving — Take a scenic flight over Imperial Beach, Coronado Bridge, and Coronado Island before an incredible freefall at around 120 miles per hour.
- Skydive San Diego — Jump from 13,000 feet and take in incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, San Diego, and even Baja. Want to brush up on your skills? Look into their flight school.
- Skydive Elsinore — For a different sort of view, use this company to dive over Lake Elsinore. You can dive solo, tandem dive with a friend, or try the accelerated freefall course.
Obviously, you’ll want to stay safe when skydiving. Booking with one of the reputable companies above will help with that, but you’ll also want to 1) avoid alcohol the day before diving, 2) stay hydrated, 3) wear comfortable clothing, and 4) make sure you’re within the weight limits.
Conquer the Waves with Extreme Water Sports
The ocean offers more than just beautiful views. It’s also an incredible place to enjoy even more extreme sports. In San Diego, you’ll see tons of people out on the water surfing, using jet skis, and even parasailing. Which water-based adrenaline activity will you choose?
Best Surfing Spots in San Diego
Surfing is probably the most popular water sport for the people of San Diego. This is likely because the city boasts so many amazing surf spots. Below are some of our favorites:
- Pacific Beach — This is the best spot for brand new beginners. Here the waves are gentle enough that one can easily avoid injury, but are still 100% rideable.
- Oceanside — Those looking for variety should head to Oceanside. The shifting sandbars provide lots of different wave types, and the surfing community here is top-notch.
- Lower Trestles — Finally, we must mention the Lower Trestles. This is one of the most well known surfing spots in the country and is a favorite of world champion surfer Kelly Slater.
If this is your first time surfing, you can join a lesson with San Diego Surf School to get your feet wet (literally and metaphorically). Want to go for it on your own but need rental equipment? Try PB Surf Shop!
Best Jet Skiing Spots in San Diego
Grabbing a jet ski is another fun way to enjoy the water while in the San Diego area. There are a few great jet ski spots to choose from, meaning you are sure to find one that suits you. Below are a few of our favorites:
- Mission Bay — Mission Bay is probably the most popular place to go jet ski riding in San Diego. Rental companies are easy to access here, and it’s a good spot for beginners to get their sea legs.
- La Jolla — Once you’re ready to go out into the open ocean, head to La Jolla. We recommend doing this on a nice clear day with calm waters. Watch out for yachts!
- El Capitán Reservoir — If you prefer freshwater over the ocean, El Capitan Reservoir is the place for you. Just be sure to stick to the areas where jet skiing is allowed.
Need to rent a jet ski? We recommend Luxury Jet Ski Rentals. It’s also important to note that you should avoid riding into Mexican waters from California. If you wish to ride over to Isla Coronado, you will need a passport and you will have to cross the border legally in Tijuana.
Best Parasailing Tours in San Diego
Parasailing is an amazing way to take in the beauty of the San Diego area. That said, this is one water sport that we don’t recommend trying without the help of a professional. Fortunately, there is a great parasailing company in San Diego, along with a few in the surrounding areas.
We recommend checking out the tour options below:
- San Diego Parasailing Adventures in San Diego, CA — We recommend either the popular Cloudhopper tour or the SkyRider tour, which offers a slightly longer flight time. Either way, you get some serious thrills and amazing views.
- Dana Point Parasail in Dana Point, CA — This location is outside of San Diego proper, but is only about an hour away and well worth the drive. They have a great one hour tour and can take up to three passengers at a time.
- California Parasail, Catalina Island Tour — California Parasail has a few different locations, but we recommend the Catalina Island location, as the tour gives you spectacular views of one of the most amazing places in the country: Catalina Island.
We highly recommend choosing a tour and booking well in advance. Parasailing is a popular activity in the San Diego area, and tours book up quickly.
Hiking and Rock Climbing Adventures
Next on our list of thrilling adventures in San Diego? Hiking and rock climbing. This part of California is chock-full of incredible climbs and amazing hikes, and we highly recommend taking advantage of as many of these extreme sports as you can while you’re in the area.
The Best Hiking Trails in San Diego
As far as hiking trails go in San Diego, there really is something for everyone. Whether you’re just starting your hiking journey or you’re a seasoned pro, you are sure to find a trail to enjoy.
Here are our top picks:
Sunset Cliffs Park Trail — The one-mile Sunset Cliffs Park Trail in Sunset Cliffs Park is the perfect easy hike. It offers gorgeous views of the ocean and even features a cool swing in a tree.
Fortuna Mountain Trail — Those looking for a slightly more difficult hike should turn to Fortuna Mountain Trail in Mission Trails Regional Park. You’ll get some great views and even wildflowers at certain times of year.
Saigon Trail — Saigon Trail is rated as hard, but because it’s less than a mile long, it’s really not all that difficult for most. You’ll likely have to climb and crawl to reach the end, but it’s well worthwhile.
Of course, you will want to make sure you have proper hiking shoes and other hiking gear, especially for more challenging hikes!
The Best Rock Climbing Spots in San Diego
There are just as many spots to climb in San Diego as there are places to hike, and those spots are as varied as can be. This means that both beginners and old pros will be able to do some climbing while visiting.
Some foot the best rock climbing spots include:
- Jasper Boulders — Located in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, these awesome boulders are a great place for beginners to give climbing a go.
- Mt. Woodson — Quite possibly the best bouldering area in SoCal, Mt. Woodson features incredible variety. Besides bouldering, one can also practice crack climbing (with lots of different cracks to choose from) and plenty of face climbing.
- Valley of the Moon — This one is pretty far south, just before you reach the Mexican border. It’s on BLM land and features both bouldering opportunities and some amazing technical face climbs.
Remember that quality gear and solid know-how are both incredibly important when rock climbing! If you are a seasoned rock climber but don’t want to bring your own gear, you can rent from Hangtime Rock Climbing Company. Meanwhile, beginners should look into rock climbing tours or classes with companies like Chillino Rock Climbing.
Biking Through San Diego’s Thrilling Terrain
We mustn’t forget the option of biking your way through some of San Diego’s beauty. There are tons of great mountain biking trails with thrilling descents, as well as exciting road biking trails, and cyclists come from near and far just to check them out.
Some of our favorites include the following:
- Balboa Loop — Located in the famous Balboa Park, the Balboa Loop trail takes you around the perimeter of the park. It is easy enough but still pretty fun, and we love that the trail is so easy to reach when you’re in San Diego.
- Noble Canyon — This is a more technical ride for more advanced cyclists. It is located a bit outside of town, but is well worth the drive for the amazing thrills it offers.
- Mission Bay Trail — This easy road bike trail gives riders a chance to enjoy the ocean breeze and look out over the water as they enjoy a leisurely ride.
- Torrey Pines Loop — A must for cyclists who visit San Diego, the Torrey Pines Loop takes you on a 2.4-mile ride through the beautiful Torrey Pines Natural Area. You will see amazing scenery where the desert meets the ocean and have access to some incredible beaches along the way.
Don’t want to lug your bike all the way to San Diego? You might consider renting from Stay Classy Bikes! Be sure to don your helmet and stick to the trail to avoid getting lost.
RV Rentals: The Ultimate Adventure Companion
We mentioned briefly that an RV is the perfect lodging option when you’re out on a thrill-seeking vacation. This is because the RV can be parked in the middle of the natural wonderland you’re out enjoying extreme sports, making it easy to access the fun first thing in the morning and giving you a totally comfortable place to come home to in the evening, without requiring you to drive back to a hotel.
Heck, you can even move the RV from one day to the next to make sure you experience all of the landscapes and thrilling activities the area has to offer!
Don’t have an RV of your own? No problem! We have tons of wonderful San Diego rental RVs for you to choose from, so you should be able to quickly and easily find something to suit your needs.
Safety First: Adventure Vacation Precautions
As you can see, we highly recommend taking an adventure vacation in beautiful San Diego. That said, it is very important that you remember to take all of the necessary safety precautions, even while you’re in the middle of having an amazing time.
Some of the best ways you can stay safe include hiring reputable tour operators, using proper equipment, and making sure you are properly trained before taking part in any activity. Packing a first aid kit, knowing where to go in case of a serious injury, staying hydrated, and wearing sun protection are also incredibly important safety precautions you’ll want to take.
Yep, San Diego is one of our favorite places in the world for adrenaline activities. We love that you can choose to enjoy water sports, go rock climbing, take a hike, hop on a mountain bike, or even go skydiving, and adding an RV into the mix just adds to the excitement of it all.
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Why not start planning your adventure vacation in San Diego today?
