Does your family love to take walks? If you’re ready to deviate from traditional hiking trails, try mixing things up with kid-friendly urban hikes around San Diego County. These easy, mostly flat, paved pathways will get your entire family moving, exploring and generally loving life outdoors.
Grab comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, water bottles and snacks (of course) to experience spectacular ocean views, vast grassy fields, adventurous playgrounds, tasty culinary pitstops, interactive art installations and happy kids—all year long.
BAY TO PARK PASEO
To kick things off, head to the Bay to Park Paseo, a 1.7-mile walking path downtown along Park Blvd. This innovative route connects two favorite local destinations—San Diego Bay and Balboa Park—with a whole lot of excitement in between.
Walk through 13 unique zones—including Petco Park, San Diego City College, San Diego High School and the bridge over I-5—to discover impermanent art installations created with low-cost, short-term and scalable design aspects by volunteer teams of architects, artists and storytellers.
Some installations are interactive; they include QR codes to expand the experience. For example, a QR code at Central Library’s “Before There Were Borders” allows visitors to view images of different animals found in the San Diego-Tijuana region, listen to their names in different native languages, and be directed to related books inside the library.
The innovative route also goes through East Village, a lively area to stop for lunch. Visit www.eastvillagesandiego.com/dine for a variety of café and restaurant options.
“Everyone involved with Bay to Park Paseo is dedicated to enhancing the public realm by generating more walking, more enjoyment and more feet and eyes on the street,” says Pete Garcia, co-founder of Urban Interventions, the driving force behind the project. “The Bay to Park Paseo experience is free, earth-friendly, engaging and informative.”
Approach the Paseo as a one-way walk in either direction (take the bus or a ride-share back to your starting point) or a round trip loop (3.4 miles total), with free parking available on the Balboa Park end. Consider self-touring in family scavenger hunt style, or take a guided tour on the first or third Saturday of each month through November. For more information, visit www.baytoparkpaseo.org.
SAN DIEGO BAYFRONT WALK
Explore the many sites of San Diego Bay along this laid-back 1.5-mile waterfront pathway. Take your time to absorb iconic views of downtown San Diego and Coronado while passing cruise ships, the impressive Star of India and historic USS Midway. Don’t miss the boutique-style shops of Seaport Village and a quintessential ice cream stop at Seaport Fudge Factory. Continue on the paved walkway around Embarcadero Marina Park North.
SEVEN BRIDGES WALK
This unique 6-mile urban hike loops over seven bridges and through Balboa Park, downtown and Hillcrest. The involved bridges include Park Blvd., Cabrillo, First Ave., Quince St., Spruce St. Suspension (the kids will love this one!), Vermont St. and Georgia St. If six miles is too far, consider doing smaller sections and taking an Uber/Lyft back to your starting point. If pushing a stroller or wheelchair, note that some bridges have steps. For a detailed map and walking directions, visit www.sandiego.org/campaigns/sunny-7/san-diegos-7-bridges-hike.aspx.
BALBOA PARK TRAILS
Balboa Park is a good launching point for multiple urban hikes (including Bay to Park Paseo and Seven Bridges) and is home to its own internal trail system. Although some park pathways have dirt trails and difficult hills, there are two easy, hard-surface options found at the Park Blvd. trails gateway. Follow trail markers with a red number 31 for a 3-mile walk past many park sites, including the 1915 Panama California Exposition area. Alternatively, follow trail markers with a purple 32 to explore the 1935 California International Exposition area on a 1.2-mile route. Find more information at www.balboapark.org/parks-trails-gardens/park-blvd-trails-gateway.
CORONADO’S BAYSHORE WALK
This lovely stretch of Coronado between Tidelands Park and Ferry Landing is just under a mile long, offering stunning views of the downtown city skyline, Coronado Bridge and San Diego Bay. Following a scenic stroll, grab lunch at the Ferry Landing or on Orange Ave., explore historic Hotel Del or head to Coronado Beach for some rest and relaxation. Visit www.coronadovisitorcenter.com to discover more fun activities on Coronado.
NORTH COUNTY’S COASTAL RAIL TRAIL
This picturesque walking and biking trail runs from Solana Beach to Oceanside, but we’re especially partial to the Encinitas/Cardiff segment between Santa Fe Dr. (near Swami’s Beach) and Chesterfield Dr. (by the Cardiff Kook statue). This 1.3-mile stretch provides unparalleled coastal views, attractive landscaping and an opportunity to stop at VG Donuts, which makes a perfect starting, ending or rest stop. (We recommend the old-fashioned glazed, but you do you!) Bonus: If your kid loves trains, this is definitely the best walk in town.
MISSION BAY PARK
There are lots of walking (and biking) routes along and around Mission Bay, with plenty of grassy areas and playgrounds for the little ones to stop and play. Choose any portion of the 11-mile perimeter path around the entire bay, a 5-mile loop around the western portion, or a 4.5-mile jaunt around Fiesta Island (located within the bay). Tecolote Shores on the eastern side of the bay generally offers a good starting area, with access to parking and restrooms. Make sure to bring along a picnic lunch for the perfect family day out.
Lisa Pawlak is an award-winning contributing writer who lives in Encinitas with her family.
Explore a list of traditional hiking trails around San Diego County at www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/out-about/favorite-hiking-trails-in-san-diego.
