Skip the Gym For These Scenic Ways to Sweat This Season
The days are getting longer, and the weather is finally heating up. Spring break is on the horizon, which means it’s time to get outside and tone up that beach bod! Lucky for locals, San Diego’s outdoor recreation opportunities are endless—no gym membership required. This season, head to the great outdoors for a natural way to get your sweat on. Whether you’re a hiker, competitive athlete, yogi or ocean-loving adventurer, there’s something for everyone. Here are five ways to stay fit (and work on that spring break bod) this season in America’s Finest City.
Join a Volo Sports Spring League
The sun is shining, the weather is warm and you’re sweating and laughing with your crew. Volo Sports leagues are kicking off around the county for their spring session. Bump, set and spike at Mission Beach and Ocean Beach’s volleyball courts during their weekday “happy hour quickies” during the week or opt to hit a homer on a co-ed softball team with matchups taking place in nearly every neighborhood. Competitive crews can also kick it at the Pacific Beach Recreation Center or Pacific Beach Elementary School for kickball games, including one league that hosts a combo kickball and flip cup game. Volo Sports San Diego also offers co-ed and men’s only soccer leagues with options for recreational and competitive levels in Clairemont, Pacific Beach, Mira Mesa, Kearny Mesa and downtown. And, of course, we can’t forget pickleball! This trending sport has hit the league with 2×2 matchups taking place across the county, and both social and competitive divisions are available.
Take a Trek at Torrey Pines Natural Reserve
A hike at Torrey Pines Natural Reserve is on everyone’s San Diego bucket list for a good reason. Accessed by a sweaty trek up to the top of the reserve, this beautiful outdoor landmark boasts Insta-worthy views of craggy cliffs, vibrant wildflowers and sparkling ocean waves (and if you’re lucky, dolphins and sharks swimming in the water below). The reserve features six maintained hiking trails, ranging in length from under a mile to nearly 1.5 miles, so there is something for everyone’s fitness level. We recommend hoofing it on the Razor Point Trail and connecting with the Beach Trail for a final walk back to your car on the sand during low tide.
5/20
Kayak to the La Jolla Sea Caves
Kayaking is one of the most scenic ways to soak up San Diego’s sunshine and stunning coastline while working on upper body and core strength. La Jolla Kayak’s 90-minute kayak tours explore five different marine environments: sandy beaches, rocky reefs, sea cliffs, kelp forests and deep-water canyons; each host their own diverse set of marine life, including sea lions, pelicans, leopard sharks and Garibaldi, California’s state fish. The tour’s ultimate destination is the area’s magnificent sea caves, carved from ancient cliffs. Don’t worry if you have never kayaked—trained guides help coach and educate kayakers the entire way across the two-mile stretch of water.
4/15
Take a Yoga Class at Hotel Del Coronado
Yoga is great, but yoga with a view is even better. Find your center this spring at the iconic Hotel Del Coronado. Hosted on the soft, warm sands of Del Beach with calm ocean waves as the backdrop, these informal and inclusive flow-style classes feature breathwork, stretching and strengthening postures. Offered on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, these beach classes are both relaxing and energizing and can be scaled to all levels, so beginners to advanced practitioners can all enjoy. Plus, if you’re enjoying a staycation at the luxe hotel, the healing, open-air class is free. Get ready to feel refreshed and recharged.
Take a Rooftop Bootcamp Class at PB Fitness
You’ve heard of rooftop bars, but what about rooftop bootcamps? Located just a half mile from the sand, Pacific Beach’s PB Fitness is bringing the scenic beach view and fresh air to your daily sweat sessions. Led by a certified personal trainer, these 50-minute rooftop bootcamp classes focus on stations and circuits, utilizing equipment like dumbbells, barbells, TRX, Bosu Balls, resistance bands, kettlebells and more. The schedule focuses on different muscle groups each day of the week, ranging from abs to legs and glutes. We recommend kicking off the week right with PB Fitness’ “Full Body FIYAH” and heading into the weekend strong with “FLEX Friday: Arms/Core/HIIT.”
