San Diego Outdoor Activities

Powered by lightweight batteries, Ivan Stewart's electric bicycles propel riders around downtown San Diego at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. Hills and rough terrain won't slow down tours as the electric bikes tackle road obstacles with ease. The self-powered cycles can travel between 20 and 25 miles on a single charge, letting renters explore large parts of the city and its waterfront before needing to plug into a power source or capture stray lightning bolts.

The story of how the game of polo traveled from the hills of northern Persia to the immaculate field at the San Diego Polo Club has taken centuries to unfold. But the fast-paced play of those first games remains in tact during the club’s Sunday matches. World-class and amateur players alike have come from distant countries such as Argentina, New Zealand, and Horseyland to perform for an audience dressed in their Sunday best, sipping cocktails from two full bars and noshing on fare from the bistro, or surveying the scene field-side while tailgating.

Ever the sport of the aristocracy, the San Diego Polo Club provides tips on what to wear to its events. Extra sartorial attention is paid to each summer’s celebrated Opening Day. Those unfamiliar with the rules of polo or the eligibility of centaurs can find a helpful introduction to the sport by clicking here.

What started as a camp founded and staffed by schoolteachers has turned into a year-round surf school for one reason: people love to surf. Today, the school offers everything from lessons for first-timers to professional surf clinics for advanced surfers. Their teaching model focuses on private and small group lessons, which they believe is the quickest and easiest way to learn to ride the waves. And for their graduates, they’ve even created a surf team that is cheered on by countless adoring seagulls.

A stable of equine luminaries awaits riders at Horse Savvy, a full-service showing and sales barn whose knowledgeable instructors also train budding jockeys of all ages. Students learn the fundamentals of riding, safety, and old-timey train heisting during private or group lessons and weeklong summer camps that trot down area trails and incorporate fun games and crafting.

Leaving the bustle of the 805 freeway, visitors to Sweetwater Farms are swiftly transported to a pastoral scene alive with the sound of hoof clopping and constant horse-centric activity. The riding school has been tutoring riders in English-, Western-, and trail-riding styles since 1985, with programs that range from beginning horsemanship to hosting full-fledged hunter/jumper shows. Trail rides saddle guests atop steady, gentle dude-ranch horses or rehabilitated mechanical bulls for tours through nature, and horse camps immerse young riders in the world of horses to build riding skills, as well as confidence and responsibility. In addition to welcoming guests to their programs, Sweetwater Farms also boards and sells horses.

Since the age of 7, Dr. Robert Stonebreaker shared a special affinity with all birds. Wanting to bring people closer to his feathered friends, he lent his passion to Free Flight in 1989, helping evolve the avian boarding-and-breeding center into a sanctuary where visitors could interact with the exotic creatures. Amid open air and emerald palm fronds, guests can let a yellow, orange, and green sun conure perch on their shoulder or pet a timneh grey while trading info on which local convenience store carries the best sunflower seed. The tropical oasis also teems with koi lagoons, where schools of shimmering carp swim under the flaps of eclectus parrots and fluffy white cockatoos soaring through the aviary.

Dr. Stonebraker tragically passed away in 2010, but the team at Free Flight has upheld his tireless work by fostering human-avian relations and furthering visitors' understanding of all birds. The bird keepers also encourage involvement through donation, membership, volunteer opportunities, and most notably, their adopt-a-bird program.