Need a distraction from winter weather and holiday planning? Summer in San Diego, California, is always a nice distraction. Plan a warm-weather retreat with the family a little earlier than usual with this list of quirky events happening in the City in Motion.
Cars on Parade
San Diego is known for its diverse culture and colorful personality, and the annual La Vuelta Car Cruise represents both. Select Wednesdays, April 29–Aug. 5, 2020, guests and locals flock to Logan Avenue in Barrio Logan to see hundreds of classic cars hitting the streets. With two outdoor stages offering live music, local cuisine lining the streets, Mexican and Chicano art exhibits and goods for sale, this festival has something for everyone. Come for the cars, stay for the food and music and plan for another free event Aug. 22, 2020: La Vuelta Summer Festival.
Photo: David Tran | Dreamstime.com
Surfing D.O.G
Maybe you’ve already seen the fun pictures of water dogs surfing, but you can see it happening live during the Imperial Beach Surf Dog Competition in August. Watch as 60 dogs compete in three heats: Weight (small, medium, large and extra-large dogs), Shredder (dogs of all weights competing) and Tandem (dog surfing and dog/human surfing). All proceeds benefit the San Diego Humane Society so your family can have fun while giving back.
Island Time
Marking the 20th anniversary of Tiki Oasis, this year is a special one for the world’s largest and longest-running tiki festival. Enjoy island music, dancing, fun vendors, a car show, fashion show, art exhibits, kids’ activities and masters of their craft giving tutorials on everything from art and architecture to cuisine, cocktails and tiki carving. This five-day event is a must for all ages and will really ease your family into island time.
Dancing in the Streets
Easily the most popular dance event in San Diego, Trolley Dances brings the fun. The San Diego Dance Theater and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System partner for the beloved event, taking participants by way of MTS Trolley to live performances and exciting dances all over the city. The next Trolley Dances event is Sept. 26–27 and Oct. 3–4, 2020.
San Diego knows how to party and your family can shake off the winter weather with a few fun, all-ages festivities with a sense of community.
Read This Next
5 Family-Friendly Museums in Charleston
Destinations / North America
Aug 22, 2024#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / Europe
May 22, 20256 Stroller-Friendly Cities in Europe
Families traveling with young children learn to be creative in getting strollers into seemingly impossible places. Some cities confound even the most determined parents: Innumerable bridges with steps are a challenge in Venice, and Lisbon’s hills seem insurmountable. Narrow or rough stone-paved streets are not stroller-friendly, either. Save those cities for another year and consider these instead.
Cruising
May 22, 2025Special Needs Group Makes Cruising More Accessible
As school comes to an end, family travelers gear up for summer travel. Thanks to endless multigenerational activities on cruises, many families gravitate to a trip on the high seas. That said, families who might need more assistance when traveling might stray from cruises; it may not be easy or ideal to bring all your equipment on your journey. Now, families won’t have to worry thanks to Special Needs Group/Special Needs at Sea.
Slideshow
May 22, 20256 Roman Walls for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through these Roman walls with us.
Destinations / North America
May 21, 2025Santa Monica’s New AI Program Makes Visiting a Breeze
Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days, and it really is changing the way we travel. Santa Monica, the vibrant Southern California hot spot where family travelers to Los Angeles go to enjoy the sea, sand and quintessential “beach lifestyle,” joins the AI trend. When it comes to using AI to improve the tourist experience, plenty of destinations have recently gotten with the program, like Lake Tahoe, Aruba and New Zealand. By partnering with GuideGeek to create customized itinerary support to help travelers plan their vacations, Santa Monica is keeping up.
Destinations / North America
May 21, 2025Explore Hawai’i with “Lilo & Stitch” Magic
Ohana travelers might want to take time out of their busy Memorial Day weekend plans to head to the movies for the premiere weekend of Disney’s new live-action Lilo & Stitch. With the movie set in stunning Hawai’i, family travelers might find themselves inspired to plan their own Hawaiian adventure.
Destinations / North America
May 21, 2025The Family Heritage Experience Opens in Boston
There’s an innovative new exhibition for family travelers to Boston. Family Heritage Experience opened to the public on April 25, inviting visitors to ponder questions about their own family, from its origins to its cultural traditions.
ShareThis