Celebrate Fall in San Diego with These Activities

In San Diego, we don’t see a whole lot of change in seasons with year-round sunny weather. We don’t get to see many leaves changing colors in the fall, or actually need to wear a scarf to stay warm, but there are still many autumn activities offered throughout the county.

Last year, we saw many of the annual fall events be cancelled, but there are still plenty of fun things to do with the family or friends. If you’re looking for seasonal activities in 2021, here’s a list to get you started with planning.

Walk Through the Fall Foliage at the Japanese Friendship Garden

Balboa Park offers a multitude of museums, gardens, and architecture to walk through. However, the Japanese Friendship Garden is especially beautiful in the autumn, as it’s one of the best places in San Diego to see the change in seasons. The maple trees turn from green to shades of reds and orange, and other fall foliage appears to compliment them. This public garden is beautiful any time of the year, with exotic plants and koi ponds to stroll through.

Coming up on October 1st, the garden will be celebrating San Diego Sake Day, the largest sake celebration the city has to offer! Expect a traditional sake barrel opening ceremony, tastings from local brewers, delicious food offerings, performances from local artists, and much more.

Learn More: San Diego Sake Day 2021

Go Picking for Apples in Julian

Known for their apple pies, the small mining town of Julian is the perfect day trip for the family. Starting early September, there are several orchards that open up their fields for you to handpick as many apples as you’d like! Here’s a list of apple orchards to check out for the 2021 season:

Leaving the kids behind? Here are two local cideries to quench your thirst:

Head Over to Oktoberfest

For the past 48 years, La Mesa has continued to provide the largest Oktoberfest festival across San Diego. Enjoy 3 days of live music, top-notch German food, and most importantly, German and craft beer. After taking 2020 off, the festival will be returning to La Mesa Village on October 1st through October 3rd.

Learn More: La Mesa Oktoberfest

Go Camping or Take a Hike

San Diego is known for its city and beaches, but if you travel further northeast in the county, there are several offerings for hiking trails and campsites. One of the best camping locations in the fall is Cuyamaca State Park, only 4 miles away from Julian. Between hiking to Green Valley Falls, spending a day on the water at Cuyamaca Lake, or dining at Cuyamaca Lake Restaurant, this is the perfect location to experience fall up close and personal. Since the lifting of the Regional Stay at Home Order, State Parks have reopened a majority of campsites with moderations. For more infomation, check out the parks.ca.gov website.

Stroll Across Sweetwater River Bridge

Another great spot to see some fall foliage is Sweetwater River Bridge in Spring Valley. Apart of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, the bridge is easy to spot off of Hwy. 94 and is worth the quick stop if you’re in the area. Not only does it offer a fantastic photo op location, you can jump onto Sweetwater River Trail after crossing. The 3 mile hiking trail offers views of San Miguel Mountain and is dog-friendly.

Location: Sweetwater River Trail, Campo Rd, El Cajon, CA 92019

Pumpkin Patch at Bates Nut Farm

As most likely the largest pumpkin patch in San Diego County, Bates Nut Farm is worth the drive out to rural Valley Center. You’ll find several varieties of pumpkins and gourds, from Big Mac to the classic Jack-O-Lantern. Not only can you find your perfect pumpkin, the farm offers tractor hayrides, a straw maze, petting zoo, and pony rides. Did I mention they’re dog-friendly? Their 2021 season starts on September 18th.

Learn more: The 2021 Pumpkin Patch

Get Into the Halloween Spirit

Starting late September, San Diego offers a variety of spooky festivities. From haunted houses and ghost tours, to Balboa Park’s Haunted Trail and Dia de los Muertos, there are several activities for all ages leading up to Halloween. To save you the trouble of doing more research, we’ve put together a list of our favorite chilling activities for this spooky season.

Spooky Activities in San Diego to Get You in the Halloween Spirit

Published on 2021-08-27 16:17:53