27 New & Exciting Ideas for a Staycation in San Diego for 2025

A staycation San Diego style is the perfect way to experience all the beauty, fun and hidden gems this vibrant city has to offer. The best part is that you can save money because no plane tickets are required. Whether you’re dreaming of oceanfront luxury, family-friendly adventures, foodie escapes or peaceful spa retreats, a staycation in San Diego offers something new and exciting for every kind of traveler: solo, groups or families. 

Is your family searching for a cheap staycation in San Diego? Would you like to book a luxury staycation in San Diego for a special anniversary or celebration? From stylish hotels to unforgettable local activities, these fun and creative staycation ideas in San Diego will help you fall in love with your hometown all over again while trying something new.

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• Staycation San Diego For Families
• San Diego Staycation For Couples
• Cheap Staycation In San Diego
• Luxury Staycation In San Diego
• Active Staycations in San Diego 

Staycation San Diego For Families

1.  Beachfront Resorts with Built-In Family Fun

Which part of San Diego is best to stay in for a staycation? For families, Mission Bay and Coronado are among the best parts of the city to plan a staycation in San Diego. These areas offer the perfect mix of relaxing beaches, exciting outdoor activities and easy access to some of the area’s top attractions.

One of the most exciting ways to enjoy a staycation San Diego-style is to book a few nights at one of the most popular all-inclusive resorts in San Diego. Try Paradise Point Resort & Spa, where families can kayak, ride bikes, play lawn games or even roast marshmallows over an open fire on the beach. Another excellent choice is Loews Coronado Bay Resort, one of the best staycation hotels in San Diego. This popular spot has kids’ programs, family-friendly pools, and direct access to Silver Strand Beach, so there’s plenty of fun to be had on your staycation in San Diego.

2. Explore San Diego Through a New Lens

If you’re searching for things to do in San Diego with kids, consider a creative and interactive photography class. Take your family on a quirky staycation in San Diego, adventure through North Park, where street art, curious architecture and vintage neon signs make every corner Instagram-worthy. Explore these spots with cameras in hand, great for tweens and teens, and learn to compose photos like a pro under guidance from a skilled photographer. These family-friendly photography classes in San Diego are a unique way to see your hometown while learning fun and useful skills.

3. Under-the-Radar Animal Encounters

Skip the typical zoo day and book a private encounter with rescued farm animals at Sugar Sweet Farm in Encinitas. Another animal-focused staycation in San Diego involves going on a behind-the-scenes tour at Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista, where kids can feed sea turtles and get up close with owls and stingrays. These intimate animal experiences feel worlds away without ever leaving the county, and they make for great experience gifts in San Diego for the entire family.

4. Art-Fueled Fun for Everyone

If your kids love to draw, paint or sculpt, why not surprise them with a creative outing? Join a family-friendly painting session or take part in a collaborative mural project with a painting lesson in San Diego. These one-time art classes in San Diego are a colorful and inspiring break from screen time or an interactive addition to your visits to the popular San Diego art galleries, and the results are fridge-worthy!

5. Retro Night at the Drive-In

Head to the South Bay Drive-In Theater for a San Diego staycation movie night the old-school way. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and your favorite selection of snacks, or grab food from the onsite snack bar. Double features are common, so it's a cozy way to enjoy two films under the stars. Kids love the novelty, and adults love the nostalgia.

6. Backyard Camping Experience, But Cooler

Stay at home for your San Diego staycation when you book a custom backyard glamping setup with companies like Sleep Over Haven. These companies deliver everything from bell tents and twinkle lights to games and s’mores kits, and they handle all the setup and clean up, too. They’ll turn your backyard into a luxury campground perfect for glamping with friends and family, birthday weekends or unique summer surprises.

7. Family Fun Cooking Adventures

Everyone enjoys dinner out on the town, but it’s even more fun when you learn to make a full meal together. Try hands-on cooking classes in San Diego, where families can receive guidance from a professional chef and learn how to make handmade pasta, sushi rolls or even kid-friendly desserts. It's tasty, creative, and you leave with new skills and your favorite recipes to recreate any night of the week.

8. Urban Treasure Hunt 

San Diego’s history becomes an active game when you join a family scavenger hunt in Old Town or Balboa Park. Whether you create one on your own or book an interactive hunt with a local company, these staycations in San Diego blend storytelling, local trivia and problem-solving. They’re ideal for curious kids and competitive parents, and you can even turn them into a kids-versus-parents day of adventure and fun.

9. Ride the Waves

Even locals don’t always take full advantage of the city's surf culture, which is a popular all-season sport. Book a private family surf lesson at La Jolla Shores with companies like Learn To Surf. The gentle waves make it ideal for beginners, but trained instructors can also customize lessons for more advanced surfing enthusiasts. Most surf schools also offer wetsuits and boards, so all you need to bring for this San Diego staycation is your sense of humor and a willingness to get wet and have fun.

San Diego Staycation For Couples

10. Sunset Paddle and Picnic

Trade dinner reservations for a more memorable San Diego staycation. Rent a tandem kayak or paddleboard in Mission Bay just before sunset, then gently paddle out and glide across the water as the sky turns gold and pink. Many rental shops offer waterproof bags, so you can bring along light charcuterie snacks or grab to-go sushi. Pack a picnic blanket and end the evening with your toes in the sand and a bottle of wine by the fire pits at Bonita Cove. It’s quiet, scenic and a perfectly intimate San Diego staycation idea for new couples or two people who have been married for years.

11. Sip Wine and Throw Pottery

Take a break from screen time and get a little messy when you share a tactile, grounding experience with your partner. This San Diego staycation will have you both laughing, getting a little messy and maybe even creating a piece you’ll cherish forever. Instructors offer guided sessions designed for beginners or advanced students. These pottery classes in San Diego are a beautiful way to connect while creating one piece together or two matching plates or mugs. 

12. An Aromatic Experience

Tucked away in the South Park or Normal Heights neighborhoods, you’ll find small artisan studios offering intimate, scent-driven experiences. Imagine pouring your custom-scented candles while sipping sparkling wine and listening to lo-fi jazz in a softly lit space that smells like eucalyptus and warm vanilla. These small-group candle-making classes in San Diego feel more like a curated date night idea in San Diego than a craft project, and that makes them relaxing and unique San Diego staycation options for any couple. 

13. Stargazing and Glamping

Escape the city lights without leaving the county by heading to Borrego Springs, a designated Dark Sky Community, perfect for couples who seek quiet and wonder in their staycation ideas in San Diego. Several local resorts and vendors offer glamping equipment for rent, complete with soft bedding, mood-setting lanterns and warm fire pits. After dark, use an app or rent a telescope to find constellations, or just rest on a blanket and take in the Milky Way. It’s like your own private planetarium under the stars and a romantic way to spend an evening with someone special during your San Diego staycation.

14. Wine Trolley Tour Through Temecula

Just an hour north, Temecula Valley Wine Country offers the romance of Napa without the price tag, and with a much shorter travel day. Hop on the Temecula Valley Cable Car Wine Tours, where a vintage trolley or mini coach picks you up in San Diego and escorts you through the region’s top vineyards. Sip wine, stroll the vines and enjoy a late lunch with the most incredible views, then snooze on the ride back while your driver navigates the roads. It’s a relaxing, fun and unique way to staycation in San Diego. 

Cheap Staycation In San Diego

15. Camp By the Beach at San Elijo State Beach

For far less than the cost of a single night at one of the all-inclusive resorts in San Diego, you can wake up to ocean waves and coastal breezes. San Elijo State Beach in Cardiff-by-the-Sea offers inexpensive campsites perched above the sand, many with stunning ocean views. Bring your two-person tent or family-sized camper, pack up the cooler and enjoy days filled with tide pool explorations, beach volleyball and bonfires at sunset. It’s an unplugged, memory-making San Diego staycation that can even include your furry friend, ideal for families or couples looking to reconnect with nature and each other.

16. Street Art Safari 

Skip the pricey tours and plan a self-guided mural walk through North Park, Barrio Logan or University Heights. These are beautiful neighborhoods with blocks bursting with color and creativity. Download a free mural map or just wander and see what surprises you. If you get the munchies along the way, grab hot, fresh-roasted coffee or spicy beef or fish tacos, and make it a San Diego staycation filled with food, photos and artistic discovery. Bring along a DSLR or disposable camera to capture plenty of memories during your day of exploration.

17. Make a Splash

No hotel pool? No problem. San Diego’s public rec centers and community pools offer family-friendly swim spots. These are some of the hidden gems in San Diego for families on a budget, as they cost just a few dollars, and some are even free. Head to the Waterfront Park Splash Zone downtown for skyline views and a massive playground, or check out Ned Baumer Aquatic Center in Mira Mesa for lap swimming and open swim hours. Pack a picnic, bring the mask and flippers and escape from the heat during your San Diego staycation without breaking the bank.

18. Paint, Sip and Laugh

Unleash your inner artist with a laid-back paint night at home, a designated venue, a favorite establishment or in a local park. Join a small-group paint and sip session in San Diego hosted by talented local artists and engaging instructors. Bring your wine, snacks and friends, or make it a cozy date night or family staycation in San Diego. Whatever choice you make, enjoy creating your masterpiece with all the supplies and instructions you need, and your instructor will handle the clean-up.

19. Become Your Own Bartender

Shake up your staycation in San Diego with a hands-on cocktail class hosted in cool venues and by skilled mixologists. These mixology lessons in San Diego can include pop up themed events, tiki night, botanical cocktails or tequila tastings, or unique recipes that are ideal for beginners or more advanced mixologists. They are surprisingly affordable, and you’ll learn bar tricks, try creative ingredients, learn to make the best cocktails and walk away feeling great. It’s a fantastic group outing or date-night upgrade that makes you feel like you’re on vacation, without ever leaving your neighborhood.

Luxury Staycation In San Diego

20. Indulge in a Culinary Weekend

Turn your San Diego staycation into a gourmet getaway with a reservation at Addison, San Diego’s only Michelin three-star restaurant, located in the hills of Carmel Valley. Spend the night at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. This is one of the best staycation Hotels in San Diego, with understated elegance, golf course views and coastal trails. Follow up your fine dining experience with a brisk morning hike at Torrey Pines State Reserve, followed by a satisfying brunch at The Cottage in La Jolla.

21. Designer Shopping in Del Mar

For couples or friends craving a stylish staycation San Diego style, book a suite at L’Auberge Del Mar, where you can lounge poolside or book a massage at their ocean-inspired spa. Spend the afternoon browsing the boutiques at Del Mar Plaza or head to One Paseo for high-end shops and curated finds. End your day with sunset cocktails and wood-fired seafood at Monarch Ocean Pub, perched above the Pacific.

22. Downtown Luxury with Rooftop Vibes & Nightlife

A San Diego staycation in the heart of downtown offers the perfect blend of serenity, luxury and energy. Check in to Pendry San Diego, one of the best staycation hotels in San Diego, offering guests an elevated rooftop pool, posh spa and easy access to the invigorating Gaslamp nightlife. Dine at Animae, a sleek Asian fusion spot helmed by a Michelin-recognized chef, then walk to the harbor for an intimate gondola ride or a relaxing nightcap by the bay.

23. Spa, Wine and Desert Calm

Escape the city’s bustle with a staycation in San Diego set in the lush and tranquil village of Rancho Santa Fe. Stay at the Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa, an all-suite property known for its world-class spa, tennis program and intimate, Mediterranean-style setting. Book a relaxing couples massage or sip some bubbly by your private plunge pool. To end your evening, dine al fresco at The Pony Room, known for its craft tequila cocktail menu and seasonal cuisine. It’s the kind of escape where time slows down and you feel completely spoiled throughout your stay.

24. Yacht Charters

For a truly memorable staycation in San Diego, charter a private yacht for a sunset cruise around San Diego Bay. Your captain and crew will see to every detail, offering you incredible views and plenty of food and drink throughout your trip. After a day on the water, indulge in dinner at C Level Lounge, where California Coastal Cuisine and impressive harbor views create a dreamy end to your upscale stay.

Active Staycations in San Diego

25. Bike the Bayshore Bikeway Loop

According to Healthline, there are plenty of benefits to biking, including strengthening your legs, aiding in weight loss, and boosting mental health and brain power. Take advantage of these benefits when you spend your San Diego staycation biking the scenic Bayshore Bikeway, a 24-mile, mostly flat route that circles the bay of San Diego. You’ll feel the breeze in your hair as you pedal through Coronado, Chula Vista and the Silver Strand, with stunning waterfront views, wildlife sightings and plenty of spots to stop for coffee or snacks. If the full loop is more than you’re up for, start in Coronado and take the ferry back to downtown for a breezy, flexible day outdoors.

26. Try Bouldering 

Challenge your family with a session at one of San Diego’s top indoor climbing gyms like Grotto Climbing. They offer bouldering and rope climbing options with intro classes for beginners. It's a fun, physically engaging San Diego staycation that can help you to build confidence and burn energy while trying something new. This one is a lot of fun and ideal for couples, groups, kids or adventurous solo staycationers.

27. Guided Coastal Hike & Foraging Experience

Join a local naturalist for a guided foraging hike along the Point Loma tide pools or Torrey Pines coastal trails, where you’ll learn to identify edible plants, seaweed or native herbs. It’s an interactive and eye-opening San Diego staycation and way to connect with the city’s coastal environment while getting all of your steps in.

There are limitless options for a staycation in San Diego, proving that you don’t need to travel far or break your budget to use your vacation time and experience something extraordinary. Whether you’re exploring hidden beaches, indulging in luxury dining, hiking scenic trails or trying a creative and hands-on class, San Diego offers countless ways to recharge and reconnect, without ever leaving the county. From affordable adventures to high-dollar escapes, there's a staycation experience for every mood, budget and season. So skip the airport lines and discover (or rediscover) the magic that’s alive and well in your own backyard.

For even more fun ideas to explore in San Diego, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!