San Diego Things To Do Near MCRD San Diego

Looking for San Diego Things To Do?

Stationed at MCRD San Diego and looking for San Diego things to do? MCRD San Diego offers a host of recreational opportunities on the depot. But to get the most out of San Diego, you’ll want to get out and explore! San Diego’s nearly limitless opportunities are sure to please every type of visitor. San Diego is home to beautiful beaches, stunning hiking trails, enviable parks, world-class museums, and so much more.

Ready to dive in? Keep reading to learn about San Diego things to do!

COVID-19 Notice

Some businesses and recreational facilities may have COVID restrictions in place. Visit the venue’s website for current guidelines and safety measures.

12 San Diego Things To Do

Military Discounts for Nearby Attractions

1. Tickets & Tours

MCX Complex, Building 16
San Diego, CA 92140
Phone: 1 (619) 725-6343

If you’re looking for discounted ITT tickets, MCRD San Diego has you covered. ITT MCRD San Diego goes by “Tickets & Tours.” Tickets & Tours has your discounted tickets to nearby theme parks and attractions, including Disneyland, Legoland, SeaWorld, and more. Visit the office’s website for the current price lists for local attractions, local events, and nonlocal attractions outside of California.

MCRD San Diego Gyms and Sports Fields

MCRD San Diego has several fitness facilities, sports fields and courts, and health programs so you can stay fit and have fun. Visit the MCCS San Diego website for more information on available athletic programs and recreational facilities.

2. Fitness Center

3800 Chosin Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140
Phone: 1 (619) 524-4427

The depot’s fitness center, in Phillips Hall, offers a variety of workout equipment and group fitness classes.

3. HITT Center and Racquetball Facility

Building 313
San Diego, CA 92140
Phone: 1 (619) 524-4427

The High Intensity Tactical Training (HITT) program is a comprehensive strength and conditioning program. The program is available for 1-on-1 and group sessions.

Recreation Centers

4. MCRD San Diego Community Center

3800 Chosin Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140
Phone: 1 (619) 524-4446

MCRD San Diego’s Community Center is a great place to relax and have fun. If you’re looking for the MCRD San Diego bowling alley or the MCRD San Diego movie theater, the community center is where you’ll find them. At the community center, you can bowl a few frames, shoot some pool, grab a drink at the Bulldog Tavern, enjoy a slice of pizza, test your skills on an arcade game, watch a movie or the big game, and so much more. For information on party reservations and other amenities at the center, visit its website.

Zoos and Aquariums

5. Living Coast Discovery Center

1000 Gunpowder Point Drive
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Phone: 1 (619) 409-5900

The Living Coast Discovery Center is a nonprofit zoo and aquarium on the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge on San Diego Bay. It’s one of the best San Diego things to do! The center is home to sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, octopuses, owls, eagles, hawks, falcons, and native shorebirds. Touch a stingray, get an up-close encounter with a screech owl, and more as you explore all the center has to offer.

6. San Diego Zoo

2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 1 (619) 231-1515

Balboa Park’s 100-acre San Diego Zoo is home to more than 3,500 rare and endangered animals and more than 700,000 exotic plants. See baboons, bears, camels, elephants, giraffes, hippos, jaguars, koalas, leopards, lions, monkeys, otters, penguins, rhinos, sloths, zebras, and more.

Golf Courses

7. Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center

2702 N. Mission Bay Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 1 (858) 581-7880

The Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center features an 18-hole golf course, a driving range, practice putting greens, chipping greens, and professional golf instructors. The facility also offers DiscGolf and FootGolf. Visit the center’s website for more information on fees and booking tee times.

Outdoor Recreation: Beaches, Parks, Hiking Areas, and More

8. Balboa Park

1549 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 1 (619) 239-0512

Don’t let the name fool you: Balboa Park is so much more than just a park. The 1,200-acre Balboa Park is home to 17 museums, performing arts venues, stunning gardens, a zoo, hiking trails, and so much more. The park features stunning Spanish-Renaissance-style architecture that was built especially for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Visit the park’s website for a full list of its attractions, shopping and dining venues, and information on tours.

9. The City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department

The City of San Diego Parks and Recreation manages more than 400 parks, 26 miles of shorelines, 59 recreation centers, 14 pools, seven skate parks, and three golf courses. Looking for a San Diego dog beach to explore with your four-legged friend? Want to embark on a Sunset Cliffs Natural Park hike? Trying to find the Mission Trails Clairemont Mesa Trailhead? Want to learn how to dance or swim? The department’s website can point you in the right direction and help you find the perfect park, beach, hiking trail, pool, or activity.

10. MCRD San Diego Boathouse, Marina, and Recreation Area

Neville Road
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 1 (619) 524-5269

The MCRD Boathouse, Marina, and Recreation Area offers picnic areas with barbecues, a sand volleyball court, a basketball court, horseshoe pits, a playground, equipment rentals, and everything you need for a day of fun on the water. Boats, kayaks, surfboards, stand-up paddleboards, wetsuits, and more are available for rent. For a full list of available rentals and marina fees, visit the website.

Museums

11. Old Town Model Railroad Depot

2415 San Diego Ave., Suite 107
San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: 1 (619) 299-9015

If you like trains, then you’ll love the Old Town Model Railroad Depot. It’s one of the greatest San Diego things to do for railroad enthusiasts! This model railroad museum and store features a 2,000-square-foot, highly detailed model railroad. Peer into a miniature world that features a zoo, a ballpark, an industrial district, a city lit up at night, and a drive-in movie theater. The line also travels past a quiet countryside with a farm, a mountain range, a lake, and more.

12. San Diego Natural History Museum

1788 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 1 (619) 232-3821

Balboa Park’s San Diego Natural History Museum explores the natural history of Southern California with four floors of exhibitions and a giant-screen theater. Learn about 75 million years of history with exhibitions exploring dinosaurs, animals, fossils, gems, and so much more.

Still Looking for San Diego Things To Do?

We’ve just scratched the surface on all the amazing San Diego things to do. For more suggestions on places to explore, play, and stay, visit San Diego’s official tourism website. Good luck and happy exploring!

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