San Diego Spring Break Hotels & Vacation Rentals

Rowing boats fill San Diego's scenic Mission Bay during the year's first major regatta. Over a hundred crews take part in this two-day rowing race every March, a classic San Diego happening that fills the city with buzz and boaters. Watch the country's titans race from the shore, where live-streamed coverage keeps you on the edge of your lawn chair.

One of the best zoos in the world, California's premier zoo is home to some 3,000 animals and more than 650 species set in wildernesses that mimic the animals' natural habitat. That isn't all though – go on safari at the San Diego Safari Park, just beyond the city limits. Fly over herds of grazing zebra in a Skyfari cable car, watch a Komodo dragon flicker its tongue, and check out the largest koala colony outside Oz.

The ritziest of the city's many districts is also home to the famous Children's Pool, where you can enjoy sapphire ocean views along with watching a sea lion colony bask in the sun and seals shoot through the waves as they play and dive for fish. The area has been entrancing families since the 1930s – kayak through the ecological reserve to take a closer look.

The vast lagoon that flows through the city sparkles with the promise of perfect days spent enjoying watersports. Paddleboard beneath the city's skyline, take a sailing boat out, or jet ski on the water's shimmering surface. For visitors who prefer their feet on the ground, cycling tracks thread throughout this coastal city, encircling the lagoon. For ultimate luxury, embark on a sailing trip in San Diego Harbor to enjoy the sights and sea breezes.

Downtown San Diego is jumping with food and drink vendors, live music, and interactive games at the end of March. A classic tailgate party awaits for fans of the San Diego Padres and non-baseball fans alike. Get involved in free foozeball championships and win prizes on Eighth Avene, spot celebrities and sports heroes, and root for the home team. The final day is Pet Saturday, with a four-legged fashion show you won't want to miss, plus boxing classes from The Boxing Club and other sponsored events.

Grab your all-inclusive ticket and sink your teeth into San Diego's scrumptious festival for craft beer and lip-smacking eats. Spawning a legion of spin-offs, this is the original event – if you're over drinking age, it's for you. Discover new favorites from across the country and further afield and soak up those liquids, with foodie favorites purveyed by a sizzling fleet of food trucks.

Bone up on your surfboard knowledge at this mecca for surf fans. Follow a timeline of surf history and check out the collection of boards, especially the one with a shark bite! Discover unusual aspects of surf culture at special temporary exhibitions such as Surfers of the Vietnam War.

If you can't be out there on the waves yourself, now is the time for the salty sea yarns and maritime lore that are so prominent in the city's character. Masts a hundred feet high welcome you on board this boat-based museum.

Explore a spectacular collection of folk art and toys, costumes, and handicrafts from indigenous cultures around the globe. Changing exhibitions are well curated and perfect for post-party perusal.