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6 Outdoor Activities for a Sustainable Summer

kayak

A Southern California summer is not made for staying inside. The sun’s too bright, the sky’s too blue, and it’s important for you to get outside and enjoy time with your family and friends. All of us staff at I Love A Clean San Diego are always taking time to enjoy our gorgeous local scenery. From all of our outdoor experiences, we decided to share a list of sustainable activities we love to help get you outside this beautiful time of year.

Tide-pooling. We get to live here in California, one of the few places in the world that has tide pools and they are a must when it comes to experiencing San Diego. Grab a friend and head out to Cabrillo National Marine Sanctuary, Sunset Cliffs, or La Jolla Shores. Explore all the critters in the tide pools. Make sure to tread lightly, because you are walking in and around their homes.

Surfing. We live in Southern California, which is known internationally for surfing opportunities. The more you surf, the more you get a first-hand experience of interacting with the ocean and all of the creatures there. Luckily, there are plenty of local surf shops that rent gear or schedule a surf lesson

Beautiful views along San Diego trails Hiking. Hiking is free, fun exercise that anyone can do. Be sure to pack water in your reusable water bottle and head out on an adventure! The main rule with hiking is pack out what you pack in, leave only footprints, and take only pictures. Enjoy all the nature surrounding you, but be certain to leave it better than you found it. If you find any litter or debris and you’re not sure where to dispose of it, you can use WasteFreeSD.org or call our hotline 1-877-R-1-EARTH to help beautify and maintain your favorite spots.

Snorkeling. A nice dip in the ocean on a hot day is the ultimate summer activity and with a pair of swim fins, a diving mask and a snorkel, you can have your own personal ocean aquarium tour. The best places to snorkel are around our coastline’s reefs that are teeming with biodiversity. Check out La Jolla Cove or just south of the cove at La Jolla Shores to get an up close view of the leopard sharks while they’re around during the summer season! 

Kayaking. If you are someone who prefers to be above the water rather than in the water, this is the summer sport for you. Kayak at La Jolla Shores, Mission Bay, or any waterway near you and discover the wildlife.

Stand-up Paddleboarding. A personal favorite of mine, Stand Up Paddleboarding, a.k.a. SUPing, is a great way to leisurely move across the water and discover wildlife. Whether you decide to surf, kayak, or SUP, don’t forget to grab any litter you see while paddling in or out to drop in the nearest trash bin when you finish! This helps us continue to work on the goal of leaving nature in San Diego better than you found it.