National City www.nationalcityca.gov Market on 8th 41 E. 8th St. www.marketon8th.com Foodies with a variety of culinary palates love the dining options at Market on 8th! Indulge in Baja seafood, Michoacán carnitas, Mexicali-Chinese fusion, Sinaloa carne asada tacos, signature burgers and shakes, tasty pad thai and more.
Pepper Park 3299 Tidelands Ave. This waterfront park is a great destination for walking, fishing, strolling or simply taking in the views. Enjoy a relaxing family outing or head to the playground for a safe place to let the kids run. Round 1 Bowling and Arcade 3030 Plaza Bonita Rd. #1025 www.round1usa.com Enjoy traditional bowling, Japanese arcade games, karaoke, billiards and bites in an exhilarating environment. A fun outing for the whole family!
National City Depot Museum 922 W. 23rd St. www.sdera.org Get immersed in the history of transportation and learn about the role of railroads in the development of San Diego. Take a look at photos, tools, uniforms and model exhibits. Open Sat./Sun.
Snowpops SD 1005 E. Plaza Blvd. #101 www.snowpopssd.com Snowpops are a delicious, refreshing alternative to traditional popsicles. Or, enjoy shaved ice, ice cream, floats and more.
Niederfrank’s Ice Cream 726 A Ave. www.niederfranksicecream.com/flavors Visit this long-time local favorite known for its delicious, handcrafted ice cream. Niederfranks crafts its creations in small batches, but gives big portions!
Steal and Escape 2602 Transportation Ave. #B www.stealandescape.com Immerse yourself in a themed escape room while working as a team to solve a series of puzzles and “escape” within a set time frame. v
San Diego Hidden Gems Everyone loves to uncover a hidden gem. Here are a few of our faves. See our online list for more via the QR code below. The former site of San Diego’s Police headquarters is a pretty cool stop at The Headquarters across from Seaport Village downtown. Peruse historic jail cells, photos and police memorabilia— all free to explore. Snap a photo of your family in front of a police lineup wall for a unique greeting card! www.theheadquarters.com/history A kid favorite that few people know about: the Bahia Hotel in Mission Bay is a longtime home to rescued harbor seals who reside in a large habitat right in front of the entrance. Free to visit. Star Wars fans might want to swing by the corner of Mt. Abernathy Ave. and Castleton Dr. in Clairemont Mesa to take a photo with the Honorary Mark Hamill Dr. sign that was established in 2017 as a nod to the actor’s childhood home. The La Jolla Secret Swings are not a secret anymore, but they are still hidden! What remains mysterious is that the messages on the swings change occasionally, making it fun to continually seek them out and photograph, while enjoying epic coastal
46 • SD Family’s Out&About 2025/2026 • South Bay
views. Found a short hike from Birch Aquarium. Hidden inside Miner’s Diner in Julian is a “candy mine” featuring buckets of old-fashioned sweets for purchase and fun photo ops, including under the “Duck yer head” sign. www.minersdinerjulian.com How many times have you walked by the huge pipe organ in Balboa Park without giving it a second glance? Do you realize it is the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ with over 4,500 pipes? It’s worth taking notice! Check it out at Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Better yet, catch a free concert, offered weekly and year-round. www.spreckelsorgan.org
Discover more hidden gems by scanning this QR code