Opened to the public in 1949, Mission Bay is a man-made, 4,600-acre aquatic playground created by dredging tidal mud flats and opening them to sea water. Today, this is a great area for walking, jogging, inline skating, biking, and boating. The boardwalk connecting Mission Beach and Pacific Beach is almost always bustling and colorful.
The surf is always up at Belmont Park's Wavehouse (tel. 858/228-9300; www.wavehouse.com). This self-described "royal palace of youth culture" has as its centerpiece Bruticus Maximus, a unique wave machine designed to create stand-up rides. You have to get certified (about a 1-hr. process) before attempting "B-Max." The Wavehouse is also the location of the historic Roaring '20s relic The Plunge, a 175-foot-long indoor pool (Southern California's largest). For a spectacular view, drive north on Mission Boulevard, past Turquoise Street, where it turns into La Jolla Mesa Drive. Proceed up the hill 3/4 mile and turn around. From here you'll see the beaches and Point Loma in front of you, Mission Bay and San Diego Bay, downtown, the Hillcrest/Uptown area, and (on a clear day) the hills of Tijuana, and to the east, San Diego's backcountry.
