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 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.
