All the Best Wellness Activities to Enjoy in San Diego

Look out for: A no-appointment shot bar to jump-start your energy levels
This medical spa offers beauty services to boost your health inside and out, using both state-of-the-art treatments and age-old traditions. “Inner Alchemē” treatments include functional medicine, IV therapy, vitamin injections, NAD+ therapy, regenerative injection therapy, GLP–1 peptide weight loss, and bioidentical hormone therapy using pellets for internal health. To rejuvenate you on the outside, “Outer Alchemē” provides medical services like plasma therapy, RF microneedling, exosomes, and treatments for acne-prone skin, hyperpigmentation, anti-aging, and body treatments. Hit the no-appointment shot bar for a vitamin injection and get an extra boost of energy, fight off a cold, or even help stop your sugar cravings.

Look out for: Smooth sailing on two thin blades
Lace up your skates and glide around like an Olympic gold medalist at UTC Ice Sports Center, located next to the food court inside Westfield UTC. Daily public skating sessions are available in two-hour sessions and include four hours of free parking with validation, so you can glide to your heart’s content and then grab lunch or dinner at one of UTC’s cafes, coffee shops, or fine-dining restaurants. Rental skates are included, and helmets and lockers are available for a few bucks more.

Look out for: Ayurvedic bodywork with organic oils and floral essences
Owner Heidi Abreu specializes in luxurious Ayurvedic experiences at her organic spa in La Jolla. Using traditional Ayurvedic techniques, her goal is to promote holistic wellness, reduce stress, and relieve anxiety in her clients. A great place to start is with her signature treatment. This two-pronged approach begins with the abhyanga, a head-to-toe massage using copious amounts of warm oil, rubbed in circular motions to pinpoint your pressure points, followed by the Shirodhara, a traditional Indian head massage with a slow, steady stream of oil that drips onto the center of your forehead, known a the “third eye.” Lastly, the oil is massaged into your hair to soothe your scalp and add moisture.

Look out for: High flying yoga to set your spirits soaring
Yoga is an excellent antidote to a nerve-wracking day—deep breathing, stretching, and the all-important savasana can help you shake a bad mood in no time. Whether it’s your first class or you’re a lifelong yogi, you’ll soar to new heights with Trilogy Sanctuary’s rooftop aerial yoga class. You’ll hang, swing, dangle, and rock your way through a series of asanas using long, hammock-like loops of fabric and guided by a certified aerial yoga instructor. Aerial yoga is accessible to nearly all ages, body types, and experience levels, and classes range from gentle stretching and floating to strength-building and dynamic dance-like sessions. If it’s your first try, sign up for Aerial Yoga L1 or Aerial Healing L1. You are required to learn the basics, while more advanced aerial practitioners can challenge themselves further with Aerial Fitness, Aerial Lyra, Aerial Strength, and Aerial Flips and Tricks. The studio also has a cafe that serves amazing organic, vegan, gluten-free smoothies, bowls, salads, entrees, and desserts so that you can relax and refuel after your session, but it’s worth a stop all on its own, too.

Look out for: Juices and smoothies in every color of the rainbow
There’s nothing like a tall glass of fresh pressed juice any time of day. R3FRESH Juice Bar + Superfood has a quartet of blends like Sunshine (carrot, turmeric, apple, orange) and Earth (beet, cucumber, kale, carrot, apple), plus nutrient-packed smoothies such as Tropical Dragon with pitaya, mango, pineapple, coconut and milk or Power Berry with acai, banana, strawberry, blueberry, almond and milk. Build a healthy bowl chock full of superfoods like pitaya guava chia pudding smothered in crunchy granola and fresh fruit, topped with your choice of nearly twenty seeds, chips, butters, or dried fruits. Coffee and tea drinks feature local roasters like Cafe Moto and premium-grade matcha from Nishio, Japan.

Look out for: Chill out in an ice room
If you’ve never experienced a Korean day spa, you’re in for a treat. Spend the day at Yu Spa for a go-at-your-own-pace adventure—sauna admission is just $40 for two hours and includes hot and cold tubs plus dry and steam saunas. Spring for jjimjilbang for an additional $10, and you’ll get another hour to take in the red clay sauna, the Himalayan salt sauna, the ice room, and a common relaxation area. Body scrubs and massages are available and include sauna and jjimjilbang admission as well, and any massage/body wrap combos include a shampoo and facial mask. Note: Many areas of traditional Korean spas are nude spaces. If you’re not comfortable shedding it all in front of others, it might not be your cup of tea.

Look out for: Rock climbing for all levels, plus yoga to cool off
Show off your climbing skills on 7000 square feet of wall space at San Diego’s premiere rock climbing gym. Featuring state-of-the-art indoor bouldering terrain, including more than 13,000 handmade holds, a campus board, a peg board, an illuminated moon board, fingerboards, and a 60-degree training board, climbers of all skill levels are ensured an exhilarating experience. In addition, there’s a yoga studio teaching all-level Vinyasa, Acroyoga, Yin, Restorative, and Budokon-inspired flow classes and a fitness area with a Rogue fitness rack, weights, and rings. The Intro to Bouldering class is an excellent choice for first-timers and includes shoe rental, 30 minutes of instruction, and a day pass, so afterward, you can hit the weights or stretch out any sore muscles in a yoga class.

Look out for: Free meditation classes
If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of meditation but aren’t sure where to start, Pilgrimage of the Heart yoga studio in Normal Heights offers free, 30–45 minute classes in meditation four days a week. The studio also offers other reflective classes such as Yogic Breathing: Pranayama, to improve focus, nourish energy and explore the body, mind, and breath connection through various breathing techniques, or Savasana and Sound Bath, where you’ll experience the healing vibrations of various instruments that include crystal bowls, singing, harmonium, rain drum, Indian percussion, and more during a conscious relaxation session to calm the mind and body, concluding with a peaceful savasana at regular studio pricing.

Look out for: Crystals, classes, and all sorts of witchy stuff
Align your chakras, cast a spell, or add to your crystal collection in a safe community of like-minded individuals. Whether you’re looking to relieve anxiety, develop courage, get grounded, or increase creativity, you’ll find all the tools you need and guidance from the highly trained staff. In addition to a massive selection of crystals and stones, you’ll find jewelry, bath and body care, journaling supplies, and smudging and spell kits. The shop also offers monthly classes, Sunday Self Care Retreats, psycho-spiritual counseling, and tarot readings.

Look out for: Channel your inner Viking
Yoga and meditation are great stress relievers, but so is throwing a tomahawk across the room, albeit it’s a little more...aggressive. Try your hand at AxeVentures in North Park by booking a lane online or walking in anytime. Learn the ropes from one of the coaches, then spend the next hour or so perfecting your technique. Turn date night into an Instagrammable adventure on Thursday evening at Dark Light Axe Throwing. Cornhole, giant Jenga, and Connect Four are also available. Safety note: Closed-toe shoes are required.

Look out for: Maximum relaxation in zero gravity
Stardust Float Spa’s state-of-the-art float cabins provide a relaxing environment with either a traditional no light, no sound, no touch experience, or you can leave the lights and music on for a more aware session. You can even schedule a couples float with your favorite person. Massage therapy includes a Sensory Repatterning option, a form of bodywork that helps to relax the body through a series of rocking and undulating movements and various limb movement explorations designed to expand your range of motion. Afterward, chill out in the relaxation area with a cup of fine tea and light snacks to set you on your way.

Look out for: Gently used antiques, indie publishers, and cozy nooks to explore
Browse the stacks and linger over the wares at Verbatim, the largest bookstore in San Diego. Book lovers know this is the place for gently used and curated antique books, local authors, classics, and works from micro-publishers. You’ll find quality editions of classics, favorites, and new discoveries, along with a zine corner chock-full of goods from local zine and chapbook creators and a selection of the best new releases from small presses and distributors such as Burn All Books, Caboose Press, Eternia Press, Party Trick Press, Genderfail, and more.

Look out for: Affordable fun outside
Established by Snapper Pierson, the course pro and Disc Golf Hall of Fame member in 1978, Morley Field is one of the world’s original disc golf courses. It won’t matter if you have beginner’s luck or flame out spectacularly; this mashup sport of golf and frisbee is still a good time at a budget-friendly price. Even on weekends, Morley Field Disc Golf Course’s surprisingly challenging 19 holes are a mere $5-$7. Afterward, hit up Panama 66 for grab-and-go bowls, salads, and ficelle sandwiches, and have an impromptu picnic in Balboa Park.

Look out for: Dual treatments for a double dose of relaxation
Saffron & Sage takes pride in its reputation as a holistic health club, with specialists available in nearly every field of modern wellness therapy. Set new goals with a life coach, let a nutritionist help you to improve your eating habits, or get pampered with an aromatherapy massage, root chakra therapy, or combination treatments that pair acupuncture with fire cupping, reiki with hypnotherapy, massage with sound therapy, and more than a dozen other options.

Look out for: Satisfy your need for speed
Scorch the 333-meter cycle track on a fixed gear (and brakeless!) track bike with some of San Diego’s best cyclists at up to 70 km/hr at the San Diego Velodrome every Tuesday and Friday evening from mid-April through September. If you’re new to bike racing, you can dip your toe in the water at a monthly Try the Track class before committing to a six-week program that will prepare you for racing with the big guns. There’s also an introductory racing program for youth ages 7 to 17. Of course, you’re welcome to pack a picnic and just watch the cyclists whiz by from the grandstand, too.

Look out for: Specialized skincare for the perfect glow-up
Get the skin of your dreams at Spa Kingston! Nearly every service comes with pick-your-own aromatherapy and a rose petal foot bath, from the signature Spa Kingston Facial Royale to a sexy couples massage complete with champagne. But it really shines in its specialized acne treatments, targeting even the most stubborn cases with therapies that include enzyme treatments, peels, light therapy, oxygen infusions, nano needling, and microdermabrasion, depending on your skin’s needs.

Look out for: Let your stress flōt away
Sensory deprivation tank therapy, also known as isolation tank or floatation tank therapy, is said to provide healthful benefits such as relaxation, improved sleep, pain relief, and decreased anxiety. At flōt, the tank contains a 12″ solution of water and nearly 1000 pounds of dissolved Epsom salt, heated to body temperature to provide buoyancy. When you enter the tank, any sensory stimulus, including sight, sound, and gravity, is removed, leaving you weightless and in complete darkness and silence. Eventually, your brain begins to release the need for stimulus, and you enter a state of deep relaxation. Proponents of SDTT believe that tank time boosts creativity, sharpens focus and concentration, and may even improve cardiovascular health by reducing stress.

Look out for: Help for hangovers, immunity boosts, and vitamin therapy
When you drank too much last night but have to be at your best this morning, it’s time for a visit from The I.V. Doc, a house-call hangover service that provides intravenous remedies for dehydration 24 hours a day. After a phone consultation with a specialized physician, the medical team will arrive at your home, hotel, or office to pump you up with vitamin infusions or hydration treatments based on your personal needs or ailments. They can also provide targeted vitamin therapy, hydration therapy for stomach bugs, food poisoning, or morning sickness relief, and various wellness treatments ranging from immunity and metabolism boosts to jet lag therapy and stress relief. Sessions last approximately 30 to 45 minutes once you’re hooked up to the IV.

Look out for: Evening hours for busy professionals
Esthetician Dana Gray’s Girl on the Go Wellness Spa was born out of a need she saw with her clientele—wellness centers and spas open after traditional business hours. Open until 10 pm, Monday through Friday, and until 6 pm on weekends, GOTG specializes in organic skincare and facials and uses Ilike Organic Skin Care, Yon-Ka Paris, Epicuren Discovery, and Lucrece Physicians Aesthetic Research exclusively in their treatments. It is also the only spa in San Diego that is certified in gua sha and connective tissue facial massage. And guys, don’t let the name stop you from coming in for some self-care—your technician will base your treatment on your specific skin care needs.

Look out for: Reliving your childhood at the beach, but with better toys
Everyone loves to build sand castles at the beach, and now you can build the castle of your childhood dreams. Former math teacher and sand castle artist JT Estrela will show you how the pros do it at San Diego Sand Castles. You’ll learn tons of cool sand tricks like hand stacking, making towers, carving windows, doors, walls, and stairs, and forming arches and bridges during your session at Crown Point Beach. All tools are provided and are available for purchase for your further construction endeavors. Classes take place rain or shine.

Look out for: An urban hike that’s accessible to nearly everyone
The Bayside Trail leads to San Diego’s urban national park, the Cabrillo National Monument, providing not just stunning, 360-degree views of the skyline and water but wide, gently sloping trails and an array of accessibility options that make it easier for everyone to enjoy. The 2.4-mile, out-and-back route does have a couple of steeper spots to negotiate, but numerous benches along the way ensure plenty of prime viewing and opportunities to commune with nature. Once you’ve returned to the top, head down to the Point Loma Tidepools and Bluffs Trail for an additional easy, one-mile hike downhill to the famous tidepools.