San Diego's Mission Beach is a (somewhat) tamer version of the L.A. area's famous Venice Beach. It's population soars in the summer with out-of-town surfer dudes, dudettes, wanna-bes, and "Zoners" (Arizona residents trying to beat the heat), packed like sardines into expensive, often beaten-up (but who cares?) summer rentals.

Understand

Mission Beach is located on a narrow strip of land between the ocean and Mission Bay, only a few blocks wide. It leads from more upscale Pacific Beach to the north to Belmont Park with the famous "Giant Dipper" roller coaster at it's south end. It gets funkier the further south you go on the ocean-side boardwalk, though gentrification is slowly creeping through the area.

Get in

See

Do

• Go bicycling or rollerblading along the boardwalk. Several stores rent equipment.

• Go swimming. This beach is one of the calmest, easiest places to ocean swim in San Diego area.

• Go Scuba Diving. Off the shore are several dive wrecks.

• Ride the Giant Dipper roller coaster.

• Special bonus attraction: keep the kids busy counting Zoner license plates. You can tell it's peak season when they outnumber the California plates!

Buy

Eat

Drink

Beer enthusiasts will want to check out the Liar's Club at 3844 Mission Blvd (one block east of the boardwalk). In 2006, the Liar's Club was featured in the Beer Advocate's Top 50 Places to have a beer in America.

Sleep

In a summer rental.

Contact