Your 2025 Bucket List - Things to do in San Diego Before the Year Ends
The holidays are quickly approaching and with that comes a new year and a new bucket list of things to do in San Diego in 2026! But before 2025 slips away, it’s time to get busy exploring all the things still left on your current San Diego Bucket List! Make a plan, book your suite at The Dana on Mission Bay, and start experiencing some of the exciting adventures still waiting to be had in 2025!
From an outdoor concert with your favorite band to an exciting whale-watching adventure in San Diego, there is still so much to see and do this winter! Here are some of the fun holiday things to do in San Diego near your suite at The Dana before the year ends!
Things to do in San Diego this Winter
Spend the Day at a Holiday Themed Park in San Diego (Miles from Hotel Varies)
Visitors from all over the world come to San Diego for our exciting theme parks. These popular attractions in San Diego are even more special during the holidays, when they come to life with light displays and holiday-themed events for the whole family.
Belmont Park (1.1 Mile From Hotel)
Enjoy Winter Wonder at Belmont Park this holiday season, from November through January, where the best San Diego holiday memories are made! Enjoy a variety of festivities including over one million twinkling lights, seasonal treats, holiday face painting, Jingle Jams DJ featuring holiday tunes, and so much more this holiday season in San Diego!
SeaWorld (1.2 Miles From Hotel)
Join the holiday fun in San Diego at Sea World, where a whimsical winter wonderland awaits and the “One Million Lights Meet Ocean Delights” Christmas celebration happens. This spectacular holiday event is full of lights, cheer and magic with dazzling new Christmas shows, meet and greet with Santa and Rudolph, a festive Christmas parade, and even “snow” in Southern California! From the exciting rides to animal presentations with a festive twist, celebrating at Sea World San Diego is a unique experience everyone will enjoy! The holiday festivities at Sea World San Diego run November 14 through January 4.
The San Diego Zoo (8.6 Miles From Hotel)
Happening December 19 through January 4, the San Diego Zoo presents Jungle Bells, a holiday extravaganza that lets guests experience the magic of the holiday season on the SoCAL coast! Enjoy holiday lights each night until 8pm, with amazing entertainment for the whole family. Visit this joyous annual celebration and don’t forget Santa’s Factory opens on November 28, where guests of all ages can have their photo taken with Santa! Jungle Bells activities are included with all admission tickets and memberships.
Go to a Holiday Parade (Miles from Hotel Varies)
Since San Diego loves to celebrate the holiday season, you’ll find several parades near The Dana on Mission Bay this Christmas. Popular holiday parades in San Diego include these crowd favorites:
Ocean Beach Holiday Parade (3.0 Miles from Hotel)
The Ocean Beach Holiday Parade in San Diego is scheduled for Saturday, December 6th, 2025, on Newport Avenue and promises to be a festive affair. The parade starts at 5pm and the theme this year is "Galactic Holiday Beach Bash.”
Gaslamp Pet Parade and Pups in the Pub (7.0 Miles From Hotel)
This popular pet parade features our favorite furry friends dressed in their holiday best as they dash, dance, and prance the day away at the historic Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown San Diego on Saturday, December 13, 2025 (11am – 4 pm). Your pet can strut their stuff in this festive San Diego holiday pet parade for just $30, or you can enjoy the fun for free and soak in the holiday cheer including marching bands, festive floats, costume contest, and free photos with Santa, Rudolph, and Frosty.
See a Whale in the Wild (0.1 Miles from Hotel)
The waterfront location of The Dana on Mission Bay makes it convenient for guests to enjoy an exciting adventure of San Diego whale-watching tours. Fortunately, the best time for San Diego whale watching season is between December and April each year, when approximately 20,000 gray whales join the annual migration to Mexico along the San Diego coast. Onsite Gone Whale Watching tour company offers 2.5 hour whale-watching excursions as well as sunset whale watching tours that have been spotlighted on Discovery and National Geographic. The cost for the whale watching tour is around $110 for adults and $105 for children, with private charters starting at $650.
Visit a Holiday-Themed Pop-Up Bar (1.1 Mile from Hotel)
San Diego is notorious for pop-up bars and restaurants that offer a fun and unique way to experience new food and beverages. One of the most popular pop-up holiday opportunities for guests of The Dana is the highly anticipated Christmas-themed cocktail pop-up at Draft at Belmont Park. Decked out with over-the-top holiday decor, this whimsical wonderland is the perfect spot to sip on exclusive, handcrafted cocktails that celebrate the flavors of the season. This fun holiday cocktail pop-up is happening November 28 through January 4 and allows you to deliciously sip into the season in San Diego!
Yoga by the Beach/Bay (4.2 Miles from Hotel)
If yoga is your thing, there is no better place to relax and be Zen than a soothing session of yoga by the beach in San Diego. Nearby Mission Bay Beach Club offers Sunday Yoga and Happy Hour Thursday for yoga enthusiasts, and it comes with an amazing view! Join the donation-based yoga class every Sunday at 9am and Thursday at 8pm at the Mission Bay Beach Club at 2688 E. Mission Bay Drive in San Diego. All experience levels are welcome and be sure to bring your mat and water.
Make Your Own Signature Perfume (4.7 Miles from Hotel)
If you’re looking for the perfect gift this holiday season, a custom cologne is a thoughtful and unique choice. Located at nearby Liberty Station, the Scentsational Workshop lets you craft your very own signature scent under the guidance of the in-house French Perfume Designer, Jil Croquet. This three-hour session will teach you the art of perfume-making, and you’ll gain hands-on experience while learning the basics of fragrance design techniques. All the materials are included, the cost is $120, and you will leave with your own personalized travel spray from the perfumery. Creating a signature perfume is the perfect gift to remember your trip to San Diego or as a gift to someone at home.
Attend an Outdoor Concert (4.9 Miles from Hotel)
Humphreys Concerts by the Bay is one of the best places to see a live concert in San Diego. And if you are ready to cross a live oceanfront concert off of your things to do in 2025 list, you are in luck because there are still some great shows remaining this season. Popular artists like Jesse McCartney, Aly & AJ, Little River Band, and Rady Shell, as well as the amazing John Legend, Holiday in Concert, which is sure to be a seasonal favorite.
Find San Diego’s “Secret Swing" (5.0 Miles from Hotel)
San Diego has a fun little secret and it’s the amazing swings with a view that locals and guests love so much! One of the most popular of the secret swings in San Diego is located near The Dana on Mission Bay at Sunset Cliffs. Your hide-and-seek adventure to find the secret swing starts at this 68-acre park, which you can find near the crooked tree, with breathtaking views from the cliffs. You can also explore the open ceiling cave, accessible only at extremely low tide, where views from the floor of this hidden gem are phenomenal. When you find the famous San Diego swing, be sure to tag a photo of yourself on your social sites and tag @danamissionbay!
Kayak Through San Diego’s Sea Caves (7.4 Miles from Hotel)
Spend the afternoon kayaking in La Jolla, for the perfect day of exploring the California coast. Take a guided kayak tour with La Jolla Kayak company where your guide will navigate you through the famous La Jolla sea caves. You’ll enjoy encounters with leopard sharks, sea lions, and dolphins along the beautiful coastline. If you plan it right, you can finish your La Jolla sea cave kayaking adventure at Sunset Cliffs during sunset hour for the most breathtaking views in town and one of the most popular things to do in San Diego!
Ice Skate on the Beach (12.1 Miles from Hotel)
Have a unique experience this winter in San Diego enjoying a beachfront ice skating rink with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. This popular Coronado holiday attraction offers fun for all and is open from November 21 through January 4 until 10pm each evening. Cost is $35 to $40 and includes 90 minutes of skating and skate rental. Such a fun way to enjoy some holiday fun in San Diego.
Take a Day Trip to Julian (56.1 Miles from Hotel)
This fun winter road trip to popular Julian, CA brings plenty of apple orchards and a cute little town to explore for holiday gift shopping. Stop by the Julian Farm and Orchard for an amazing experience! Open each Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, this popular San Diego orchard is a family-friendly farm with a variety of fun activities for everyone, including a petting zoo, tractor-pulled hayrides, and yard games. Cost ranges from $10 to $30 depending on chosen activities.
Take a Drive Through San Diego’s 59-mile Scenic Drive (59 Miles from Hotel)
If you’re looking for a road trip adventure during your San Diego winter vacation, you can be assured that taking San Diego's 59-mile scenic drive is the perfect way to spend a day. You’ll explore the scenic route that takes you by San Diego’s most popular attractions, neighborhoods, and natural wonders. From coastline views and bayfront marinas to the San Diego skyline and long distant views of Mexico, this 3-hour road trip adventure allows you to follow the blue and yellow signs with a white seagull to each destination on the route.
Complete Your 2025 Bucket List in San Diego at The Dana on Mission Bay
If there are still things to do on this year’s bucket list, San Diego is the best place to spend the holidays and experience some of those bucket list adventures…and The Dana on Mission Bay is the perfect holiday headquarters to get the fun started.
Book your stay at The Dana to take part in all the exciting holiday things to do in San Diego. Our resort-style amenities are the perfect fit for your holiday escape and whether you are looking for a family Christmas vacation, a couple’s holiday retreat, or a winter beach trip with friends, The Dana on Mission Bay has everything you need for the perfect holiday escape to Southern California.
