Yes, there’s the beach and surf culture one can find in Southern California. But there’s also a distinctive counter-culture vibe.
Imagine taking a time machine back into the groovy 60s. Hippies. A feel-good, carefree, uninhibited attitude and lifestyle. And all that goes with that.
Whenever I walk down Newport Avenue or along the beach, there’s plenty of interesting sights for my camera.
These are from today–a sunny late summer’s day…
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San Diego band 8 Track Highway filled Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion with classic 70s and 80s rock ‘n roll music this evening, and the concert was free! Do you know about the concert series Twilight in the Park?
During the summer, Tuesday through Thursday, a wide variety of musical performers entertain all comers for free up on the stage of the historic Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Concerts last one hour, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.
It’s the 45th anniversary of Twilight in the Park. Can you believe it? They’re providing 28 concerts this year–right through the end of August.
Offerings include everything from Jazz to Blues to Zydeco to Classic Country to Musicals to Oldies to Funk, to songs by the Beatles, the Pretenders, Santana and much more! You can see the upcoming schedule (and perhaps help them out with a donation) by clicking here.
This year Twilight in the Park is partnering with Save Starlight, the organization working to revitalize the Starlight Bowl amphitheater in Balboa Park. Their mission is to repurpose San Diego’s abandoned historic Starlight Bowl, restoring and modernizing the facility under community collaboration into an inclusive and innovative interaction of arts, culture, and education for all.
With the help of the San Diego community, Save Starlight has been making progress toward their goal.
I’ve supported the organization over the years. I have great memories of the Starlight Bowl from my youth.
One way you can help revive the Starlight Bowl is by becoming a Legacy Donor. Among other perks, you’ll get a personalized star on the Walk of Fame and a commemorative plaque on the Donor Wall! And you’ll help bring one of San Diego’s most iconic outdoor venues back to life!
To learn more about Save Starlight and many different opportunities, visit their website here!
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Take a look at these very colorful fantasy characters! They were spotted roaming about the San Diego County Fair, thrilling children and adults alike!
The San Diego County Fair’s theme in 2026 is Once Upon a Fair.
The Del Mar Fairgrounds in summer is where San Diegans go for boundless fun. This year the magical place has been infused with fantastic characters from human imagination and the pages of beloved books!
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The San Diego County Fair is always tons of fun for the entire family. The Fun Zone features so much pure, unadulterated fun, however, that the sanest, most self-controlled visitor might be tempted to go completely berserk!
I headed up to Del Mar today. The free shuttle from the train station dropped us off at the fair’s West Gate, which leads directly into the Fun Zone. My camera got busy right away!
So many cool, colorful sights! I arrived in the late morning shortly after the fair opened, so the crowds hadn’t grown too much yet. What most caught my eye were the flashy graphics splashed on the carnival rides and games.
Walk through the Fun Zone and you’ll encounter superheroes, rock stars, dinosaurs, race cars, pirates, spooky ghosts, circus animals, friendly carnies challenging you to knock over bottles or shoot a basket to win a big prize, not to mention sugary, fatty treats galore!
Is it possible to have too much fun?
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The 250th Anniversary of the United States is coming up. There will be big celebrations in San Diego and around the nation on July 4, 2026.
The San Diego History Center in Balboa Park will be taking part this summer, too, with a special America at 250: San Diego 1776 – 2026 exhibition. A large gallery space will be filled with fascinating displays, recalling San Diego’s rich and diverse history.
I stepped into the museum today and noticed they’re starting to get the exhibition ready. So far I noticed an El Cajon & Lakeside stagecoach, a mining ore car, an antique printing press, a vintage automobile, a model of Horton Plaza, and even a classic Jack in the Box drive-thru intercom clown head!
I can’t wait to see what else appears! Stay tuned!
UPDATE!
About a week later, more has appeared…
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A few weeks ago, on a late summer San Diego day, I enjoyed a sunny walk around part of Mission Bay.
From a point near Riviera Beach at Moorland Drive, I proceeded counterclockwise along the Bayside Walk to San Rafael Place. This northwest part of Mission Bay is called Sail Bay, and you can see why.
Sailboats, bicycles, volleyball, families playing or lounging on the sand, joggers, people enjoying a beautiful, relaxing day… Even yoga on paddleboards!
This is San Diego at its best!
Enjoy photographs that I took as I walked along…
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Beginning next Monday, and continuing into September, some of the world’s finest organists will be performing in Balboa Park at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion!
Today, as I walked through Balboa Park, I caught the first outstanding organist, Joshua Stafford, as he rehearsed at the Spreckels Organ. Joshua is the Jacobsen Chair for the Organist of Chautauqua Institution, in New York. You might recall that our own beloved Jared Jacobsen served as San Diego Civic Organist from 1978 to 1984.
Joshua will be playing Bohemian Rhapsody, Carmen Fantasy and other all-time favorites! Yes, on the world’s largest outdoor instrument!
If you’ve never been to one of the free San Diego International Summer Organ Festival concerts, you’re missing out on something special. Not only is the music always first rate, but the late evening atmosphere, particularly when the organ pavilion’s many lights come on, is magical. How can it not be? It’s Balboa Park!
Click here to see the full lineup of performers during the 2025 summer festival. Bring your dinner or a snack if you’d like, then settle on one of the pavilion’s benches (or your lawn chair), and live it up!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Today, in the mid-afternoon, people were gathering along San Diego’s Embarcadero to watch Fourth of July fireworks. Families were camping in grassy spots and setting up lawn chairs and blankets in strategic positions next to San Diego Bay. After dark, four barges on the water would be launching synchronized fireworks during the 9 o’clock Big Bay Boom!
I enjoyed a long walk, observing the activity. As time passed, more and more people arrived until a good crowd was milling about on the Embarcadero’s boardwalk.
These photographs begin near the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, proceed through Embarcadero Marina Park South, then head up past the Marriott Marquis Marina, through Seaport Village, through Embarcadero Marina Park North, past Tuna Harbor, the USS Midway and the Broadway Pier, and end a short distance north of the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
It was a sunny afternoon, with barbeques out and kites flying–another perfect day in America’s Finest City!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Downtown San Diego is about to become even more fun! That’s because Downtown Skate will soon be returning to the the Marriot Marquis San Diego Marina hotel!
As you can see from these photos taken today, workers have been busy setting up the outdoor roller skating rink on the Marina Terrace!
If this seems familiar, perhaps you recall how Downtown Skate popped up in the same place during the holiday season. I visited back then and took these photographs.
This time Downtown Skate will be operating from June 27 to July 9, 2025. You can find the hours and other information on the event website here.
Like last time there will be food and snacks available, and DJs playing music to skate by!
Have fun in the summer sunshine beside San Diego Bay!
