Good news! San Diego is finally reopening its dining, outdoor activities, and annual events in accordance with California’s restrictions. The local businesses are so excited to welcome back residents and visitors to help revitalize the economy after the last few months of closures. Check out this list of the best February events in San Diego you don’t want to miss out on!

1. Whale Watching Tours

Winter is the best time of year to see grey whales migrating all the way down the Pacific Coast from their feeding grounds near Alaska to the breeding lagoons in Baja California. San Diego holds 78 miles of coastline directly in the path of that migration which makes is the perfect city lookout.

There’s tons of charter companies to choose from depending on your budget and the amount of time you want to spend on the water. Most of these companies all will give you a free return ticket if for some reason you don’t see a whale on your trip.

• San Diego Whale Watch offers 2.5 hour tours narrated by professional marine biologists. Departures are at 9:00am and 12:30pm costing $48 per adult and $44 per child.
• Hornblower Cruises offers 3.5 hour whale watching excursions for $50 per adult and $25 for kids ages 4-12.
• Sail San Diego offers a much more private experience with a maximum of 6 passengers on their 3.5 hour sailboat tour. It costs $95 per person but you can have the whole boat to your family as long as there’s more than 3 of you in the booking.

2. Savorite App’s Food Fest

Created to help San Diego’s restaurant business through restrictive times, Savorite is a user-friendly app that offers exclusive discounts from your local businesses. Oftentimes, 30% off or more!

February 1st-12th, they will be hosting a Food Fest where you can get 50% off meals at your favorite places like Son of a Toast, Gaslamp Fish House, Barrio Star and more!

How does it work? Download the app, explore the offers in your area (similar to Yelp map), click “book” on the deal of your choice, and show your in-app booking to the restaurant to redeem your deal. No money is collected by Savorite, they serve as an incredible conduit connecting local restaurants to a more broad customer base. Get out there and treat yo’ self to some deals!

3. Superbowl Sunday

Sunday, February 7th marks the 55th NFL Superbowl Game. Although it is one of the informal February events in San Diego, it may be one of the favorites. Since the city has been able to re-open it’s outdoor dining options, you can watch the game from several of the local breweries and restaurants.

Some of my favorites are Helix Brewing Company (La Mesa), Ketch Grill & Taps (Point Loma & Downtown San Diego Harbor), Oggi’s Sports, Brewhouse & Pizza (10+ locations), and Bolt Brewery (Little Italy & La Mesa).

In addition, February 12th – 21st is California Craft Beer Week! Keep an eye out at your local breweries or sdbeer.com for special events.

4. Valentine’s Day

Choose from a variety of options to make things a little more exciting than just a night out at dinner. Celebrate this February event in San Diego on any budget with ideas like these.

• The Gondola Company on Coronado Island will give you and our boo a romantic 50 minute gondola ride through the waterways. Pricing is $165+ per couple and includes a chocolate truffle plate and souvenir wine glasses. Additional guests are $20 per person, up to 6 people. Bring your own wine or purchase one for an extra cost.
• Flagship Cruises is offering a special Valentines Day Dinner for $89.50 per person. Cruise around the San Diego Bay for a few hours while enjoying a 3 course chef’s choice dinner.
• Hornblower Cruises has a similar package with UNLIMITED champagne and appetizers for $99 per person on the 13th or 14th.
• Thorn Brewing Co. curated a special beer and cheese pairing as a virtual event on the 13th. Tickets are $40 and include 4 beers and a large cheese plate.
• Ritual Chocolate Company based in the mountains of Utah has created a bundle of unique chocolates especially for Valentine’s Day. I created a wine and chocolate pairing over on IGTV for you to emulate at your own home!

5. Slow Season Deals on Watersports and Hotels

Winter is slow season in San Diego, which means you can find hotel rooms and other activities for a much cheaper price. Groupon has deals on several San Diego area hotels right now including Lakehouse Hotel & Resort (San Marcos), The Westin Gaslamp District (Downtown), The Hilton (Little Italy).

During this season, you can also find activities like kayaking, pedal boats and more for lower prices while tourism is slow. Try some of these ideas in February:

• Eco Boat Rentals $45/ hour for a pedal boat excursion in the Point Loma harbor with great views of downtown San Diego. Take up to 4 people per boat or even your pups. They also offer pedal kayaks for $29/hour
• Duffy of San Diego $151 for 90 minutes of Duffy Boat exploring in Mission Bay. Take up to 11 people (passengers must be from the same household).
• Triton Charters $55 per adult for a 2.5 hour yacht tour of San Diego. You can soak up the sun and buy signature cocktails on board for $10.
• Everyday California $25 per double kayak for a 90 minute tour of La Jolla Cove and Sea Caves.

6. San Diego Zoo and Sea World Reopening

Add these classic activities to your plans for February events in San Diego! The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park will be reopening on Saturday, January 30th with required reservations for all visitors. The parks will be open daily from 9:00am – 5:00pm and will also require health screening on site prior to entry.

Sea World San Diego will also be reopening on Saturday, February 6th with their own reservation system and heath screenings. Their hours are very limited and primarily on weekends from 10:00am – 5:00pm. Check their hours and calendar before you go. Also note that they will be reopening as an aquarium, not as a theme park, so most of the roller coaster rides will remain closed until further notice.

While the February events in San Diego might still be looking a little bleak, they are getting better! Remember to support your local businesses as much as possible and get outside safely while following local regulations. If you’re looking for more activities in San Diego or places to eat out, check out the full range of San Diego blog posts.

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