If there was a Spotify Wrapped-style measure for my downtown walks, Embarcadero Marina Park North and South would top my charts.
Since moving downtown, these two scenic spots are where I go to get away from the daily grind. Sometimes it’s once a week. Oftentimes, I visit these waterfront wonderlands multiple times a week.
Paved pathways lead you along the sparkling bay and around emerald lawns. Best of all, access to all this natural beauty is incredibly convenient.
Popular with picnickers and visitors taking a walk after dining at Seaport Village, Embarcadero Marina Park North is my downtown go-to spot to watch kites soar. In one direction you’ve got the sweeping downtown skyline. In the other, you can spy massive Navy ships docked at North Island.
On the weekends, this picturesque spot is sometimes booked with a festival or car show, usually free to visit.
Embarcadero Marina Park South is mostly known as home to the Rady Shell, a world-class, outdoor music venue. Even when there’s no show at The Shell, the park’s pier is usually bustling with fisherfolk reeling in the catch of the day.
This park is less crowded. It’s frequented by fitness enthusiasts and it’s common to see roller skaters taking a lap (sometimes backwards) around the park. Or, buff guys doing push-ups and pull-ups on the exercise equipment that faces the Coronado Bridge.
Take a Loop…or Two. A loop around each park is approximately one half mile. The distance between the two parks is also a half mile. The entire pathway is paved and flat, so it’s perfect for those using strollers or mobility aids.
If you’re using a bicycle or scooter, there’s a portion of Seaport Village’s walkway (between the parks) where you need to walk your wheels. Though you may find it annoying to dismount for such a short distance, please do it. This area has heavy pedestrian traffic, and riding here is a safety hazard for both pedestrians and those on wheels.
Make it a Workout. Along with the fitness equipment in the grassy section of Embarcadero Marina Park South, there are basketball courts. And on a regular basis, Fit Athletic partners with the Rady Shell to offer free hour-long yoga classes on the venue lawn. I can’t think of a more stunning setting to get into the flow. Just remember some sunscreen and perhaps sunglasses. (Leave your pup at home for this workout. Dogs are only allowed on the perimeter of the park, not inside the venue.)
On your journey between the two parks, you’ll pass the San Diego Convention Center steps. Channel your inner Rocky Balboa here by running up them. I’ve even seen guys jumping rope near the top and doing other boxing-related exercises. Put Eye of Tiger on your playlist and get to it!
Getting Here. Parking is limited at both parks. As I’ve discussed in several Walking In The City columns, the parking situation downtown is getting more complicated and pricey on a seemingly monthly basis (the most recent notification I received from the city was that meters around my downtown building would be limited to two-hour sessions). Consider using public transit as the Seaport Village stop on the Green Line is a short walk to these parks. SDSun
Deanna Ratnikova is the creator of The GO Deck – grab a deck today and be inspired to Get Outdoors and GO on new adventures.
