San Diego sometimes seems to live half of its life on the water, and groups gathering in town can always find an interesting place on the sea, San Diego style.
The USS Midway is one of downtown San Diego’s major attractions. Commissioned in 1945, the Midway served through the 1991 Persian Gulf War and today is a floating museum that welcomes group events. With two 17,000-square-foot hangar decks and a 50,000-square-foot flight deck, the Midway accommodates groups of up to 4,000 people.
La Jolla is home to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and its Birch Aquarium at Scripps. The aquarium can accommodate up to 1,500 people in a variety of spaces featuring myriad marine plants and animals, plus guides who can explain them all.
Additionally, La Jolla Cove in La Jolla is a popular place to kayak or snorkel because its waters are relatively calm—and they’re clear enough to see passing garibaldi fish, harmless leopard sharks and other marine life. Attendees can bring a mask or paddle, or arrange expeditions (with naturalist guide) through the Birch Aquarium.
“It’s a very sheltered place. You can see waves that have these black spots in them and you realize there are leopard sharks in the waves. It’s really cool,” says Hilary Townsend, public relations manager at the San Diego North CVB.
Other aquatic options on the San Diego County coast include—of course—learning how to surf.
Surf Diva in La Jolla touts itself as the No. 1 surf school for women and girls, with lessons and camps, but the company also offers corporate team-building programs for men and women, and demand has prompted the divas to begin offering private lessons or private group lessons for men and boys.
Meanwhile, groups staying at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad can take advantage of their surf concierge, a surf instructor who takes groups out to catch waves at some of the local Carlsbad beaches.
Finally, few can leave the area without visiting Sea World San Diego, and groups in particular get to meet or socialize with Shamu the killer whale swimming by, all while enjoying nibbles from the park’s award-winning chef.
For More Info
Birch Aquarium at Scripps 858.534.3474
www.aquarium.ucsd.edu
Four Seasons Resort Aviara 760.603.6800
www.fourseasons.com/aviara
Sea World San Diego 800.732.9753
www.seaworld.com
Surf Diva 858.454.8273
www.surfdiva.com
USS Midway 619.544.9600
www.midway.org
