As the year rolls by faster than a speeding train, Memorial Day signifies that yes, summer has made its appearance even if the calendar states otherwise and San Diego is the city of eternal summer anyway! Memorial Day in San Diego is the kickoff to barbecues and family vacations, sleeping late and staying up even later, and of course, kicking off the chains of work and business and heading out for a day on the sea in your choice of our Carefree Boat Club sea-faring vessels! Toss your phone to the side (keeping it handy for pictures of dolphins and sunsets, of course!) leave your ties and heels hanging, and slip into your favorite flipflops for a day of fun under the California sun, letting the ocean lead the way to Memorial Day adventures you will never forget! This guide to spending Memorial Day in San Diego in your boat for the day from Carefree Boat Club will make this holiday one you wished never had to end!
USS Midway Museum, 910 N Harbor Drive
Ok, what better way to enjoy a day on your boat than by exploring an even bigger boat, the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier that served America proudly for 50 years? Dock your boat at the nearby Sun Harbor Marina and take a trolley ride to the ship which offers 30 vintage aircraft, a tour of the below deck areas, and the opportunity to see how the sailors that made Midway their home lived during their time aboard, and flight simulators to play on! Memorial Day is about paying homage to those who sacrificed everything for your freedoms and this magnificent vessel paints a clearer picture of their bravery!
Lunch Spots to Enjoy
Sandwiches in a cooler are often the typical meals boaters enjoy, but this is San Diego and the sheer volume of waterfront restaurants makes them easily reachable by boat, and foodies who also happen to be Carefree Boat Club members will enjoy a midday break at any of these wonderful docks and dine spots! The first restaurant on our list will bring you to the gorgeous island of Coronado and Peohe’s, located at 1201 1st Street, captains can dock at the Coronado Ferry Landing and enjoy a seafood-centric meal that never fails to please! Ketch Grill & Taps, located at 1360 North Harbor Drive can be reached after docking at Portside Pier and offers your favorite pub grub and cold beers that taste especially great on Memorial Day! And for those who have their cooler filled with their favorite sandwiches but are just looking for a sweet treat, Portside Coffee & Gelato offers exactly what you crave and can also be reached by docking at Portside Pier!
Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma
The place where it all began for San Diegans, the Cabrillo National Monument marks the spot where intrepid explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo first stepped foot on our little section of paradise. Today a marble statue commemorates the man and although things may look a little different than they did back in the 1500s, we think that you will still be able to hear the echoes of the men who explored here and visualize how wild and untamed it must have appeared all those centuries ago. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse offers a beautiful photo opportunity, making visitors glad that they didn’t completely lock away their phones on this day of freedom from the chains of labor!
Shopping the Sales This Memorial Day in San Diego
Everyone knows that Memorial Day is when many of the best sales are held and if you choose one of our cabin cruisers, you will have plenty of room to store all the treasures purchased at Seaport Village! Located at 849 W Harbor Drive just off San Diego Bay, this “mall” also offers restaurants and art galleries that you will get lost in and a special treat for boaters traveling with their own “junior captains!” A historic carousel containing animals to ride that were hand-carved back in 1895 makes Seaport Village a popular attraction for children of all ages! Lunch at the San Diego Pier Café never fails to impress, especially when your seafood meal is accompanied by views of the Coronado Bridge. America’s Heroes is a store dedicated to merchandise that celebrates America’s Heroes and includes clothing, hats, and accessories commemorating all branches of the service. Kind of appropriate considering the holiday, don’t you think? Gran Havana sells the most aromatic of cigars while Hot Licks will sate your taste for hot and spicy, selling salsas and hot sauces from all over the world.
For a Memorable Memorial Day in San Diego, Sign Up Today
Sure, you can enjoy all these Memorial Day activities without a boat, but why would you want to when being a member of the Carefree Boat Club makes it easy to do so with one? Sign up today and by Memorial Day you should be heading out to sea like the salty captains of yore!
