Mission Beach, San Diego facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mission Beach, San Diego
|
|
|---|---|
| Mission Beach | |
Mission Beach in the foreground
|
|
 Mission Beach, San Diego
Location in San Diego
|
|
| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  California |
| County |  San Diego |
| City |  San Diego |
| Website |
|
Mission Beach is a lively community in San Diego, California. It's built on a narrow strip of sand between the big Pacific Ocean and the calm waters of Mission Bay.
This fun beach area stretches for almost two miles along the ocean. To the south, you'll find the San Diego River estuary. To the east is Mission Bay Park, and to the north is Pacific Beach. A long boardwalk runs along both the ocean and bay sides, perfect for walking or biking. Mission Boulevard is the main street that goes through Mission Beach.
Contents
Welcome to Mission Beach!
A Special Place on the Sand
Many homes in Mission Beach were built a long time ago, in the 1930s and 1940s. They started as small summer cottages. Some houses are even older, from the 1920s! Building on sand was tricky, so Mission Beach developed a bit later than its neighbors.
In 1914, a new plan for the area helped things along. John D. Spreckels began selling small plots of land. This made Mission Beach a very busy place with many homes packed into a small area. It has some of the smallest lots in the city. Many of these older homes have been updated into two-story houses.
Fun History and Attractions
Mission Beach is close to some exciting places. You can visit SeaWorld in Mission Bay Park. There's also the historic Belmont Park amusement park.
Belmont Park: Rides and More
Belmont Park was first built in 1925 by John D. Spreckels. He wanted to encourage people to buy land and use his electric railway. Today, Belmont Park still has its famous wooden Giant Dipper Roller Coaster. It also has newer rides like the FlowRider at Wave House, Vertical Plunge, and the Liberty Carousel.
The Plunge: A Historic Pool
Inside Belmont Park, you'll find The Mission Beach Plunge. This large swimming pool opened in May 1925. It was originally a saltwater pool, but now it uses fresh water. The building around the pool looks like the beautiful Spanish Renaissance buildings in Balboa Park.
Famous swimmers like Esther Williams and Johnny Weissmuller once swam here. The roof of the building could even roll open! The Plunge and the Giant Dipper are the only original attractions left from Spreckels' park. The Plunge closed for repairs in 2014 but reopened in July 2019, looking brand new.
Things to Do at Mission Beach
Mission Beach is a fantastic spot for outdoor fun! You can enjoy sunbathing, surfing, bicycling, and skateboarding. Many people play horseshoes or throw a Frisbee.
A local group called "Skate This!" often performs amazing trick skating and dancing. They use both rollerblades and traditional skates. You'll also find courts for beach volleyball and basketball, making it a popular place for sports.
There's a public recreation center on Santa Clara Place, right by the bay. At the south end of Belmont Park, the Wave House Athletic Club offers a fitness center. It has exercise equipment, classes, and even aquatic classes in The Plunge.
Mission Beach is also where the "over-the-line" softball tournament started. This is a unique game played on the sand.
There are some rules to remember at the beach. For example, rules about drinks are in place since April 2008. Many visitors are college students, but tourists and local families also love coming to Mission Beach. You can even rent places to stay for a week or a month during the summer.
Famous Faces from Mission Beach
Many interesting people have lived in Mission Beach. Here are a few:
- David C. Copley, who used to publish the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper.
- Mike Gotch, a former San Diego City Councilman.
- Jeanne Lenhart, a California Senior Olympian and volleyball player.
- Bob Mendoza, a professional baseball player and coach.
- Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, a well-known surfer and doctor.
- Cathy Scott, an author.
- Curtis Casella, who started Taang! Records.
See also
In Spanish: Mission Beach (San Diego) para niños
| To the North: Pacific Beach, San Diego |
California beaches | To the South Ocean Beach, San Diego |
