Here is our list of the best team building activities in San Diego, California.
Team building activities in San Diego are a great way to encourage innovation and bonding amongst teams. Examples include scavenger hunts, escape rooms, and paintball. The purpose of these activities is to bring team members together for a fun activity outside the office in this sunny city.
These examples include summertime team building activities and outdoor team ideas in addition to indoor team building ideas for colder months. These events are similar to corporate event ideas in San Diego and San Diego company outings.
This list includes:
- team building activities for small groups in San Diego, CA
- team building activities for large groups in San Diego, California
- team building activities for adults in San Diego
- corporate team building ideas in San Diego
Here we go!
List of team building activities in San Diego
From Superhero Academy to Knockerball, here is a list of the best corporate team building ideas in San Diego.
1. The Great Guac Off™️ (Highly Rated)
For a team building experience that fosters creativity and collaboration, look no further than The Great Guac Off! This thrilling event pits participants against each other in an epic guacamole-making competition.
Here is what to expect:
- 90 minutes led by a world-class host
- entertaining avocado-themed mini-games, trivia, and facts
- premium guacamole ingredients and chips
- an optional secret ingredient to add an exciting twist
- a high-energy guacamole mash-off and expert judging session
Additionally, we will bring all the necessary ingredients to your preferred location. The Great Guac Off ignites creativity, collaboration, and friendly competition.
Learn more about The Great Guac Off.
2. Field Day (Popular)
With Field Day, your team can play interactive outdoor games! Teams will boost relationships and communication while participating in these exercises.
Field Day includes the following:
- 90 minutes with a talented host
- chances to take memorable team photos
- exciting outdoor competitions and classic games
- nostalgic activities that unlock players’ inner child
In addition, we can host this experience at any location of your choice, and we will bring all the needed equipment. If you are looking to boost your team’s workplace skills, then check out Field Day!
Learn more about Field Day.
3. Superhero Academy (Staff Favorite)
Your team can experience the thrill of unleashing their inner heroes with Superhero Academy! This real-life comic book experience will test your skills and collaboration.
Superhero Academy includes the following:
- 90 minutes guided by an expert host
- a storytelling experience that turns participants into superheroes
- activities and games that test players’ skills
- tasks that showcase each member’s strengths
Further, we will meet you at your venue with all the necessary supplies. Superhero Academy cultivates new teamwork techniques and forges lasting memories, so add it to your agenda!
Learn more about Superhero Academy.
4. Brewery Tours of San Diego
If you are looking for team building activities for adults in San Diego, then consider a brewery tour! San Diego is home to over 100 craft breweries, and you can visit many of them through Brewery Tours of San Diego. The route visits some of San Diego’s award-winning breweries. Groups can explore during either the daytime or nighttime, and the public tours visit different breweries each day of the week. Examples include Amplified Pacific Beach, North Park Beer Co, and Karl Strauss. If you would like to book a private tour, then you can choose from a wide variety of packages. These packages include transportation, knowledgeable hosts, guided tours at one brewery, beer tastings, and souvenir glasses. Tours range from two breweries with no food included to four breweries with a meal. To see San Diego’s breweries in style, check out these tours!
Learn more about Brewery Tours of San Diego.
5. Compass Balloons
Folks looking to see San Diego from a new perspective should check out Compass Balloons for a hot air balloon ride! Groups of up to ten can head up into the air to see incredible views. The flight lasts an hour and includes champagne, water, and soda. Teams can either experience a sunrise tour over the Temecula wine valley or a sunset tour over Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, and Encinitas. Views include Catalina Island, Mount Palomar, and the Diamond Valley. Pilots also share fascinating facts about the landmarks you see along the way. Be sure to check out Compass Balloons for an incredible experience!
Learn more about Compass Balloons.
6. Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a beachfront boardwalk that features dining, shopping, and entertainment. The park opened in 1925 with its first big attraction, a 2,600-foot-long coaster called the Giant Dipper. The same year, the founder opened The Plunge, which was the world’s largest salt-water pool, holding 400,000 gallons of water. Both of these historic attractions are open to visitors today. Now, the park has plenty of other rides and attractions, such as bumper cars, mini-golf, and midway games. There are several restaurants and places to grab quick bites to keep you energized while you explore. Large groups can even enjoy a discount on passes!
Learn more about Belmont Park.
7. The Grand Tea Room
Teams looking for a relaxing way to unwind together should check out The Grand Tea Room. This venue is a full-service tea room and gift shop. Visitors can attend a traditional afternoon tea that includes dishes like tea sandwiches, scones with cream, petite desserts, and fresh tea. The more elaborate experiences last for two hours, and others are not timed. Diners can also snag individual snacks and light meals. The tea room offers over 40 flavors of tea, and each pot is bottomless. Additionally, you can check out hosted events like Pride and Prejudice dinner theater and Clue on stage.
Learn more about The Grand Tea Room.
8. The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
If you are visiting San Diego in the spring, then add The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch to your agenda! Each year, these fields bloom in an explosion of color. The space features plenty to look at, including three greenhouses, five gardens, fields, and historical displays. Visitors can head through the sweet pea maze and get lost in the beautiful blossoms. Then, guests can check out the artist garden, which features floral archways. When exploring, you can see the American Flag of Flowers, the bird aviaries, and the demonstration garden. The gardens can also host corporate and team building events, nonprofit fundraisers, and festivals in one of their three venues.
Learn more about The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.
9. Gaslamp Quarter
The Gaslamp Quarter is a dining and entertainment district in San Diego. Over 200 restaurants, bars, art galleries, and shops call this space home. Diners can enjoy a huge range of food, from American to Mediterranean to Persian. After dinner, folks can stop by bars, comedy clubs, live entertainment venues, and theatres. Guests can also shop for beauty, fashion, and health products. You can even stay at hostels and hotels in the quarter! Before heading over, be sure to check out the events page. The Gaslamp Quarter regularly hosts events, like skate Sundays, concerts, and wildflower crown workshops.
Learn more about Gaslamp Quarter.
10. Velocity Paintball
Paintball is a fun and energetic way to connect with your team! Velocity Paintball offers nine playing fields to choose from. Players will get protective gear, hide behind cover, and compete to shoot opposing teams. This venue also features airsoft competitions for folks interested in playing without getting paint on them. Velocity specifically offers a team building package, which includes players, sniper rental packages, and paintballs. This game lasts for three hours, making it an immersive experience. Packages also include a referee and party coordinator as well as reserved tables.
Learn more about Velocity Paintball.
11. Liberty Public Market
Liberty Public Market opened in 2016, and it was San Diego’s first seven-day-a-week public market. The market features 38 vendors, ranging from food to crafts to bars. Additionally, guests can enjoy happy hour pricing daily from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. One example of a vendor here is Bao Bar, which offers Chinese steamed bao, spring rolls, and boba tea. Another option is The Old Town Soap Company, where shoppers can buy all-natural soap and even take workshops. Teams can enjoy a drink from vendors like Bottlecraft, which is a beer shop and tasting room. This venue features 24 rotating draft beers and over 500 bottles. The market also hosts regular events, like beer bingo, Cartoon Network trivia, and dog adoption events. Your team can spend the whole day here exploring the diverse range of vendors!
Learn more about Liberty Public Market.
12. LA Jolla Kayak
You can get your team on the water with a La Jolla kayak tour. These experiences take teams along the Ecological Reserve and the La Jolla Sea Caves. This adventure will navigate kayakers through a marine protected area where they are bound to catch glimpses of leopard sharks, Garibaldi, sea lions, and dolphins!
La Jolla Kayak’s experienced tour guides will share fun facts, knowledge, and history as you kayak. The outing will be a day your team will not forget.
For more information on La Jolla Kayak.
13. Paint And Glo
Paint and Glo offers a unique spin to the average group paint night. With a Paint And Glo night, your team will paint masterpieces and be treated to a laser light show, glowing hair extensions, neon hats, glow sticks, and neon hand-painted glasses. Each masterpiece that your team members create glows in the dark!
For more information on Paint And Glo.
14. Knockerball, San Diego
Knockerball is one of the most unique team building activities for small groups in San Diego, CA. Knockerball or “bubble soccer” is played like a classic soccer game, except players sport inflatable bubble balls-large inflatable balls covering everything besides heads, legs, and arms.
The sport has no goalkeeper, no traditional soccer rules like off-sides, and teams aim to get as many goals as possible. Your team will be laughing so hard that they will not care about scoring!
For more information on Knockerball.
15. Secret Food Tour
One of the best corporate team building ideas in San Diego is a Secret Food Tour. Secret Food Tours allow your team to explore their city while enjoying yummy dishes from Mexico to the Far East. The tour lasts three and a half hours and has five stops.
Because this tour has a maximum of 11 people, we recommend the tour be for smaller corporate teams.
For more information on Secret Food Tours.
16. USCD Challenge Course
USCD’s Challenge Course is a great team development activity. The venue offers a challenging course with one-foot-high wooden platforms, walking cables, boards, and ropes. In addition, UCSD’s Challenge Course has both 25-45 feet climbing and ground-based activities.
Professional facilitators customize a course program to meet your group’s specific goals and will be there to guide your team through the course.
For more information on USCD’s Challenge Course.
17. National City Golf Course
FootGolf is one of the most fun team building activities for large groups in San Diego, California. A fusion of soccer and golf, Footgolf’s goal is to get the ball from the teeing ground into a 21-inch hole using a soccer ball. Scoring works like golf, with a par assigned to each hole. The player with the lowest score wins! At National City Golf Course, teams can compete in a nine-hole course, and they can play it as an 18-hole round. This game is great for both beginners and experts, and it makes a great addition to your list of team building activities!
For more information on FootGolf at National City Golf Course.
18. San Diego Sand Castles
You can ignite childhood beach memories with a San Diego Sand Castles event. This provider will show your team real sand castle techniques in a three-hour sand castle-building session. The staff will demonstrate stacking techniques, architectural ideas, and a whole bunch of cool little sand tricks. Your team will be so proud of their work when completed!
For more information on San Diego Sand Castles.
19. Drum Cafe North America
Drum Cafe North America believes “music is a universal language that transcends all boundaries that separate organizations internally.” You can bring your team together for a Drum Café North America experience where corporate messages, themes, and content critical to team integration are delivered in a fun, positive way. In a 60-minute experience, your team will share conversation while drumming on individual drums and learning more about percussion and drumming techniques.
For more information on Drum Cafe.
20. Fly With A Bird
You can relieve your team’s stress and give them the unique experience of parahawking with La Jolla’s Fly With a Bird. In this adventure, your team can soar in a tandem glider alongside a trained raptor. The flights typically last between 20 to 25 minutes. The trained falcons spend about half the flight close to the glider.
For more information on Fly With a Bird.
21. Surfside Ranch
You can get your team outside and bonding with a Surfside Ranch experience. This destination offers multiple horseback riding adventures ranging from 90 to 120 minutes, including:
- Beach Adventure: Surfside Ranch horses are available at Border Field State Park, where riders ride along the beach.
- Trail Adventure: Rides leave directly from Surfside Ranch and ride through the San Diego County Trail System.
- Sunset Beach Adventure: riders are treated to beautiful beach scenery as they ride into the sunset.
For more information on Surfside Ranch.
22. Painting & Vino
Painting and Vino goes beyond ordinary sip-and-paint nights. The venue offers team-building options like glassware painting, wood sign creations, mixed media art, pop selfies, and pet paintings. For instance, your team can paint wine glasses or a portrait of a beloved pet.
For more information on Painting & Vino.
23. Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream
Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream is one of the most popular ice cream parlors in San Diego. This local business impresses guests with its Hawaiian-inspired flavors and commitment to quality. This shop boasts of being the originator of the ice cream flight, and ordering an assortment for the team to try together is as good a team building idea as any.
Learn more about Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream.
24. Carlsbad Aqua Farm
Carlsbad Aqua Farm fully embodies San Diego’s seaside location and educates participants about the ins and outs of one of the city’s most fascinating industries. Throughout this one-hour walking tour, participants explore the farm, learn about oyster cultivation, and end the experience with shucking and slurping. This idea is hands-on and enlightening and is great for teams with a curious streak.
Pro tip: Teammates with shellfish allergies should sit this one out!
Learn more about Carlsbad Aqua Farm.
Conclusion
San Diego’s beautiful weather and location give teams multiple team-building choices. Events like kayaking or an obstacle course are good options if your team is active and outdoorsy. If your team is more artistic or food-oriented, a paint night or food tour will suit them well. Regardless, it is essential to base your team building activities on your team’s personalities, likes, and interests.
For more Californian team building, check out team building ideas in Los Angeles and LA Company outings.
Grace He