Torrey Pines Gliderport — Attraction in San Diego

Let me start by saying "Wow!". This was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had! The staff were really friendly, knowledgeable and very professional! Everything they did was streamlined and executed perfectly to get you in the air quickly and safely. And the length of time spent in the air felt like I definitely could have gone longer, but at the same time I felt it was a fare amount of time... DEFINITELY WORTH IT!!! get the photo package too!! I haven't downloaded my photos yet so I didn't add them to this post, but, they really look great!! My pilot was Alex, he was awesome! He could tell I was very comfortable so he made it lots of fun by doing some really fun maneuvers! He even taught me how to control it and let me fly for bit! If you're the nervous type, just talk to them, my wife was nervous (and they could tell) so they gave her a more gentle Sunday driver type of flight. We felt completely safe the entire time and had an amazing time thanks to professional staff. The experiences is first come first serve and with the photo package it's going to cost you about $200 give or take. Also $$TIPPING$$. Tipping the pilot is kind of expected and there are a few hand written signs around that say things like "A tipped pilot, is a happy pilot". So bring cash. This may or may not enhance the experience. I tipped my pilot well before the flight. It may not be directly related, but my experience sounded like it was a bit more fun than others who also had an amazing time.. Paying with cash also gets a small discount.

Take aways:

*Bring cash for cash discount and tipping pilots.

*tip pilot well and before take off, no guarantee, but could enhance the experience.

*Photo package is worth it!

*First come, first serve. No reservations.

*Be honest with pilot about how you're feeling.

*if you show up in flip-flops, they put them in a pouch and you get to go barefoot!!!😎🦶👍 I highly recommend it! It...

Loved everything about this place! We didn't really know what to expect and were hoping for a reservation/appointment to make sure we got to paraglide. Obviously with the weather conditions it is hard for the company to schedule people. Once the wind picked up, it was clear that there was plenty of time and plenty of pilots to get through everyone that was waiting. I was a little scared to go up but 30 seconds into my ride it was clear how well-trained my pilot (JC) was and despite my massive fear of heights, I felt completely safe. The take off, ride, and landing were all so smooth that I actually felt kind of silly for ever being scared in the first place! If you're on the fence about paragliding, just do it!! This was the coolest way to see the coast, the giant mansions, and dolphins playing in the water below. Truly a unique and memorable experience... I am already working on finding a time to bring my husband back here.

Additionally, the food and drinks at the cafe are incredible! We shared a Bianca pizza that had the creamiest ricotta I've ever had. We also tried the chicken cesar wrap and got some frozen drinks at the bar...all incredible. In today's review culture, I feel like 5 star reviews are thrown around loosely and are given to businesses that aren't actually delivering top of the line products and services, but Torrey Pines Gliderport is truly deserving of all of these 5...

The gliderport was one of my favorite places in the world even before I started learning how to fly a paraglider last year. For photographers, this place always delivers the goods. There are only a few places with such perfect views of the San Diego coastline, and great sunsets from this spot are epic!

In the summer months, there is live music on the weekends. You can easily blow a couple of hours just relaxing, listening to the music and watching the "air show". On a good windy day, there will be anywhere from 20 to 30 gliders soaring the ridge, which makes for tight flying, but it'll pure eye candy.

At this location, you can also follow a steep trail down to the beaches - La Jolla Shores to the south and Black's Beach to the north. Rest assured your visit to the beach will also be memorable, as the trail dumps you out onto Black's Beach, which is San Diego's nude beach.

This stretch of coast has a rich diversity of sea life too. Keep your eyes on the water, because it's quite common to see seals, sea lions, pelicans, dolphins, and whales in the winter.

Next time you're in San Diego, if the weather is nice, go check out the Torrey Pines Gliderport. It's amazing. Try the BALT sandwich (Bacon, Avocado, Lettuce & Tomato) at the cafe. It's...