by PETER GREENBERG

These dark winter days are an ideal time to enjoy the outdoors in a milder climate. Here are three of my favourite city destinations when I want to chase the sun.

Balboa Park runs a sprawling 1,200 acres and holds a wealth of museums, theatres and cottages. But the gems of the park are its gardens, such as the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Sculpture Garden and the Desert Garden—the last of which contains more than 1,300 cacti, succulents and other drought-resistant plants, some of which seem to come from a Dr. Seuss book. Visit in January through March, during the peak blooming period.

Get up close and personal with leopard sharks, turtles and dolphins on a kayak tour of La Jolla. Weather permitting, you can kayak into the sea cave in La Jolla as well. (Another way to visit is through a tunnel and stairs accessible at the Cave Store on Coast Boulevard, which lead directly to the sea cave.)

One of my favourite ways to explore a city is on two wheels. Rent a bike in Coronado and pedal down the Bayshore Bikeway. Along the way you’ll pass landmarks such as the legendary Hotel del Coronado, the US Naval Amphibious Base and Silver Strand State Beach.