A Perfect Summer Day With King Triton

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Summer isn’t over yet, Tritons.

With a month left before fall quarter begins, there’s still plenty of time to soak up the season. And as UC San Diego’s resident sea king, I consider myself something of an expert on summer.

I’ve got waves to catch, places to go and friends to see. So clear your calendar, set your alarm and come along. We’re starting early — and every perfect summer day needs a soundtrack. Press play on mine below and let’s get going.

6 a.m. | Catch a Wave

I like to start my mornings where you’d expect to find a Triton: in the water. So I make my way to Scripps Institution of Oceanography, head down to my favorite surf spot at Scripps Pier and check the swell. If conditions look good, it’s time to paddle out.

Of course, I’m hardly the only Triton who likes to catch a wave. UC San Diego was recently named the No. 1 college in the country for surfing, thanks to a combination of world-class surf spots right in our backyard and plenty of ways to get out on the water.

I sharpened my skills with UC San Diego Recreation’s eight-week Surfing Fundamentals course, but there are options for Tritons ready to give surfing a try. Both Surfing Fundamentals and the four-week Intro to Surfing are designed for beginners, with Fundamentals offering more time to build skills and confidence on the water. Surfboards are even provided at the pier.

Still working on your sea legs? Swimming is a prerequisite for surf classes, and Recreation offers swim classes throughout the summer. There are plenty of ways to stay active on dry land, too, from group fitness and yoga classes to facilities that are open seven days a week all summer long.

8 a.m. | Pick up a few essentials

New year, new Triton gear. I make a quick stop at the UC San Diego Bookstore to freshen up my wardrobe before fall.

That’s when I spot him: a plush version of Diego, the UC San Diego Police Department’s beloved therapy dog. I went in for one thing. I left with a plush Diego. No regrets.

The Bookstore is open all summer, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

8:30 a.m. | Phone a friend

I may have just bought a plush Diego, but the real thing is even better. I pull out my shell phone and give our favorite four-legged Triton a call to see if he’s free for an afternoon picnic. He is. Plans: made.

9 a.m. | Hit the books (gently)

I’ve got a little time to relax before my next stop, and even a king appreciates a good hammock. I’m getting a head start on this year’s UC San Diego Common Read, “Against Breaking: On the Power of Poetry” by Ada Limón, the 24th poet laureate of the United States.

New first-year and transfer students will be able to pick up a copy during Triton Weeks of Welcome, but the rest of you are invited to read along, too. You’ll want to be caught up by Oct. 22, when Limón herself comes to campus for an evening at the Epstein Family Amphitheater.

Until then, I’ve got a hammock, a good book and nowhere I need to be for at least another hour.

10 a.m. | Take care of business

Apparently, surfing every morning has its downsides. My ear has been bothering me, so I’ve got an appointment at the brand-new Triton Health and Wellness Building in Triton Center to get it checked out. I check in at a digital kiosk, and before long, I’m settled into an exam room.

The diagnosis: swimmer’s ear. Even sea kings aren’t immune.

The nearly 80,000-square-foot building is the new home of Student Health and Well-Being, bringing physical health, mental health and well-being resources together under one roof. There’s even a pharmacy, so I can pick up my ear drops before heading out.

Doctor’s orders: keep the ear dry. I'll do my best.

11 a.m. | Get creative

Time to try something new. I head to the UC San Diego Craft Center, take a seat at the pottery wheel and get to work on a new trident holder. I’ve been meaning to upgrade.

The 11,000-square-foot Craft Center offers classes and workshops in everything from ceramics and woodworking to jewelry making and even surfboard shaping. And if you're looking to get creative on a student budget, check out the free cooking classes and drop-in DIY Lounge offerings.

As for my first attempt at the pottery wheel? Let’s just say I learned an important lesson: keep the beard out of the clay.

1 p.m. | Cue the soundtrack

Remember that playlist I made for you? Time to turn it up.

I’ve got places to be and 10,000 steps to get in. Maintaining this physique doesn’t happen by accident. So I pop in my headphones, press play and keep moving. Hope you’ve been listening along.

2 p.m. | Grab some picnic provisions

All those steps have worked up an appetite, and I’ve got a picnic date coming up. I swing by Sunshine Market in Price Center to grab some sushi and a Blue Haze Red Bull Infusion. I’ve still got a few stops to make, so we’re going to need the extra energy.

Sunshine Market is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday this summer, with an espresso bar, pastries and plenty of grab-and-go snacks and meals. It also features Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, which means no checkout line. Just grab what you need and go. A king has places to be.

And Sunshine Market isn’t the only place serving up summer eats. OceanView, Club Med, Goody’s Marketplace and Roger’s Market are among the other campus dining spots open this summer.

2:30 p.m. | Meet my lunch date

Picnic basket packed, I head back down to Scripps Pier to meet up with Diego. Remember that phone call this morning? He came through. He’s reliable like that.

Diego joined the UC San Diego Police Department in 2025 and he has a pretty important job: providing comfort, wellness and emotional support across the campus community. You’ll find him out and about at community events, scheduled meet-and-greets and, apparently, the occasional seaside picnic with yours truly.

Good food, ocean views and a friend who never judges my lunch order. Hard to beat that.

4 p.m. | See what's swimming

It’s been a busy day, but I can’t be this close to Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography without stopping by to see a few friends from back home. First up: a visit with my pal, the loggerhead sea turtle.

From leopard sharks and Little Blue Penguins to colorful coral, seahorses and sweeping ocean views, Birch Aquarium gives visitors another reason to spend the day exploring UC San Diego. And Tritons have an extra reason to stop by: UC San Diego students can snag a Coastal Explorer Membership for $49, while UC San Diego and UC San Diego Health faculty and staff can get $10 off select memberships, with unlimited admission all year long.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some old friends to catch up with.