What do you do in California after dark?

[KMMK]

Spartana and other frugal SoCal people, DH and I are staying in Santa Clarita tonight and then Mission Valley area of San Diego for 3 nights. I'm not used to it being so warm and so dark so early. In Canada if it's warm enough for outside stuff at night it's also light. So if you don't like shopping, and don't know anyone what should we do? We mostly like parks and walking. Any suggestions for our evenings? What's safe and interesting where we can walk around but not spend too much money?
Thanks for any suggestions.

[snshijuptr]

Go to the beach! Many of the beaches have nice boardwalks, though you will find homeless people so avoid if that makes you uncomfortable. In college we would walk down to Black's Beach in La Jolla (the semi-official nude beach, which is right below campus).

Actually walking around UC, San Diego is really, really nice at night. Just a warning as part of the Stuart Art Collection (stuartcollection.ucsd.edu), the trees talk and sing. It's creepy at night.

[HairyUpperLip]

Go to the beach. It's free and the waves sound good.

Take your dinner with you and chill. It's a good time. Bring a blanket.

[Annifest]

Since you'll be staying in Mission Valley, there is also a river walk in that area. 

[sneeds]

A stroll through Balboa Park is nice. The fountain and the buildings are lit up at night. There's usually plenty of people around in the evening so it's not empty/creepy or dangerous.

[KMMK]

Thanks everyone. I'll show DH your ideas. I was thinking Balboa would be good at night. We've been to SD once before but only had 1.5 days so barely time to see anything.

I was thinking after I posted about how going places at night in an unfamiliar city is what is hard. I know where to safely walk in Winnipeg at night. And you can find many things online that are fine in the day, but may not be safe at night. Need more familiar people such as yourselves to know the specifics.