Lifeguards and law enforcement say they have extra resources on the beach and in the water as thousands of San Diegans flock to the coastline for their Fourth of July celebrations.
Whether it’s swimming and beach volleyball or barbequing along a parade route, the recurring theme for many on the national holiday is following family tradition.
In Carlsbad, RV's lined up along the beach Thursday morning with the smell of breakfast filling the air.
Roger Bates said he’s been coming to Carlsbad for a decade along with a group of about 20 families.
Once they've finished up the eggs and mimosas in the morning, Bates is planning on cooking up hot hogs, burgers, carne asada and pork chops along with some vegetarian offerings for his wife.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” he said. “This is San Diego at its finest right here.”
Down the beach, Maria Matarese and her family were getting settled in after arriving around 4 a.m.
The early wake up and pack up is a 10-year family annual tradition.
She and her family plan on “Just spending the whole day at the beach,” she said. “And waiting for the fireworks.”
Read: Where to Watch Fireworks in San Diego
To the south, cars pack the westbound lanes of the Coronado Bay Bridge as people try to make it into the small town for the annual festivities.
Visiting Coronado has always been a Fourth of July tradition for Jocelyn Smerz and her family. She called it one of the most patriotic places.
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“Everyone is really nice and respectful and it’s just really calm and fun to take the kids,” she said.
Children wearing their red, white or blue T-shirts sport special holiday headbands, hair ties or sunglasses.
Steve and Becky Carver may have moved to Florida, but they wouldn't miss the event.
They have been attending the parade for the past 25 years.
Coronado is the place their family gathers every year for a reunion the night before so they can be together for the holiday.
“It’s a little city within a city and it goes way out for the Fourth of July and the Coronado parade,” Steve Carver said.
John Lonan agrees. He and his family have gotten up early for the parade every year for the past 15 years.
“It’s a great day,” he said. “You just park your car, ride your bike and everybody’s having a barbeque, everybody’s friendly.”
Images: San Diego Celebrates Fourth of July
Along the San Diego coast, Mission Beach was a popular spot for people looking to "see and be seen."
Lupe Cepeda waded through a lot of traffic to get to just the right spot on Mission Beach.
“The beach is crowded but I like the fact that it is crowded,” Cepeda said. “Because everybody’s celebrating and everybody’s getting ready to have a good time tonight.”
San Diego resident Ryan Creer and his friends carried five tents and two grills to the beach for the day.
“We parked two miles away and we had to carry a lot of this stuff and drop it off so, it’s a lot of work, but well worth it, definitely,” Creer said.
Bike riders, skaters and walkers enjoyed the view along the beach while swimmers took advantage of the warm surf.
But there weren’t many folks as excited as Alex Dodge who was visiting San Diego from Arizona for the first time.
Donning red white and blue glasses and vest, Dodge said, “Fourth of July is nuts, I can’t wait for tonight.
“I mean it’s celebrating America’s birthday so everybody’s about to go really hard,” he said.
