I have drafted this post a while back as soon as we know that we are going to San Diego in Winter. But I didn’t have the chance to finish it till now.
It’s not because there is nothing to do in San Diego. But it’s the opposite. There are so many things to do in San Diego. My head is spinning trying to find out what can we fit into our schedule. And no, I still don’t know for sure.
I have to say I’m a real type-A traveler. I have to plan everything to the hours. I’m weird that way. But I think I’m getting better. I think…
This trip I will probably have a list of things to do and leave a few days as free days so we can explore at our own pace.
Without further adieu, here are list of things to do in San Diego that we will try to fit into our trip.
1. San Diego Zoo – It’s one of the top attraction for San Diego. So I don’t have to have a lot of reasons, do I? Kids love to go to the Zoo and this one will probably give them a good work out for a day.
It just likes all the stars align for my trip planning. A couple weeks ago, Carolina @ Kids Go West wrote a post about The Best of San Diego Zoo picked by her kids. What a perfect post for me. I didn’t have to do any research. I will just print out her post and my to-see for that day will be done.
2. Sea World San Diego – I haven’t been to Sea World in Orlando for ages. My kids have never been to Sea World ever. So Sea World is a must on our list. We love aquarium in general and I love to watch live show.
Blogosphere is my friend again when a couple weeks ago (seem to be the theme here) Jamie @ Travel Savvy Mom wrote about 5 Things she learned at Sea World. Her fun post gives us the general idea of what to expect.
3. Legoland – My son will disown me if we skip Legoland. I mean this boy has a serious issue with Lego. A few days ago he announced that he is no longer interested in Thomas the Tank Engine. He is now a Star War Lego fan. How about that!
For this stop, I know I can rely on Bridget @ Family Adventure Guidebooks. She published ‘The Unauthorized Legoland Guidebook’ so that should probably say a lot about her knowledge of this amazing amusement park.
4. La Jolla Beach – Visit Children’s Pool to check out the seal and enjoy the relax beach vacation North of San Diego. As Mudslidemama @ Traveling Mamas put it on her visit “I’m so glad I did! La Jolla is indeed lovely, with cliffs that overhand the Pacific in ways reminiscent of the more rugged views in Northern California.”
After that, we can enjoy watching hang gliders navigate the wind at Cliff Hanger cafe. That’s something we don’t see everyday in Atlanta.
5. Balboa Park – Home of the San Diego Zoo. The country’s largest urban cultural park also houses other museums, performing center and open-air theatre. Even though Mr. Z announced his separation from Thomas, I’m pretty sure that he will run to be the first to ride the Balboa Park Miniature train.
6. Mission Beach – Technically, there will be more beaches in San Diego than you can choose. But at Mission Beach, kids can enjoy the beachfront amusement park at Belmont Park. With free parking and free admission, it’s a good outing for a family.
7. USS Midway Aircraft Carrier – I love taking our kids to visit places or sights that we don’t normally see in our own hometown. The USS Midway is one of such place. It’s not often that we will be in the area that we can visit and explore the US Aircraft Carrier. Ok.. This one is for me, Ok? I want to see the inside of the carrier and learn about life at sea.
Now. This is probably not a complete list of what San Diego has to offer. So have at it… What else should I consider while soaking up the Sun in the South Cal?
The Q Family is a family of 4 with 2 school-aged kids who love to explore as much as their parent.
The San Diego Wild Animal Park! We just went yesterday and I’m working on a blog post for it (should be up late tonight). I have one up there right now about the Dino Mountain Exhibit, but that one ends pretty soon. It’s a must see if you have a Dino Fan in your household!
It sounds like you are going to have an amazing vacation! The zoo is going to be fantastic…how could it not right? I took my two nephews there two years ago and they were completely tuckered out by the end of the day but it was really fun :-) can’t wait to read more about it!
Another great and informative post. You are going to have a fantastic time! Hope you do everything on your list:)
@Katie: Thanks. I will need to add that to our long list. I think I have to start planning a revisit trip. :)
@Shannon: That’s good to hear. I can’t wait to take them to the Zoo
@Dave&Deb: Thanks. I hope so too. :)
When I was in San Diego (admittedly before children) we stayed on Coronado and loved it. I think it would be a great place to go (and maybe even stay) with kids. We rode bikes (which we rented there) all over. There are lots of good places to eat on the main drag.
I’ve been to San Diego Zoo when I was a child!!!! That was so cool for me!!!
This is a really nice summary of the major attractions in San Diego. For kids, I’d also recommend checking out the tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument, the Children’s Museum in Downtown, and several of the museums in Balboa Park – some of the kid favorites include the Museum of Man, the Natural History Museum, the Science Center with IMAX Theater, and the Air & Space Museum. All are top notch.
If you have extra time and head inland from LEGOLAND (one word by the way), many kids enjoy sifting for gems at a tourmaline mine or panning for gold in the historic mountain town of Julian.
You can find more information about these attractions on the web site attached to my name. Enjoy your trip!
We just went to San Diego in the spring. Loved it! The zoo was fabulous–we got to see the pandas & koala bears. So cute!
I went to Sea Worl when I was 12 and seen Shamu and his friends, I was fascinated. We had dinner then in a restaurant that was a couple of feet away from the swimming whales it was awesome! Also the dolphins were a favourite. Im in my 20s now and I would go back in a heartbeat and bring any kids I could because I loved it.
Cheers Erin
Scott and I are headed to SD over Labor Day for a wedding. Would you judge us if I printed out your for-kids list and used it for our own entertainment purposes? =)
If you’re considering Hard Rock, it’s my bet you’re someone that appreciates Four-Diamond services, as well as authentic experiences. Our location is one of the most coveted among downtown San Diego hotels, right at the entrance to the Gaslamp Quarter, and our design, amenities and vibe are infused with the passion and irreverence of Rock ‘n’ Roll. But it’s our Crew that truly differentiates Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. Whether you’re coming for business or pleasure, we look forward to welcoming you and providing you an experience that rocks
Hello Amy,
Great post! all those attractions are wonderful. San Diego is a great destination for a fun family vacation. There are lots of diverse and entertaining things to do all year round. At Fox Rent A Car Blog we also recommended those attractions as well as others. We like to share travel tips, hoping to inspire travelers and help them plan a fantastic trip with a busy schedule of great adventures.
Thanks again for sharing.
Hey !
I came across your blog by doing a google search on San Diego (btw, I just luv it! :p )
I’m in SD right now and seriously, this town is sick!!
It’s like you’re in paradise here: sun, beach, parties.. The good life to sum it up! Plus, I’m really lucky cause I live in an apartment complex where there’s a swimming-pool, a jacuzzi and a fitness center! To be honest, I first thought it was gonna be like impossible to live in such a complex cause I was like “ it’s gonna be too expensive, bla bla bla …“ But actually, even if you’re on a low budget, there still is a possiblilty to live in such a place ! Awesome, isn’t it ? :D
If you’re interested, you can check out the website http://www.sandiego-studenthousing.com. I found it on the Internet and seriously, it’s really worth a peek !
I hope it’s gonna be the same for you if you come to SD (and if it’s okay with you, we can also stay in touch to share our experiences). If you want to contact me, it’s dead easy : just search for Deborah on San Diego Student Housing fan page on Facebook. ;o)
San Diego Zoo was one of the bets educational trips I’ve ever taken with teens. It surprised me at first, but the collections were so extensive, and the docents were so informative, that it almost became a contest among the students to see who could winnow out the most obscure animals or animal facts. Student travel has become one of my favorite ways to teach and San Diego has plenty to offer!
Hi,
My husband and I are thinking of taking our kids to San Diego this October. We have two little girls (4 and 18 months). We don’t know where we should stay. Does anyone know a good family friendly and reasonable price?
Thank you
Hi Lan,
Hope it’s not too late for your trip planning. We stayed at Homewood Suites Liberty Station and we were very happy with it.
Here is my blog post about our stay: http://www.theqfamilyadventures.com/san-diego-with-kids-home-away-from-home-homewood-suites-liberty-station/