15 Best Things to Do in San Diego With Kids

Sorry Hawaii and Mexico — we’re going to San Diego this year

It’s not just the birds that know the secret to surviving the drearier months in the Pacific Northwest: Every Puget Sound family knows it’s essential to head south to warmer climes in winter whenever you can. For most families I know, favorite havens include Hawaii and Mexico, where sunshine is guaranteed and family accommodations are plentiful. But I’m still surprised that for many Seattleites, San Diego doesn’t make the list of top destinations quite as often. I grew up in San Diego, so forgive me for my bias when I say that it comes by its nickname honestly: It really is “America’s Finest City.”

San Diego’s weather is reliably good, and the city offers a plethora of affordable entertainment, local culture and learning opportunities everywhere you turn. Airbnb options abound, and you can usually find great flight deals year-round.

So, forget Hawaii and Mexico! I’ve compiled a list of my top picks for family fun in my favorite city. Some are typical tourist spots worth mentioning, while others are more off the beaten path. All are sure to score you major vacay planning points with your crew.

First up: duh, the beach

Yaaas, beach!

Hitting the beaches should be your first order of business when you visit San Diego. Every popular beach in the city is known for something different, and frequent visitors and locals alike all have their favorites. Here are my top picks for families:

Silver Strand Beach

For lounging, swimming and sandcastle-building, this is the most kid-friendly beach in town. There’s plenty of parking (at least by beach lot standards) and the water temps and current are milder than those at other area beaches.

Belmont Park at Mission Beach

For a boardwalk feel and diversions, head to Mission Beach’s Belmont Park. If you’re a thrill-seeking crew, you can get a day pass for unlimited rides and attractions such as roller-coaster rides and carnival games; but I’d skip the passes and opt to splurge on bike rentals for a ride along the nearby bike path.

Glorietta Bay Park Beach on Coronado Island

For a slower-paced beach excursion, head to Glorietta Bay, a small cove just off the bay of Coronado Island affording gorgeous views of the city. You can rent boats or bikes, dine outdoors, shop, or stay and play on the beach or at the nearby playground. Certain areas of the beach have designated fire-pit areas for enjoying evening bonfires.

Next up: wild times

Go wild

San Diego Zoo

One of San Diego’s most popular attractions is the San Diego Zoo. And for good reason: Located in historic Balboa Park, this sprawling 100-acre park is unlike any other zoo in the world. With over 700,000 species of plants in its botanical gardens and habitats, the zoo is home to over 3,700 rare and endangered animals. It’s best to tackle the zoo like you would an amusement park: Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, patience and cash. While there, you can take a double-decker bus tour, watch a 3D movie at the on-site theater, stop in and play at one of three playgrounds, ride the train or the exhilarating aerial tram, and get up close and personal with so many unique animal experiences.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

San Diego Safari Park, a wildlife sanctuary located in nearby Escondido, California, is a satellite site of the San Diego Zoo. The 1,800-acre park is home to over 3,000 animals and offers several daily safari-like excursions, hands-on animal experiences and exhibits.

Both the zoo and safari park are owned and operated by the not-for-profit organization San Diego Zoo Global. This means that joint tickets are available for both experiences at a discounted rate, but be aware that there’s an estimated 50 minutes of driving time between the two destinations (in the most merciful of traffic). Still, both excursions are worth the splurge — maybe just plan not to tackle them on the same day.

Next up: play ball

Take them out to the ballgame

I may have a lot of pride about being a native San Diegan, but let’s be real: The Padres are rarely a top-ranked team. And that’s actually good news for tourists traveling on a budget: You can enjoy America’s favorite pastime in one of the coolest ballparks on the West Coast on the cheap. If you do, you won’t just have the pleasure of taking in the game. Petco Park, built in 2004, faces due north, treating fans to optimal views of San Diego Bay, the city skyline, Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo, depending on the direction your seats face.

The area surrounding the stadium boasts a pedestrian promenade with plenty of options for family-friendly brewpubs and restaurants. Grab a burrito or street tacos at local favorite taco shop Lolita’s, then stop by Padres’ Park at the Park, a kid-friendly, 2.7-acre lawn inside the gates where kids can picnic and play and parents can sample local craft beers at the nearby outdoor beer garden.

Instead of driving to the game, plan to take the city’s charming metro trolley. It’s accessible from most city neighborhoods and runs right into the back entrance of the stadium.

Next up: get to school

Get schooled

No kid likes to feel like school’s still in session while they’re on vacation, but sneakily dropping knowledge so my kids are still learning during family trips and school breaks is kind of my specialty. Because San Diego is the site of the first permanent Spanish settlement in California, it offers a wealth of rich history to discover. Most notably, a visit to San Diego’s Historic Old Town Park exposes kids to fascinating history that’s anything but textbook. When my family of six visits San Diego, it’s one of our favorite places to go: We love exploring the dozens of preserved buildings dating from the 1820s–1870s, souvenir shops and historic (but kid-friendly) museums and restaurants — all within its 1-mile radius.

The park hosts a series of live cultural events all year long. On Halloween, visitors can trick-or-treat in the park quad. On Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”), altars adorn shopfronts, and there is a variety of fun activities for families to celebrate the spirit(s!) of the holiday. During the religious novena Las Posadas, the park is decorated for the festival, which is celebrated with live music, piñatas and s’mores roasted over campfires. Even if there’s no formal event planned during your visit, it’s not unusual to happen upon a pop-up mariachi band or a jarabe tapatío (Mexican hat dance) in the park’s tree-lined quad.

Plus, if you’re looking for a place to load up on affordable souvenirs without venturing south of the border, Old Town is the place to go. Its bustling avenues are lined with shops vending brightly colored serapes, terra-cotta pottery, Mexican and Indigenous artisan products, and homemade Mexican delicacies, including homemade hot tortillas and tamales.

Next up: sail away

Sail away, sail away, sail away

San Diego is a maritime town, so expect a boatload of fun activities for the aspiring sailors (or pirates!) in your family to enjoy.

The USS Midway Museum

San Diego is home to one of the largest naval bases in the country. To get in the maritime spirit, you can watch naval jets soar over Coronado Beach, drive along the coast at North Island to see naval training sites in action, or visit the USS Midway Museum, a naval aircraft carrier docked on the harbor alongside Navy Pier just outside Seaport Village. Renovated in 2004 (and again in 2018), the USS Midway Museum serves as the largest and most visited naval warship museum in the country. Tours of the vessel include virtual-reality experiences, video games, short historical films and other digital exhibits sure to wow the kids.

The Coronado Ferry

One fun way to travel from downtown San Diego to explore and enjoy the many attractions of Coronado Island is via the Coronado Ferry. It’s a steep $14 for a round trip (kids 3 and younger free), but it takes just 15 minutes to get across the bay. You can dine on seafood, stroll through the street market and even pet parrots all along the port on the Seaport Village side. Stop in for a short ride on the historic village carousel, and then cruise across the bay to Coronado for an afternoon or evening of fun at Glorietta Bay.

San Diego Maritime Museum

For a lesser-known excursion, step aboard the Star of India, the oldest iron-hulled merchant ship in the world. She’s permanently moored in the San Diego Harbor as the site of the San Diego Maritime Museum. The vessel hosts outdoor movies, concerts and holiday celebrations for families throughout the year. Plus, they serve a pretty delish New England clam chowder on board.

Next up: splish splash

Make a splash

If you know anything about San Diego, it’s probably that one of its iconic attractions is SeaWorld. As a kid, my family visited the park often. But in recent years, SeaWorld has come under fire for its treatment of marine animals, particularly its resident orcas. Since learning more, I’ve made the decision not to go back, though the park has taken steps to add new rides and animal exhibits, as well as to promote its conservation and rescue efforts. The good news is, you don’t need Shamu to make a splash with your family. San Diego offers plenty of other ways to experience amazing coastal creatures.

The La Jolla Tide Pools

Especially if you’re visiting during winter months, you’ll want to head to the La Jolla Tide Pools. From December to March, the area’s tides are low, and a delightful array of marine life becomes viewable from exposed nooks and crannies along the cliffside.

Living Coast Discovery Center

One hidden gem local families love is Chula Vista’s Living Coast Discovery Center, an environmental education center that has an impressive offering of exhibits featuring marine and land birds and animals, walking tours and trails, hands-on animal encounters, a walk-in aviary and several observatory tanks where kids can peep sea turtles, sharks and other sea creatures in their natural habitat.

The Tijuana Estuary

Located along the international border between the United States and Mexico, the Tijuana Estuary is the largest coastal wetland in Southern California. Home to nearly 400 bird species and over 20 other sensitive and endangered species, the estuary offers 4 beautiful miles of hiking and horseback riding trails with stunning views. Kids can observe native plants and birds, as well as visit a Mexico–United States border monument. Stop off at the visitor center to grab a field guide to identify local species and get more information about site trails.

Iconic eats

No trip to California is complete without a grub stop at In-N-Out Burger. Order an off-menu “secret” item such as its Neapolitan milkshake or “Animal Style” fries to really savor a local’s experience. Or head to La Bella’s Pizza Garden for cheap, out-of-this-world pizza and arcade games.

Editor’s note: This article was first published in 2019 and has been updated for 2023.