San Diego with Kids: Something for Everyone

It’s time to soak up that Southern California sun and explore San Diego with kids. This is always been perhaps our default vacation spot outside LA.

Balboa Park

Let’s start off with the largest park in San Diego, Balboa Park, which spans about 1,200 acres in total. That also makes it one of the largest in the country. While some of it is indeed a park, you’ll also find the Comic-Con Museum, a science museum, the San Diego Air and Space Museum, and the zoo. The place is huge and you could easily spend days here.

A park this large needs its own transportation system for those parking far away. And, frankly, we prefer to park far away given the hoard of people wanting to park close up. If you do park in a far-off parking lot, you’ll get to ride this tram, which the kids will enjoy. Might as well give them a free ride when you can.

Hours vary depending on the season:

Summer (May 1 – September 30): 9AM to 8PM daily
Fall/Winter (October 1 – April 30): 9AM to 6PM daily

Once you’re here, if your kids need to blow off some steam, head over to the numerous playgrounds. We found them well-maintained.

Kids can also check out the sun dial so that they can track the time themselves.

The varied structures kept them entertained. Getting a little tired of one spot? It’s simple enough to go check out something else to entertain them a bit more.

Beyond just the playgrounds, there are some nice paths through nature that offer a little respite from the normal hustle and bustle.

Fleet Science Center

Within the Balboa Park perimeter is the Fleet Science Center. While we didn’t yet get a chance to explore everything Balboa Park has to offer, we were most interested in this science museum. General admission is $24.95/adult and $19.95/child.

Once inside, there are plenty of neat exhibits for kids to enjoy, including some optical illusions to really get them thinking. One of the fun things to do as parents is watch as your kids figure things out on their own. Of course, sometimes they need help, but it offers up a great teaching moment.

There are two stories of exhibits here, giving plenty of opportunity for fun learning. Examples include learning about weight, morse code, and tesla coils. There’s also an area for toddlers in case you’re here with little ones.

The exhibits are very interactive and repeatable so that children can understand the implications of what they did. If we let him, Alex would have spent hours designing his own skate park or playing the games.

Up on the second floor is a giant ball pit where kids are encouraged to let loose and have fun. This was by far the part of the science museum they loved the most. It’s something that they yearn for even months after visiting.

San Diego Zoo

Also within the Balboa Park area is the legendary San Diego Zoo. The zoo is famous for its large collection of endangered animals and pandas. It also hosts many different animal preservation TV shows from Anival Planet or Discovery.

I have to admit that we haven’t been here in a while, in part because of the price. Regular admission is $76/adult and $66/child. That’s a bit much for visiting a zoo in our opinion. If you’re looking for a cheaper avenue to come to the San Diego Zoo, consider coming in October. Like clockwork, the zoo offers free admission for children with a paying adult. It might be a little more crowded at that time, but the savings is definitely welcome.

We like the guided bus tours, the SkyFari aerial tram, and the miniature train. Of these, only the miniature train has an added cost. At least if you’re paying a lot for admission, you can make up for it with some unique things to do at the zoo. Of course, everyone has that same thought, so you’ll want to get to the bus tour or the aerial tram early once it opens so you’re not stuck in a long line.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Between the regular zoo and the Safari Park, we generally prefer the Safari Park. It’s miles away from Balboa Park (in Escondido), east of Carlsbad. Don’t plan on visiting both the zoo and the Safari Park on the same day. Pricing is the same as the San Diego Zoo.

What makes this a more unique park to visit is the heavy emphasis on African animals (but there are kangaroos too). They offer a variety of safari rides that will get you up close and personal with the animals, but those cost additional money. Instead, we’ve always done the Africa Tram, which is included in the cost of the ticket, and still gets reasonably close. Be sure to do this as soon as it opens (30 minutes after park opening).

Be warned that it can get pretty hot here, especially during the summer.

Theme Parks

SeaWorld San Diego

There are a pair of theme parks to consider as well. First up is SeaWorld San Diego, a theme park we’ve been going to since we were young. We’ve offered up our thoughts on the park, which increasingly makes us question the direction it’s taking. Tickets normally cost a whopping $126.99/person, but no one pays full price. There is always a discount available for the taking. The best deal is if you know a veteran because the park occasionally offers them up to four free tickets.

The park tries to provide a variety of activities for everyone. There are the typical aquarium-like displays of aquatic life. Walk through the presentations, perhaps learn a thing or two about the animals, and potentially cool off from the heat.

SeaWorld San Diego also has an extensive play structure for kids. While not all areas are currently open, it’s still a fun challenge for kids to climb up the netting. If they’re not interested in doing that, there’s also a fun bouncing area underneath and a nice shaded area for infants.

The park has the animal shows, which arguably have drawn the most heat from animal activists. Let’s say that the shows now are less about entertainment and more about an attempt at education. It doesn’t quite fully work well in our opinion, but we understand the impetus for evolving.

Lastly, there are the rollercoasters. It would be great if they had more intermediate rides at the park, as they go pretty quickly from kiddie rides to these intense monsters. But, like we said, they’re trying to have something here for everyone.

Legoland California

Does a theme park in Carlsbad count as being in San Diego? We’d argue it’s close enough to the city (30 minutes) to count. In fact, it’s closer to San Diego Airport than the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is, and if we count that, then we should consider this as well. Tickets cost $129 each at the gate, but ordering them online can be significantly cheaper depending on the day. We’ve been here many times and separately shared our thoughts on it.

The theme park is intended for the younger crowd, which we would peg as under 10. Once they start getting to about age 9, kids will see the park as lacking. There are some more intense rides, like this wild mouse ride, but there are only so many times kids can ride it before wanting more.

As you might expect in a Lego-themed park, there are plenty of structures built entirely from Lego bricks. For adults, that might be the most entertaining thing aside from just seeing the joy in your kids’ eyes.

Seaport Village

Let’s take a moment to go back into the San Diego city center to Seaport Village. You might think of this as a cute seaside shopping and dining area, and you wouldn’t be wrong. If you’re tired of walking around Gaslamp and need a comforting break, this is not a bad place to come.

For one, catching a sunset here isn’t that bad at all. There are nice walks by the water and a grassy area for the kids to run around.

And you’ll find some lights up to entertain the kids if you stay past sunset. This isn’t a place to come as a destination on its own, but if your hotel is nearby (like the nice Manchester Grand Hyatt), it’s worth a walk.

Additionally, there are some tours that depart from Seaport Village, like this Seal Tour. We’ve done it a number of years ago when we were in our amphibious half-car/half-boat tour era of our lives. It’s a fun ride that will give views of the San Diego skyline from the water.

USS Midway Museum

Want to walk around on a real aircraft carrier? This historical battleship is not too long of a walk away from Seaport Village. Compared to other attractions in San Diego, this one isn’t quite as expensive at $39/adult and $26/child. Not exactly cheap but they do sell annual passes for a family of four for $180–in case you want to visit more than just once a year.

We have to admit that it’s been years since we’ve visited, and are due for a follow-up, but we recall being impressed by the self-guided tour. There are docent-led presentations to learn a little bit more about the history. For children who have an interest in naval warfare or history, this will come as a fun activity. It’s not something that’s action-packed, but it’ll still entertain them looking at how life was on the carrier.

The New Children’s Museum

Looking for something for the youngest children to entertain themselves? Another easy walk from Seaport Village is The New Children’s Museum. Tickets are $24/adult and $20/child.

We took Alex here when he was younger, and he enjoyed the many kid-focused activities found here. It’s best described as your typical big city children’s museum. Plenty of interactive exhibits, things that make noise, and ways for kids to use their energy. Our children have always been fond of children’s museums, and now that they’re growing out of them, it makes us reminisce a bit.

There are many rooms to visit while here, making this potentially a half-day type affair if your kids don’t want to leave. You won’t find much here for kids above age 6, but that’s par for the course at any children’s museum.

Batiquitos Lagoon

We’ll toss this one in at the end as an alternative. Have some extra time after visiting Legoland California and want to calm down a bit in Carlsbad? Consider checking out the Batiquitos Lagoon, which is right next to a country club and golf course. Thankfully, you don’t need to be a member to visit.

The lagoon is a nice change of scenery from everything else you’ll see in the area. There’s a very relaxing path that runs along the lagoon, and if you’re lucky you’ll also see some wildlife while out here. We’ve always thought of this as a relaxing place to stretch our legs, especially before a long car ride back to the Los Angeles area.

While you’re here, check out the nature center, which is packed with lots of taxidermy and facts about the area. They also have a small corner for kids to sit down and read some books or play with toys. Sometimes everyone needs a chance to bring out their inner Cub Scout and learn a thing or two about their ecosystem.

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