If you’re considering a family vacation that’s full of sun, sand, and simply relaxing, you really need to add San Diego to your bucket list. I just returned from a weekend there with my family, and I can honestly say it’s a destination that really does have something for everyone.
From great zoos to great beaches and great eats everywhere, here’s how we packed 48 hours into America’s Finest City.
Where to Crash: Family-Friendly Places to Stay
If you’re trying to decide where to bed down in San Diego, there’s an accommodation to fit every attitude and budget. Whether you want to go luxury or you just want a relaxed location that won’t empty out your bank account, there are a ton of great spots to get some sleep after a crazy day of sightseeing.
High-End: Hotel del Coronado
Me and my friends were talking and said, let’s go all out and sleep over at Hotel del Coronado. It’s literally a world-famous oceanfront resort in San Diego. Seriously, it’s got it all–beautiful ocean views, glorious Victorian-era hotel, and just so much to do. They’ve got pools, a spa, and you walk directly out onto beautiful Coronado Beach, where you can relax and let the kids play in sandcastle-building mode or get some food on the beach.
The Coronado Island hotel is really close to downtown San Diego—like, it’s just a quick drive or a great little ferry ride. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring all that, just hanging out and taking in the views and all the great family offerings that the resort had to offer. They have family packages with all sorts of perks like complimentary breakfast and activities for the children. I especially loved renting the bikes and riding through Coronado Island—honestly, it’s just a really great family activity to explore all the sights!
Mid-Range: The Dana on Mission Bay
If you want an awesome bargain without compromising comfort, try The Dana on Mission Bay. This waterfront hotel has extremely comfortable rooms and is highly family-friendly, and it’s close enough to walk to Mission Bay Park and Mission Beach. Two pools are going to be a hoot for the little ones, and one even features a heater! Proximity to spots like SeaWorld San Diego or Belmont Park is a major bonus.
The hotel even offers a restaurant with a children’s menu, so dining is a cinch. We took a walk along the bay and watched the sun set each night, and the children completely adored all that fresh air. Truly an excellent combination of convenience, comfort, and affordable prices.
Budget: The Old Town Inn
If you want an easygoing place that won’t drain your pockets but still makes you feel rather luxurious, you have to try out The Old Town Inn. It’s really near Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, so you can frequent all the hip historic and cultural spots over there. The rooms themselves are comfy and cozy and they even give you some awesome freebies like complimentary breakfast and an outdoor pool!
The Old Town Inn is ideal for families who want to walk about and visit all the main places by foot or just take the city buses because it’s near main transit routes and loads of great restaurants. And you’ll be left with some cash to do more fun things and have a very relaxed and hassle-free stay.
Day 1: The adventure begins!
Morning: San Diego Zoo
We started out the weekend by visiting the San Diego Zoo, easily one of the most awesome zoos out there. It’s located in Balboa Park and contains more than 3,500 animals representing over 650 species. We arrived early so that we could beat the crowds and went first to see the panda exhibit, which the children completely adored. The zoo is fairly large and is almost too much at times, but taking the tour bus is an excellent way to see all the highlights without taking up an entire day of yours.
This zoo is actually awesome! It’s not all about animals — it’s all about good times strolling through various biomes, such as the totally awesome tropical rainforest or the relaxing desert atmosphere. My children thoroughly enjoyed themselves with the interactive displays, particularly that one where you get to touch some animals in the petting zoo. And if you go during summertime, be sure to pack some sunscreen because San Diego sun is rather strong, particularly in those areas of the zoo that aren’t enclosed.
Afternoon: Visiting Balboa Park
So after we visited the zoo, we just hung out in Balboa Park for a bit. It’s so much more than a zoo—there’s loads of museums, gardens, and neat cultural attractions. We visited the San Diego Museum of Art, and get this—kids are free and they have some really great family exhibits. The art was really cool, but the kids were way more stoked about the interactive art workshops in the museum.
The Botanical Building and Lily Pond is also a really nice place in Balboa Park. It’s really laid back and has great plant exhibits. You really need to visit the Spanish Village Art Center, where local artists sell their work in this lively and art-loving atmosphere. It’s an ideal place to get a small memento, and the children enjoyed watching the artists at work.
Evening: Having dinner at Old Town
For supper time, we traveled to Old Town San Diego, the place where California began it all. There’s so much history, hip stores, age-old structures, and some really good grub. We ate at Casa Guadalajara, this fantastic Mexican restaurant with a wonderful atmosphere and good eats. The mariachi ensemble really got everyone going, and the children enjoyed all the bright colors and tunes. If you need someplace to take your family for some authentic Mexican food, you’ve got to go here and see it for yourself!
Day 2: Sun, Sea and Sights
Morning: La Jolla Cove
We started day two out with a visit to La Jolla Cove, a super adorable little place famous for its tremendous water and relaxed sea lions. The children were completely stoked to see the sea lions just lounging on the rocks and frolicking in the waves. La Jolla also features some fantastic tide pools so be sure to wear some water shoes if you want to explore the beach.
And if you want to learn a little bit about things, you can pop into the Birch Aquarium, located just a short drive from the cove. The aquarium features marine life displays and some really fantastic interactive displays that the children will love.
Afternoon: Belmont Park
So after that afternoon, we went to Belmont Park, this really awesome old-fashioned amusement park located right near Mission Beach. They’ve got their classic Giant Dipper roller coaster, which dates all the way back to 1925, along with some more modern additions including a zip line, laser tag, and a ropes course. Truly, it’s the ideal place for families with children of any age.
We spent a few hours there and the children completely enjoyed their carnival rides, game stands, and snacking on old-fashioned goodies such as cotton candy and hot dogs. Then we took a walk on the beach and let the children play and expend some energy in the sand.
Evening: Sunset at Coronado Beach!
You can’t honestly say that you’ve been to San Diego if you’ve never watched a sun set over Coronado Beach. We arrived in late afternoon and allowed the little ones to play in the sand and splash about in the cold water. As the sun began to set, a brilliant pink and orange sky lit up and made for some terrific family photographs. After that, we strolled along Orange Avenue, browsed all the adorable little stores, and picked up a tasty treat at The Baked Bear for their legendary custom ice cream sandwiches. What a perfect end to our San Diego adventure!
Where to Eat: Family-Friendly Dining
San Diego’s full of great family-friendly restaurants you’ve got to try out. These are some of ours.
- Rubio’s Coastal Grill is really well-known for its fish tacos and casual atmosphere; it’s a great place to get a quick and delicious bite.
- Oscar’s Mexican Seafood is everyone favorite, offering up fresh seafood in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Ocean Beach is home to OB Surf Lodge and it features fantastic ocean views and a menu full of fresh local ingredients.
- Mabel’s Gone Fishing: Come try it out at Pacific Beach, ideal for that fantastic family dinner.
For dessert, don’t miss Extraordinary Desserts in Bankers Hill, offering decadent sweets in a beautiful setting.
Getting Around
San Diego is very laidback to get around in, depending on where you happen to be staying and what you want to do. Here’s the scoop on the best ways to get around for families.
Car Rental
Renting a car is really the best thing for family trips to San Diego. There are so many awesome places, such as Balboa Park, La Jolla, and Belmont Park, all over the place, so being able to get behind the wheel allows you to visit them whenever you please. And if you’re hanging out in areas such as Mission Bay or Coronado, being able to get around town to visit other things is really easy.
Just be warned that parking is going to be a complete hassle in areas that are heavily traveled like La Jolla or Balboa Park, so it is a good idea to plan ahead and determine in advance where you know you’re gonna be parking the car.
Public Transport
San Diego has a decent public transportation system with buses and the trolley. Hop on and ride the trolley if you want to hang out downtown or visit trendy areas like Old Town, Gaslamp Quarter, and Balboa Park – it’s very convenient and affordable. It’s also relatively dependable and you can catch it close to lots of tourist areas like Petco Park and Seaport Village.
The MTS Bus system is an alternative, but remember that buses go slower due to traffic so they’re ideal for shorter journeys.
Biking
San Diego is really great to ride a bike in, with all its fantastic coastal highway routes and areas like Coronado and Mission Beach. Plenty of hotels have bike rentals on tap, and then there’s services like Lime and Spin that enable you to take out a bike for an hour. What a great and environmentally friendly way to see the city, particularly if your children are big enough to ride in the park or along the beach.
Strolling
If you’re hanging out downtown, walking is literally one of the best things to do to scope things out. San Diego neighborhoods are very walkable and you can easily walk from one place to another like the Gaslamp Quarter and Seaport Village. And if you do want to visit Balboa Park and Old Town, don’t forget to wear walking shoes because there is so much to see on foot.
Ride-sharing (Uber, Lyft)
If you don’t feel like renting a car or using public transportation, you can just use ride-share apps such as Lyft and Uber when you’re in San Diego. They’re really convenient to use for short trips to spots like Coronado Island and La Jolla, and you don’t even need to worry about parking either. The fares vary based on traffic, but really, they’re relatively reasonable for short distances.
Ferries and water taxis
Hi! If you’re going to Coronado Island or downtown, you really ought to consider taking the San Diego Bay Ferry. Such a relaxing ride on the water! You see all these great shots of the harbor and city skyline as you go, and it’s a great way to get from downtown San Diego to Coronado Island. And don’t forget those water taxis buzzing up and down the bay—such a great activity for families to spend time together!
6 Tips for a Perfect San Diego Family Vacation
Plan for Those Hot Spots
San Diego gets extremely crowded, particularly during peak visitor season, so it makes sense to get your tickets to major theme spots like San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND in advance to avoid some hassle and avoid those long lines.
Be flexible
Having a relaxed plan is great and all that, but really, it’s so much better to just go with it. There are days when you might just want to relax at the beach or visit some local parks rather than following the plan.
Bring Layers
San Diego’s weather is generally mild, but temperatures can fluctuate, especially near the coast. Bring layers so you can easily adjust to changing temperatures throughout the day.
Keep snacks close at all times
You get it—whether hiking, hanging out at the zoo, or waiting in line, somehow all of a sudden children get completely starving for nothing. So keep snacks handy to stave off those meltdown moments and keep everyone energized.
Slap on some sunblock
The sun here in San Diego is strong even if it is cloudy out. Remember to apply that sunblock and don’t forget hats and sunglasses if you do end up staying out for a while.
See the freebies
San Diego offers a lot of cool things to see for nothing at all, such as visiting Balboa Park, strolling through Old Town, or even taking a walk along the Embarcadero. Families on a budget especially love going to these spots.
Final Thoughts
Our weekend in San Diego was completely awesome with good vibes and memories that will never be forgotten. The beaches are beautiful and the attractions are really fun so there’s definitely something for all families. Whether hanging out on the beach, visiting the animals at the zoo, or exploring the cool history in the city, there is always an activity going on.
One of the best things about San Diego is how easy it is to strike that ideal balance between having an amazing time and simply relaxing. There are so many family-friendly accommodations and activities to enjoy, you can easily create a trip that’s exactly right for your family’s style and interests.
Are you all into outdoor activities, exploring local culture, or simply searching for a delicious meal with a view of the ocean? San Diego’s got all the ingredients for a weekend the entire family will love and cherish. We simply can’t wait to go back!