Don’t look now, but the Big Dark is coming. The best antidote? Tickets to sunny San Diego.
San Diego is rarely too hot or cold and is renowned for year-round sunshine. Between LegoLand, the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, and the glorious beaches, there are a million kid-friendly things to do. You can plan a jam-packed itinerary or just as easily relax and swim in the ocean all week.
San Diego was made for family getaways. Here’s what we love in America’s Finest City:
La Jolla Shores. Photo by JiaYing Grygiel
Hit the beach
After seeing what San Diego has, Seattle beaches are ruined for me. Here, it’s either frigid Puget Sound or lakes that close on and off because of high bacteria levels. Eww.
The beaches in San Diego are pristine. It’s like being on a movie set: palm trees, white sand, frothy waves, with water that’s actually warm enough for swimming. Put La Jolla Shores (pronounced “la hoya”) on your itinerary. It’s a mile-long stretch of perfect lifeguarded beach — and has a big parking lot right there. Parents will appreciate this. Birch Aquarium is also by La Jolla Shores. Del Mar is another beautiful beach community just north of La Jolla Shores. It is quieter and slower-paced. In San Diego itself, head to Coronado Beach by the iconic Hotel Del Coronado.
LegoLand San Diego entrance. Photo by JiaYing Grygiel
Have a blast at Legoland
LegoLand is in Carlsbad, 30 minutes north of San Diego (okay, okay, an hour with traffic). Come if you’re a Lego fan and want a more chill day at an amusement park than Anaheim. LegoLand San Diego is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The park features impressive Lego builds, themed playgrounds, and hands-on building opportunities. The rides are tamer, so LegoLand is best for kids 12 and under. Bring Lego minifigures to trade with the employees and ask for free souvenir pop badges.
We love that LegoLand is a certified autism center. All the rides post sensory ratings, and an assisted access pass is available at guest services. Also, props to their first aid station, which has packets of Band-Aids and Neosporin ready to go.
Yun Chuan, one of two pandas at the San Diego Zoo. Photo courtesy San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Visiting animals
The San Diego Zoo is epic. Of the 3,500 species that live here, its biggest celebrities are a pair of giant pandas, newly arrived in August. The zoo is also famous for having the largest koala colony outside Australia. Take a narrated double-decker bus tour and a soaring gondola ride. Both are included with admission. The Zoo has a second campus, Safari Park, about 40 minutes north in Escondido. It was originally the home of the zoo’s successful California condor breeding program. There’s more walking here, more gorgeous botanical gardens, more room for the animals to roam — plus the nicest volunteers. The Africa tram, included with admission, is pretty wild.
Shark encounter underwater viewing tunnel at SeaWorld. Photo courtesy SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
SeaWorld is a moral conundrum for Pacific Northwest families. Our endangered Southern Resident orcas were captured in the ’60s and ’70s for marine parks, including SeaWorld. Today, SeaWorld San Diego holds eight orcas in captivity and offers orca shows throughout the day. It emphasizes its message of conservation and thrilling roller coaster rides.
The USS Midway is a decommissioned aircraft carrier docked at San Diego’s Navy Pier. Photo courtesy USS Midway Museum
Also in San Diego proper
Padres games at Petco Park are great for kids if you’re in town during baseball season. There’s even a baseball-themed playground that opened earlier this year. Games start at just $6.
The USS Midway is a decommissioned aircraft carrier docked at Navy Pier. It’s like a floating small city. You can tour the warren of rooms inside and explore historic aircraft on the flight deck. Friendly docents, most of them veterans, are posted everywhere.
The San Diego Zoo is home to the largest colony of koalas outside Australia. Photo courtesy San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
You could spend days in Balboa Park alone, home of the San Diego Zoo plus 18 museums in a lovely urban park setting. What do your kids like? Hands-on science? Art? Natural history? Air and space? There’s a museum for every interest.
Belmont Park. Photo courtesy San Diego Tourism Authority
Belmont Park is a cute beachfront amusement park with a roller coaster, zip line, and arcade. Enjoy a day of rides, swimming, and renting bikes to ride along the boardwalk.
Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa. Photo courtesy of the Westin
Where to stay
With kids, location is everything. We used the Hilton San Diego Bayfront as a home base because it checked off all the boxes: a pool, food on-site, and a quick drive to the city’s attractions. The hotel is across from Petco Park and an easy walk to restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter. From our room on the 24th floor, we could even watch the SeaWorld fireworks.
LegoLand is not a bad drive from San Diego, but many families stay at the impressively themed LegoLand hotels for the whole experience. Be prepared to shell out a small fortune for a small room. We stopped in the hotel lobby to check out the fun decor but skipped the pirate-themed sheets (and frankly, overstimulation).
Instead, we stayed at the Cassara Carlsbad, a super convenient 5-minute walk away. I highly recommend the spacious suite with a separate room for the kiddos. Bonus: Costco is across the street. The Westin and the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, sister properties on the north side of LegoLand, even have a secret private entrance to the park.
Getting around
It’s Southern California. You need a car.
Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park is free with a Pacific Science Center membership. Photo courtesy Fleet Science Center
Score a deal
Buy a Go pass or CityPass to hit the hotspots for a lot less money. The San Diego Zoo offers a discounted bundle ticket to the zoo, Safari Park and SeaWorld. Never pay full price for LegoLand tickets. They hand out coupons and discount codes like candy. Check the backs of little Lego packs, Lego stores, T-Mobile, AAA, Coca-Cola and more.
Leverage your Seattle memberships. The Fleet Science Center and San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park are free with a Pacific Science Center membership. The San Diego Museum of Art, also in Balboa Park, is free with a patron-level or higher Seattle Art Museum membership.
October is Kids Free Month, during which kids get free admission and discounts at many museums, hotels, and restaurants—including LegoLand and the San Diego Zoo.
Read more
Head to Palm Springs this winter for some fun in the desert sun
