Family Fun in San Diego

Have a blast with your family this fall

San Diego offers everything families could want from a vacation destination. The coming of fall brings with it great kid-friendly promotions such as October Free Kids Days at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, and the option to visit all four of the major attractions that also include SeaWorld and LEGOLAND for a fantastic Fab Four rate. In addition to our attractions, be sure to check out the fun and educational offerings around the county that make San Diego a getaway spot perfect for the whole family.

Balboa Park

What could be better than an entertaining park where your kids can experience art, culture, and learn something new along the way? The largest urban cultural park in the United States, Balboa Park is often referred to as the "Smithsonian of the West." Its 1,200 lush acres are home to 85 cultural attractions, including 15 museums, eight gardens and the San Diego Zoo. The park features a massive array of interesting and fun activities for all ages including: The San Diego Air & Space Museum, The Balboa Park Carousel, The Balboa Park Miniature Railroad, the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater, the San Diego Automotive Museum, the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the San Diego Museum of Man, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, the San Diego Museum of Art, and the San Diego Natural History Museum.

The New Children’s Museum encourages children to think, play and create with innovative, hands-on art opportunities, classes and first-rate exhibitions designed by emerging and established contemporary artists. The museum ended the summer in the pillow room with Ziggy Marley for the final weekend of their first exhibition, childsplay, on September 7. The Museum will be closed until October 10, when it will re-open with their second exhibition, Animal Art, where kids will get a chance to think animal, play animal, and create animal.

San Diego Bay

No stay in San Diego is complete without a trip to the waterfront. San Diego Bay is bustling with activity, as it serves as the homeport for Navy ships, a large sportfishing fleet, thousands of pleasure craft, and an increasing number of cruise ships. Mission Bay, a 4,600-acre aquatic playground, is the largest facility of its kind in the world featuring separate, designated areas for sailing, power boating, fishing, swimming, and water skiing. The USS Midway Museum is a retired aircraft carrier that now serves as a fascinating interactive floating museum.The Maritime Museum of San Diego consists of several historic sailing vessels docked on San Diego Bay including old tall ships, passenger ferries, and even a Russian submarine.

The Beaches

Whether families wish to swim, surf, snorkel, play volleyball, or just lie in the sun, there’s a stretch of sand for everyone along San Diego’s 70 miles of coastline. Coronado Beach is an aquatic wonderland recognized annually by the Travel Channel as the best family beach in North America. La Jolla Shores is recognized as one of the most family-friendly beaches in San Diego County according to the Travel Channel.Ocean Beach, home to the Ocean Beach Pier and the popular Dog Beach. A three-mile boardwalk popular with inline skaters, skateboarders, runners, and bicyclists connects Pacific Beach and Mission Beach. Mission Beach is home to Belmont Park, featuring its vintage "Giant Dipper" roller coaster, "The Plunge" giant indoor swimming pool and amusement arcades.

History

San Diego boasts a rich heritage that comes alive at many monuments and historic sites located throughout the county. Be sure to see Cabrillo National Monument in Pt. Loma, Mission San Diego de Alcala in Mission Valley, Old Town State Historic Park, and the Gaslamp Quarter Downtown, during your stay in San Diego.

Source: Sandiego.org