Taking a Trip to San Diego? Kids
Require More Planning

When visiting San Diego, kids need a little extra attention to make sure they're traveling in comfort. Plan in advance and not only will they be happy, but your trip will run more smoothly!

Here are a few tips we hope you'll find handy when planning your trip.

Whether you're traveling by plane or car, there are a few essentials you should have on hand to keep your kids busy, clean, and fed.

• For US citizens wanting to take a quick hop across the border to visit Mexico, you will need a passport to do so beginning June 2009. Please also read the State Department's Travel Advisory before going; crime is very high in Tijuana, as of this writing. Tijuana Travel
• Pack extras. Kids on holiday get dirty, fast. If you're going away for five days, pack ten shirts. Unless you have ready access to a washing machine and dryer, you'll be glad you did.
• Have each child bring his or her backpack to hold all the fun stuff, like games, cards, and books.
• Hand out surprises when the kids get bored. I always pack new coloring books, crayons, buy a new cheap game for their Nintendo, or book for an extra treat.
• Southern California is a pretty casual place to visit. Shorts, t-shirts, and sandals or flip flops are the dress code of choice for most San Diegans.
• If you are planning to attend a nicer restaurant consider khaki pants, a button down shirt and nice shoes for boys and a skirt or dress for girls.
• Bring a sweater or sweatshirt. San Diego boasts one of the most temperate climates around but nights can get cool, especially if you're near the beach. Read more about San Diego weather here.
• Don't forget sunscreen with a high SPF.
• Hats are a must. The sun shines continually in San Diego, so cover up your kids' precious skin with regular dousings of sunscreen and use a hat to cover up.
• Pack a swimsuit, but consider bringing two or more if you plan on swimming regularly during your trip.
• Use ziplock bags to organize items and pop dirty clothes into. I know, that's not the "green" way to do things, but seriously, ziplock bags are a lifesaver.
• Take enough diapers to get you where you need to go, then buy a small pack here for use during your trip. Not packing diapers saves a lot of packing space.
• Yes, you need snacks. Again, here's where the ziplock bags come in handy. A box of granola bars take up less space when not in the box. Little boxes of raisins, Capri Sun, jerky, and Goldfish crackers are always a hit.
• Get a San Diego vacation rental. Whenever we travel with our children, I always look at renting a condo or small house rather than bunking in at a hotel or motel. Vacation homes are usually less expensive per night, give you more space and many of the conveniences of home.

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