Taking a Trip to San Diego? Kids
Will Love This Beach Town

Get ready for some fun with your San Diego kids. Because once your little ones are introduced to this fun beach city, they'll consider themselves "locals" and will never want to leave!

Even if you have just a few days, you and your family can enjoy a lot of what San Diego has to offer. It's a small enough city to get around easily, with many options in lodging and restaurants to fit any budget.

Check out the following itinerary for visiting San Diego. Let kids help with the planning, too, so everyone has some input.

Check out one of San Diego's theme parks today. Sea World San Diego is a fun option with its marine-themed shows and activities. Of course, Sea World is famous for Shamu, but there are also terrific hands-on exhibits like petting dolphins or visiting the tide pools that most kids will enjoy. Don't miss Shark Encounter for an up-close-and-personal look at these scary ocean dwellers.

You may also want to check out Legloland California, which is located just 30 minutes north of San Diego in Carlsbad. As the only Lego theme park in North America, this is a big draw for families all over. With rides, exhibits, and shows, there's lots to do here to keep you busy all day.

If you have bigger kids (tweens and beyond), I suggest you spend the day at Sea World. Legoland is fun, but definitely geared toward the younger set.

For your second day of visiting San Diego with kids, consider hanging out in the city, itself.

Balboa Park San Diego boasts fabulous museums and the world famous San Diego Zoo.

Big and little kids will love the Zoo; don't miss the panda bears and Children's Zoo, where kids can pet friendly animals. The Zoo is HUGE, so take advantage of the Sky Tram and bus tour to maximize your visit and rest your feet.

While the art museums at Balboa Park may not be a big draw for children, the Natural History Museum or Museum of Man have many exhibits perfect for curious kids.

Other Balboa Park highlights include the carousel, train ride, and Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre.

You came to San Diego for the beach, right?

No matter how you like your beaches, with over 70 miles of shoreline, San Diego has what you're looking for. If you want to relax on a walk along the coast, check out Mission Bay, a huge park fronting the bay, with acres of grass and several playgrounds to enjoy. There are some perfect places to wade in, too, so you can get your feet wet.

La Jolla is fun, where you can hang out and watch the sea lions at the Children's Pool, then explore the nearby tide pools for starfish and sea anemones.

We've got more San Diego beaches for you to discover, too!

Once your day at the beach ends, head over to Old Town, for some local history and the most delicious Mexican food around!

When visiting San Diego, kids and parents alike are sure to find a terrific variety of activities to keep them busy and entertained. It's a great place to spend some time!

Below, I've listed a few San Diego guidebooks I've found helpful for planning a trip here. Even locals may find one or two a great reference to have on hand for new ideas.

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