San Diego is a playground for all ages. With endless activities and entertainment options available, it truly is the perfect place to call home. You and your family will never run out of new things to explore and do. Check out our favorite family friendly sites in San Diego to plan your next day of fun and adventure!
Step back in time at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (4002 Wallace Street)! Discover what life was like in early San Diego at this great park. The park focuses on life in the area between the periods of 1821 and 1872. Learn about how cultures converged between the Mexican communities in the area and the earliest American settlements. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park features museums, retail shops, and restaurants. Your children will love exploring the restored historic adobe buildings. There are also always amazing activities taking place throughout the park. Watch a blacksmith at work, listen to music, attend a special gathering, and so much more. Your family will have fun while learning about the history of our amazing city. The park is open daily from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.
San Diego is a stunning coastal city. Take advantage of the unique location by the ocean and spend the day with your family at Seaport Village (849 West Harbor Drive). This complex along the waterfront features 14 acres of unique shopping, dining, and entertainment options. It was designed to resemble a harbor of a century ago. There are over 50 stores and 17 restaurants for you and your family to try! Take a spin on the carousel or have your family’s portrait done by the caricature artist. There are also always Special Events occurring throughout the year for additional entertainment and family fun. Seaport Village is open daily from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm.
Spend a day with the animals at the San Diego Zoo (2920 Zoo Drive). The zoo is home to over 4,000 rare and endangered animals! It was the pioneering zoo in creating open-air natural habitat environments for the animals allowing a unique opportunity to witness how they would live out in the wild. Every continent is represented by animals in the park. Pretend like you and your family are traveling the world as you spend the day at the zoo. Travel from the Australian Outback to Panda Canyon. From there, go from Africa Rocks to the Northern Frontier. There truly are endless things to do at the zoo. Participate in an animal encounter, allowing you to get up close and personal with your favorite furry creature. Ride the mini train, see a show, or dine at one of the restaurants in the park. The San Diego Zoo is open daily with hours changing throughout the week. After you are done at the zoo, you and your family will love exploring all the other amazing facilities located right outside the zoo gates in Balboa Park.
Climb aboard one of America’s longest-serving aircraft carriers at the USS Midway Museum (910 North Harbor Drive). Imagine life as one of the 225,000 sailors who have served their country at sea on the Midway. Your entire family will never forget their day at this museum. Learn about the history of the aircraft carrier by listening to audio tour as narrated by actual Midway sailors. There are over 60 exhibits on the ship, including 29 restored aircrafts. For the truly adventurous, try out one of the two flight simulators. The museum is open daily from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. Click HERE for information on ticket prices.
Walk on the wild side at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido). This incredible park covers 1,800 acres and features incredible animal and plant life throughout. It is a truly unique zoo experience with its open-range enclosures. In these areas, including the Asian Savanna and African Plains, visitors go on a caravan or cart safari through the areas. This allows you to see animals exactly as they would behave in their native homes! There are so many adventures to be had at this park. Zip line over animal exhibits or try the challenging ropes course in the Nairobi Village. You and your family can even spend the night camping at the park on one of the special Roar & Snore Safaris! Every visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park will be an unforgettable experience! Click HERE for daily hours!
Have a day of thrills at Belmont Park (3146 Mission Boulevard). This historic amusement park is located directly on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Ride the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, a true San Diego landmark. This wooden rollercoaster is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. In addition to the coaster, there are tons of other great amusement rides to spin and flip you around all day, including the Tilt-A-Whirl, the Vertical Plunge, and the Liberty Carousel. Try your hand at surfing in the Wavehouse. If rides aren’t your thing, you and your family will love playing a round of mini golf or competing in lazer tag. Afterwards, dine on some delicious food from one of the 7 dining options in the park. Click HERE for information on the park and amusement ride hours.
Everyone’s favorite block toy is now an amusement park! Your children will love spending the day at Legoland California (1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad). With rides, character meet and greets, 4-D movies, and so much more, there is endless fun at this park. Spend all day exploring the themed areas of the park, from Pirate Shores and Imagination Zone to Lego Friends Heartlake City and Explorer Island. At the Sea Life Aquarium, you and your family can have up close encounters with incredible sea life, including sharks, octopi, and rays. This hands-on learning experience allows your children to learn all about life under the ocean waters. There are plenty of dining and shopping options located throughout the park. Your kids can also stock up on all their favorite Lego gear and trade Minifigures for new ones at the park! Hours vary per day so check out the website for more information.
For a truly unique art museum experience, bring your family to The New Children’s Museum (200 West Island Avenue). This innovative children’s museum brings art alive. It is a great educational experience that focuses on breeding creativity amongst the youth. Your children will love exploring their imaginations as they check out the interactive exhibitions created by contemporary artists. They can also try their hands at their own artwork! The museum features special artistic performances throughout the week as well. It will be a day at the museum unlike any other your family has ever experienced. Click HERE for all hours and admission information to plan your visit.