We got back from our trip to San Diego about a week ago and it was so fun going together as a family! Jared was horribly allergic to my parents dog, but she passed away a couple months ago so he was able to come visit for the first time since we got married.
We were in town for 5 days and we managed to make the perfect balance of playing and resting. There are so many fun and family friendly things to do in San Diego, so I thought I’d share our favorites with you!
Family Friendly Activities in San Diego
Moonlight Beach // Growing up in San Diego means I got to experience lots of the local beaches, but this is by far my favorite one for families! There’s a playground on the sand, a snack shack with very affordable meals, volleyball nets, and lots of beach for shell searching. There’s also a small hill of sand separating the tide from a large stretch of sand so if you don’t want to worry about high tide washing your stuff away you can camp out on the hill!
Sea World // We bought season passes several months ago because my kids love Sea World so much and we have definitely gotten our money’s worth out of them! We go at least once but sometimes 2 or 3 times per visit! We love Sea World because it’s very interactive for kids, while also being educational and having rides for both children and adult thrill seekers. It’s also rarely crowded so my kids can walk around and explore on their own!
Balboa Park // This is one of the most beautiful parks ever! It is absolutely huge and has sprawling grassy fields, lots of free museums, nurseries, lakes, ponds, tea gardens, walking trails, etc. It’s gorgeous, free, and the perfect place for children to run around for a day! It’s also a great spot for family pictures if you wanted to schedule a session during your vacation!
Uptown Jungle // We have gotten hooked on this indoor playground in Henderson, and we love that there are two locations in San Diego too! I like this indoor playground over others because it’s not just trampolines, there are things for kids of all ages to do, and it’s affordable. This is a great way to spend a rainy day or a June gloom day and can entertain my kids for hours on end!
Seagrove Park // This is a great place to spend some rest time! Del Mar beach is beautiful, but we like to go to Seagrove park just above the beach. It’s a giant grassy field and my kids have so much fun just running around for a couple hours! My favorite sandwich shop is close by, make sure you grab the Turkado sandwich from Board n’ Brew just up the road!
Some other great activities include visiting The Children’s Museum downtown, attending a Padres game at Petco Park, and taking a walk around Mission Bay! There are so many things to do in San Diego, we haven’t even explored half of the city yet! As for vacation tips, I suggest visiting in August or September if you want good beach weather, May and June are gray and gloomy. Enjoy!