SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Are you taking a family vacation to California? We visited San Diego as part of our two-week California road trip and loved it. Here is my guide on the best things to do and how to enjoy San Diego with little kids.
At the time of our trip, our boys were aged 3.5 and 4 months old. We had 3 full days in San Diego and we managed to fit quite a lot in!
THINGS TO DO IN SAN DIEGO WITH LITTLE KIDS
LA JOLLA
I’m starting with La Jolla because it was our absolute favourite in San Diego. Everyone told me to go to San Diego Zoo (we didn’t because we are not massive zoo fans) but no one told me you can see unique wildlife up close at La Jolla absolutely FREE!
Walk along the waterfront and you’ll see seals, sea lions, pelicans and other wildlife along with amazing views. It’s important to remember that these are wild animals so be respectful and keep your distance.
There is a Children’s Pool, which is a fabulous little cove designed for children to play on the beach and splash in the water however seals do also swim in this water and use the shore so we decided just to observe from the top.
It was pretty chilly when we visited (early July morning), so it was not beach weather. My son loved climbing in the trees at Ellen Browning Scripps Park (just opposite La Jolla Point).
We also stopped for a drink and snack in one of the many eaterie options on Prospect Street.
There is free parking for up to 3 hours (you can move the car if you need longer or just pay to park.)
DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO
Finding playgrounds is essential for keeping kids entertained and burning some energy while you’re away. Waterfront Park did not disappoint! It also has a HUGE splash pad if you visit when the weather is good!
Walk along the marina and Harbour Drive. Kids will love looking at all the huge ships! If you have time visit the USS Midway Museum.
Try posing in front of Unconditional Surrender (the Sailor Kissing Statue). It was pretty busy so I just snapped a quick photo in between posers but it looked fun!
SEAPORT VILLAGE
Seaport Village is a beautiful little area.
Kids and adults will love exploring the pretty streets and looking at all the birds and ducks.
It’s also a great place to stop for food or a drink. TIP: The main food court (near the carousel) gets very crowded. Lines are long and it can be hard to find a table. Waiting in line is no fun for a toddler so I took the kids to watch the ducks while my husband waited. We found a bench with a great view to eat our delicious Mexican food! (We ordered from Margaritas Kitchen & Cantina).
CORONADO ISLAND
This is a fun little day trip from San Diego, it’s only a 30-minute drive across the Coronado Bridge. We only had half a day here but a full one would have been nice!
Parking is free but it was extremely hard to find a space. We ended up parking quite far away from the beach. There is an option to get a boat to the island, that would save a lot of time driving around!
We just chilled out here and played on the beach. It’s especially fun as planes from the Naval Air Station sometimes fly overhead!
ANNIE’S CANYON TRAIL
Our whole family LOVED walking this trail. Even though it was narrower and you had to climb more than I thought you would, I would definitely recommend it if you’re in San Diego!
The actual canyon is only 0.25 miles but the overall trail is about 2.5 miles. It is NOT stroller-friendly. Take a baby carrier or you might just want to piggyback toddlers some of the way.
Don’t be like me, wear appropriate clothing and footwear!
NORTH PARK
Find the “Greetings from Sad Diego” Mural. This is a super fun keepsake photo of your trip. Unfortunately, my baby was sleeping and my toddler was not keen to pose on this occasion.
Explore Balboa Park – we found this very disappointing. It was just a lot of hilly dry grass! However, photos of the Botanical Garden do look beautiful. (Unfortunately, it was closed for renovations at the time of our visit.)
Honestly, if you’re short on time, I would skip North Park!
BONUS: LEGOLAND
LEGOLAND is not actually in San Diego but it’s very close, roughly half an hour drive. We did a night in Carlsbad for two days at LEGOLAND but you could easily do it in a day trip.
That concludes my guide to San Diego with little kids, I hope it has helped you to plan your visit!
READ MY OTHER CALIFORNIA TRAVEL GUIDES HERE.
Happy Travelling,
