San Diego With Kids: 100 Best Things To Do (2026)

Hello! Welcome to the thoroughly researched Best 100 Things To Do in San Diego With Kids. We have lived in San Diego with our kids for five years. This post is the result of countless hours of exploring and only the coolest spots have made this list!

Whether you are visiting, moving to San Diego (welcome!), or have lived in San Diego all your life, these are the things you need to make sure you do before you leave America’s finest city. There are the top attractions loved by locals and tourists alike (San Diego Zoo and LEGOLAND anyone?) and many hidden gems that make great outings for families. 

I’ve broken everything into categories to help with organization. I’ll start with the top things you should absolutely do before leaving San Diego especially if you’re a tourist and then move on to some other hidden gems.

Have fun and make sure to check out my Instagram @sandiego.mamas for all the most updated information on what’s going on in San Diego for families! Oh, I also have a community events calendar if you’re looking to find some local family events.

And now, the giant list!

Best Things To Do in San Diego With Kids

1. Balboa Park
2. The San Diego Zoo
3. Petco Park Padres Stadium
4. Sea Lions in La Jolla
5. Old Town San Diego
6. La Jolla Shores Beach
7. Coronado Island and Hotel Del Coronado
8. LEGOLAND
9. Torrey Pines
10. The USS Midway

Best Theme Parks for families in San Diego

1. The San Diego Zoo
2. The San Diego Safari Park
3. LEGOLAND
4. Belmont Park
5. SeaWorld San Diego
6. Disneyland (not technically San Diego but close!)

Best Museums for kids in San Diego

1. Birch Aquarium
2. The New Children’s Museum
3. The Fleet Science Center
4. The Air & Space Museum
5. San Diego Model Railroad Museum
6. The Maritime Museum
7. Children’s Museum of Discovery Escondido
8. San Diego Natural History Museum
9. Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
10. Museum of Illusions

Best Parks in San Diego

1. Waterfront Park
2. Bonita Cove / Martina Garner Park
3. Mast Park Santee
4. Lake Poway Park
5. Civita Park
6. San Dieguito Park
7. Olympus Park Encinitas
8. Children’s Park in Downtown San Diego
9. Kit Carson Park Escondido
10. Civita Park Mission Valley

Best San Diego Beaches for a Beach Day (With Playgrounds!)

1. Powerhouse Park Del Mar
2. La Jolla Shores
3. Fletcher Cove Solana Beach
4. Moonlight State Beach
5. Oceanside Pier

Best Spots for Tidepooling in San Diego

1. Tide Pools at Cabrillo National Monument Point Loma
2. Bird Rock La Jolla
3. La Jolla Tidepools
4. Sunset Cliffs Beach
5. Swami’s Beach

Best Biking / Scootering Spots for Kids in San Diego

1. PHR Pump Track Carmel Valley
2. Coastal Rail Trail Encinitas
3. Bradley Bike Park
4. Liberty Station No Car Bridge
5. Pacific Beach path near Crystal Pier

Best Libraries to Visit With Kids in San Diego

1. Central Library Downtown San Diego
2. Point Loma Branch Library
3. Pacific Highlands Ranch Library
4. Scripps Miramar Library
5. The Escondido Library

Best Indoor Play Areas in San Diego

1. Air Track Park Mira Mesa
2. Squarena Del Mar
3. Kids and Coffee Carlsbad
4. The Plunge
5. Get Air Poway

Best Malls and Shopping Areas With Kids in San Diego

1. Westfield UTC La Jolla
2. Seaport Village
3. Liberty Station
4. Del Mar Highlands
5. North County Mall Escondido

Best Hikes To Do With Kids in San Diego

1. Torrey Pines State Reserve
2. Potato Chip Rock
3. Lake Hodges
4. Annie’s Slot Canyon Hike
5. Elfin Forest

Best Kid-Friendly Hidden Gems in San Diego

1. Queen Califia’s Garden
2. Penny Picklebottom Children’s Museum
3. Human Claw Machine Escondido and Carlsbad
4. Old Poway Train and Farmer’s Market
5. Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave Store
6. Walter Anderson Poway Train Display
7. Del Mar Bird Rescue
8. EcoVivarium Escondido
9. Grange Garden Bunny Cafe Solana Beach
10. Torrey Pines Gliderport

Best Gardens To Visit With Kids in San Diego

1. The Carlsbad Flower Fields
2. San Diego Botanic Garden Encinitas
3. The Water Conservation Garden
4. City Farmer’s Nursery
5. Japanese Friendship Gardens

Best Farms To Visit With Kids in San Diego

1. Bate’s Nut Farm Valley Center
2. Fort Cross Outdoor Adventures Wynola
3. Kenny’s Strawberry Farm
4. Happy Hens Farm Ramona
5. Oma’s Family Farm

Favorite Kid-Friendly Restaurants in San Diego

1. Corvette Diner
2. Flower Child at Flower Hill Promenade
3. Barra Barra Saloon Old Town San Diego
4. Panama 66 in Balboa Park
5. Kaminsky’s BBQ in Poway

Best Things To Do in San Diego With Kids

For this first category, I have gathered my top 10 choices I would send visitors to do if if was their first time in San Diego. If you live here, you absolutely must do these things (but most likely you already have!).

Balboa Park

For those who haven’t ever been to San Diego, Balboa Park is like Central Park in New York City. It has most of our museums and our world famous zoo. It’s our hub for fun events, gatherings, picnics and more. Basically it’s where San Diegans go to play. Even if you are not going to a museum or the zoo, it’s worth a wander. The architecture is very unique, as most of the buildings were created for The World’s Fair in 1912!

Balboa Park is conveniently serviced by a green parking tram. It is 100% free and my kids actually prefer the green tram ride to the museums. It’s a great way to get your bearings when you arrive in Balboa Park. I like to park at Inspiration Point (the furthest lot) and get on there. There is a map on the roof of the tram if you get lost! 

If you are planning on exploring the museums, check out The Balboa Park Explorer Pass. They have options for residents and for visitors. For visitors, the pass that lasts 7 days is great! They also have one that is good for four attractions. For residents, I highly recommend the family annual pass. At $229 for six people for a year, it’s a great deal! Note that this pass does NOT cover The San Diego Zoo. 

I will go into some of the museums in more detail and the zoo later on, but here are some of my favorite hidden gems in Balboa Park! 

Favorite Balboa Park Hidden Gems

The Moreton Bay Fig Tree: This tree outside of The Natural History Museum is more than 100 years old! It’s fun to check out the giant roots.

The Spanish Village: Also near The Natural History Museum, we love wandering the colorful tiles and seeing artists at work. Search for the gem store, they will give kids a free sample gem with any purchase!

Balboa Park Carousel: This carousel is from 1910 and is weirdly fast. It’s one of the only carousels that still has a brass ring game! There’s another ride near here as well, it’s not as cool but still fun for kids. This is over by the zoo parking lot but is NOT part of the zoo, so you don’t need admission to ride.

Balboa Park Miniature Railroad: The train is a favorite in our family. At only $4/ride it’s a great deal! It’s pretty fast and takes you over by the carousel and back to the zoo. Ages 5 and under are free.

Panama 66 Sculpture Garden: If you don’t think your kids can last through an art museum, this is your spot. It’s right next to a restaurant and is enclosed so it’s a safe space to run around. The restaurant is pretty good as well and serves kid-friendly food.

Spreckels Organ Pavillion: This place lights up for December Nights (first weekend in Decemeber all the museums in Balboa Park are free, but it’s so crowded that locals avoid it!). On its off times it’s a great place to run the kids!

Playground behind The Fleet Science Center: Easy playground for the kids to get out energy between museums. 

Inez Garten Memorial Rose Garden: HUGE rose garden, also near The Fleet Science Center. You will find roses you have never seen before anywhere else and it’s free! Blooms April through end of summer, peak bloom in May.

Cactus Garden: Near the rose garden, my kids liked this more. You will find rare cacti here year round. 

The San Diego Zoo

One of the main draws for San Diego is The San Diego Zoo! Most locals proudly hold zoo passes. Of note: This is the same company as The San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido. However Escondido is not in Balboa Park. It’s about 30 minutes north. You will need separate tickets to both and do NOT try to do them on the same day. Annual passes cover both zoos. They are equally amazing, though the animals are closer together and there are more varieties at The Balboa Park Zoo. 

If you’re wondering if The San Diego Zoo is worth the hype, it is. With 3500 animals representing 650 species, this zoo has the most variety of any zoo in North America!

Here are our tried and tested San Diego Zoo strategies:

If you can, get there when the zoo opens. You’ll encounter less crowds at this time. The animals are most active in the mornings especially on hot days. Parking is always free here!

If the bus is running, go there first. It’s a large double-decker bus that takes you past all the animals. Riding early in the morning will take you by the animals when they are the most awake and active! This ride is like seeing the whole zoo in 30 minutes (take toddlers to the bathroom first!). Make sure to sit on the RIGHT side of the bus to get the best view. 

After you’re done with your bus ride you will have a pretty good idea of which animals the kids are most excited about so go see those first. Here’s how I like to do zoos: we never try to see ALL the animals. Instead, we choose a couple and allow the kids to spend as much time as they want observing each one until it’s time to leave. This conserves energy, allows for less rushing/stress, and ensures that we always have a reason to return.

The pandas are new, they just arrived at the end of 2024. They are on loan from China! Currently you need a reservation to see them. Scan the QR code on the posters as soon as you enter the zoo. I hear the standby line isn’t too bad these days, but it will get more crowded in the summer. 

Adventure Basecamp

One of our favorite parts of the zoo is Adventure Basecamp. This is the brand new Children’s Zoo that opened just a few years ago! There are playgrounds, bug exhibits, a butterfly experience AND a huge splash pad. My one beef with this place is the play areas are throughout the Adventure Basecamp area. Meaning you have to follow your kid so you don’t lose them. Next time parents want ONE exit and entrance to the playground please!

Do not miss the indoor experiences with rare bugs right at kid-level. There have been a few days where we spent our entire day in Adventure Basecamp and didn’t bother with the rest of the zoo. 

Bring a towel and swimsuit for the splash pad or just let your kids go in their clothes and hope they don’t complain the rest of the day. There are clothes driers and the showers are WARM. When my kids discovered that they spent their time in the shower instead of at the cold water splash pad. 

Another strategy we use is wandering into the zoo and then using the Skyfari to get out. Make sure to visit the polar bears first which are near the Skyfari entrance! This is a slightly terrifying gondola ride that takes you over all the animal enclosures and gives you a view of Balboa Park. They do not allow double strollers or jogging strollers, so you’ll need to park those and either come back for them or ride the gondola back up and walk down.

Petco Park Padres Stadium

Going to a baseball game at Petco Park is one of the best San Diego experiences! I recommend it for visitors and local families as the stadium is fun for the whole family. They’ve made great efforts to make it family-friendly and keep their smallest Padres fans in mind. It’s the best way to introduce your kids to baseball.

We love seeing The San Diego Padres games from the first pitch to the bottom of the ninth inning! With lots of playground breaks in between. The stadium food is amazing and I am always finding new favorites. 

Here is my full blog post on enjoying a Padres game with kids. Fixthis

Seals in La Jolla

These San Diego Mamas have their pupping season from Dec-May! This is is one of those perfectly San Diego experiences that is fun every time you visit! You can park near the lifeguard stand near 834 Coast Blvd.

Here’s the story: in 1931 one of my favorite San Diegans Mary Browning Scripps (look her up; she’s cool) donated money to build a concrete breakwater. The intention was to create a gentle entry water area for kids to swim. In 1990 seals started to come to the protected area to have their pups. Now The Children’s Pool Beach belongs to seal children not human children.

Nobody is allowed on the beach during seal pupping season from Dec 15-May 15 to allow time for birthing, nursing, and weaning. However you can walk out on the concrete breakwater which gives a great view of the baby seals. For the tourists: I personally would not swim here in the summer even if it is open for swimming. I have just seen too much seal poop to make it worth it. 

Where to Park

Parking: there’s a small lot right next to The Children’s Pool and street parking. Both are free. People come and go quickly so be patient and you’ll find a close spot! There are tons of bathrooms right next to the viewing area. I’d be willing to take a potty training kid here because you can see the seals and supervise a potty trip simultaneously. When we went they had docents there to answer questions (my kids had a lot).

Explore Old Town San Diego / Old Town Trolley Tours

This open air museum celebrating San Diego’s roots is so much fun! There are a few parking lots to choose from. We usually park at Lot C on Twigg Street. The Mormon Battalion has a free parking lot and you can stop in there before seeing the rest of the sights.  They have free gold panning and a free interactive museum (also free, open every day until 7 pm).

Some of our favorite things to do here include: finding the dancers in the plaza near the rock store, running free on the grassy area, candle dipping at the candle store, visiting the old fashioned candy store and admiring all the cool historic buildings. Our kids enjoyed playing in the covered wagon and touching all the rocks in the Miner’s Store.

If you’re a shopper, you will find tons of Mexican-inspired trinkets to take home with you. You can’t leave without eating some Mexican food at Barra Barra. Kids eat free with a paying adult here!

Other things to do in Old Town

At the end of January every year, the Mormon Battalion Museum put on a fabulous free Pioneer Festival with live music and tons of games for the kids. 

Old Town Trolley Tours takes off from here. This is a great way to see a lot of San Diego sights quickly. It’s narrated and you can get on and off as you please. Free for locals for two weeks in January. You can also take advantage of the Hometown Deal where one local rides free with a paying tourist. I will say it’s very hard to manage a kid with a small bladder on this tour. The stops are too quick to use the bathroom and it’s 20 minutes between busses. No bathroom on board. 

La Jolla Shores Beach

This beach is a family favorite and if you visit it you will see why! The beach has a gentle sandy entry which is great for small kids. There’s a HUGE free parking lot. It is crowded on a warm Saturday afternoon. However, the parking lot is so big that many people are coming and going, making it easy to find parking.

I loved the modern lifeguard tower and that they spend time advising swimmers about potential rip currents via loudspeaker. The lifeguards also keep the surfers and boogie boarders separate from the swimmers and enforce it if anyone floats to the wrong area.

This is a decent beginner surfing beach. This is where we’ve take our friends or family to try surfing for the first time. There are waves for everyone and a sandy bottom should you wipe out!

There is also a cute lifeguard-themed playground. The bathrooms are right next to the playground. There’s a kid-level fish-identifying exhibit by the bathrooms that kids love looking at. 

Explore Hotel Del Coronado and Coronado Island

I have a blog post devoted to exploring Coronado. Link here!

Coronado is a resort city located on an island near downtown San Diego accessed via the Coronado Bridge. It’s famous for its historic red roofed hotel and its naval base. I’ve always loved the small town neighborhood vibe here and all the cute craftsman houses! Here’s what to do on a Coronado adventure day:

Park on Orange Avenue near Panera Bread. They are pretty nice about letting you use their bathrooms and they are nice and clean. 

Explore the shops on Orange. Our favorites were Fuzziwig’s Candy Shop for their caramel apples and Seaside Papery for all their cool designs and posters.

Other fun things to do include: running around the open air courtyard in Hotel Del Coronado (another good bathroom here!) and walking down to the beach to put your feet in the water and see the iconic view of the hotel!

Our favorite place to eat here is Village Pizzeria because it’s delicious, affordable and family friendly. Other contenders are Henry’s, Peohe’s, Tartine, Lobster West, and McP’s Irish Pub. 

Before we get in the car we like to run the kids at Spreckel’s Park also on Orange Avenue. If you’re here at the holidays, you’re in for a treat. They have the best Christmas lights in San Diego!

LEGOLAND California

Here is everything I have written on LEGOLAND including discount ticket options!

LEGOLAND Park is the best amusement park in San Diego. Here is why Legoland is awesome: It’s less focused on the rides and more on the creative play stations and stuff built out of Legos. Yes, there ARE rides, but what other theme park will your kid happily spend most of the time in creative play? 

LEGOLAND California opened in 1999 (I went the year it opened at 8 years old!). It was the first LEGOLAND in the United States. It used to be just Miniland (the huge collection of LEGO models) and a few fun rides. It’s since expanded to include more rides, a movie theater, and now a water park and aquarium. The LEGOLAND team is constantly expanding, adding more lands, amazing LEGOLAND hotels, LEGO friends, interactive LEGO features, more rides, and more playgrounds.

LEGOLAND California Resort is located in Carlsbad, just north of San Diego and about an hour south of Orange County. It’s close to the ocean so it rarely gets too hot or cold.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

This is the most beautiful hike in San Diego. It’s also the most expensive at $20 to park (fee waived with a CA State Parks Pass). Park in the upper parking lot. You’ll drive past the gate and up the hill. 

We like the Razor Point Trail. It was 1.3 mi out and back so very doable even if you have to carry your kids part of the way. The terrain is too rough for a stroller. If you wanted to go further, there are multiple paths down to the beach!

The USS Midway Museum

I highly recommend taking kids to this aircraft carrier turned museum. Here’s what you need to know when visiting with kids: Kids under 5 are free! There is an audio guide specifically for children. It was a big hit with our kids. This is a touch-everything museum meaning kids can sit in the control chairs and press all the buttons to their heart’s content.

All boat exits to the water are very well covered by thick glass and secure fences. My husband said I was nuts for even thinking about this, but I was legit nervous one of my crazy kids would fall off the boat, so these are the things I look for now.

There are elevators for strollers but you will have to park your stroller to explore the tunnels of the ships. There is an attendant to watch it.

Our favorite room was the miniature helicopter room with small-scale helicopter models right at toddler level. We had a few incidents where one child tried to break free and run back to that room. We also loved the anchor room where our kids had tons of fun climbing on the giant anchor chains. The docents were very kind and answered my children’s very specific questions about plane machinery. We spent two hours there but we could have easily spent three. 

Best Theme Parks in San Diego With Kids

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

The San Diego Safari Park is a special place! This is different than the Balboa Park Zoo. Do not try to do them on the same day, it’s too much. Annual passes cover both or you can get a day ticket to each. Both have all the big zoo animals (elephant, tiger, lion etc) but they have a different variety of animal types and many endangered animals you won’t see anywhere else! They are not next to each other. The Safari Park is in Escondido while The San Diego Zoo is in Balboa Park.

Why We Love The Safari Park

The Safari Park has MUCH bigger habitats for their animals. As such, it’s a lot of walking and very hilly. Bring the stroller, wear good shoes. The star of The Safari Park is the Africa Tram. It’s a tram that takes you THROUGH the animal enclosures. You’ll get to see tons of animals (giraffes, rhinos, zebras) in their natural environment with a narrated tram tour. It takes about 30 minutes total, so take kids to the bathroom ahead of time. 

The Africa Tram is included with admission. You can also book special tours that cost extra and take you closer to the animals. IMO the free tram ride is sufficient unless you have money to burn. 

Other hidden gems in The Safari Park: the platypus, the bonsai garden (up near the condors), the tiger trail playground and the playground by the gorillas, and the sand cat (cutest animal there!). 

Sesame Place Water Park

Sesame Place is a waterpark with some rides and splash pads. Tickets are about $80/day. Passes are ~$130. You can also tack a membership onto an existing SeaWorld membership for less as they are owned by the same company.

You (the adult) are going to want your swimsuit. Flip-flops are fine instead of tennis shoes; it’s not that big. They’ve basically slapped a Sesame Street overlay on a lot of the Aquatica (water park that used to be here) rides meaning there are big waterslides for older kids too! 

Life jacket rentals are free. Some rides require life jackets for kids of certain heights. You can also bring your own floatie but it MUST be marine-approved. They check to make sure at security.

Food is subpar and overpriced ($16 for a mediocre hamburger). Bring snacks in for the kids and go eat somewhere else after. 

The character meet and greets were great! Don’t miss Elmo in the room near the merry-go-round at the entrance. I recommend starting with the dry rides (they are all little kid carnival-type rides) and then changing everyone into swimsuits.

Belmont Park

Belmont Park is such a fun seaside amusement park! San Diego is known for world-class theme parks, however, my family loves this one because it is always more chill and less expensive than the nearby SeaWorld, especially on school breaks. It’s less crowded than the other theme parks and more budget-friendly as it is free to enter. You have the option to pay per ride or get their unlimited wristband for $60 for adults or $55 for kids.

The wristband covers not only the rides but a large ropes course, laser tag, ziplining and a whole host of other fun activities. You can easily spend a whole day here. Pair it with a visit to the nearby Bonita Cove Park and a sunset on the beach!

SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld is wonderful because it works for a range of ages. Older kids will love the giant roller coasters. Younger kids will love the Rescue Jr area. All ages will love the animal shows and learning more about animals!

Our favorite area for kids here is the brand new Rescue Jr. area to the right of the entrance. They have some playgrounds and cute shows and kid rides! We also love the feeder fish at the front and the manta ray touch tank by the manta roller coaster.

There’s also the option for additional amazing animal encounters. We got to meet a beluga whale named Klondike. It was unforgettable for the kids. This is an extra charge but it’s great for a special day for the kids!

During December they have their cute Christmas celebration and it’s free for annual passholders!

Disneyland

While not technically in San Diego, it’s just an hour north of us. A mere day trip to The Happiest (and most crowded) place on Earth. I happen to have a Disney problem and we visit regularly. I update this Disney guide every time I go so check it out if you need a Disney update before visiting!

Best Museums in San Diego With Kids

Birch Aquarium

This sweet little aquarium is high up on the cliffs above La Jolla. The aquarium isn’t huge, so it’s easy to see everything here in a few hours. You enter in the middle of the aquarium. There are two halls displaying fish on either side. Walk directly through the entry and you’ll reach the touch pool. The lunch area, leopard sharks, and seahorse exhibit are to the left: turtles, jellies, and kelp forest to the right. 

The touch pool at the back of the aquarium overlooks the rolling waves of La Jolla Shores. We loved touching the stingray here! The shark tank is at the end of the aquarium outside. The tank is raised so you can see the sharks super clearly. My kids were mesmerized watching the leopard sharks swim about! This is also a good place for lunch.

Make sure you spend some time enjoying the view over La Jolla. All the fences are glass so it’s easy to find a spot to sit and soak it all in. If you have time, at the end of the parking lot there is a small hike that leads to a secret swing that overlooks La Jolla. The last I checked it was down for maintenance but it’s always worth a look to see if it’s up!

The New Children’s Museum Downtown San Diego

You will love visiting The New Children’s Museum! Nestled in the heart of downtown San Diego, it’s a place that everybody who comes to the area loves. It has a unique blend of experiences that combine art, play, and just being a kid and moving their bodies! They also offer many fun events throughout the year. The downtown location allows for lots of opportunities to expand on the outing before or after visiting.

They also just opened a brand new fenced park next door! I wrote a whole blog on visiting and where to park, that’s here: 10 Things To Know Before Visiting The New Children’s Museum in Downtown San Diego

The Fleet Science Center

This science museum is a favorite in our family! We love Kid City upstairs, their new Survival exhibit, and their IMAX theater. There’s a push-button science area where you can touch a tornado or experiment with electricity! Don’t forget to make it back to Studio X where they have different science experiments for kids almost every day of the week. 

The Air & Space Museum

We loved this museum! It’s a history of air and space in San Diego and they have a whole new space travel exhibit. The boys loved sitting in the helicopters and getting up close and personal with the planes. My kids LOVED the exhibit where you can design and fly your own plane! 0/10 for the scary animatronic right as you go in though. It’s right next to the automotive museum if you’d like to make a day out of it!

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

We loved this sweet little museum in Balboa Park. There are a ton of train displays for kids with elevated areas for them to stand. At the end, there are model train enthusiasts who set up a huge village that changes with each season. 

Don’t miss the big cable car you can sit in out front. This museum was big enough to spend an hour or two exploring, yet small enough that I wasn’t nervous about losing anyone. It’s really close to the Fleet Science Center and Plaza Panama. It’s actually in the basement of a building, so it’s easy to miss.

The Maritime Museum

Tour old ships including The Star of India on this floating museum in Downtown San Diego! Don’t miss the B-39 Submarine, the HMS Surprise (used for filming Master and Commander!), and the San Salvador! You can climb all around the ships, touch everything, and even use the periscope in the submarine. I would expect to spend 2 plus hours there, more if you have a kid who is into boats. There are options for add-on pirate boat rides too!

This museum is next to one of our favorite parks, Waterfront Park. They make a great combo visit. The park has excellent views of the boats. In the warmer months, the park has a splash pad. You can use the same parking spot for both! It’s easy to find metered street parking. 

Children’s Museum of Discovery Escondido

Children’s Discovery Museum in Escondido is a hidden gem. It’s amazing for babies, crawlers, toddlers, preschoolers, early elementary school-age kids, AND parents. It offers space for children to play and learn yet it’s small enough that it’s easy to supervise your children as they explore freely. I love that I can interact with my children as they learn through OR sit back and chat with a friend as we both observe our kids.

I have a whole post about this museum including info on parking, see that here: 7 Tips for Visiting The San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum in Escondido

San Diego Natural History Museum

The NAT is amazing! They have a great area for kids in the back on the first floor. We also liked the huge topographical map of San Diego. On the second level, you’ll find dinosaurs, whales, and other exhibits. I liked the gem exhibit the best!

Don’t forget to visit the live animal exhibit at the back. They have all sorts of spiders, snakes, and creepy crawlies that kids love looking at.

Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum

You’ve gotta check out this tractor museum in Vista! There are TONS of tractors here and your kids can sit on any of them. We barely made it 10 feet into the museum before my kids glued themselves to a tractor and refused to get off. The museum is outdoor and the tractors are dusty. Wear close toed shoes and long pants.

They also have a one room schoolhouse, model railroad, and a display of old cars. There’s a cute play structure in the middle of the tractors with a covered picnic bench great for eating lunch. I didn’t see anywhere selling food so bring your own lunch.

We saw exactly one other kid here the entire three hours we were here. It cost $2 for all of us to get in. Kids are free and I guess adult admission is only $2! Address is 2040 N Santa Fe Avenue in Vista.

Gillepsie Field Air and Space Museum

This museum is part of The Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. My kids (2 and 5) enjoyed this museum more, as did I. It was small enough that I could just sit and chill while the kids explored at their own pace. A Balboa Park Explorer Pass will work here. Otherwise it’s $5/adult, 12 and under are free.

We went on a weekend afternoon and it was empty. Also mostly outside except for viewing the older planes in the hangar. On a weekday, you’ll get to see people repairing and maintaining planes in the hangar. On a weekend you’ll see more planes taking off and landing at the airport.

Bring hats and sunscreen. There’s very little shade.There’s a great table for a picnic with a perfect view of the runway at the end of the museum. No food on site but there’s a handy Jack and the Box right around the corner. I’ve been told there is also a Gillespie Cafe where you can watch the planes land.

The Museum of Illusions

This fun museum in The Gaslamp District of San Diego is a party! It went in new last year. It’s like STEM meets magic. They have tons of illusions from their Vortex tunnel to a building you can pretend you’re falling of! You can also pretend to be surfing sideways. They also have a bunch of logic puzzles and games my kids really enjoyed.

Best Parks in San Diego

Before I go into detail about these parks, I have a list of ALL the best parks in San Diego. I crowd sourced from all the San Diego moms on my Instagram page and made a map. I use it frequently when we have to change plans quickly out and about.

35 Best Parks in San Diego & Updated Playgrounds Map 2026

Waterfront Park

This park and The Maritime Museum are right next to each other and make a great combo visit. The park has a splash pad and great views of the boats if you don’t want to tour the actual museum. We found metered street parking pretty easily. Don’t miss the B-39 Submarine, the HMS Surprise (used for filming Master and Commander!), the San Salvador, and of course The Star of India!

You can climb all around the ships, touch everything, and even use the periscope in the submarine. Open 10-5 every day. Last entry is at 4 pm. I would expect to spend 2 plus hours there, more if you have a kid who is into boats. $10/kid $20/adult. They do participate in Kids Go Free in October. There are options for add-on pirate boat rides too!

Bonita Cove / Maurutna Garner Park Mission Beach

This Mission Bay park is magical! It’s next to the Belmont Park amusement park and has play equipment that mimics Belmont Park’s roller coaster and amusement park rides next door. We loved the carousel swings and roller coaster climbing slide. It gets crowded so go early in the morning if you can. Easy large parking lots on either side and water nearby too!

Mast Park in Santee

This park knocked our socks off! Even I had to take a turn going down the big slide. We loved the three separate playgrounds, the peaceful setting, and how clean everything was. San Diego’s playgrounds are works of art and this one makes my top ten. Parking is super easy here, there is a lot right by the play structure.

Lake Poway Park

This is one of those San Diego spots that feels like it’s miles away from the city except it’s really just 10 minutes from the freeway! They just put in a brand new epic playground. 

There are two playgrounds, the smaller one has the cutest short swings for toddlers. There’s also a fun fishing dock to walk out on and hiking trails. FYI it’s $10 to park on the weekends but on weekdays it’s free!

We saw tons of people camping. Bonus for RB/PQ/Esco/Poway moms if you camp here, you could totally sneak home and sleep in your own bed while Dad and kids sleep in the tent. You could make it back for the morning fun with a full night of sleep. Life hack from an indoorsy mom.

Civita Park

This pristine park was super fun to run the kids on! I loved the bright colors and that everything was brand new. There are two playground structures, the bigger one up the hill and the smaller one down the hill. 

There was also a sand pit that was empty when we arrived at 9 am but filled up quickly. The park is not visible from the parking lot. Just walk up the hill, past the garden and bunny statues and you’ll see it!

San Dieguito Park

This park is massive and has seven playgrounds. One of the best features is the suspension bridges hike! You can come here to hike or play in the play areas.

There are two different entrances. The one at 1757 Highland Dr leads to the playgrounds (there are four). The other leads to BBQ and hiking areas and areas used for special events. Both entrances require a $3 fee to enter. The playground entrance has a small parking lot just outside the pay machine. Park there to avoid the $3 fee!

For the hiking side of the park, navigate to the entrance off El Camino Real. We parked at Area 6. The best part of the hike is the bridges and ladders up high! They also have a Hawk’s Nest with info about animals and the views. There is a butterfly farm marked on the map. It’s a garden with butterfly-friendly plants. You may or may not see actual butterflies but it’s still worth a look!

Olympus Park Encinitas

This new park is super cool to visit, but beware the crowds are large and the parking enforcement is relentless. No bathrooms. Apparently they built the park “for the neighborhood” and didn’t expect the huge swarms of visitors. However it is NOT an HOA park and city funded so play away, unpleasant neighbors be darned. 

As we left we saw cops ticketing cars that looked like they were parked legally and barely missed getting one ourselves. As for visiting the park, there is a zip line, an awesome long slide, a skatepark, and of course the cardboard hill! Try going early or in the morning or late in the evening if you can to avoid crowds and cops. There’s a smaller playground for younger kids at the top of the park. There’s also a cute skate park! 

Sunset Park San Marcos

This is one of my favorite parks because the splash pad is amazing! The kids can control the water with buttons and it goes nice and high. Be warned though, the water shuts off promptly at 5 pm and 6 pm in the summer.

The play structure next door is great because it’s shorter so I wasn’t worried about my little guy falling off. We also had a ton of fun on the seesaw. My kids liked climbing on the giant snake statue as well. On our way out I saw sand volleyball courts and a nice basketball area. Address 909 Puesta Del Sol San Marcos CA. 

Children’s Park in Downtown San Diego

This is a brand-new park that opened in December of 2023. It has my vote for one of the best playgrounds in San Diego. First, they went with a wood structure/metal slide theme which makes my millennial heart happy. I would say this park is for older kids, you’re going to be following around the little ones to make sure they stay safe! Really kids of all ages and their parents who refuse to grow up will have fun here!

One thing to note: there is no shade at this park. Though we have great weather in San Diego, it does get hot downtown. Make sure to bring sun protection for yourself and the kids.

The New Children’s Museum is nearby! You can get passes through The San Diego Public Library reading program over the summer or winter.

Practical Tips for Visiting

Bathrooms are in the red building right by the dog run. One has a changing table. There is security manning the bathroom area during the hours they are unlocked. This area is known for its unhoused population and the city of San Diego is taking steps to ensure the new playground stays safe and nice. Just be aware when parking and walking to and from your car. Make sure to lock it and don’t leave any valuables in plain sight.

For parking use the paid ABM lot at 450 2nd Ave. There’s also metered parking all around, but it fills up quickly. The New Children’s Museum has a parking lot but it’s $16. 

For a fun add-on, park for free at Fashion Valley and take the red trolley! There’s a stop right across the street. Kids ride free, just download the Pronto app and it’s pretty straightforward to buy an adult ticket ($2.50/person). 

Kit Carson Park in Escondido

I call this place North County’s Central Park. First off, it’s HUGE. Tons of hiking trails, a duck pond, two playgrounds, a baseball field, soccer fields, tennis, disc golf, a skate park, a roller rink AND Queen Califa’s Magical Circle. 

Queen Califa’s is a large free art exhibit that makes for gorgeous photos! The downside is it’s only open Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-12. But it is worth a look if you can get here during that time!

Also in this area, Felicita Park is great! It’s a 5-10 minute drive away but there are two playgrounds and lots of nature to explore.

Best Beaches With Playgrounds In San Diego With Kids

I have a full list of all the best beaches with kids right here: https://sandiegomamas.com/best-beaches-in-san-diego-for-families/

The following are my favorites with the best playgrounds.

La Jolla Shores

This beach is a family favorite and if you visit it you will see why! The beach has a gentle sandy entry which is great for small kids. There’s a HUGE free parking lot. It is crowded on a warm Saturday afternoon. However, the parking lot is so big that many people are coming and going, making it easy to find parking.

I loved the modern lifeguard tower and that they spend time advising swimmers about potential rip currents via loudspeaker. The lifeguards also keep the surfers and boogie boarders separate from the swimmers and enforce it if anyone floats to the wrong area.

This is a decent beginner surfing beach. This is where we’ve take our friends or family to try surfing for the first time. There are waves for everyone and a sandy bottom should you wipe out!

There is also a cute lifeguard-themed playground. The bathrooms are right next to the playground. There’s a kid-level fish-identifying exhibit by the bathrooms that kids love looking at. 

Powerhouse Park Del Mar

Powerhouse Park overlooks the ocean in the charming city of Del Mar. There is a huge shaded sand pit with tons of toys. While you’re watching your kids play, try to spot some dolphins from the benches next to the play structure. This park is also next to the Surfliner train track. It’s very exciting when a double-decker train blares through! Every kid stops to watch.

They just finished a brand new playground and it was worth the wait! We loved the fish theme and the wonderful swings facing the water. 

There’s street parking all up and down Powerhouse but they are RUTHLESS on the tickets. Like if you go a minute over they will be there and ticket you. I know they set a timer, I just know it. 

Nearby food options include Del Mar Pizza and Monarch which both have outdoor dining. 

Fletcher Cove Solana Beach

This is a fun little beach that has a small play structure! I love how the playground overlooks the beach. During Christmastime, there is a huge Christmas tree right as you turn in. Park in the lot, there’s no time limit and it’s free. 

They just put in a brand new play structure and it’s a ton of fun! The play structure is suited for older kids, however there are some small playhouses for younger kids. They have summer concerts here in the big grassy area. 

There is a bit of a walk to the actual beach. It’s down a hill with no stairs so it’s easy to bring your beach wagon. Also great for de-sanding the kids on the walk back to the car. There are showers halfway up the hill. 

For food, make sure to try Sindi’s Snack Shack nearby. It’s practically in the Fletcher Cove parking lot. It’s not your typical beach snacks, but one of the best places for to-go Asian fusion deliciousness with Boba!

Moonlight State Beach

Moonlight State Beach is quickly becoming one of our family favorites for a good beach day. From the new surfboard playground to snack shack to the hyper-observant huge lifeguards this is a great family beach. They bring in a lot of sand every spring for the summer. In the winter it’s rocky!

I like parking at the corner of B Street and 3rd to avoid the giant hill coming down from the parking lot. Plus there’s no time limit if you park over there and it’s free. I heard from another mom to not let your kids play in the runoff by the sand entrance due to questionable water quality.

Oceanside Pier

This is a great spot for a beach day because it has a playground! Unfortunately half the pier burned down in Spring 2024, but part of it is open to walk on. Keep an eye our for Charlie the pelican who hangs out on the pier there. 

Our favorite beachside restaurant is here, Brine Box. It burned down with the fire, but hopefully, they will rebuild it. While you’re here, visit the Top Gun house they have since turned into a bakery! We found parking south of the pier in a small paid lot. 

Best Farms in San Diego With Kids

Bate’s Nut Farm Valley Center

Take a trip out to Valley Center and you will be rewarded by sweeping rolling hills and this cute little nut farm! We had tons of fun feeding the animals and browsing all the different kinds of nuts. If you go, bring quarters for the feed machines. If you forget you can also buy little feed bags inside the store.

Don’t miss the inside of the store! There are tons of nuts to buy and little trinkets to take home with you. Also of interest are the barrels upon barrels of candy that we were not able to leave without buying. They have a super cute pumpkin patch at Halloween, though it does get crowded on the weekends.

Fort Cross Outdoor Adventures in Wynola

We went to Julian many times before discovering this gem! You pay for the day and then get to participate in a series of farm activities and survival skills such as tomahawk throwing or axe throwing, rock-climbing wall, slingshot paintball, archery, and more! They also have a reptile experience (have you ever fed a chameleon?) and a petting zoo! This is great for older kids and younger kids alike. 

Their Autumn Jubilee in the fall and their Lilac Festival also amazing events! They are pretty good about social media, so follow their Instagram to get the latest info.

In order to go, you need to reserve a time online and it’s $22/person for the experience. I would say that is well worth it for all the things they pack into your reservation slot. They also have a few U-pick experiences available depending on the season!

They gave me a 25% off discount code for you on tickets. It’s SANDIEGO.MAMAS and will give you the discount for tickets at checkout!

Here’s more information about what to do with kids in Julian: https://sandiegomamas.com/things-to-do-in-julian-with-kids/

So Cal Mini Pigs Valley Center

This farm is also in Valley Center! You pay a flat fee and get to visit all their animals including their mini pigs. Most mini pigs are up for adoption. Unlike a typical farm that raises animals for food, this is a cruelty-free farm where people from all over SoCal go to adopt mini pigs. 

Kenny’s Strawberry Farm

This place is up in Fallbrook, about a 30 min drive from North County. But the drive to get up there is absolutely gorgeous. We visited the strawberry fields in Carlsbad and they were fun but Kenny’s has a real farm feel without the bells and whistles of Carlsbad, plus there were way more strawberries! 

Happy Hens Farm in Ramona

Am I allowed to have favorites? Because this one would win! It’s a chill little farm run by a young husband/wife with 5 kids. You will probably see a few of the kids interacting with the animals on the farm, or at least we did when we came.

The animals are arranged in a circular little walk around a shaded playground with picnic tables. It’s ideal for just letting kids roam and explore the animals. Then have lunch at the playground and go home! Don’t forget to pick up some fresh eggs while you’re here. I believe it’s $10 to enter and a bit more for the feed.

Oma’s Family Farm in Lakeside

This is a spot you need to see to fully understand. Basically there’s a set of grandparents and their three kids that have transformed this spot into little kid Disneyland. There are SO many activities it would take many trips to do them all! And there are more activities added every single time we go.

The farm is only open certain weekends and daily during the pumpkin patch season. The pricing is all-inclusive, so all activities are included except feeding the goats at the goat wall (necessary). Trust me, this is worth the drive out to Lakeside, there is so much to do and my kids love this spot!

Best Gardens in San Diego With Kids

San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas

True to form, San Diego takes a regular botanic garden and makes it awesome for kids. It’s one of the largest botanic gardens in North America and one of the most beautiful on the West Coast! Grab a scavenger hunt when you come in to make sure you don’t miss anything. You will love spending the day here enjoying the native plants, tropical rainforest, desert gardens, succulent gardens, and children’s gardens (yes, there’s more than one!). 

Here is my full post all about The San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas! 

The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon

The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon is one of San Diego’s greatest hidden gems! It’s easy to explore in a few hours and there are tons of excellent exhibits for kids. There’s a native butterfly pavilion where they regularly release butterflies. They have acres of displays and a series of beautiful themed gardens. They even give out free popsicles from the gift shop!

​Here is my full post about The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon

Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park

When I first went here I wasn’t sure there would be much for kids in a traditional Japanese garden. But it’s surprisingly kid-friendly. They handed us a scavenger hunt with pictures as soon as we walked in. The kids loved learning about the shishi-odoshi (Japanese water fountain) and other things around the garden thanks to the scavenger hunt. They also loved the koi ponds, especially the littles. There’s a children’s area, a tea garden, and a zen garden the kids loved. 

I would not recommend a stroller here as there are steep dirt paths to get down. Bring the baby carrier or just take your chances and walk with the kids. It will make your life so much easier. It’s small with lots to look at so it shouldn’t be too bad without a stroller. Make sure to visit during the month of March for spectacular cherry blossoms! 

My full post about the cherry blossoms is here.

Carlsbad Flower Fields

The Carlsbad Flower Fields are the perfect full day of fun with your whole family. These famous fields signal the arrival of Spring in an annual burst of color. If you have never been and experienced it for yourself, pictures don’t do it justice. There are acres of giant tecolote ranunculus flowers set against a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. It seems like it’s almost too beautiful to be real and is one of my favorite things to do in San Diego. 

Located in Carlsbad Ranch, the Flower Fields open on March 1st and close on Mother’s Day in May. Full bloom is around mid-April, but they also rotate the planting so anytime you go you will see beautiful flowers. 

Click here for all the info on The Carlsbad Flower Fields!

City Farmer’s Nursery

This is a nursery, but there are also a TON of animals here for kids to see! They have donkeys, goats, chickens, and a very friendly cat. This is a great spot to pick plants or start a garden with seeds! There’s a restaurant on site called Nate’s Garden Grill which is a fantastic spot to dine before or after exploring the property!

Best Hidden Gems in San Diego With Kids

Queen Califia’s Garden in Kit Carson Park

Did you know we have a world-famous free sculpture garden in San Diego! It’s true, Queen Califia is a beautiful sculpture garden designed by Nikki St. de Phalle. Queen Califia’s Magical Circle is open Tues/Thurs 9-12 and some Saturdays. No bathroom nearby so go before or there’s some at the playground a little ways away.

Kit Carson Park also has a brand new playground to play on that’s great for big kids OR little kids. Bring some oats or Cheerios to feed the ducks too!

Penny Picklebottom Children’s Museum in Temecula

This spot is so cool! It’s a steampunk children’s museum, based on the inventions of a wild scientist. There are tons of interactive spots, things to press and touch, and science demonstrations. I actually enjoyed it as much as my kids did. It’s not too big so it’s easy to keep track of multiple kids. Make sure to stop by the Temecula Mining next door and mine for some gems!

Human Claw Machine North County Mall Escondido and Carlsbad

For $10 you can put your child in a human claw machine and they can pick a stuffie. The bribery opportunities are ENDLESS. My kids will do anything to earn money for a visit to The Human Claw Machine. Most stuffies are Pokemon or Nintendo characters, adding to the charm. Two locations in San Diego, one at Westfield North County Escondido and one at The Shoppes at Carlsbad.

Old Poway Train and Farmer’s Market

This train runs every Saturday and Sunday from Old Poway Park! It’s been a favorite of our family for years. We even had one of my children’s birthday parties here he loved it so much!

They rotate which train they use. There’s either the big steam engine or a speeder. The Poway Farmer’s Market is a good wander after for lunch or dinner. We also like the milkshakes at @hamburgerfactorypoway General hours are 10-4 but it can close due to rain or heat. It’s also closed one Sunday a month. Check their website before going.

Sunny Jim’s Cave Store

Venture to this store in La Jolla and you’ll find not just souveniers but a secret path down to see the sea lions in the La Jolla Caves! It’s not cheap ($14/person) but it’s memorable. Tack this onto a La Jolla beach day for an awesome outing that will surprise your family and any guests! There’s a little hike near here that we like too. Just walk RIGHT on the path by the beach as you leave the store.

Walter Anderson Poway Train Display

We first came here to pick out some plants for our garden and were surprised to find a MASSIVE train display. Now we come here to watch the trains and sometimes shop for plants. The scale of this train display is difficult to describe. They also have chickens to visit! Make sure to stop by their children’s gardening area. We always leave with something, it’s all so cute!

Note: The trains start running at 10 am and they do not run when it’s raining outside.

Free Flight Del Mar Exotic Bird Sanctuary

This spot in Del Mar rescues exotic birds and allows you to visit them! To visit you must make a reservation. You can do that here!

EcoVivarium Escondido or LLL Reptile

Okay these are two different spots, but they are similar. EcoVivarium is a reptile sanctuary where they take animals that owners no longer want and take care of them. You can tour it for $25 and they have TONS of exotic animals to check out and hold. They also do birthday parties and we had them at a birthday for one of my kids and it was a HIT.

LLL Reptile is a reptile store with three locations in San Diego County. They all have exotic pets for sale for the kids to look at. The Oceanside location allows you to buy food to feed some of the animals while you’re there. Shoutout to the Mission Valley location for helping me find the best habitat for our bearded dragon!

Grange Garden Bunny Cafe Solana Beach

This cafe in Solana Beach has bunnies and a little house kids can play in! You can pay to go in and hold the bunnies. The pastries here are really good too! They also have items sourced from France that were very hard for me not to purchase.

All the bunnies come from a rabbit rescue and most are adoptable!

Torrey Pines Gliderport

This spot in La Jolla is perfect for watching hang gliders! They are there almost every single day. There’s a nice restaurant on the hill great for having a bite to eat and watching the sky! Just be warned if you walk down the hill to the beach there, it is Black’s Beach which is San Diego’s only nude beach. You can’t see it from the top of the mountain, only if you hike to the beach so the Gliderport is safe to visit year round with kids!

You will probably also be fine to visit the beach on a cold day, but on a warm summer day you might see more than you bargained for.

Best Outdoor Adventures / Hikes in San Diego With Kids

Kayak La Jolla Cove

Another way to see the aforementioned sea lions in the cave! We like to use Everyday California or Kayak La Jolla to take kayaks out in La Jolla Cove. You will almost certainly see animals. Make sure to protect your phone as it’s easy to fall in the water.

Note that in the early fall the leopard sharks return to La Jolla cove. These sharks do NOT eat humans. It’s unforgettable to see them out and about in huge packs below you! The best spot to see them is right in front of The Marine Room.

Potato Chip Rock

This is more of a hike for older kids (or perhaps leave the kids behind!) because it’s 8 miles (3-4 hours) or 5 miles round trip if you take the back way. For longer scenic route, start at: 14644 Lake Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064

For a faster, shadier route take the back route from SR-67 on the South side of the Cal Fire Station access road.

The gate closes at sunset, so if you’re going to be there longer, park outside the gate. No porta potties and bring plenty of water. Poway gets HOT in the summertime.

Dixon Lake Camping / Playground

This is the best spot for camping in San Diego! You can reserve a campground around this cute lake in Escondido. There’s paddle boating, fishing, and a playground. It’s the perfect first intro to camping as it’s right in the middle of the San Diego, yet you feel like you are far away!

Beach Bonfire at Shelter Island

A beach bonfire is a great way to reset or relax after a fun day of exploring. Plug in 5199 Brighton Avenue, San Diego to find some great bonfire pits. We also like the pits at Shelter Island and they offer a great view of the city in the background. Bring jackets, even it its warm inland! It gets chilly after the sun goes down.

On a weekday both beaches generally don’t have waits for the fire pits. However the earlier in the day that you get there the less likely it will be that they will all be taken.

There are some luxury beach bonfire companies that will set it all up for you. Or you can just grab firewood from the grocery store, a few hotdogs, and you’re good to go! Note: You must have a fire pit (or portable fire pit to build a fire in San Diego. No sand fires allowed!

San Elijo Lagoon

We love The San Elijo Lagoon. The nature center, the parking, the scavenger hunt and the junior ranger program are all free! The museum is open from 9-5 daily.

Plug 2710 Manchester Avenue in Encinitas to your maps to get there. There’s a nice big parking lot.

Start at the nature center. There are lots of displays about the wildlife in the lagoon with exhibits right at kid level. Don’t miss the tadpole exhibit in the right corner as you walk in. My kids watched them for ages!

After finishing up at the museum, grab a scavenger hunt and bird guide from one of the park rangers and go see what animals you can spot in the wild. Once you’re finished you can turn in your scavenger hunt to the rangers. They’ll have your kid recite the junior ranger pledge about not littering and taking care of the earth and you’ll get a junior ranger badge!

Annie’s Canyon Slot Canyon Hike

Nope this isn’t Anza Borrego or a national park, this is a free (and short!) hike right here in San Diego!

To get there navigate to 126 Solana Point Circle. There’s street parking in the cul de sac. Spaces is limited and crowds kinda ruin it so try to go early in the day or in the evening. We timed it so we got to the summit at sunset and it was amazing!

You’ll walk on a flat trail for a little under a mile until you get to the slot canyon. The slot canyon is one way. We did it once, came down the other side and then looped right back and did it again!

There’s some treacherous terrain and a ladder. Our kids climbed it like they were at the playground and it wasn’t a problem for us. I would put new walkers and babies in a carrier. There’s no way you could get a stroller through the slot canyon, but you could leave it at the entrance and come back as it loops around.

Elfin Forest

This is one of our favorite hiking spots in San Diego. It’s in Escondido near Lake Hodges! There’s a cute little nature center and a hidden “beach” where someone has put a bunch of sand near the creek. We love chilling here for a modified beach day and taking a hike around the mountainside!

Tidepools in San Diego With Kids

Tide Pools at Cabrillo National Monument Point Loma

If you’re just getting to San Diego, this spot is a wonderful place to get your bearings. It’s up high so you can see all of San Diego!

A National Parks Pass will get you free admission, otherwise it’s $ 20 / car. This is the site is supposedly where the first European explorer set foot on the West Coast.

Things to do here include: watch military jets take off, hike, visit the lighthouse, and hunt for critters in the tide pools!

La Jolla Tidepools

Want to take your kids to see ocean wildlife but don’t want to pay for a museum or aquarium? The La Jolla Tide Pools are your best bet! We love coming here to spot anemones and sea urchins.

The tide pools only make up one part of the beach. There’s also plenty of sand for playing in and having a beach day. If you go just a little further north you will also be able to see the La Jolla Seals. Go just a little bit south and you’re at Windansea, my favorite beach overlook. To get to the tide pools plug in 303 Coast Blvd. We found free street parking on Coast Blvd.

Mom tip: when you are going to the beach and you’re not planning on getting in wear rain boots! That way you can chase your kid when they inevitably run into the ocean without getting soaked yourself.

Sunset Cliffs Beach

This is a place where it feels like San Diego is putting on a show. It’s gorgeous year round, but especially during the winter at low tide. To find it, plug in Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. The stairs to get down are right where Sunset Cliffs Blvd meets Ladera Road. That’s also where we parked.

Remember to check the tides on Google or Surfline before coming! The photos below were at low tide. If you come at high tide the beach will look very different and might be difficult to navigate with little ones.

If you keep going along the beach you will find the Sunset Cliffs sea caves. Navigating here will depend heavily on the tides so make sure you aren’t the only person headed for the caves. You don’t want to get stranded!

Windansea Beach Shack

This spot is what I picture when I think of San Diego. The colors and scenery are almost so perfect that they don’t feel real!

They named Windansea beach for a long-gone resort that stood at this place in 1909. This beach is our family’s favorite spot to look out over the ocean.

The iconic shade shack has been destroyed many times both by the ocean and by vandals. The locals always rebuild. After you are done up high, climb down to the tide pools and search for critters. To the right of the shade shack there are some pretty cool caves to explore. Park in the little lot between Westbourne and Nautilus Street.

Bird Rock La Jolla

This is a great spot for tidepooling especially when the King Tides come! Address for the stairs to get down to this spot is 403 Sea Ridge Drive. Check online for when low tide is. It changes every day. It looks totally different at high tide, you can barely get down the stairs!

This was the first spot we saw a sea star in the wild! We were losing our minds with excitement. Two teenagers saw us and pointed out a SECOND sea star! I didn’t see any bathrooms so plan ahead.

Swami’s Beach Encinitas

This spot in Solana Beach is great for tidepooling! There are stairs to get down, so watch for that. It’s also right along a wonderful bike path called Coastal Rail Trail Encinitas that we’ve done many times. Don’t forget to check the tide charts before going and Crack Shack Encinitas is a good spot for lunch or dinner after tidepooling.

Best San Diego Biking Spots with Kids / Best San Diego Scootering Spots with Kids

PHR Pump Track Carmel Valley

This place is best on a weekday morning. If you try an afternoon or weekend it’s likely your little one will get mowed down by real skateboarders.

The parking is about a quarter mile away which felt like 1000 miles when I was carrying two bikes and two children who refused to ride their bikes the correct direction. The next time we came we brought a wagon.

It’s mostly street parking, but one time when the street parking was full we parked at the school next door. A mom next to me was unloading bikes as well and said she does it all the time and never gets a ticket. Don’t hate me if you do!

Coastal Rail Trail Encinitas

This is a gorgeous spot to bike! It’s a flat trail high above the ocean on some cliffs. You pedal through Encinitas and by the surfer guy statue. We love eating at Crack Shack in Encinitas after a good bike ride with the kids. We usually park at Swami’s Beach.

Miramar Lagoon

Lake Miramar is a 5 mile flat bike loop that goes around a reservoir in Scripps Ranch. It’s great for new bikers. It gets crowded on weekends so go early to find a parking spot!

If coming here I would bring the kids’ bikes AND a wagon. They tend to get tired of them halfway through and you don’t want to carry a kid and their bike.

Bradley Bike Park San Marcos

This is a brand new BMX style bike park in San Marcos. It’s free! Note that you can’t see it from the parking lot, it requires a little walking to get to. There is no shade or places to sit for observers so bring your own shade and chair. This is probably best for older kids or very daring younger kids as the hills are big!

Liberty Station (especially Liberty Station No Car Bridge)

All of Liberty Station is GREAT for bikes and scooters, but No Car Bridge is elite. We love starting and ending at Corvette Diner. We will put our names down, then take our scooters over the the playground. When they call our reservation we make our way back! Bonus: there are planes overhead which makes it doubly exciting for the little kids!

Pacific Beach Bike Path near Crystal Pier

If you’re looking for that quintessential bike path along the beach near the sand, this is it. Though this area of San Diego is more known for college age kids and parties, it has some excellent beachfront areas great for scootering or biking during the day!

Best Indoor Play Areas in San Diego With Kids

Air Track Park Kearny Mesa

Of all the trampoline parks, this is the clear winner. It’s located in Kearny Mesa, so central San Diego. The trampoline park is huge with options for big kids and little kids! They have trampoline video games if you can believe that. You control the video games by jumping and your avatar plays in the game! My kids have never worked so hard in their lives.

Located at 4863 Shawline St, San Diego, CA 92111. Reserve in advance on their website. They also take standby, but they do have a limited number of spots. They have toddler time M-F 10-12 for only $10/kid. The ice creams are only $3. Excellent way to bribe the children when it’s time to leave.

They do birthdays! We did my son’s birthday there and it was a hit. My kids’ favorite was the AI video game. It put their trampoline avatar into the TV. I think they bounced for 30 min straight. How do I get one in my house?

This spot is family owned by a young couple with three little kids! They were both former gymnasts and so wanted to create a space for kids to move. The space is so engaging it’s frequently booked by adults for company parties too!

Kids and Coffee

This is exactly what every parent has been asking for, a playground attached to a cafe! You’ll need to make a reservation for a 2 hour time slot online beforehand. The reservation system controls the crowd so it isn’t a madhouse in there.

It’s $30/kid to play. The first adult is free with paying kid, the second adult is $10. Siblings get discounts. They have a pretty good menu with some food and hot chocolate as well as coffee. They offer birthday parties as well!

Candeeland Carlsbad

This NEW indoor playground in Carlsbad is HUGE. Like 18,000 sq feet huge. Every inch is filled with fun colorful candy theming. All three of my kids ages 3-9 had a great time here!

It seemed extremely clean to me and I noticed staff members cleaning as we were there. They also come in and clean it every night per the owner. Candeeland definitely fills a hole. We don’t have many indoor playgrounds in San Diego and definitely not any this big!

It wasn’t too crowded at 11 am, steadily got more crowded as the day went on. There was lots of comfortable seating for the parents. There are also a few interactive video games which kept my older boys interested for a long time!

The cafe has a selection of kid-friendly food such as Dino nuggets, hot dogs, pizza, nachos and fun drinks we’ve never seen before. There’s an area where you can fill your own candy bags too. Pricing starts at $20/hr per kid and you’ll need grip socks too!

The Human Claw Machine is right at the entrance (featured in my Hidden Gem section). Just plan on doing both. That place has the best stuffed animals anyways.

Squarena

This is a brand new spot in Solana Beach! It’s only the second location in the world, the first is in NYC. You must step on the blue squares and avoid the red. Clear the level in time and you move on to the next one.

I expected to go and watch my kids but I tried one level with them and I was hooked. In fact, all the moms ended up playing. I would 100% go without kids too.

It’s like Dance Dance Revolution meets Tetris. My boys love moving their bodies and playing video games so they were in heaven.

They do parties! It’s run by a husband and wife team who have kids so they know what parents want for parties. Pizza, cupcakes, decor, and drinks are all included in the premium party package. You just have to show up and show the kids who’s boss in the Squarena room.

You can also book individually. It’s $30 for an hour and it does sell out so book online ahead of time.

The Plunge San Diego

It’s a San Diego fixture and it’s been around for years. It’s a heated indoor pool housed in a gorgeous historic building! It’s right next to Belmont Park and the beach in Mission Bay. The Plunge is a San Diego fixture and has been around for years.

The appeal here is the giant obstacle course. Kids love running around and falling in. It’s a huge hit even with adults. I saw many adults zooming around right alongside their kids.

One thing people don’t realize is that you can order food poolside from the restaurant next door called Beach House San Diego. It’s delicious and reasonably priced.

Fun fact: Top Gun used their locker room as a filming location. Also there’s a sauna that’s open to Plunge guests, which I took full advantage of while my husband stayed with the kids.

You can rent a daybed which is awesome for families with babies. They also have toddler time 10-12 Monday-Thursday. Admission is only $5/person then!

Best San Diego Malls and Shopping Areas To Visit With Kids

Westfield UTC Fish Playground

My favorite outdoor mall in San Diego! We love the Garibaldi fish play structure. Did you know it’s the state fish of California? The playground is located in front of Macy’s and the closest parking lot is off Genesee. There are a ton of food options here. I like Board & Brew turkey sandwiches and Din Tai Fung (not super kid-friendly, the restaurant is small but the food is so good!).

They also have an ice skating rink and a LEGO store that we like to visit!

Seaport Village

Every time we visit Seaport Village we find something new to explore! If you haven’t been, it’s this gorgeous shopping / eating area right on the water. All the shops are in old red roofed buildings that look so pretty together. It’s due for a big upgrade in the coming years, but for now I love the look of the older buildings on the water.

Here are our favorite places to check out there: Kite Flite Store, The Something Sweet Shop, Tuk Tuk Eatery, Seaport Fudge Factory, Santa’s Workshop (year-round Christmas store!), Sock Harbor, San Diego Surf Co, San Diego Burger Co, and of course the Seaport Village Carousel! It’s from 1895 and it’s $3 / ride.

The real fun of Seaport is just exploring and wandering though. At Christmas it’s lit up beautifully!

Liberty Station

Liberty Station is a food area, but it’s so much more than that! What used to one of the largest naval training areas is now San Diego’s Town Center. There are tons of food options and open space to explore.

To learn more about Liberty Station’s history, check out this neat walking tour. Make sure you see the USS Recruit, also called The USS Neversail. They used it to train recruits but it’s never actually sailed! In fact it’s missing crucial parts that would make it able to sail. They also have a cute little boat kids can play on near the back parking lot.

We love eating at Corvette Diner. It’s super kid-friendly, there are performances every half hour, and they do free balloon tying. They do not take reservations so put down your name when you arrive at Liberty Station and then go wander around until they text you.

Del Mar Highlands

One place in San Diego that’s just as fun in summer as it is in winter! The splash pad with mini trampolines is beautiful and clean plus it has great soft sitting areas for moms, and is well-located near some excellent snacks and clean bathrooms.

At Christmas this mall is a can’t-miss. They have a giant surfboard Christmas tree and tons of larger-than-life decorations. I am particularly fond of the lit palm tree entrance.

Also of note: the food court on top of the Whole Foods (gorgeous and worth a look even if you’re not eating there!), Batch & Box Cookies, Handel’s Ice Cream, and Vuori (magical San Diego based cool Mom pants store… once you try their pants you will NEVER go back).

North County Mall Escondido / The Shoppes at Carlsbad

In the days of Instagram and social media, malls are a severely overlooked easy way to entertain children. This one is one of my favorites, mostly because of the wonderful train and because there is a Target IN the mall!

‘The train runs 11-7 and it’s on the third level of the Westfield Escondido by the food court. It’s $4/ride or $20/6 rides. We always get the 6 ride card because we come here a lot!

There are two indoor play places at both ends of the mall. They are designed for littler kids. If you’re looking for a park to visit after, Kit Carson is just around the corner.

When you’re done stop by Sees Candies! They give out different chocolate every day as free samples to each kid + adult! We usually buy about $5 worth of chocolate and walk out with a good size bag of treats.

Another great similar mall is The Shoppes at Carlsbad. They both have a Human Claw Machine (mentioned in Hidden Gems).

Best Libraries to Visit With Kids in San Diego

Central Library Downtown San Diego

One summer we did the Odi the Coyote challenge. If you don’t know what this is, allow me to enlighten you. Every summer The San Diego Public Library does a challenge where you visit all 37 of its branches and find a small hidden coyote. When you find the coyote you get a stamp!

Complete all 37 and you can turn them in at Central Library Downtown for a prize! There are also buttons involved and lanyards etc etc. Basically it’s a great thing to do if you’re here for the summer and the kids and I LOVED it.

Central Library is a wonderful spot to visit. It’s HUGE and home to The World’s Smallest Book!

Point Loma Branch Library

This library took me by surprise! It’s ocean themed and the Children’s Library takes up the entirety of the first floor. That’s great because the kids and the adults stay separated so I am not as nervous about my kids making too much noise. There’s a huge pirate ship to play in and a leopard gecko to meet. There’s tons of toys and the librarians are super helpful finding books for the kids! The last time we visited there were librarians preparing for a Harry Potter celebration for the kids.

This library is very close to Liberty Station, so it would be easy to visit both.

Pacific Highlands Ranch Library

Another great option is San Diego’s newest library, Pacific Highland Ranch Library! The best part about this library (besides a gorgeous Children’s Library) is that it’s across the street from a fantastic pump track and park.

Scripps Miramar Library

This library has a duck pond in the parking lot. You can buy duck food inside the library (bring cash or coins, they don’t take Venmo!) and then take it out to feed the ducks. There is also a beautiful Children’s Library with natural light.

The Escondido Library

One of my favorites! This library has a TON of toys for kids. We love visiting and exploring what they have to offer. Right now this library has been relocated to The North County Mall in Escondido and has many toys available there. This library also has our favorite Library Story Time. The librarians here do an excellent job!

Best Family Restaurants in San Diego With Kids

For full list of the best restaurants to visit with kids in San Diego, see this post here! I also have a map there with tons of user-submitted restaurants. Feel free to pull up on the go to find a kid-friendly spot near wherever you are!

Corvette Diner

We are starting with my favorite and the first kid-friendly restaurant we discovered in San Diego. Corvette Diner is a San Diego staple. It’s located in Liberty Station in Point Loma and is a ton of fun! They have dancing waiters, sassy waitresses in poodle skirts, an arcade, old school retro diner decor, and they go all out for every holiday!

It’s a great place to celebrate a birthday or gather with family. Note that they do not take reservations. You put your name down and then wait for them to call you. We like to put our name down and then walk around to explore Liberty Station!

Flower Child at Flower Hill Promenade

This place is SO good and they have the cutest little kid dining area with games and a chalkboard. They serve super healthy salads and sandwiches with a dressing that is to die for. The Turkey Cobb Salad with Gorgonzola Vinaigrette is amazing and worth a trip to the restaurant. Many San Diegans claim Flower Child as their favorite brunch spot and I have to say I agree. 

Barra Barra Saloon Old Town San Diego

Barra Barra is our favorite spot to eat authentic Mexican food in Old Town San Diego. One kid eats free per every paying adult. We loved the enchiladas and the churro ice cream at the end. The location is in an ideal spot in Old Town for wandering around between when you order and when you eat your meal. I like to get a spot on the patio and let my kids wander just outside of the restaurant. Sometimes I even feed them through the fence like dogs. 

Panama 66 in Balboa Park

This casual eatery in Balboa Park serves American food. It is perfect for dining out before or after exploring Balboa Park. The pulled pork and tuna sandwiches get good reviews. If you are going before a show, make sure to leave time as sometimes waits can be up to 45 minutes. They have a decent kids menu and some outdoor dining where kids can wiggle around. Sometimes they also have live music!

Kaminsky’s in Poway

Super kid-friendly and delicious spot in Poway. They hand out full on board games and coloring books while you are waiting for your food. They also have a lawn where kids can play golf or cornhole. This is one of our favorite places to take our family to in San Diego. Please get the BBQ Brisket Mac and Cheese Sandwich for me. Or if that’s not your jam, I love the wedge salad. 

That’s all! Thanks for reading. If you’re looking for more info on any of these activities, make sure to to search my site or check out my Instagram for all the latest updates.