A guide to San Diego with kids
On our first visit to San Diego, I remember thinking what a charmed place it would be to grow up. Living here was definitely a factor in deciding to have Jojo, and I have to say: so far, we have not been disappointed. The year-round sunshine and temperate weather make it possible to be outside most days, and there are world-class attractions (aka the zoo!) on top of so many beautiful beaches and fantastic playgrounds.
And more than anything, I feel like San Diego just has a general friendliness and openness that makes it really pleasant to be here with kids. Most places are fairly casual and have enough space for stroller parking or for kids to run around. California also ensures that (almost) every public and restaurant restroom has a changing table, and the sidewalks generally have curb cuts to make it easy to walk with strollers or wagons. It’s a wonderful place to live with kids, but it’s also an A+ family vacation destination!
The Obvious Ones
The San Diego Zoo is one of the best zoos in the world, and for good reason: it’s a nonprofit focused on animal rehabilitation, and there’s a lot more space for the animals to spread out than many other zoos. There’s also a Skyfari ride to take in all of the views and a very good splash pad—I swear Jojo is more of a fan of the splash pad than actually seeing the animals when we go. Pack a swimsuit and a change of clothes! And right outside the zoo entrance in Balboa Park, there is a beautiful historic carousel and a miniature railroad: both are worth a stop if either of those things appeal.
The zoo also has an outpost a bit farther north called the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. I don’t really think you need to go to both, especially on a short trip—but if you’re staying in North County, the Safari Park is a lot closer and is a great alternative to the actual zoo.
Belmont Park is an amusement park right on the water at Mission Beach: there’s an old-timey roller coaster, a carousel, mini golf, an arcade and lots of other rides for kids both big and small. It’s also right next to Plunge, which has several pools to frolic in (including a water obstacle course).
Birch Aquarium is a petite aquarium, which makes it just about the right size to go with small kids. It has wonderful views of the ocean, an interactive tide pool exhibit, tiny penguins and truly mesmerizing jellyfish.
And while it might not be *too* obvious: a Padres game at Petco Park is super fun with little ones! Gallagher Square is great to spread out with a picnic setup, and there’s a brand-new playground that is lovely to get out some pre-game energy. San Diego Wave games at Snapdragon are also extremely family-friendly, especially for young girls.
(Note: Sea World and Legoland are also very popular family attractions in San Diego! After watching Blackfish years ago, we committed to not giving our money to Seaworld—so I don’t have anything to contribute about that experience. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Legoland (especially for boys 4+), but we just haven’t made it up there quite yet—so I generally recommend, but have nothing to share!)
Museums
The New Children’s Museum is one of my favorite places to go with Jojo in San Diego: the exhibits are often changing, but they’re all super interactive and engaging. Bonus: a slide from the second story, and an outdoor arts and crafts patio! There’s also a fantastic playground for older kids (Children’s Park) across the street.
While the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (in La Jolla)isn’t made specifically for children, it’s one of my favorite museums in San Diego. It has an impressive modern collection (and lots of graphic and colorful pieces that are fun for kids), but I especially love the balcony overlooking the ocean and the art that incorporates the location. The museum also hosts monthly arts workshops for kids (and teens! and seniors!).
Balboa Park is a good one-stop shop if you’re interested in museums for a range of ages and interests: Natural History Museum, Air and Space Museum, Automotive Museum, Model Railroad Museum, Mingei Folk Art. The Timken Museum of Art is my personal favorite: it’s petite, home to a Kehinde Wiley and a Rembrandt, and FREE. Balboa Park also just a very lovely place to walk around with kids: there are ducks near the botanical building, lots of grass for picnics, several big fountains and fun buildings to admire. Also home to the historical carousel and miniature railroad mentioned above!
And while it takes a bit of coordination to visit (limited hours, closed after rain or bad weather), Queen Califia’s Magic Circle is such a cool outdoor large-scale sculpture garden. Niki de Saint Phalle is one of my favorite artists (she has connections to Nice and La Jolla, so I’ve been familiar with her public works for a long time!) and this is just an incredibly fun place to explore with kids.
Beaches & Playgrounds
The children of San Diego are truly spoiled with the playgrounds here. We have plenty of standard neighborhood parks and playgrounds, but there are a few that are worth traveling for!
Maruta Gardner in Bonita Cove is one such playground: it’s bright pink with a kind of 80s Day-Glo theme, but is just full of really cool and creative playground equipment. It’s also right on the bay, but just a block from Mission Beach.
In Mission Bay, the city unveiled *two* incredible playgrounds (Tecolote Shores North and Tecolote Shores South) right next to each other, and are both designed for a wide range of ages and mobility levels. They tend to be super busy on weekends (a popular place for birthday parties), but a very fun bayfront destination on weekday mornings or late afternoons.
Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego is another favorite, especially for older kids: there are some incredibly fun big slides and cool climbing structures. I especially love the Niki de Saint Phalle pigeon sculpture that kids can explore.
La Jolla Shores is our go-to beach, especially with Jojo. There’s a parking lot and plenty of street parking. The beach itself is wide and sandy, and the ocean waves are generally quite calm. There’s also a playground right next to the beach: it’s tough to beat an oceanfront swing set! I also love the little pedestrian street (Avenida de la Playa) just a few blocks away: Shore Rider Bar is a great casual place to grab a beer (or my actual favorite: the Spicoli, a beer with a frozen margarita float on top!!) and finger foods after a day at the beach.
Powerhouse Park is a similar situation just north in Del Mar: a great playground that overlooks the ocean, and a wide sandy expanse. It’s also close to downtown Del Mar, so it’s easy to pop up and grab coffee/acai bowls/lunch on your way to or from the beach.
Fanuel Street Playground is another low-key favorite: it’s tucked along the bayfront, so swimming is a bit more manageable with tiny ones. There’s also a nice bit of shaded grass to relax if you’re not on the playground or the beach.
While Children’s Beach is not where I would take Jojo to swim (quite the misnomer!), it is a very fun place to go see all of the seals and sea lions. The animals have basically taken over this little cove, and it’s especially lovely to go in the spring when the baby seals have been born.
Torrey Pines is the best view-to-work ratio for a hiking trail, and it’s also probably the best option for a hike with kids: there are lots of different choose-your-own-adventure options. There’s a major portion of the trail that is paved, so you can do a nice adventure with a stroller. And while the Guy Fleming Trail isn’t good for a stroller, it’s an easy enough “hike” with small kids–and stunning ocean views.
Restaurants
Panama 66 is one of our favorite Sunday afternoon destinations. Right next to the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, it’s an outdoor bar and restaurant with a large grassy sculpture garden. Bring a picnic blanket and set up with plenty of room for kids to run around while you enjoy an adult beverage. We usually like to park by the carousel, and do a carousel and tiny train ride before walking through beautiful Balboa Park to Panama 66.
Mission Bay Beach Club serves coffee and light bites, with an Airstream setup to serve cocktails. When I first had Jojo, I used to love to come here and pick up a coffee and then do a stroller walk with a friend—there’s a great paved loop bordering the water. Now that Jojo is a little older, we like to grab a drink and set up a little picnic next to the playground down below (the newer, fancier playgrounds are about a 10-minute walk/2-minute drive south but this basic one also does the trick!).
Pizza Cassette has become our go-to spot to grab a drink with friends and their kids. It’s tucked away on a semi industrial side street (aka if you think you are in the wrong location driving up, you are in the right place). There’s a large courtyard filled with picnic tables, and you can choose from beverages at Deft Brewery, Oddish Wine or Lost Cause Meadery—and then order a (surprisingly good for San Diego!) wood-fired pizza from Cassette.
Liberty Station is another great destination since it has so many different restaurants to choose from, and there’s plenty of outdoor space to spread out. The Stone Brewing location here is also a solid place to grab a beer and food with little ones.
And for easy takeout/picnic options: we love Taco Stand (multiple locations), Rubicon Deli and Big Front Door.
If you’re looking for any more specific recommendations, drop your questions in the comments below! Always happy to help!
