San Diego offers so much in the way of family-friendly attractions your biggest challenge is convincing the kids to leave at vacation’s end.
Probably the most famous attraction is the San Diego Zoo, and with good reason. Already a blockbuster, the zoo opened a new, $68 million exhibit called Africa Rocks this summer. There are six new habitats that showcase the biodiversity of the continent, along with the flora and fauna that inhabit them. Meanwhile, the zoo’s sister attraction, the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo Safari Park, takes visitors on safari rides to see wild animals, like giraffes and cheetahs, in an approximation of their natural habitat. Kids can also enjoy ropes courses and zip lines and even take a behind-the-scenes tour of the park.
Kids at the San Diego Zoo. Photo: Stefano Panzeri | Dreamstime
SeaWorld San Diego also opened a new attraction this year with Ocean Explorer, featuring five rides, including one aboard a mini-submarine. Other attractions include Dolphin Encounters and Dolphin and Beluga Interaction Programs.
Fans of amusement parks are not forgotten in San Diego, thanks to Belmont Park in Mission Beach. The beachfront park offers classic rides, including the historic Giant Dipper roller coaster. Kids can also play mini golf or laser tag.
Of course, part of any family-friendly vacation is finding the right hotel or resort, and San Diego has more than its share of options in just about every price point. And while deals are available year-round, for the last six years in a row Kids Free San Diego turns the month of October into a bonanza of savings for families.
Gaslamp San Diego, California. Photo: Evgeniefimenko | Dreamstime
At the new The Pendry, for example, an upscale hotel opened this past February in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, kids age 12 and under can stay up late with a Kids Party Free in their PJs sleepover party that includes up to two in-room movies, snacks and candy and Kid’s Sleepy Time Spray from Spa Pendry. The package is good every night in October.
The Kona Kai Resort & Spa, overlooking Point Loma and Shelter Island, welcomes kids with gifts and a free meal at the hotel’s Vessel Restaurant and Bar with the purchase of an adult meal.
The Paradise Point Resort & Spa on Mission Bay gives kids an “island allowance” that they can use on a variety of on-property activities, such as mini-golf, bike rentals and paddleboarding.
Kids Free San Diego also offers deals at arts and cultural venues, including free admission at more than three dozen museums for kids 12 and younger.
At the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla, for example, children can enjoy interactive exhibits, watch a tank feeding and see sharks, jellyfish and other marine life.
At the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma, families can watch films and participate in ranger-guided walks to Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which dates from the 1880s.
The Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad entertains and instructs families about American popular music through audio and video clips, musical artifacts and instruments kids can play themselves.
Families looking for a daytrip to Mexico from San Diego can walk across the pedestrian bridge, called the Cross Border Xpress, which connects Tijuana International Airport with San Diego. Kids can also cruise around the San Diego Bay for free with a full-priced adult reservation via San Diego Sailing Tours, which offer group and private sailing experiences.
Small legs might appreciate a cycling experience on an electric bike, widely available for self-guided and group tours throughout the city.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedHotels
Apr 14, 2025Have a Family Spring Escape in Napa Valley at The Meritage
Napa Valley isn’t just for wine lovers; family travelers will be delighted to find out there is plenty for them to experience, as well. The Meritage Resort and Spa leads that charge by offering experiences the whole family will enjoy every Saturday in April.
Sponsored Content
Madrid: A Destination for All Ages
However one is traveling, what matters is having fun and creating unforgettable memories. Among many ways to travel, multigenerational trips — on which grandparents, parents and children get to spend quality time together — are gaining popularity. Setting out on this sort of adventure? Madrid has something to offer everyone!
Hotels
Apr 14, 2025Beaches Resorts Announces Nearly $1 Billion in Expansion Plans
Family travelers have reason to celebrate: Family all-inclusive vacation brand Beaches recently announced plans to invest almost $1 billion in expansion in the next five years. New destinations for Beaches locations include Barbados; Exuma, The Bahamas; Jamaica; and Turks and Caicos.
Multigenerational
Apr 11, 2025Sea Island, The Broadmoor and Windstar Cruises Launch Honeymoon Package
Start your new life as family travelers with this new collaboration from Sea Island, The Broadmoor and Windstar Cruises. Couples who celebrate their wedding at either Sea Island or The Broadmoor have the unique chance to take advantage of significant savings on a seven-night, all-inclusive honeymoon cruise to the islands of French Polynesia with Windstar.
Kids
Apr 11, 2025Coachella, But Make It Kid-Sized at LEGO Festival in California
Upcoming Coachella weekends might not be on family travelers' radars, but LEGOLAND California is making sure all feel included with its first-ever LEGO Festival, offering California visitors and locals a kid-friendly alternative to Coachella. Little travelers can expect as much excitement, fun and entertainment as a real music festival.
Travel Tips
Apr 10, 2025Should Kids Go to Medieval Torture Museums?
Whether gruesome scenes are right for your child’s age and nightmare level is a parental decision. But before your family travels to Europe this summer, there’s something you should know about these “museums” that have popped up in almost every city with a castle or a medieval past.
ShareThis