San Diego Family Vacation: Top Tips for the Perfect Getaway
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Thinking of taking a family vacation to San Diego?
Yes! Do it. You will NOT regret it.
There are so many AMAZING things to do with your family in San Diego.
I will break it all down for you here including where to stay, eat, and what to do.
San Diego is a fantastic place for kids of all ages and the perfect family friendly vacation destination.
This post on the perfect San Diego family vacation contains affiliate links to trusted partners.
Where to Stay on Your San Diego Family Vacation
Whenever we go to San Diego we always stay at the Homewood Suites San Diego Airport -Liberty Station.
There are so many reasons why I LOVE this hotel and the Liberty Station area.
For one it has large one and two-bedroom suites that can fit our family of 6.
The Homewood Suites also has a free breakfast each morning.
Additionally, it has an awesome patio with a fireplace and a pool.
This hotel is just under 2 miles from the airport and is the perfect centralized home base for visiting all of the beaches and attractions in the San Diego area.
Another thing I love about that Homewood Suites Liberty Station is that it is walkable to numerous restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, a playground, and more.
As an added bonus, on the backside of the Homewood Suites there is a scenic trail for walking and biking along the riverfront.
Even though the Homewood Suites is my favorite, all of the hotels in the Liberty Station area are fantastic for families.
Where to Eat in San Diego
Since we usually stay in the Liberty Station area, we most always have dinner here after being out and about most of the day.
It is super convenient to quickly walk to a restaurant with the kids.
Some of our favorite Liberty Station restaurants that are perfect for families include:
Oggi’s Pizza and Brewhouse
We love getting pizza here, but they do have a variety of other food too including a kids menu.
You literally just have to walk through the parking lot of the Homewood Suites and you are there.
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Corvette Diner
This restaurant also located in Liberty Station, and our kids love this place.
It is a 50s diner with an arcade.
The food is pretty good, and they have great shakes.
The decor is awesome, too.
Liberty Public Market
I would describe the Liberty Public Market as a fancy food court.
It is a great option for a quick bite to eat, and there is both indoor and outdoor seating.
Expert Tip
You really cannot go wrong with any of the restaurants in Liberty Station. This area is very popular though so it might be wise to make reservations ahead of time if the restaurants take them.
Barra Barra Saloon
This restaurant is located in Old Town San Diego.
I love this restaurant for its ambiance and unique outdoor atmosphere.
Dining here is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
The food is delicious too!
Barra Barra Saloon also has a children’s menu.
Top San Diego Attractions
There are SO many things to do in the San Diego area with kids. Below are some of our favorites.
USS Midway Aircraft Carrier
The kids absolutely love visiting the USS Midway.
It is a little pricey, but I would say definitely worth the splurge. Children under age 4 are free though so that’s a plus.
Kids of all ages will love this museum. They have a self guided audio tour included with admission.
The USS Midway has also added an opportunity for kids to become Junior Pilots!
To accomplish this, you will need to stop by the Information desk to pick up the activity sheet.
The instructions on the sheet will take you around the ship to answer questions.
Once all of the questions have been completed, the kids can take their activity sheet back to the Information desk.
The kids will then go through a short ceremony performed by a volunteer Docent and receive their Junior Pilot Wings.
This was pretty exciting for my kids. They loved it and were so proud of their Junior Pilot Wings.
Besides learning all about what life was like on the USS Midway, there are also tons of aircraft and helicopters to check out.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to even climb in some of them!
The USS Midway attraction will easily take you 2 hours or more to do.
There is a cafe and snack shop on board as well!
San Diego Zoo
This is another must-do attraction.
The San Diego Zoo is so awesome!
The zoo is located in Balboa Park and is over 100 acres. There is SO much to see.
Many suggest taking the guided bus tour when you get there to acquaint yourself with the zoo.
The bus tour is great although there may be a line for it.
Another option is to print off a PDF map ahead of time and plan your visit based on that or download the app.
Besides the all of the amazing animals, there are many entertaining play areas for the kids.
You will definitely need at the very least a half of a day to visit the San Diego Zoo.
Balboa Park
The majority of museums in San Diego are located in this large park.
Balboa Park is such a stunning place to walk around. The grounds are absolutely amazing!
We usually spend some time meandering the grounds, taking some pictures, and then usually do a museum or two.
Our kids’ two favorite museums are the Fleet Science Center and the Model Railroad Museum.
There are many other great ones as well that the kids would love!
Between all of the museums and enjoying the sights, you could definitely spend an entire day at Balboa Park.
Luckily, if you are spending most of the day and need a place to eat, Balboa Park has many great options.
With the kids, I recommend Craveology which is right next to the Fleet Science Center.
Craveology is a quick service dining option with plenty of outside tables and has many delicious food options that the kids will love including hot dogs, pretzel bites, sandwiches, salads, and even slushies.
Old Town Trolley Tours
The 1-Day Trolley hop on and off tour is a great way to see and learn about San Diego.
We like to do these tours whenever we are in a new city.
These tours also can be a bit pricey but if this is your first time in San Diego it may be worth it to spend the day hearing about and seeing all of the sights.
This type of trolley tour provides a great overview of the area and can help you determine which places you may want to go back to spend more time.
My kids usually do really well on these tours and enjoy them alot.
The great thing is that if the kids do get a little antsy you can hop off and take a break to explore and then get back on when everyone is ready.
Another awesome tour by the same company is the SEAL Tour.
This tour is on an amphibious vehicle and is 100 minutes long.
The kids will think it is so fun going from bus to boat without even leaving their seats!
Coronado Beach
This beach is absolutely stunning!
We love to come here and walk the beach near Hotel del Coronado which is a beauty in itself.
I highly recommend visiting Coronado Beach.
The town is really charming too.
Cabrillo National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument is another incredible place to visit.
The monument not only provides stunning panoramic views of San Diego but also has a number of educational exhibits on explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo as well as scenic trails to meander along.
My boys kids loved walking on the trails.
Additionally, the Point Loma Lighthouse is another draw for visitors to Cabrillo National Monument.
During the fall and winter, families can also visit the tidepools here.
It is also important to note that the Cabrillo National Monument has a visitor center with restrooms, museum, and gift shop too.
Fun Fact
You can see North Island from the Cabrillo National Monument. North Island is a Naval Air Station. It is fascinating to be able to see it, and you may even spot some of the fighter jets flying around.
Admission Cost
Admission to the Cabrillo National Monument is $20 per vehicle. If you show one of the National Park annual passes the entrance fee is free.
La Jolla Cove
La Jolla is another must-see spot in the San Diego area.
The coastal views in La Jolla are absolutely jaw-dropping.
Our favorite thing here is watching the California Harbor Seals.
It is SO fascinating to see them in their natural habitat.
Another unique thing to do in La Jolla is the Sunny Jim Sea Cave Tour.
For this tour you descend 145 stairs to the cave.
After descending into the cave you will come out to an area where you will see the profile of what looks like a male.
Fun Fact
The Sunny Jim Sea Cave got its name from the Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum who thought that the outline of the cave looked like the profile of a 1920s British cereal mascot known as Sunny Jim.
Expert Tip
If you have a baby or young toddler, you may want to use a baby carrier for the cave tour. The steps in the cave can be slippery at times so it’s important to be able to hold on to the hand rails.
The self guided cave tour takes about 15 minutes to do and costs $10 for adults and $6 for kids 3-17 year of age.
If you looking for a bite to eat afterwards there are also lots of great restaurants in La Jolla.
Some other great spots and family friendly attractions in the area worth mentioning as well include:
Good to Know Information for Your San Diego vacation
- San Diego is a great destination to visit any time of the year. The temperatures are mild year round. Summer is the busiest time of year so if you want to avoid the crowds and have a bit warmer temperatures, spring and fall would be ideal. Winter isn’t a bad choice either!
- I recommend renting a car for your vacation. This will allow you the most freedom to explore the greater San Diego area especially if you want to drive to La Jolla or another beach town.
Expert Recommendation
If you can plan for an October vacation, kids eat and play for free during the month of October at over 50 museums across the San Diego area. This is a huge money saver! Make sure to double check any restrictions related to age, number of kids, and more. Some popular places kids can get in for free in October include the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, USS Midway, and Old Town Trolley Tours.
There truly is something for everyone in San Diego. Whether your family enjoys museums, parks, nature, amusement parks, adventure, you can find all of this in San Diego.
As you can see from all of the amazing attractions listed, San Diego is such a fantastic destination for a family vacation.
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PIN this post as a guide for your San Diego family vacation. May you love your adventure. KW
