Looking for the fun things to do in San Diego with kids? We’ve got you covered!
Are you thinking about a San Diego family vacation? You should! There are tons of things to do in San Diego with kids.
When we brought the kids to San Diego, we had just left Disneyland, so we weren’t looking for more amusement parks. And thankfully, San Diego has tons of family-friendly attractions, so you don’t need to step foot into Legoland or Sea World (unless you want to!).
Although you can easily spend a full week in this California city, a long weekend is enough time to get a good taste of everything that the town has to offer.
Our 3-day San Diego itinerary helps you plan the best places to visit with kids and even some suggestions on where to eat.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Let’s Plan Your Trip to San Diego!
Are you still working out the details for your trip to San Diego? These are some great ticket and hotel options!
Tickets/Tours:
- Go City: San Diego Explorer Pass: Save money if you’re planning on visiting multiple locations on this list!
- You don’t want to miss the San Diego Zoo.
- San Diego Harbor Cruise: See San Diego from the water!
Hotels:
- Embassy Suites offers two-room suites, free made-to-order breakfast, and also a nightly manager’s reception.
- SpringHill Suites is walking distance to the waterfront attractions and offers complimentary breakfast.
- The Residence Inn is walking distance to all of the waterfront attractions and select rooms have a full kitchen.
How to Spend Three Days in San Diego With Kids
DAY ONE: EXPLORE THE WATERFRONT
For your first day in San Diego with kids, head to the Embarcadero area of the city! Harbor Drive has many of the kid-friendly activities in San Diego.
Some of the fun activities are listed below, from north to south. You won’t be able to do everything in the Embarcadero in one day, but, as you can see, you have many options to choose from!
1. Take a Harbor Cruise
Get a view of the “birthplace of California” from the water! You can take one of the fun one or two-hour harbor cruises or even a whale-watching expedition. If your family loves spending time on the water and want a unique perspective of San Diego, this is a beautiful way to spend part of your day!
2. Waterfront Park and Fountains
Bring your bathing suits and play shoes to the Waterfront Park in San Diego! This 12-acre park was built in 2019, and has so many activities and offerings that give families a fun, FREE, way to spend an afternoon in San Diego!
On the north side of the park, several gardens feature a variety of flora not usually found in San Diego. Kids will love exploring the paths and learning about new plants.
On the southern side of the park is where your kids will want to spend most of their time. The HUGE playground sits adjacent to a large fountain built for splashing around!
There are bathrooms located next to the playground, with outside showers attached. There is also a snack stand and numerous picnic tables in the area. And the view of the Maritime Museum ships makes this park a perfect place for the entire family.
3. Maritime Museum of San Diego
Across from the Waterfront Park is the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Here, kids and their families can explore several historic water vessels, like submarines, tall ships, and even a ferry boat!
If sailing on the water sounds like fun to your family, sign up for one of their “On the Water Adventures”! The adventures ranger from 45 minutes to 4 hour long tours.
🤩Save money with a GoCity Pass and choose up to 7 different attractions. (many are on this list!)
4. USS Midway Museum
Further south on Harbor Drive is the USS Midway Museum. The USS Midway is a retired aircraft carrier that now features more than 30 aircraft on board. This is one of our favorite kid-friendly attractions in San Diego. Kids will love exploring the ship and pretend to pilot a jet or helicopter.
Take a self-guided audio tour (included with admission) to learn more about the sailors and their lives on the USS Midway. There is even a kid’s version of the tour! While onboard, kids can earn their Junior Pilot wings by answering a few questions about the tour.
5. Seaport Village
After a day on or near the water, kids are bound to get hungry! We loved visiting Seaport Village, at the crossing of Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway. This shopping and dining area offers various styles of food, treats, and shops that the whole family will enjoy.
As you enter the village, you can’t miss the historic carousel at the entrance. The carousel was built in New York in 1895 and has been moved several times throughout the country, including Texas, Oregon, and now its home, California.
At $3 per ride (cash only), it’s an inexpensive way to entertain the kids before you visit one of the 45 unique shops and eateries!
Plan to have lunch or dinner at one of the many waterfront restaurants. We enjoyed our meal, and the view, at the Pier Cafe. Don’t forget to save room for dessert!
Don’t forget to stop by Ben and Jerry’s for an ice cream treat. If they still have the Salted Caramel Blondie available, get it! You won’t regret the choice.
DAY TWO: BALBOA PARK
There are so many kid-friendly things to do in San Diego, and many of them are located in Balboa Park.
This 1200-acre park in the heart of San Diego was built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition. Now the park is home to numerous museums, gardens, and even street performers.
You can spend hours wandering down El Prado, visiting one or many of the museums and gardens that line the pedestrian pathway. You won’t be able to visit every location in one day, but you can try!
6. Balboa Park Museums
Over a dozen museums are located throughout Balboa Park, including several art and science museums.
If you are a member of an ASTC museum, you will receive reciprocal admission to both the Fleet Science Center and the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Both of these museums are perfect for kids. We spent about an hour in each museum and could have easily spent more.
If your kids are interested in all things planes, trains, and automobiles, there are plenty of museums for you to choose from.
The Air and Space Museum and the Automotive Museum are placed near each other on the southern end of the Pan American Plaza. Afterward, stop by the San Diego Model Railroad Museum!
The Art lovers will enjoy the multiple art museums on-site, including the Museum of Photographic Arts, The San Diego Museum of Art, and the Timken Museum of Art.
Don’t forget to stop the Spanish Village Art Center off of Village Place. The artist collective showcases several local artists, working in many different mediums. Enjoy the colorful promenade and stop by one of the studios to support a local artist!
7. Explore the Gardens and Outdoor Spaces in Balboa Park
Balboa Park does not lack in outdoor spaces or gardens for kids to explore! There are several FREE gardens scattered throughout the park.
These include the Desert Garden (on the east side of Park Blvd, across from the Fleet Science Center), the Old Cactus Garden (near the Automotive Museum), and the Alcazar Garden (adjacent to the San Diego Art Institute on El Prado).
Some gardens charge a fee to access, but they are worth it! The Japanese Friendship Garden is a 12-acre garden, located next to the Organ Spreckles Pavilion on Pan American Road. It is easily accessible from the Plaza de Panama.
In addition to the dirt paths throughout the garden, kids will love hopping over the stepping stones, and climbing over the multiple bridges located throughout the space. We highly recommend visiting this gem!
🤩Explore Balboa Park at night with a City Lights Night Tour.
Parking at Balboa Park
There are numerous FREE parking lots throughout Balboa Park. Depending on the time of day and day of the week, you may find the smaller lots fill up quickly. There is a large lot at the entrance of the park near Inspiration Point (President’s Way and Park Blvd).
From there, you can take the FREE tram to Plaza de Panama or the Pan American Plaza to easily access some of the popular attractions.
Balboa Park Explorer Pass
Balboa Park sells passes to access the museums in the park. The Balboa Park Explorer pass comes in single a day pass, or a seven-day pass. Single day passes include access to five attractions (your choice).
There is also a seven-day pass that includes admission to the San Diego Zoo. The passes are a great value if you plan to visit many of the museums and gardens in the park.
Don’t forget, many of the Balboa Park attractions, including the zoo, are also included in the Go City San Diego pass.
Where to Eat
There are many places throughout the park to grab lunch or dinner. Many of the museums have cafes that are accessible to outside patrons, without having to pay admission. These include Craveology at the Fleet Science Center and the Flying Squirrel Cafe at the Natural History Museum.
The Japanese Tea Pavilion, located right outside of the Japanese Friendship Garden, offers light fare such as soups, salads, and noodle bowls. Another option for sandwiches and salads is the Cafe in the Park, located in the San Diego History Center.
If you want a more formal dining option, visit The Prado at Balboa Park. This sit-down restaurant has a full menu from appetizers of calamari fries to main dishes of rib-eyes or Chilean sea bass.
DAY THREE: SAN DIEGO ZOO AND OLD TOWN
8. The San Diego Zoo
Considered one of the best things to do in California, the San Diego Zoo is one of the best San Diego attractions for kids.
We suggest allowing a full morning (and maybe some of your afternoon) to visit the zoo. Arriving at opening gives you the ability to see more animals without the crowds. It even gives you a chance to watch the animals eat their breakfast!
Parking is FREE at the zoo, but the price of admission is on the higher side. Luckily, the San Diego Zoo is included in the Go City San Diego pass. This will save you money, especially if you use the card for some of the other activities listed.
San Diego Zoo is home to so many types of animals! We loved watching the koalas and giraffe eat, the polar bears play around with each other, and of course, the majestic elephants walking around. If your child has a favorite animal, there is a good chance you can find it at the San Diego Zoo!
Keep in mind, the San Diego Zoo is built on a hillside, and some of the paths are very steep. You might consider bringing a stroller for the younger kids, even if they don’t use it regularly at home.
There are plenty of cafes and snack stands throughout the zoo. You can also bring your own lunch and snacks in the zoo and eat at one of the available tables.
9. Old Town State Park
If you want to step back in time and visit the first settlement in California, then Old Town State Park is the place for you! Old Town State Park is a fun destination anytime you’re visiting southern California.
Several FREE parking lots surround the park and the Old Town area. Click here for a map of parking lots. Once you are on-site, you can enjoy FREE entry into the many small museums they offer. The kids will love the Seeley Stable with the numerous wagons inside.
Come hungry to Old Town State Park. There are many dining options available that feature authentic Mexican food. You can even sample a freshly made corn tortilla at Case de Reyes in the Fiesta de Reyes section of the park, a special place in its own right!
Plan to spend a minimum of 1-2 hours at Old Town State Park. Although the park is not significant in size, there are so many things to see and eat, and shops to peruse, that time will fly quickly here. Kids will love the open areas, and discovering something new at each turn. Old Town State Park is a must-do when you are in San Diego with kids!
Where to Stay With Kids in San Diego
We stayed at the Embassy Suites San Diego Bay Downtown on our trip to San Diego with kids. It is conveniently located within walking distance of all of the Embarcadero attractions listed above. Balboa Park and Old Town State Park are about a 10-15 minute drive from the hotel.
There are several other hotels along the waterfront that are rated as family-friendly, like the SpringHill Suites and the Residence Inn. Both are walking distance to all of the waterfront attractions listed below!
For the more adventurous families, try camping on the beach at Campland on the Bay.
TOP HOTEL PICK
We loved our stay at the Embassy Suites. The large, two-room suites and free made-to-order breakfast were perfect for our family to enjoy San Diego over a long weekend.
How to Get Around San Diego With Kids
Walking
Many of the attractions on the waterfront are walking distance from each other. The pedestrian paths along the water make it easy to get to each attraction without having to move your car. We recommend staying at a hotel close to the water, so you can easily get to these attractions without having to find parking.
Car
A car is the easiest way to get around San Diego, especially to locations like Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. Even Old Town is easy to get to by car. There is ample parking at Balboa Park. Old Town San Diego has several lots along the perimeter. They can fill up quickly on weekends.
Trolley
The San Diego Trolley runs from the waterfront to Old Town San Diego (and beyond!) making it easy to get to the popular tourist attraction without having to deal with parking.
Trolley fare is $2.50 one-way for adults. If you are riding on the weekend, up to two kids can ride FREE with one paying adult. Children five and under are always FREE with a paying passenger.
Bus
Like most major cities, San Diego has bus transportation to get around town. If you do not want to drive a car around town, the bus will be your best option to get to Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. If your hotel is closer to the waterfront, the 215 bus (SDSU-Downtown) will be your best option.
Are You Ready for a Long Weekend in San Diego With Kids?
There are plenty of things to do in San Diego with kids! You have so many options on how to fill each day that no matter what interests your family, you will be sure to have some fun!
Even if you only have one day in San Diego, you can still see and do a lot. As a reminder, if you are planning on visiting the zoo and another attraction or more, consider purchasing the Go City San Diego Card. It will save you money during your long weekend in San Diego.
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