A San Diego Family Vacation Must Be on Your Bucket List

San Diego is undeniably one of the most beautiful cities on the West Coast. If you’re looking for the perfect destination for your next family adventure, this is it. A San Diego family vacation is a must on your family’s bucket list and I’m sharing everything you need to know about planning your trip.

You guys know that I love a good beach destination. San Diego is such a beautiful place and on our recent family adventures we decided to venture to the city to explore everything it had to offer. How did we decide on San Diego? Easy. I found a flight deal through Scott’s Cheap Flights and it was a no brainer. I mean how could we pass up a flight to California for under $150?

So we hopped on our flight to Cali in the middle of August, which in my opinion is the perfect time to visit, and embarked on our week long family vacation to explore a new city. I visited San Diego once before as a part of a press trip and always wanted to go back to visit with my family. This was our first time to San Diego as a family and to California as a family of four. Before Trevor was born, we had the chance to visit both Palm Springs and Los Angeles. We really fell in love with everything California had to offer so we were super excited to go back and explore a new city.

Things to Do on Your San Diego Family Vacation

Finding activities and things to do in San Diego with kids was a breeze. The city has endless activities to offer. There is always some sort of event or activity happening on the weekends in addition to the staple attractions advertised in the city. Making a budget for activities during your trip can help you to decide which activities and attractions you’ll do during your stay.

You guys know I usually love to make a detailed itinerary for every trip, I mean like down to the minute. This trip was a little different though. August was such a busy month for us travel wise so we decided to “fly by the seat of our pants” as my husband likes to call it on this trip. After this trip though, I think finding a middle ground is the best way to travel. Creating a laid back itinerary so you have options is definitely the way to go.

Anyways if you’re looking for things to do on your San Diego family vacation I’ve got you covered. Here’s some of the things that we really enjoyed during our trip.

Have a Picnic at Torrey Pines State Reserve

Torrey Pines State Reserve is just absolutely breathtaking. It’s 2,000 acres of coastal state park in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego. If your family is more on the adventurous side, it is the perfect place for hiking. They have numerous trails for hikers. Even if you’re a beginner you’ll find a hiking trail here. It costs $15-$25 per vehicle for admission into the park. Admission is included if you have an annual California State Parks Vehicle Day Use Pass.

Swimming, surfing and fishing are also popular activities at Torrey Pines. During low tide, the beach is a must visit.

Go Shopping at Mission Valley or Fashion Valley

If you love shopping like me then you’ll be searching for some of the best shopping malls while you’re in San Diego. Mission Valley and Fashion Valley are two of the popular shopping malls in the area. Mission Valley is a traditional open air shopping mall with stores like Target, Nordstrom Rack and Macy’s.

Fashion Valley is an upscale open air shopping mall in Mission Valley. With over 1 million square feet of leasable shopping space, it’s the largest mall in San Diego. It’s also one of the largest malls in California. Here you’ll find upscale department stores like Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. It’s the perfect location to spend the day shopping. You can even dine here as they have many restaurants to choose from.

Make sure to leave extra space in your suitcase if you plan on shopping during your trip because you’re sure to find some amazing pieces in San Diego.

The San Diego Zoo is a Must Stop on Your San Diego Family Vacation

Many call the San Diego Zoo the best in America. The zoo is located in Balboa Park and made up of about 100 acres. There are over 12,000 animals and 650 species in the zoo. A one-day ticket to the San Diego Zoo costs $74 for visitors ages 12 and older. Tickets for kids ages 3-10 are $64. Admission includes the guided bus tour, Kangaroo Express Bus, Skyfari Aerial Tram when those attractions are available plus access to all regularly scheduled shows. If you visit on a value day (tickets available for purchase online only) you can save a little money on entrance fees.

The best time of day to visit the zoo is early in the morning. The earlier you arrive, the better chance you have at beating the crowd. If you’re hoping to visit on the least busiest days, you’ll want to aim to visit Monday-Friday. The animals also usually tend to be more active in the morning. One thing to keep in mind when visiting San Diego Zoo is that you won’t be able to see everything in one day.

Ride a Roller Coaster at Belmont Park

The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, also known as the Mission Beach Roller Coaster, is a wooden roller coaster located in Belmont Park. Belmont Park is a small amusement park in the Mission Beach area of San Diego. It is open year round for visitors. Parking and admission are free for everyone. You can pay for individual rides and attractions as you go through the park or buy a pass for all of the attractions in the park. The cost of tickets and passes vary. You can purchase a ride and play combo wristband for adults for only $60. Wristbands for kids under 48″ are $55 each.

Spend the Day at Fleet Science Center

If you’re making a plan to visit San Diego with kids then you’ll definitely want to add the Fleet Science Center to your list of things to do. It’s a science center located in Balboa Park. You’ll want to plan for about 2 hours in the science venter. If you have smaller children you may want to plan for a little extra time. With more than 100 interactive exhibits there is plenty for everyone to do here. Visitors can attend daily from 10 am to 5 pm daily. Free parking is available for visitors.

Free Places to Visit in San Diego with Kids

San Diego is a wonderful city to visit any time of the year but visiting during October has its benefits. Throughout the month of October more than 100 area attractions offer deals or free admission for kids to stay, eat or play. Some of the participating places include Sea World, LEGOLAND California, Birch Aquarium and USS Midway. Adults must pay for admission in order to qualify for the deals but it’s still a huge way to save money and stay within your budget during your trip. Check out Kids Free San Diego for more info.

These places listed below are free all year round so perfect for a visit at any time. One thing to keep in mind is that most museums are closed on Mondays so you’ll want to focus on outdoor activities or at your hotel on that day.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is so beautiful! I couldn’t get over the size and sheer beauty of the park. It’s nearly 1,200 acres larger than Central Park in New York City. Parking and admission to the park is free to the public. If you’re not planning to drive into the park, there is a tram that will take you to the heart of the park. The tram stops about every 15 minutes. It is home to 16 museums, multiple performing arts venues, gardens, trails, and other attractions. The San Diego Zoo and Fleet Science Center are located here. Balboa Park is the quintessential locations to spend the day in San Diego with kids. There’s so much space to just enjoy nature and quality time with each other.

You can literally spend an entire day here. Pack a lunch, a blanket and some drinks to have a picnic with your family. The Botanical Building and Timken Art Museum are always free for visitors.

free things to do in san diego with kids

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

La Jolla Cove + Children’s Cove La Jolla

La Jolla Cove is open to the public year round. It’s the perfect place for families to spend the day in San Diego with kids. If you’re wanting to go swimming, diving or snorkeling than this is a great place. Kids love to look at the sea lions and seals here. We visited La Jolla Cove during our trip and our kids really enjoyed it. I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary.

Spruce Street Suspension Bridge

Now I am not a huge fan of bridges but the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge is a must while in San Diego. It’s a fun little activity to add to your itinerary. Plus it’s free to visit. The Wiggly Bridge is a 375 ft long bridge located in the Bankers Hill neighborhood of San Diego. If you’re planning to visit Balboa Park, which I highly recommend, then you should definitely stop here on your way. It’s great for photos.

Family Friendly Restaurants

We are absolute foodies and San Diego has a plethora of restaurants to choose from. Honestly, the food can make or break a destination for us. All of the restaurant choices can be a little overwhelming especially in a big city like San Diego. We learned quickly that not every menu caters to children who are picky eaters. Finding restaurants that our kids would enjoy took a little extra research but we were able to find some really amazing places with unique menus that we thoroughly enjoyed.

Louisiana Purchased

MUST TRY: Oxtail Skillet, Spicy Chicken Skillet and the Crawfish Garlic Parmesan Wings

I would recommend Louisiana Purchased to anyone who asked. The food was so tasty and fresh here. My kids are picky eaters but loved the variety on the menu. If you’re looking for a restaurant with a menu that offers bold favors, this is the spot for you. We loved it so much we ate here a few times during our trip. I highly recommend trying the Oxtail Skillet, Spicy Chicken Skillet and the Crawfish Garlic Parmesan Wings. Keep in mind that the menu includes a monthly rotating “Neighborhood Tastes” where the chef offers new dishes that he is experimenting with so you’ll want to try those out too.

If you’re planning to try out Louisiana Purchased during your San Diego family vacation, be sure to make a reservation. The wait can get quite long for walk ups.

Morning Glory

MUST TRY: Breakfast carbonara, soufflé pancakes, chicken and waffles

Morning Glory was a spot that was recommended over and over during our search so we had to try it out. The wait was a bit long here. I think we waited about 30-40 minutes for a table when we arrived around 11am. They don’t accept reservations and they get pretty busy. Getting there earlier would be best. Keep in mind that they’re only open from 8am-3pm during weekdays and 8am-4pm on weekends.

The food was great and I loved the vibe of the restaurant. The menu offers fun cocktails, mocktails, and coffee drinks. I ordered the Breakfast Carbonara and would definitely order it again. If you’re not a fan of poached eggs, you could opt to leave it off or have it cooked another way. The chicken and waffles, pancakes and soufflé pancakes are a must.

Morning Glory also offers a small selection of family style dishes. If you decide to place an order for one of these dishes, you’ll be guaranteed a reservation. You must give a 48 hour notice.

Great Maple

MUST TRY: smoked beef brisket hash, johnny’s lolliwaffles, maple bacon donuts

Great Maple, located in the Hillcrest neighborhood, is the one restaurant that I thought was the most family friendly during our trip. They offer a kids menu with a small selection but it’s perfect for kids. If you’re visiting San Diego with kids, add it to your itinerary for breakfast or brunch. They do offer dinner as well but we weren’t able to experience it during our trip.

We got to the restaurant around 10am and there was no wait. However, I definitely recommend making reservations. You’ll also want to be aware of the parking before going. The parking lot is small. We were able to find street parking but I’m sure that’s not always the case when the restaurant gets super busy.

Where to Stay in San Diego with Kids

San Diego has so many amazing hotels and resorts to offer. On our search for places to stay in San Diego it was so hard trying to make a final decision. We knew that on this trip we wouldn’t be spending a majority of our time in the hotel because we have family in San Diego that we wanted to spend time with in between exploring the city. Our goal was to find the best hotel with basic amenities (meaning no pool), since those things weren’t necessary on this trip, in the best neighborhood for the best rate. Since San Diego is filled with plenty of beaches to choose from a pool at our hotel just wasn’t necessary.

We ended up staying at The Monsaraz San Diego. It’s a Marriott property that is part of their Tapestry Collection with a mid-century modern vibe. Located in the Point Loma neighborhood, The Monsaraz is not too far from some of San Diego’s most popular attractions and San Diego International Airport. We were definitely satisfied with our choice. The hotel was beautiful and had all of the amenities we needed including a restaurant and valet parking. The bonus with staying at this property was that we were able to receive Marriott rewards points for our stay.

We booked a double bed room and it was perfect for our family of 4. The rooms are non-smoking but the property is pet friendly so that’s something you’ll want to keep in mind. Monsaraz San Diego offers valet parking only for $37/night and has EV charging available for $57/night ($20/charging + $37 parking fee). Parking for oversized vehicles is $47/night. The hotel also has a restaurant but we didn’t get to try it out during our stay.