San Diego Attractions

This 1400-acre park proudly reigns as the largest cultural park in our nation. Home to 15 museums, including the Aerospace Museum and the Model Railroad Museum, botanical gardens, plays, musicals and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The question isn't whether to visit Balboa Park. The question is how many days will you devote to this crown jewel of San Diego?

This museum is too cool for school. If you're ready for a crash course in an incredible sport that just hit the ripe old age of 101, it's worth your while to head out to Oceanside and immerse yourself in the California Surf Museum, devoted to all things hanging ten. The museum is packed with antique surf boards, trophies, yesteryear's bathing suits, surf movie posters and old photos of the surfers showing us how it's done. Admission is free and artifacts are rotated regularly.

Parent of a Lego aficionado? Then you can't bypass this Mecca for everything LEGO. Located 30 minutes north of San Diego, the 40 colorful rides thrill the youngest to tweens. There are areas to stop and build a masterpiece around every bend. And a large water park with huge, watery pirate ship delights little matees. Bathing suits and towels are a must. Even parents report loving this very clean, user-friendly theme park. Full price tickets are $59.95 adults and $49.95 for kids (12 and under) and seniors. Tip: A Costco is across the street from LEGOLAND and sells discounted admission tickets. They also have $2 pizza and a hot dog and drink for $1.50 which doesn't require membership.

Coronado Beach
The Coronado Beach sits on the Coronado Peninsula that also is home to the famous Del Coronado Hotel. This beach screams family, with gentle waves, nice sand, and great restrooms. Only caveat: occasionally stingrays enjoy the water here too, so shuffle your feet to get them moving on to quieter spots.

La Jolla Shores
If you only have one day to spend at a beach, make it the gorgeous La Jolla Shores. You'll find gentle waves, super clean, packed sand (easy to walk and run on) restrooms and no alcohol allowed. This beach is ideal for families looking for a day of building sand castles, eating sandy sandwiches and digging a classic day in San Diego. Arrive early, parking can be rough.

Pacific Beach
Both locals and visiting families rave about Pacific Beach. Parking can be difficult, so arrive early and be prepared to walk. You'll find great water, waves and restrooms.

Encinitas Moonlight Beach
Say buh-bye to the crowds. As classic as a beach can get, you'll find easy parking, volleyball courts and stands selling ice cream and corn dogs.

Horseback Riding
Happy Trails 619-443-3517
California dreamin' at its best. Happy Trails provides private horseback rides for just your family and the guide. The three-hour beach ride is recommended for kids 8 and up, but shorter rides within the bird estuary and along the river are also available for kids 5 and older. Three-hour beach rides are $120 per person.

Seals at La Jolla Cove
Once Upon a time (decades ago), the locals in La Jolla created a cove to teach kids how to swim in the ocean. Another group of locals, the harbor seal community, were overjoyed at finding such an ideal spot for lounging -- and stormed the place. Completely oblivious to the controversy they're causing -- the humans in La Jolla want their cove back -- you can catch the seals lazing away in the cove (at least for now).

Outdoor Summer Movies
Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, smart San Diegans sprinkle their region with outdoor summer movies shown on a 28-foot inflatable screen. All movies are free and begin at dusk so kids in pj's are encouraged. Check local listings.

Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is the largest indoor model railroad museum in the world. Kids will love the toy train gallery where the conductor actually lets you play with the toys! Kids can press buttons and make the trains go. Other exhibits for kids include Mac's Kids' Corner where movies are shown and more interactive toy trains await. During the holidays only, a five million-Lego traveling exhibit visits. Past traveling exhibits have included a Lego creation of Thomas the Tank Engine's Island of Sodor. A new creation is built for each holiday season. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and children under 15 are free when accompanied by an adult.

Located in Balboa Park is the world famous San Diego Zoo. As the zoo sits on 100 acres with thousands of animals to meet, beginning your adventure on a comfy 35-minute bus ride overview isn't a bad idea. On the double-decker tour, you'll wind through picturesque Tiger River, Panda Canyon, Bear Canyon, Camel Road, Elephant Odyssey and Cat Canyon. You'll finish the tour at Elephant Mesa where you'll find three African elephants and two Indian rhinos. The bus uber-guides share loads of humorous yarns about the animals making it easy to plan the rest of your day. Single day zoo tickets are $34 for adults (12+), $24 for kids (3 to 11) and kids 2 and under are free. Bus tour tickets are $12 (Adults 12 +), $7 (kids 3 to 11) and free for kids 2 and under.

Can't make your annual jaunt to Africa this year? Then San Diego's Wild Animal Park (the zoo's sister) is the next best thing. With 1800 acres of natural habitat, half devoted to free-roaming herds of rhinos, giraffes, gazelles, antelopes and birds, this park is one your family will be referring to for years. The park offers a generous menu of "special experiences" including a "Roar and Snore" program and a photo truck drive (what is a photo truck drive?)out to experience giraffe's eyes descending down to meet your own. It's okay, mom, they're gentle. Or even watch the fastest land mammal go for the gold. Yep, the cheetahs put on quite the show by charging after a mechanical rabbit. Sunscreen and strollers highly recommended: strollers, $9; double strollers, $14. Single day tickets are $24 for kids (3-11) and $34 for adults (12+). There are multi-day tickets and park-hopper passes. Special experiences are priced per package.

SeaWorld San Diego is a 189-acre premier marine park packed with shows that are guaranteed to produce awe (ever pet a dolphin? fed a stingray?) and close encounters with polar bears, beluga whales, walruses and more. And don't overlook the rides. One of the fastest is a simulated 400-mph jet helicopter thrill. Many rides require kids to be 42 to 48 inches tall and/or ride with a supervising companion. Special packages include dinner with Shamu and educational camps, tours and sleepovers for kids. The brand new Sesame Street Bay of Play is set up for the little ones. If they can walk, they can ride Elmo's Fishing Fish, Abby's Sea Star Spin and Oscar's Rocking Eel. And opting for a disposable waterproof camera and leaving your pricey one behind is highly recommended. Your family will get wet, even drenched, in the splash zones, so bring towels and rain jackets. Strollers run $10 for a single, $15 for a double. Tickets are $65 for guests 10 +, $55 for guests ages 3 to 9 and free for guests 2 and younger. Parking is $12 per car.

Like sneaking veggies into brownies, here's your window to stir rousing education into a lot of marine excitement. Located in stunning La Jolla, the largest oceanographic museum in the country, the Stephen Birch Museum, puts you front and center with 3,000 fish. Check out the giant octopus, the two-story kelp tank full of fish, and a 13,000-gallon shark tank. Kids love the Tide Pool Plaza, overlooking the gorgeous Pacific, where touching is required. Don't miss the camouflage tank where frogs, stingrays, sea horses, sea dragons and crabs hide in plain sight. Admission for adults is $11, kids ages 3 to 17 are $7.50, kids 3 and under are free.