What are the best things to do in San Diego for kids? Now that Kevin and I are parents with energetic twins, our priorities have shifted slightly. Before kids, we searched for the perfect romantic bistro (preferably with a good wine menu!). Our new must have? Finding a restaurant with 2 high chairs! Our kids just turned 16 months, and grandma and grandpa came out to see them for the first time since COVID kept us all under lockdown. So I was tasked with finding the best things to do in San Diego for kids that would be entertaining for everyone.
Even though we’re parents, it doesn’t mean we have to completely sacrifice what we love to do. We’re all about incorporating our kids into our travel plans and seeing their excitement! Below are the top things to do in San Diego for kids that we think the entire family will enjoy.
Top Things To Do in San Diego for Kids: Eating Your Way Through Little Italy
Little Italy in San Diego is by far one of our favorite places to spend our time on trips to San Diego, even before kids. This is one of the most walkable neighborhoods and is close to so many of the other spots on our list. Are you a fan of shopping? Eating pasta? And lazing around with a good cocktail on a sunny plaza? If so, you have found your spot!
My husband Kevin strolls around Little Italy with grandma and our daughter.
We recommend basing yourself in Little Italy to be near all the action. There are some fantastic hotels, but as a family, we enjoy having the extras like a kitchen, laundry and a backyard. That’s why we enjoy staying at this gorgeous mini villa available on Airbnb.
The relaxing space at the mini villa on Airbnb. This is a perfect spot to relax with the family, and in the heart of it all.
Enjoying the family time at the Airbnb in Little Italy.
On Saturdays, you will not want to miss the massive Little Italy Mercado with free samples and local products galore (listed as #5 on our feature of top date ideas in San Diego). But of course, no trip to San Diego is complete without having an Italian meal at one of the many outdoor cafes. There are a lot of options, but one of our favorite go-to spots is Bencotta. They’re accommodating to families with kids. Plus, they offer an extensive wine and pasta menu (making dad and papa happy!).
Meal out at Bencotta in San Diego’s Little Italy with the family.
Exploring San Diego’s Seaport Village And Taking in The Ocean Breeze
Situated in downtown San Diego, Seaport Village is a popular spot. It’s about a 5 minute drive from Little Italy and tucked way between the historic USS Midway Aircraft Carrier and the San Diego Convention Center. We visited around Thanksgiving and the place was hopping! You’ll find plenty of shops, souvenirs and restaurants with views of the bay.
We planned our trip to the Seaport Village to have lunch first at the Edgewater Grill. This spot overlooks the bay, and has options to sit both inside or outside. We ended up getting a table inside the restaurant since it was a little chilly. But the views were just as spectacular with its floor to ceiling windows.
After filling up on lunch, we suggest wandering the Seaport Village’s cobblestone pathway bordered by ponds, lakes and fountains. We walked through a portion of the village before hitting the waterfront pathway towards the USS Midway. The walk will take about 10-15 minutes one way, depending on your family’s pace. But is well worth checking out!
A major highlight is walking from the Seaport Village to the USS Midway docked in the San Diego harbor.
Strolling Through the San Diego Zoo
We’ve been to many zoos across the country and around the world. And the San Diego Zoo ranks as the best we’ve been to. Get your walking shoes on, because this place is massive, covering more than 100 acres with 3,700 animals inside. There are several ways to explore it. We opted to walk through it to take in the aviaries and its many immersive sections. However, if you have kids or family that aren’t as mobile, the zoo also offers a 35-minute guided bus tour that gives a good overview of the zoo, along with an express bus that stops at several locations.
The cheetah is either very intrigued by us or is thinking, “yummy, it looks like lunch!”
We also recommend checking out the zoo’s website for any special exhibits or functions. For most of our time living in California, we’ve traveled home for Thanksgiving. But there have been some years that kept us back. On those occasions, we’ve spent our Thanksgiving at the zoo. So when we heard the grandparents would be visiting us this Thanksgiving, we knew the zoo would be something we’d all enjoy.
The twins are enjoying their Thanksgiving at the San Diego Zoo.
After your meal, you can burn off that turkey. Or maybe sneak in a nap like grandpa!
Learning About the Conservation Efforts at Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Looking for fun with a side of science? La Jolla’s Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the place for you. Note, as of writing this blog post, advanced reservations are required and can be made online. As the public outreach center for the renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Birch Aquarium will introduce kids to the cutting-edge research taking place. But for our little ones, it was a nice distraction with all the underwater animals. Our daughter loved seeing all the fish, pointing and screaming “dog.” Clearly, she has a new favorite word!
It’s a small aquarium, which we loved since it’s manageable for the family. You’ll find exhibits with a rescued Loggerhead Sea Turtle, a Giant Pacific Octopus, Leopard Sharks and jellies. But what did I love the most? Heading outside for the touch pools and that gorgeous San Diego oceanfront view.
Taking in the Views of La Jolla’s Shore
Dining on the outdoor terrace at La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla.
There is just something magical about La Jolla, located a quick 10-15 minute drive north of Little Italy. We love our time in La Jolla, and early on in the pandemic booked an Airbnb with oceanfront views. With that said, La Jolla can be a pricey spot so you’ll likely find some better deals in San Diego. If money is no object, well, La Jolla is your spot! First stop? Make a beeline for an outdoor table at the La Valencia Hotel, aka the “pink palace” given its distinct pink exterior. La Valencia Hotel is a beautiful historic hotel with a million dollar view!
After enjoying your seaside meal, cocktail (or both!), head towards La Jolla’s shore to see the many sea lions and seals lounging about. One of the best places to spot them is an area called “Children’s Pool.” Your kids won’t be able to swim here, but it’s well worth the journey to see the waves crashing and hear the sea lions calling out. Once again, our girl Ava was thrilled to see the animals and squealed “dog” in excitement. Something tells us, we’re going to need to expand their animal vocabulary after this trip!
The coastal trail wraps around the waterfront for about 3 miles. But you can easily scale this back if you want to. The beauty of this trail is that you’re just steps away from downtown La Jolla and its busy commercial district filled with bakeries, shops and cafes. So once you get tired, you can always just cut off the trail and head into town. Note, it’s not the easiest to travel with a stroller, so we recommend bringing the kids along in baby backpack carriers.
And there you have it! We hope you enjoyed these ideas of things to do in San Diego for kids. Looking for other ideas of things to do in San Diego? Check out our full coverage of San Diego must-see spots, including 8 fun date ideas for a weekend in San Diego. Love Mexican culture and food as much as we do? Check out our self-guided walking tour through San Diego’s Barrio Logan neighborhood. Or go further afield and see all of our adventures in Los Angeles including the best places to get a close look at the Hollywood Sign.
Can’t wait for our next San Diego adventure!
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