If you didn't know better, you would think that San Diego was designed by parents planning a long summer vacation. Activities abound for toddlers to teens. Dozens of public parks, 70 miles of beaches, and many museums are just part of what awaits kids and families. For up-to-the-minute information about activities for children, pick up a free copy of the monthly San Diego Family Press; its calendar of events is geared toward family activities and kids' interests. The International Visitor Information Center, at First Avenue and F Street (tel. 619/236-1212), is always a great resource. The Children's Museum of San Diego (downtown on Island St.) is currently undergoing a construction project and will reopen in 2005.
The Top Attractions
Balboa Park has street entertainers and clowns that always rate high with kids. They can usually be found around El Prado on weekends. The Natural History Museum, the Model Railroad Museum, the Aerospace Museum, and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center--with its hands-on exhibits and IMAX theater--draw kids like magnets.
The San Diego Zoo appeals to children of all ages, and the double-decker bus tours bring all the animals into easy view of even the smallest visitors. There's a Children's Zoo within the zoo, and kids adore the performing sea lion show.
SeaWorld San Diego, on Mission Bay, entertains everyone with killer whales, pettable dolphins, and plenty of penguins--the park's penguin exhibit is home to more penguins than are in all other zoos combined. Try out the family adventure land, "Shamu's Happy Harbor," where everyone is encouraged to explore, crawl, climb, jump, and get wet in more than 20 interactive areas; or, brave a raging river in Shipwreck Rapids.
The San Diego Wild Animal Park brings geography classes to life when kids find themselves gliding through the wilds of Africa and Asia in a monorail. For visitors age 8 and up, the Roar & Snore camping program--held April through October on weekends--is immensely popular.
Other Attractions
Seaport Village has an old-fashioned carousel for children to enjoy.
Old Town State Historic Park has a one-room schoolhouse that rates high with kids. They'll also enjoy the freedom of running around the safe, park-like compound to "discover" their own fun.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps, in La Jolla, is an aquarium that lets kids explore the realms of the deep and learn about life in the sea.
Knott's Soak City U.S.A. is a water park with slides, raft adventures, and a wave pool.
The Gliderport will entertain kids as they watch aerial acrobats swoop through the skies. See "Outdoor Pursuits: Hang Gliding & Paragliding," later in this chapter for details.
Chula Vista Nature Center is a small facility located near the bottom of San Diego Bay that has a walk-through aviary and tanks for getting up-close with stingrays and small sharks.
LEGOLAND California, in Carlsbad, features impressive models built entirely with LEGO blocks. There are also rides, refreshments, and LEGO and DUPLO building contests. The park advertises itself as a "country just for kids"--need I say more?
That's Entertainment
The Globe Theatres (tel. 619/239-2255; www.theglobetheatres.org) showcases Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas each year during the holidays--performances are scheduled mid-November through December. San Diego Junior Theatre (tel. 619/239-8355; www.juniortheatre.com) is the oldest continuing children's theater program in the country, operating since 1948. The productions--shows like Peter Pan and Little Women, and staged at Balboa Park's Casa del Prado Theatre--are acted and managed by kids 8 to 18. Ticket prices are $7 to $10 for adults, $5 to $7 for children and seniors, and performances are held on Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Sunday afternoon is a great time for kids in Balboa Park. They can visit both the outdoor Spreckels Organ Pavilion for a free concert (the mix of music isn't too highbrow for a young audience) and the House of Pacific Relations to watch folk dancing on the lawn and taste food from many nations. Or, try the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre, in Balboa Park's Palisades Building (tel. 619/685-5990). Individual shows might feature marionettes, hand puppets, or ventriloquism, and the stories range from classic Grimm's Fairy Tales and Aesop's Fables to more obscure yarns. Performances are Wednesday through Friday at 10 and 11:30am and Saturday and Sunday at 11am, 1, and 2:30pm. The shows cost $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and children over 2; they're free for children under 2.
