There is a lot to do in San Diego and the surrounding areas! Be careful, or you will find yourself exhausted from attraction hopping. It is best to break up the following attractions with some down days. We love to stay near Mission Beach or Pacific Beach and do beach days between attractions.
Also keep in mind that October is Kids Go Free to most San Diego attractions including Legoland, Sea World, and the San Diego Zoo. Another way to get a discount is to get a Southern California City Pass.
San Diego Zoo – You need a full day to visit this zoo. It is bigger than you think and definitely the nicest zoo I’ve been to. Make sure you see the Pandas first thing in the morning as it is the busiest attraction and just gets busier as the day goes on.
Legoland – My kids were 7 and 9 when we visited this attraction and I have to say they had mostly outgrown it. The rides do not compare to Disney’s and are often for a younger crowd. However, if you are a lego fanatic, the lego sculptures are incredible. You won’t find a collection like that anywhere else!
U.S.S. Midway Aircraft Carrier – Whether you are interested in war vessels or not, this floating city is a marvel. The kids loved climbing through the narrow hallways and learning all about life at sea through audio headsets.
San Diego Safari Park – Sister to the San Diego Zoo, this park exhibits animals in a more natural habitat. Beware, however, that to see any of the safaris, you will have to pay quite a bit more than the entrance fee. Also, beware of age limits on the safaris.
Sea World – It’s getting a lot of press these days, but still remains the only park you can see large marine mammals up close. Our favorite attraction is the Manta Ray roller coaster. Okay, it’s not sea life, but it is a darn good roller coaster and often doesn’t have any line. We once rode it 9 times in a row without stopping.
A word about Disneyland – It’s 1.5 hours from San Diego without traffic. I don’t recommend doing Disneyland as a day trip from San Diego. Disneyland is its own animal without adding 3 hours of driving. I would suggest staying a night or two near Disneyland and then relocating to a hotel in San Diego.
Contact me to help plan your vacation:
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