Trips With Kids: San Diego

Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 June 2010 09:59

Editorial Departments

When you’re parents of young children, the phrase “family vacation” has double meaning.

The prospect of leaving behind routines, schedules and responsibilities is exhilarating. That’s why weekend destinations—all within driving distance—are ideal, and San Diego is the perfect spot for a great mix of fun activities for the whole family.

LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA

Tailor-made for parents with young kids, this 128-acre attraction features more than 15,000 models made from some 30 million LEGO blocks. With nine different play areas (Land of Adventure being the newest addition), LEGOLAND is a children’s dream come true. Plus, the play areas are safe and well-contained. For some ocean exploration, SEA LIFE Aquarium features a seahorse kingdom, bay of rays and a shoaling ring where kids are surrounded 360 degrees by schools of fish. Also, last month, LEGOLAND opened its first and only Water Park.

The centerpiece of the Water Park is a 45-foot-tall tower and there’s a lazy river where you can float on your own custom-built LEGO raft, plus several water slides including four-person raft slide and one-person tube slides as well as slides designed especially for toddlers

Editor’s note: Be sure to bring them an extra change of clothes in case you hit the water rides.

Single-day Resort Hopper includes admission to LEGOLAND California, Water Park and SEA LIFE Aquarium: $87 adult; $77 children ages 3 to 12 and seniors; FREE for children 2 and under. $12 parking. LEGOLAND California, 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad. 760-918-LEGO. www.legoland.com/california.

SEA WORLD SAN DIEGO

There’s something so beautiful about animals and humans peacefully coexisting. I know it sounds cheesy, but some in the audience get  teary-eyed during SeaWorld’s “Believe” show at Shamu Stadium. It is so cool to experience sea life (and five-ton killer whales at that!) as a family. Also for the wee ones, SeaWorld has Sesame Street Bay of Play, a two-acre play area with rides like “Elmo’s Flying Fish” and teacups-inspired “Abby’s Sea Star Spin.” Parents can even get away for some adult fun at SeaWorld. While the grandparents watched the little one, my husband and I visited the Anheuser-Busch Hospitality Center where we sampled beers on tap.

Single-day admission: $69 adults 10 and up; $59 children ages 3 to 9; FREE for children 2 and under. SeaWorld San Diego, 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego. 800-257-4268. www.seaworld.com/sandiego.

SAN DIEGO ZOO & WILD ANIMAL PARK

The zoo is probably best for kids ages 3 and up. Younger toddlers might be more interested in people watching than gazing at animals, but little ones can enjoy feeding the goats at the Children’s Zoo and monkeying around at Gorilla Tropics. Be sure to visit San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, a 2,200-acre nature preserve home to more than 3,000 wild animals. Watch cheetahs, elephants, lions and more roam free over expanses resembling their native habitats in Africa and Asia.

Single-day admission: $37 adults, $27 children ages 3 to 11; FREE for children 2 and under. San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego. 619-231-1515.

Single-day admission: $37 adults; $27 children ages 3 to 11, FREE for children 2 and under. San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido. 619-718-3000. www.sandiegozoo.org.

 

LA COSTA RESORT & SPA

This 400-acre luxury retreat is known for its world-class spa, championship golf and the Chopra Center for Well Being. It’s also wonderfully kid-friendly with a teen lounge called “Vibz” (complete with an X-Box 360 room, two billiard tables, air hockey, foosball and bowling lane) and “Kidtopia,” a supervised, interactive play area for children ages 6 months to 12 years (parents can drop off their kids here while getting a spa treatment or playing 18 holes of golf). We particularly enjoyed Splash Landing—three pools (heated at a comfortable 80 degrees), three waterslides and a play zone.

$250 to $300 per night (rooms); $350 to 800 per night (suites). La Costa Resort and Spa, 2100 Costa del Mar Road, Carlsbad. 800-854-5000. www.lacosta.com.

LIFE’S A BEACH

You can’t leave San Diego without checking out some of its amazing beaches. Like Coronado Beach, recognized by the Travel Channel as the “best family beach in America.” Or the turquoise waters at La Jolla Shores and the three-mile boardwalk connecting Pacific Beach and Mission Beach. www.sandiego.org.

REI DO GADO, BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE

Rei do Gado (“King of the Herd” in Portuguese) located in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, has some of the best Brazilian cuisine I’ve ever tasted. Opened in 2000 by Korean-Brazilian immigrants Paulo and Rupina Gi, this churrascaria boasts succulent meats (garlic top sirloin was my favorite) and a to-die-for salad bar.

$42 per person Monday through Thursday; $48 per person Friday through Sunday. 939 Fourth Avenue, San Diego. 619-702-8464. www.reidogado.net. —Jennifer Cho Salaff