Let San Diego entertain and educate your kids with its many fun attractions.
San Diego is full of museums that cater to the interests of children and their parents. Popular Balboa Park is home to seemingly countless museums, galleries, and theatres, not to mention the San Diego Zoo. Museums include the San Diego Aerospace Museum, the Museum of San Diego History, the San Diego Automotive Museum, and the San Diego Museum of Art, to name only a few. The San Diego Natural History Museum has a section specifically for children. The museum's "Dinosaur Dig" allows a child to explore the world of dinosaurs, how they lived, why they disappeared, and learn facts about fossils. "Shark School" teaches children all about these sharp-toothed creatures of the sea, and kids can do puzzles about sharks, learn the anatomy of a shark, and discover which shark species live off the coast of San Diego. At "Mineral Matters" children can learn to grow crystals and identify the basic properties of minerals. Before leaving the Natural History Museum, children should be sure to visit Ms. Frizzle and the Magic School Bus.
Balboa Park also has attractions such as an antique carousel, a puppet theater, a miniature railroad, a pipe organ pavilion and plenty of picnic areas and playgrounds. But of course, the number one attraction is the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The Zoo is known for its realistic habitats and exotic creatures such as okapis, koalas, pythons, polar bears, and giant pandas. Even tiny children will enjoy the Children's Zoo, where they will find a petting zoo and can get an up-close look at tiny monkeys, mole rats, and tropical birds. The zoo has several restaurants, snack bars, gift shops, and even a high-flying gondola to ride from one side of the zoo to the other.
After visiting the zoo, many children will enjoy traveling north of town to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Many of the same animals will be found that are in the zoo, but here they live as they would in the wild. "The Heart of Africa" is an adventure that gives children and adults the impression of being on a true African Safari, and "The Wgasa Bush Railway" will take visitors past many endangered species. The Wild Animal Park is a step out of southern California into another world.
A visit to San Diego wouldn't be complete without stopping at Sea World. Children will be charmed by the manatees, laugh at the penguins, and come face-to-face with sharks. Petting and feeding the dolphins is the next best thing to being in the ocean, and the polar bears' adorable antics disguise their size and ferocity. Sea World has more than just animals, though. The Shipwreck Rapids ride will have everyone screaming for more, gift shops and restaurants are dotted throughout the park, and educational camps are available for all ages each summer. And of course, don't forget beloved Shamu, the orca that wows audiences with his jumps, tricks, and friendliness to his trainers.
A few miles north of San Diego, in the ocean side community of Carlsbad, are two distinctly different, but equally enjoyable attractions. Legoland of California is a Lego-lover's dream. Not only does Legoland boast more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, but kids are directly involved with what goes on at the park. Everything is hands-on; they build as they go. Also near Carlsbad is a sight few will believe. From the middle of March until about the first week in May, the Carlsbad Flower Fields bloom in an amazingly bright rainbow of colors that stun children and adults alike. The giant ranunculus flowers are similar to a poppy, growing to about 3 feet in height. Children will love running up and down the paths between the rows of flowers, and parents will click photo after photo of their children in the midst of the ocean of color.
Of course, San Diego is full of more leisurely, less organized attractions. If being closer to the beach is a child's fancy, older children will want to visit Belmont Park on Mission Beach, home of the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and many other rides and games. The beaches speak for themselves with opportunities to build sandcastles and play in the waves. Beaches around Mission Bay will appeal to families who like slightly warmer water, no waves, playgrounds and picnic areas. Playgrounds are easy to find in San Diego, with many near the beaches. One at the end of Fanuel Street in Pacific Beach looks out on Mission Bay and has its own beach. Kate Sessions Park, also in Pacific Beach, is a hilltop playground with a huge field for playing ball, lounging, and looking at the spectacular view of the city and ocean. Children who want to explore the water for creatures will enjoy being taken to the end of Point Loma. There they can wade in the tide pools looking for hermit crabs and starfish and then tour the 150-year-old lighthouse. The top of the point offers panoramic views of the city of San Diego and nearby Coronado Island, as well as many walking paths for romping in the sun.
If the kids aren't completely tired out by all the fun they've had, parents will enjoy taking them to the Bazaar del Mundo in historic Old Town. There are a variety of restaurants, all with Mexican food, patio seating, fountains, brightly-colored umbrellas and streamers, and Mariachi bands. After dinner, take the kids to some of the shops around the bazaar. At the edge of one of the courtyards is a tiny but charming toy shop that will tempt children of all ages with its unique toys and stuffed animals.
In San Diego, parents will find an abundance of things to entertain, educate their children, and enjoy a southern California beach town at the same time!
