Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around San Diego - 2020

The Zoo, located adjacent to downtown San Diego in Balboa Park, is 100 acres in size. It is well known for its lush, naturalistic habitats and unique animal encounters and is home to more than 3,700 rare and endangered animals representing approximately 660 species and subspecies and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 plants. It is viewed in several ways, first and foremost by walking along pathways, into aviaries, and through bioclimatic zones. There is a 35-minute Guided Bus Tour that gives a good overview of the Zoo, along with an Express Bus that stops at several locations to assist guests in accessing different areas. We suggest taking the Guided Bus Tour upon your arrival to acquaint yourself with the various areas where you would like to spend additional time. The Zoo is a unique walking experience that exhibits animals in the most natural way possible, adding shows and animal presentations throughout the day for additional enjoyment. We recommend a minimum visit time of at least three to four hours.

At The New Children’s Museum, we believe play and art-making promote the skills that our future leaders need: creativity, confidence, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, critical thinking, collaboration, resiliency and optimism. The New Children’s Museum unlocks children’s innate creativity by exposing them to art and the creative process.

San Diego Junior Theatre provides engaging, innovative, high-quality theatre education and productions for children of all cultural heritages, ages, abilities and levels of interest.

Ever changing. Always amazing.  Where culture, science, and nature collide, Balboa Park is home to more than 16 museums, multiple performing arts venues, lovely gardens, trails, and many other creative and recreational attractions, including the San Diego Zoo. With a variety of cultural institutions among its 1,200 beautiful and lushly planted acres, there is something for everyone.

 Only at SeaWorld® San Diego theme park can you get close to dolphins, penguins, sharks and more! See awe-inspiring shows with magnificent killer whales, playful dolphins, humorous sea lions plus an amazing pet show featuring adopted animals. Dive under the sea at Explorer's Reef and touch a crab, shark, or playful cleaner fish. Experience exhilarating rides, roller coasters and water rides. See dozens of amazing attractions. Enjoy fresh California cuisine. Experience this beautiful park located on scenic Mission Bay. SeaWorld® is a top-rated, all-age attraction and a must-see for any visit to San Diego.

Belmont Park’s Giant Dipper Roller Coaster was designated a National Historic Landmark on July 4, 1990 and officially reopened on Saturday, August 11, 1990 after 14 years of repose. Now visitors to Belmont Park, San Diego’s Premier Beachfront Family Amusement Center, can again enjoy the excitement of quick drops, steep hills and high speeds of the Giant Dipper and enjoy other rides, shops, restaurants, and attractions.

Get ready for summer at Aquatica® San Diego water park where the South Seas meets Southern California in this whimsical, tropical oasis. Discover your inner Aquatican with waves from serene to extreme, up-close animal experiences, private cabanas, and attractions for the whole family. If you're looking for the biggest thrill in the park, make a splash at the newest attraction Taumata Racer® - a high-speed competitive mat ride where you'll find adventure head first! 

Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. In addition to telling the story of 16th century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Exploration.

Live the adventure & honor the legend of the USS Midway with activities & fun for the whole family onboard! 

The Living Coast Discovery Center is a natural treasure on San Diego Bay. Our nonprofit zoo and aquarium is uniquely situated on the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, offering visitors an ideal setting in which to explore the amazing animals and plants that call our coastal region home.

The Zoo, located adjacent to downtown San Diego in Balboa Park, is 100 acres in size. It is well known for its lush, naturalistic habitats and unique animal encounters and is home to more than 3,700 rare and endangered animals representing approximately 660 species and subspecies and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 plants. It is viewed in several ways, first and foremost by walking along pathways, into aviaries, and through bioclimatic zones. 

San Diego Junior Theatre provides engaging, innovative, high-quality theatre education and productions for children of all cultural heritages, ages, abilities and levels of interest.

This 400-acre lagoon is home to a wide array of flora and fauna and invites us to appreciate our water resources through such uses as a YMCA day camp, recreational boating, a mussel and oyster aquaculture facility, a white-sea bass hatchery, and a power generating plant. It connects us to a greater world in so many ways. 

The whole family can celebrate the Irish in all of us!