San Diego
Balboa Park - San Diego Zoo
Balboa Park has a world-famous zoo, museums, lush gardens, outdoor concerts and puppet shows - any day of the week, it's always fun for kids.
San Diego Zoo - The San Diego Zoo is a "must do" and you can easily spend the entire day here.
New - two giant pandas Xin Bao and Yun Chuan!
Little kids will enjoy Children's Zoo - pet the animals and visit the animal nursery. Take in the sea lion or birds of prey shows. Audio tours are available in English, Spanish, French, Japanese and German.
Miniature Train - This pint-sized train, located to the south of the main entrance to the Zoo, is just a delight for the toddler set. The ride is short but the experience is sweet.
Carousel - Kids of all ages will enjoy a ride on this old fashioned carousel, in operation since 1922, with fifty six different animals, including giraffe, camel, tiger etc.
Rent bikes and surreys - At Village Place (next to the Village Grill), rent bikes, cruisers, kids' bikes, trailers, surreys (seat 4) and go for a ride around the park.
The NAT - San Diego Museum of Natural History - Start with the excellent "Fossil Mysteries," to discover dinosaurs and sea creatures that lived in the San Diego region during past 75 million years. "Coast to Cactus in Southern California" re-creates different habitats - desert, chaparral, canyons and streams, mountains, wetland and seashore (Grizzly bears used to go to the beach), plus endangered animals, such as the California condor, San Bernadino flying squirrel, Sonoran pronghorn. Museum is fun for kids of all ages.
In the giant screen theater, watch films, such as "Ocean Oasis," about the Baja California desert and Sea of Cortez, check the schedule.
Tip: Use Go City San Diego pass
Fleet Science Center - The Science Center features a space theater with IMAX films. The kids under 5 will enjoy the Kid City with soft blocks and things to push and pull. Bigger kids can head over to the interactive exhibits about water, energy, and changing exhibitions.
Tip: Use Go City San Diego pass
Pepper Grove Playground - South of the Fleet Science Center is a large kid's playground and picnic area.
San Diego Automotive Museum - San Diego Automotive Museum - California is a center of car culture, and the Automotive Museum is a wonderful place to see the history of cars in their "natural habitat." Check out the horseless carriages, big cars of the Fifties, one-of-a-kind motorcycles, " muscle cars," and "art cars." Kids can see what family cars were like before seat belts - the VW bus, a 1952 Nash with foldout beds, a 1937 "woody" station wagon, the first economical family car, the 1914 Model T Ford.
Tip: Use Go City San Diego pass
Model Railroad Museum - This model railway museum has long been a favorite with kids in San Diego. The train layouts highlight the American Southwest. Watch the model trains as they puff through the mountains in the Tehachapi Pass, chug over the Goat Canyon trestle high above the Carrizo Gorge, or stop at the San Diego Santa Fe train depot at the turn the century.
San Diego Air & Space Museum - Follow the history of aviation, starting with hot air balloons and the Wright brothers, to W.W.I planes, 20's and 30's barnstorming planes, W.W.II Spitfires and Hellcats, to state-of-the-art jets - MIGs and Skyhawk jets, and the Blackbird spy plane, out into space with the Apollo space capsules and models of the Mars Rover. Toddlers will enjoy a section with planes to climb on, knobs to push and pull. Don't miss the full-size replica of the Spirit of St. Louis.
Tip: Use Go City San Diego pass
Museum of Us (San Diego Museum of Man) - As you come in, you can't miss the extraordinary 26 ft high Maya stele (replicas) from Quirigua in Guatemala. Upstairs, find out about the Kumeyaay, the native Americans that lived in San Diego county - what they ate, what kinds of dolls they played with, what kinds of games they played. Also at the museum, you can watch how tortillas are made, and weaving demonstrations.
Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater - There's always puppet shows happening here, presented by a wide variety of puppeteers from around the world. You might see marionettes, shadow puppets or hand puppets.
International Cottages (House of Pacific Relations) - A different country from Europe, Middle East and South America hosts dancing, music and typical food (e.g. Scottish bagpiping, Czech dancing, Turkish folk songs, Swedish meatballs). Houses are open on weekends.
Gardens - The mild climate in San Diego is a bonanza for gardens - with a little water, almost anything will grow here. Spend some time just rambling through these very different gardens:
Japanese Friendship Garden - Explore the garden with koi pond, bridges over waterfalls and bubbling streams, zen rock garden, cherry blossom festival with children's activities in spring. Cafe with noodles, sandwiches, cold drinks. Tip: Use Go City San Diego pass
Zoro Garden - This is a butterfly garden, planted with milkweed, sunflower and passion vines for butterfly larvae, and nectar plans for the adult butterflies. Look for monarch, sulfur and swallowtail butterflies!Botanical Building and Lotus Pond - In the arboretum, step into a lush tropical rainforest. In front of the Botanical Building, the Lily Pond is endlessly fascinating, the peaceful reflections in the water and blooming water lilies. Alcazar Garden - You'll feel like you're at the Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain. Any time of year, the garden is planted with bright colored plants, and you'll want to dip your fingers in the star-shaped blue tiled fountain in the center. Ride the Balboa Park Tram - Balboa Park is big place. Hop on the free red tram to ride around the park. The Park Tram goes in a loop from Inspiration Point where you can park, to the Air and Space Museum (Pan American Plaza), to the main Plaza de Panama, right by the Visitor's Center.
