San Diego-1st trip!

[Marge123]

Hello Everyone!!

I need your help. My family and I are planning our first trip to San Diego in August. We are thinking about hitting the San Diego zoo, Sea World and Legoland. Are all these things good to do with a 3-year-old? Also, where are some good hotels to stay at? Only requirements are that it needs to be clean, prefer free parking and have a nice pool for the kiddo. Do we need a car? Lastly, any thoughts on good beaches to visit? Thank you!

 

[rizzo0904]

Hello Everyone!!

I need your help. My family and I are planning our first trip to San Diego in August. We are thinking about hitting the San Diego zoo, Sea World and Legoland. Are all these things good to do with a 3-year-old? Also, where are some good hotels to stay at? Only requirements are that it needs to be clean, prefer free parking and have a nice pool for the kiddo. Do we need a car? Lastly, any thoughts on good beaches to visit? Thank you!

We are going in a few weeks with our 2 and 3 year old boys. We're staying at the Residence Inn...initially Kearny Mesa, but now the Sorrento Valley location. I love Residence Inns since you get breakfast and social hour, extra room, a kitchen, and the two I mentioned have free parking. It's 15 minutes to both the zoo and Seaworld.

I'm excited about Seaworld. It has a Sesame Street play area and a splash pad. We are also doing the "Dine with Shamu" lunch.

There are various food trucks events...I know Mon/Wed/Fri nights at least. If you are interested I can give you links for those. I figure it's an easy dinner that's outside if the kids are cranky from being tired.

Beaches: we plan to visit Little Corona del Mar up in the Newport Beach area for their tide pools and also Sunset Cliffs in San Diego for the same thing.

If your son likes trains, there is a pedestrian bridge down near the baseball field that is over a train switching yard. And in Poway they have a steam train that runs on weekends for very cheap.

Legoland: we decided to skip this. It's pretty expensive and the reviews say it's getting tired and isn't worth the money. We'll do the new one in Florida when we go in 2013.

I'll post my thoughts in 3 weeks when we get back.

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

The zoo, Legoland, and Seaworld would all be great for a family w/ a 3 year old. The zoo has a lot of hills, though. So you might want to consider the bus for most of the zoo, then go back and hit on the Children's Zoo on your own. Also consider the Wild Animal Park (or "Safari Park" as they call it now. Sorry, I'm a lifetime San Diego resident and I can't get used to their new name. LOL)

Legoland is expensive, but it's a great park for a 3 year old.

I think the best beach around for small kids is Coronado. I take my kids there (ages 5, 6, 7) and it's perfect. Don't expect to do much swimming in the water, though. The ocean water in San Diego is COLD.


Coronado beach:

It's a very family friendly beach with small waves. We can usually see dolphins when we come here, too.


If you want to see tidepools, I'd go to Cabrillo (at the end of Point Loma). You need to check the tide charts to see if there is a low-tide during your visit, though.

Yes, you'll need a car.