Episode #34: San Diego with Kids: Legoland, SeaWorld & Our 1-Week Family Itinerary
San Diego with Kids: Our 1-Week Family Vacation Guide
Why San Diego is One of the Best Family Travel Destinations
If you’re looking for a family vacation destination that checks almost every box, San Diego, California is hard to beat.
Beautiful beaches, sunshine, world-class attractions, great food, and activities for every age make San Diego one of our favorite places to visit as a family of seven.
Last spring, we spent a full week in San Diego with our five kids, and it was such a fun mix of adventure, relaxation, beach time, and memory-making. One of the best parts for us is that it’s also an easy drive from Las Vegas at around six hours, making it a very manageable getaway for families in the Southwest.
Whether you’re planning your first visit or looking for new ideas for your next trip, here’s a full overview of what we did, what we loved, and why San Diego is such a fantastic destination for families.
Where We Stayed in San Diego
We stayed at the Marriott Vacation Club San Diego, located downtown.
This was a great home base because it gave us easy access to many of the top family attractions in San Diego, including Balboa Park, Coronado, SeaWorld, Mission Beach, and great dining options.
When traveling with a larger family, having extra space and a central location always makes a big difference.
Legoland California with Kids
One of our first big family adventure days was spent at Legoland California.
Legoland is especially great for younger kids, and our younger children absolutely loved it. Our older two kids still enjoyed it, but felt it wasn’t quite as exciting as when they were younger, which is common as kids grow.
We had a great day riding attractions, exploring the park, and taking lots of photos with Lego characters and displays.
One of our favorite parts was walking through Miniland USA, where famous cities are recreated entirely out of Lego bricks. As a Las Vegas family, we especially loved seeing the miniature Vegas section.
We also watched one of the 3D movies during the day, which was a great way to sit down, cool off, and take a little break.
Our boys were excited to use their spending money to buy new Lego sets, which made the day even more memorable.
Legoland Tip:
If you have younger kids, Legoland is absolutely worth it. If your kids are older thrill-seekers, you may want to pair it with bigger attractions like SeaWorld or beach days.
Coronado Beach with Kids
We also spent time at Coronado Central Beach, which is one of the most beautiful beaches in the San Diego area.
Driving over the Coronado Bridge is always fun for kids, and once you arrive, the whole area feels charming and relaxing.
The kids had a blast playing in the sand and searching for treasures along the shore. We found beautiful sand dollars, which was such a fun surprise.
Coronado is also worth exploring beyond the beach, with cute shops, restaurants, and a very family-friendly atmosphere.
Imperial Beach Pier
Another fun outing was visiting Imperial Beach Pier, where we had dinner at the end of the pier.
These are the simple family travel moments I always remember most. Sitting together, enjoying a meal, watching the ocean, and soaking in the experience.
Balboa Park with Kids
We spent another day at Balboa Park, where we met up with family.
Balboa Park is one of San Diego’s most iconic areas and is a fantastic place to visit with kids. It offers:
Museums
Gardens
Walking paths
Play areas
Beautiful architecture
Open space to explore
You can purchase passes for multiple museums, but on this trip we chose just one stop: the San Diego Automotive Museum.
And it ended up being a huge hit.
The kids loved being able to sit in various classic cars and see incredible vehicles up close, including:
A Model A wagon
Race cars
The DeLorean from Back to the Future
The original Model T
It was interactive, fun, and surprisingly great for kids.
Afterward, we had lunch nearby and ended the day with more beach time near Mission Beach.
Balboa Park Tip:
Choose one museum instead of trying to do everything in one day. Then leave time to simply walk and explore the park.
SeaWorld San Diego with Kids
We also spent a full day at SeaWorld San Diego, and it had been years since our last visit.
We were really impressed by how much the park has changed.
SeaWorld now has some genuinely exciting roller coasters that our older kids absolutely loved.
For younger children, there is a separate kid ride section with several family-friendly rides. We paid $5 for a skip-the-line pass for that section, and it was definitely worth it.
We loved both major shows:
Orca Show
An incredible experience. Our older kids chose the splash zone while my husband and I wisely stayed higher and dry.
Dolphin Show
Beautifully done and really entertaining for families.
Playground Tip
SeaWorld has an excellent shaded outdoor playground area that is perfect if younger kids need free play time or if one child is napping in the stroller.
Aquarium Area
Toward the end of the day, we explored the aquarium, which includes a fun moving walkway through an overhead tunnel surrounded by sea life.
Our daughter also loved stopping at the Build-A-Bear inside the park.
Belmont Park + The Plunge
Another great family day was spent at Belmont Park near Mission Beach.
We visited The Plunge, a large indoor pool area featuring an inflatable obstacle course in the water.
The kids had so much fun.
Good to Know:
Shorter kids need a swim test to swim independently
Life vests are available
Bring your own towels or rent them onsite
Belmont Park also has a classic wooden roller coaster, rides, food, and easy beach access.
Since we had just done rides at SeaWorld, we skipped those and instead grabbed tacos nearby and had a beach picnic dinner while the kids played in the sand.
Honestly, that was one of my favorite evenings of the trip.
San Diego Zoo
We didn’t visit the San Diego Zoo on this particular trip, but we’ve gone in the past and absolutely love it.
If it’s your first family trip to San Diego, the zoo is one of the city’s top attractions for a reason and well worth adding to your itinerary.
Other Great Things to Do in San Diego with Kids
If you’re staying longer, here are more family favorites to consider:
La Jolla Cove- Watch sea lions and enjoy beautiful coastal scenery.
Birch Aquarium- A great option for younger kids and ocean lovers.
USS Midway Museum- Perfect for older kids who enjoy planes, ships, and history.
Old Town San Diego- Fun atmosphere, shopping, culture, and great Mexican food.
Whale Watching Tours- Seasonal, but unforgettable if timing lines up.
Mission Bay Bike Rentals- Great paved paths for easy family biking.
Tips for Visiting San Diego with Kids
Bring Layers
Even warm sunny days can turn cool in the morning or evening.
Don’t Overschedule
There is so much to do. Plan one major activity each day and leave room for beach or downtime.
Mix Attractions with Beach Time
Theme parks are exciting, but beach time often becomes the favorite memory.
Build in Rest Time
Pool breaks, naps, snacks, and slower evenings matter.
Stay Central if Possible
A downtown or Mission Bay area hotel makes getting around much easier.
Why San Diego is So Great for Families
San Diego is one of those places that simply works for family travel.
It offers excitement without feeling overwhelming. It has world-famous attractions without losing its laid-back beach vibe. It gives parents plenty to enjoy while still being incredibly kid-friendly.
From roller coasters and Lego rides to tacos on the beach and finding sand dollars in the surf, San Diego is packed with moments your family will remember.
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