With summer winding down to a close, and back to school looming ahead of us, our family of five wanted to take one last quick getaway to escape it all. We needed somewhere that was drivable (but not too far) and had lots of things for all ages since our three kids range in age from 11 to 4. Enter Downtown San Diego, an area we kept talking about visiting but never did — until now.
Downtown San Diego is easily accessible by car, and has something for everyone. From the gorgeous waterfront to tons of walkable neighborhoods (kind of a must if you want to to keep lugging kids in and out of the car all day), and truly delicious dining options for the foodies, it's easy to spend a long weekend there. And if you're really feeling adventurous, hit up Legoland on your way out of town.
Here were some of our favorite finds:
Things to Do:
This was hands-down one of the most memorable parts of our trip. Whimsical and fun with tons for kids to do of all ages, our three kids could've stayed there all day. From an indoor theater that kids can dress up and "perform" on, to crafts and tons of imaginative play and an epic slide that takes you from one floor to the next, it's got everything their little hearts can desire. Hot tip: If you have a membership to other local children's museums in your hometown, make sure to check to see if they're part of the recipricol museum/zoo deal where you get 50% off admission at participating museums.
Visit Waterfront Park
Parks are kind of a must when traveling with kids to let the wiggles out, and this one was spectacular. Fun climbing structures, seasaws and whimsical slides made this a place they could easily stay for hours. There's even fountains they can play in when the weather is really hot. If your littles are too young or antsy to for a sit-down dinner at a restaurants, consider grabbing some take-out and eating it here picnic-style.
Explore the Gaslamp Quarters
This historic part of town is filled with gorgeous Victorian buildings, restaurants, bars, shops and live music on the weekends. Great for people watching or just strolling around.
Grab a meal in Little Italy
Pasta is usually always a hit with every member of the family, so why not get the best around? There's also a bustling farmer's market on Saturday mornings.
Take a day trip to Coronado Island
A short 30 minute drive from the Bay will take you to lovely Coronado Island. Pack your beach gear and grab a spot in front of the world famous Hotel del Coronado. You can rent chairs and/or umbrellas there and grab food either at the hotel or the outdoor taco stand they have going on. Don't forget to treat the family to some ice cream at the nearby Moo Time Creamery.
Catch a baseball game
If it's baseball season, be sure to try to catch a game at Petco Park to watch the Padres do their thing. There's nothing like a warm evening out with lots of sports fans.
Visit the USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway is the largest aircraft carrier in the world that's open to visitors for touring. This massive ship (and we mean massive) has flight decks and actual planes and helicoptors on board for kids (and adults) to oooh and ahhh over. Besides being able to visit places like the engine room and lodging quarters, little aviators can even climb into the cockpit of certain airplanes and do a flight simulator!
Where to Stay
Intercontinental San Diego
If your little ones are huge fans of boats and water, the waterfront location of this new four-star hotel can't be beat. It's literally right across the street from the San Diego Bay which is filled with ships including the USS Midway. All of the launching docks for sunset/whale watching cruises are also located here. And it's a short walk to tons of restaurants, Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarters and the uber kid-friendly Waterfront Park.
The rooms were spacious with spectacular views (see above) and a two queen bed-room was more than comfortable enough for our family for five. The bathroom was large and spotless and we loved the Starbucks just outside the hotel — not to mention all the stunning waterfront views everywhere. And, yes, the beds were actually super comfy (kind of a big deal for tired parents everywhere who want a good night's rest while on vacation.)
