Every inch of San Diego is full of sunshine and warmth all year, even when the rain happens to be falling from the sky. While you may not think that this is possible, we can assure you that the locals are so friendly, that you will think that everything looks gorgeous, even on the bleakest day. When you arrive in this fabulous city, you are going to be overwhelmed with the sheer volume of San Diego attractions, which means that you are not going to know what to do first and what to skip over.
Well, here are our 5 favorite things to do in San Diego with kids:
1. Visit the San Diego Zoo
No one will argue over the fact that the San Diego Zoo tops the list of where to take kids in San Diego, because they know that this is where the infamous Giant Pandas live. Everyone loves those furry creatures, and that means that you will want to create your zoo itinerary carefully, or you won’t have enough time to stand there watching them play, and sleep, for hours.
2. Visit Seaport Village
This seaside area is the perfect choice for those who want to spend their time outside, and you can all spend hours there, as you watch the numerous entertainment options that are everywhere. There are plenty of places to eat, but your kids are going to want to grab a cupcake from Frost Me Gourmet before you can step foot inside any other restaurant. After taking a ride on the historical carousel, we recommend purchasing a kite from the kite store, and letting your children fly it down by the bay.
3. Go to Surf School
If you have always wanted to learn how to surf, take your kids and enroll in one of the surfing schools. This is one of the most thrilling things to do in San Diego with kids and you will all have so much fun out in the water. Hopefully, you will learn how to catch that perfect wave in the process but start out with having fun and see how it goes. We guarantee that your kids will do better than you do though!
4. Visit the Sea Lions and Seals at the Children’s Pool
The Children’s Pool is one of the best places to see the sea lions and seals in La Jolla, although you will not be able to get too close to them or touch them. However, you can still listen to them make noise and grab a few pictures to show that you were really that close to them.
5. Work Off Some Energy at Waterfront Park

Children of all ages will love venturing down to Waterfront Park, where they can play in the water fountains and climb the playground equipment. This is a fantastic area for a picnic lunch at any time of the year, or a snack in the evening during the summer months, as they are showing an outdoor movie.
These are our five favorite things to do in San Diego with kids, but you may find other things that you think are even more enjoyable for your family. We recommend that you create a basic itinerary and then rank those items according what you must see immediately and what can wait for later if you have the time. Then you can truly see the San Diego attractions that are most important to you during your visit.
This article is part of our popular series, Place To Go With Kids!