A Family-Friendly 5 day San Diego Itinerary
San Diego is an amazing family tourist destination. There are just endless fun attractions to visit. And I mean endless! I probably could have spent 2 weeks just in San Diego alone. You can definitely spend more than 5 days here without a problem, but here are my favorite activities in this 5 Days in San Diego with Kids itinerary.
*Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Go San Diego Pass but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. I have been compensated with complimentary admission for my time and to supply an honest review.*
Day 1 in San Diego: Seaworld San Diego
Seaworld San Diego literally has something for everyone in the family. So there are lots of animals of course, but there are also rides for big kids and little kids, and they even have a water park!
There are lots of shows at Seaworld San Diego, we only had time for the Orca Encounter which was amazing. Some tips: Get to the show early to get a good seat, and the wet zone gets wet. Soaking wet actually! If you do not want to get wet, DO NOT sit there.
Most of the lines and shows at Seaworld San Diego are in the blazing sun so plan accordingly with plenty of sunscreen. If kids are in a stroller, be sure to bring some sort of canopy cover for shade.
We spent one whole day at Seaworld San Diego, but we definitely did not get to see and do everything. I would recommend 2-3 days if you really want to experience everything that there is to offer.
Day 2 in San Diego: San Diego Zoo
I recommend starting the day off with a delicious breakfast at Breakfast Republic in Mission Valley. Because they have so many breakfast choices it was hard to choose. We went with the Banana Split French Toast, the S’Mores Fench Toast, and the Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. And all of them were perfect and delicious.
Make sure you have their Nitro Cold Brew Coffee. It is the most delicious coffee I have ever had in my whole entire life! It is served over ice and has a yummy froth on the top. Amazing…
After breakfast, make your way over to the San Diego Zoo. This zoo is one of the absolute best zoos I have ever visited! It is absolutely massive.
Make sure you plan ahead with comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and you will definitely need a stroller for younger children. It’s hot and there is a lot of walking so be prepared.
There are animals that I have never even seen before in any other zoo. We loved all of the exhibits, but we especially loved the Panda Trek. The line can get long, but it moves fast and is definitely worth the wait.
Day 3 in San Diego: Mission Beach/Belmont Park
Today is a beach day! Mission Beach has nearly 2 miles of oceanfront boardwalk filled with shops and restaurants. So build some sandcastles, swim in the waves, and shop until your hearts’ delight.
Make sure to spend some time at Belmont Park. Belmont Park is a family amusement park located right on Mission Beach in San Diego.
The main attraction of Belmont Park is, of course, their iconic red Giant Dipper Roller Coaster. But Belmont Park is full of rides of all kinds, carnival-style games, and delicious restaurants.
I will advise that Belmont Park seems to be the “hang out” for many local teens later in the evening. So if you have small children you might want to visit right after dinner to avoid long lines.
Make sure you enjoy a family dinner at one of the many beach restaurants during sunset. It is spectacular!
Day 4 in San Diego: San Diego Safari Park
The San Diego Safari Park is a 1,800-acre park that is home to over 2,600 animals. If your budget allows, I highly recommend purchasing the additional Caravan Safari. It was an experience of a lifetime! We had the chance to pet and feed Rhinos and also feed Giraffes with their crazy long purple tongues.
After a fun-filled day at the Safari Park, be sure to grab some dinner at Sammy’s Woodfire Grill. They have 12 locations throughout California and Nevada. We had pizza and pork dumplings that were magically delicious.
Definitely do not skip dessert as Sammy’s. The Mini Donuts and Messy Sundaes are to die for. I think I could have just gone there and had desserts only. They were that yummy!
Day 5 in San Diego: Legoland
Start the day off today at Toast Gastrobrunch. Toast Gastrobrunch is located in the Carlsbad area just a few minutes from Legoland. It’s a great place to fuel up before a day of fun at Legoland.
Toast Gastrobrunch takes breakfast to the next level! From their mouthwatering french toast to their little balls of fried mashed potato heaven, there is something delectable for everyone. They serve their breakfast with a chocolate covered apple. Say What?!
After breakfast, take a short ride over to Legoland California. I would say this is a good park for younger kids up to about age 10. There are some rides for older kids, but mostly the rides are for younger kids.
This is truly the place for LEGO lovers regardless of age. The LEGO displays are amazing!
Before heading out of the Carlsbad area, grab some dinner at Park 101. With an 8000 sq. ft. multi-level dining complex there is endless amounts of fun to be had.
The restaurant is located across from Pacific Beach and is kid and dog-friendly.
A great way to save on admission at many attractions is the Go San Diego Pass. There are multiple options to choose from and you can save a ton of money, especially if you are visiting multiple attractions during your vacation.
Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in:
San Diego, California, a beachside haven, is one of the top locations for those looking to rent or buy a home in the state. With calming views of the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay, stellar fish tacos, California burritos, and endless ways to spend your days, it shouldn’t come as a shock that nearly 1 million people are living in San Diego. If you’re considering buying a home or renting an apartment in San Diego, keep in mind that the median home sale price is $900,000 and the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $2,890.
If that number is out of your budget, don’t worry. We’ve got options to help you find a home. We’ve collected the 8 best affordable San Diego suburbs to consider living in. And the best part is that they’re all less than 30 minutes away from the city center. If you decide to live in any of these suburbs, you’ll still be close enough to San Diego to explore the city’s great neighborhoods without the price of living there.
Read the full article here: 8 Most Affordable San Diego Suburbs to Live In | Redfin
Related San Diego Posts:
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Our Seaworld San Diego Adventure
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5 Family-Friendly Restaurants in San Diego
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Family Fun at Belmont Park San Diego
Enjoy your:
5 day San Diego Itinerary with Kids!
Happy Travels!!
As someone from San Diego – you hit some majorly fun spots!!! 🙂 glad to see you had such a great time & highlighted these fun places for others to try out!
Thank you! San Diego is definitely one of our favorite vacation spots.
Definitely adding San Diego to my bucket list now! I am still drooling from your French Toast picture! Yum!
Oh my gosh, it was heavenly!
Looks amazing! I really want to go to the San Diego Zoo! It looks so amazing
I am a San Diego blogger! This is a great post! love all these things!
Thank you! You are so lucky to live there. We loved it.