Spring Break in San Diego is a no-brainer. Pristine beaches, surefire shopping, immaculate weather and more kid-friendly Spring Break activities than just about anywhere else in the country. (It’s also great for the teen/young adult crowd, but that’s another post).
Here’s a few of our favorite ideas for a family Spring Break in San Diego:
- San Diego Zoo – Our #2 Zoo in America just might be the #1 kid-friendly attraction in San Diego. With over 4,000 animals, there’s almost too much to see in a single visit. Don’t miss the Giant Panda exhibit, one of only four in the world. (Learn More)
- Belmont Park – Located near Mission Beach, this fun-filled “beachfront amusement center” entertains the whole family all year long with sensational carnival/amusement park-style rides and so much more.
- Legoland – It’s a bit of a drive up to Carlsbad (just over 30 miles), but it’s well worth it for a visit to Legoland. A consistent San Diego favorite, Legoland mixes rides with charming mini-recreations of famous places and times.
- SeaWorld – Another famous San Diego attraction, kids (and their parents) never tire of seeing the dolphins, sea otters, sea lions, and of course Shamu having fun and performing amazing shows.
- Reuben H Fleet Science Center – The Science Center in Balboa Park is one of the defining examples of the now popular “interactive” science museum. Most of the exhibits at the Fleet Science Center can be manipulated and studied by guests, providing a “hands-on” experience that’s as fun as it is educational. Kids love it!
- Mission Beach – The most popular beachfront area in San Diego, Mission Beach agrees well with the family-friendliness of San Diego, especially during Spring Break, when sand and surf-lovers of all ages head out for a great day in the sun.
- Whale Watching – The San Diego whale watching season only lasts until the end of March, so it’s actually the perfect choice for your Spring Break in San Diego. There are several options, but San Diego Harbor Tours comes highly recommended (linked above).
This is just a tiny sample. What are your favorite Spring Break spots in San Diego? Let us know in the comments section below!
For hotels near Sea World San Diego and many of these other attractions, we love the Holiday Inn San Diego on the Bay. Of course, Holiday Inns are always great for families, what with the “Kids Eat Free” and all that. This property is an especially good choice because of their San Diego vacation packages. You can get free tickets to San Diego Zoo, Sea World or a Big Bay Cruise.
(The Holiday Inn San Diego Hotel on the Bay is located at 1355 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA, 92101, locating it within six miles of Balboa State Park, the Zoo, SeaWorld, and the beaches. Map.)
Want more Spring Break 2009 coverage? Head over to our official Spring Break Ideas Center, updated daily with links to all of our posts.
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7 Comments
Thanks for the information. This gives me great ideas on what to do for Spring Break with my kids. It sounds like the combination of San Diego water, zoos, and Sea World, our favorite water park, are ideal. I’ll let you know how it goes. Maybe even post some pictures!
Linda
San Diego sounds fun but since I live so near its fun to get out sometimes and feel like you’re on a real vacation.
I’m going on a trip to Europe with EF College Break.
I started taveling with them a few years back with a few friends and now every school break I get I go on a different tour to another country even if its on my own. Group tours with packed itineraries and everything is taken care of so they do all the planning and I do all the traveling!
I think I’ll be going on the Europe Up and Down tour this summer to Italy, Greece, France and the Netherlands.
BTW, you can save $ with CM discount code ALTAMIRANO2007
Sounds good, Melissa. Thanks for your comments!
Wow! San Diego really looks like a must have for tourists. Would you know if there are hotels, inns, etc that offer less than $40 a night for a family of 3 (2 adults and 1 below 10)? Preferably near Legoland so that my kid can senjoy the rides.
Mark
Philippines
Hi Mark, thanks for writing. $40 is a bit of a rough order, considering the location, but if cost is your primary concern, you can certainly find something for less than what we’ve suggested above. Close to Legoland, consider the Rodeway Inn Near Legoland. They’re going anywhere from $55-$69 in March, which really is a great price out on the West Coast.
And of course, there’s always Motel 6. You’ll be looking for any location in Carlsbad, California if you want to stay near Legoland. We usually don’t do motels here, as many on staff come from hotel backgrounds, but for the prices you want, you’ll almost certainly have to go that way. I hope you have a great trip, and I hope this helped at least a little.
EF College Break is a great tour company to travel abroad for anyone ages 18-26 (27-30 also welcome for small adult supplement).
In all EF College Break tours airfare, hotels and accomodations, sightseeing tour guide, entrance to select attractions, travel within country, breakfast daily, one dinner, and airport pickup…plus free time to explore!
If you’re interested going on one of these tours feel free to e-mail me at mmcknight@mail.uri.edu
Also, be sure to use discount code McK8224 for a guaranteed $50 off any tour. Some tours offer $150 off!
Thanks for your comments, Melanie.
Since we don’t really do International here, this is potentially a great resource for our readers. Thanks for the heads up.
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