Family-Friendly Hotels

Family-Friendly Hotels

Got kids in tow? San Diego is designed for family fun; the year-round sunny, warm weather ensures lots of play days. The focus is on outdoor activities, such as surfing or swimming, but be sure to spend a day at Balboa Park's gardens, museums, and IMAX theater. Many hotels let kids under 18 stay free—just ask. And check into kids' activity programs, family-size suites, in-room Nintendo, or kitchenettes. Shop around for hotel packages, which often include tickets to local attractions.

Some of the high-end properties give kids the special treatment with children's programs; most occur in summer, some year-round. The famous Hotel Del Coronado has tons of activities, from surfing lessons, treasure hunts, and kayak tours to making sand candles on the resort's white-sand beach. The Loews Coronado Bay Resort has welcome gifts for children, a kids-only pool, a game library, and special menus. Some recreational fun is offered seasonally, such as sunset sails and gondola rides. And kids can bring their pets.

Across the bay, resorts on family-friendly Mission Bay cater to young ones. The Hilton San Diego Resort holds a summer Kid's Kamp (ages 5-12, $10 per child per hour) with koi fish feeding, sand-castle building, and scavenger hunts. There's a special children's wading pool, a lawn croquet course, a sand volleyball court, and plenty of water-sport rentals, paddle boats, and Jet Skis. At the Lodge at Torrey Pines' library, kids over age 12 can play pool or watch movies borrowed from the concierge; it's open from 8 AM until 11 PM.

-Lenore Greiner