I'm catching up on my trip reports. This is the oldest one I'll post now, and it's a bit dated (October 2015). However, I did receive some very useful advice on this site from folks who helped me plan this vacation, and I hope this trip report will help the next traveler plan an amazing trip!

I'd heard for years that San Diego was one of the top family vacation destinations in the United States. And now I know why. With amazing weather, tons of beaches and outdoor activities, a world-class zoo and theme parks, I can't imagine ever running out of stuff for the smaller set to do! PLUS, October is Kids Free in San Diego Month, which means that tons of A-list attractions all over town don't charge admission for the shorties.

Our little crew went out for a week last fall, and we had a blast!! Here's the skinny:

We've learned that when we're planning to stay anywhere for a while, we'd rather have an apartment than a hotel room. You get more space, more options for private bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a washer dryer. This trip was no exception. We found Rental with a View online via Homeaway.com, and we fell in love with a centrally located upstairs apartment. It was really close to the airport, and I initially worried about noise, but the apartment was incredibly well-insulated and had really thick windows. When you went to bed, you couldn't hear anything. (Plus, from the little balcony, we could watch the planes land up close! My son LOVED this feature, as you can imagine.)

On our first day, we flew in, picked up our rental car, and headed straight for Balboa Park. The park is HUGE and amazing! There are tons of things to see inside, including several museums, a visitors center, dining options and more. Famished, we started with lunch at the Prado Terrace. We were seated outside, with a lovely view of the park. We feasted on fish tacos and mojitos and congratulated ourselves on our good fortune. It was a lovely way to begin our trip!

Afterwards, we stopped by the visitors center and then headed on to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. This place was so fun! There were tons of trains running through tons of distinct little worlds - small towns, mountains, bridges through canyons, and the whole place just seems to go on and on and on! We loved peering in and seeing all of the painstaking details in each environment. Near the end, there was a big, themed room that I think they must decorate for every holiday. We loved this space, as it showed a real sense of fun! Plus, some of the train operators were there, and you could talk to them about their creations and learn about model railroads.

After the railroad museum, we checked out the botanical building and surrounding gardens. Lovely! The historical building, with its lily pond lagoon, was built 100 years ago, and it's still gorgeous! Inside, we marveled at huge palms, ferns, orchids and other tropical plants.

Our dogs barking, we decided to dip our toes into the Bea Evanson Fountain. There are some shady spots to cool off near the fountain, so after getting our legs a little wet, we relaxed in the shade with a lemonade and enjoyed the afternoon a bit.

Then, it was on to the Japanese Friendship Garden. This attraction packs a lot of beauty into a compact space, primarily through the use of vertical design. You start the tour at a beautiful little tea house featuring exhibits on the history of the garden, then move past a bright koi pond. After that, it's through a tall Japanese gate and down, down into the garden proper. The garden is really a wide crevice, planted on both sides and accessible via sturdy paths, with a winding brook at the bottom. Views are gorgeous. Plantings are everywhere, and they are very well cared for. Little bridges and wide stepping stones provide passage across the water. At the far end, a serene building that can be rented out for special occasions offers wonderful views through the garden.

Beat from our day in the sun, we rested back at the apartment for a bit before venturing out to rustle up some food. We chose Cucina Urbana for our first dinner in the city, and I couldn't have been more pleased! We entered and were seated in the sunken dining room, then ate pasta, pizza and small plates to our hearts' delight, washed down with red wine. They have a kids' menu, and our 8-year-old was welcomed with open arms! (He loved being able to build his own pizza. The ice cream sundae afterwards didn't hurt, either.)

Then, it was off to bed to rest up for another day of adventuring. I had BIG plans for our first full day in San Diego!

In the morning, we loaded into the car and headed for Coronado Island. I'd made us reservations for breakfast at the Hotel del Coronado's Sheerwater Restaurant, and I was stoked!! The buffet-style breakfast is pricey but amazing, and the location can't be beat - right on the beach. We loaded up our plates, scored a table on the back patio and pretended we were part of the 1 percent for a while. The food is varied and abundant; you can choose from almost any breakfast food you can think of. Servers keep the hot coffee coming, and the views of the water are lovely!! (A note - If you do this, plan extra time for parking. Parking in a lot at the hotel is $30. Give yourself time to park further away and walk in unless you're a hotel guest.)

After breakfast, we hit the water, and it was such an iconic California experience. The sky was picture-perfect blue, the waves crashing. The sand on Coronado Island has little flecks of gold in it, so it sparkles up at you. Clay had the time of his life playing in the waves, and I had the time of my life watching him and taking it all in. We made friends with others on the beach, chatting and marveling at our good luck to be in such a perfect place on a perfect day. An amazing morning.

When we started feeling like some lunch, we washed off in the beach showers and headed for Puesto, in Seaport Village. We loaded up on taco trios (because we like to try different things) and aqua frescas. So good! We sat outside and enjoyed live music in the courtyard as we ate. When we were finished, we noticed a nearby Geppetto's toy store. We ambled over to pick up some Lego mini figures for later in our trip, then got a gelato to share as we poked through the old jail at Seaport Village.

Then, it was off to the USS Midway, one of the must-sees of our trip. This vast aircraft carrier offers all kinds of educational nooks and crannies: sailors' bunks, officers' quarters, the brig, the huge hangar deck, the boiler room, the ready room and the incredible flight deck, which is home to a variety of planes. This place is crazy-cool. We tried on bunks for size, marveled at the ship's huge anchors, tried our hand at some of the wheels and dials, and chatted with the veterans placed strategically throughout the ship to learn more about their stories. We easily stayed here 3 hours. In hotter months, you'll want to dress for the weather and pack or buy some bottled water, as it can get warm and stuffy inside. We loved this place!

Afterwards, we went to the apartment to rest and relax for a while before popping back out to Bencotto in Little Italy for dinner. After a full day of running around San Diego, I didn't even feel guilty carb-loading on tortelli di zucca - a rich concoction of pumpkin ravioli, sage cream sauce and bacon crumbles. (OMG. I could eat this every day.)

Stay tuned for more . . .

Day 3 of our trip dawned pleasant and cloudy. We decided it was time to try exploring the neighborhood around our apartment, and that was how we found Hob Nob Hill for breakfast. This place became a favorite of ours, and we returned to it a couple more times during our vacation.

Open for business since 1944, entering the eatery feels like stepping back in time. Elaborate chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and the wait staff are efficient, cheerful and know everything possible about the menu. Prices are alarmingly reasonable, especially considering the quantity and quality of food you get. Over the course of our vacation, we tried many menu items, but I think our favorite for breakfast ended up being the quiche of the day, served with a side of fruit. Fluffy, with a buttery crust, without fail. Someone here knows what they're doing.

After a filling breakfast, it was off to the San Diego Zoo! We'd been looking forward to this particular attraction for months. I don't know exactly what to tell you about it, other than it's just as awesome as everyone says it is. We got there right as the zoo opened. When we entered, we bore right towards the koala exhibit, then took a left through the Outback and Urban Jungle areas. Then, we headed north to see the pandas! (They were so cute!) We watched two snow leopards almost get into a fight in the Northern Frontier, then headed west toward the Lost Forest.

When we got hungry for lunch, we stopped at Treetops Cafe, which offers lovely views while you eat. Fortified, we were up and at 'em again, visiting tigers, chimps, gorillas, and orangutans. We ended up back at the Northern Frontier with polar bears. We took the Skyfari to see the zoo from above, and finished up at the elephant care center with a zoo guide.

The zoo is vast, and it's easily a whole day. There were parts of it, like Discovery Outpost, that we didn't even get to. Just pace yourself, and take breaks when you need to. We were very grateful that the sky was cloudy. That kept our visit cool and comfortable. (And remember, kids are FREE during October!!)

Once we were thoroughly worn out, we headed back to the apartment to rest. At dinner time, Little Italy was again a handy option. This time, we tried Davanti Enoteca. Some of my friends had been to this place on their trips to San Diego, and they recommended it. Delicious! We particularly loved the focaccia di recco, which was slathered with a white cow's milk cheese and drizzled liberally with honey. After such a busy day, we slept very soundly that night!

The next day, we went back to Hob Nob Hill for a quick breakfast, then headed for Cabrillo National Monument. What a gorgeous place! We spent the morning touring the visitors' center, then admiring the monument and dressing up like conquistadors for goofy photos. Then, we walked up to Old Point Loma Lighthouse to learn about California's seafaring history. Views are amazing up here, and we loved how the lighthouse is staged to look as though it might have during use. (I don't think it's possible to take a bad photo at this place.) We puttered over to the tide pools for a look, but since the tide wouldn't recede until the park was almost closed, we decided to keep moving.

Getting hungry by this time, we set our sights on Point Loma Seafoods, which we'd heard good things about. We got orders of fish and chips with tall glasses of lemonade. Delicious and inexpensive! We saw tons of servicemen and woman at the restaurant, too, all enjoying fresh seafood and a beautiful afternoon.

Headed back into the city, we stopped by Old Town with its State Historic Park to have a look. We peered into the old jail, schoolhouse, a beautiful old manor, a house-turned-restaurant, the old union building (where the newspaper was printed), a REALLY cool old cigar shop (such neat things inside!), the visitors' center and a fun little Wells Fargo exhibit. (Clay was unamused when I started signing the Wells Fargo Wagon song from Music Man. There's absolutely no accounting for taste, I suppose.)

We had already decided to eat nearby, at Fiesta de Reyes, but we weren't hungry yet. What to do? We settled on touring the historic Whaley House, said to be one of the most haunted houses in America. The Whaley House Museum was the first two-story brick house in San Diego. The lower floors contained the county courthouse and Whaley's general store, along with a dining room and kitchen, study, and parlor. Upstairs, you can find San Diego's very first commercial theatre (Tiny, with a raked stage!) and bedrooms. We looked hard for ghosts, but we didn't find any!

By this time, we were getting hungry, so it was off to Fiesta de Reyes for dinner. It's touristy but beautiful. We sat outside under twinkling lights as the brightly costumed waitstaff moved around the space. I had a gorgeous shrimp salad and a margarita, and Clay said his cheese quesadillas really hit the spot!

More adventures to come . . .

Day five of our trip was all about La Jolla. After a quick breakfast, we were in the car and off to check it out.

After parking, we walked the promenade and explored the beach a bit before showing up at La Jolla Sea Cave Kayaks for our tour. They provided us with helmets and life vests, then we all trooped back down to the beach for a short kayaking lesson. Then, we were off! We paddled all along the caves. Our guide, Sam, stopped to point out interesting houses, marine plant and animal life, etc. The water was a little rough, so we didn't actually go into the caves, but we got close enough to small the sea lions! (Lawdhavemercy!) We paddled back and, starved, ferreted out George's Ocean Terrace for lunch.

It's hard to think of a more picturesque spot. You are on the top of the building, facing the ocean. Blue stretches out around you. Clay and hubs both had burgers, while I chose the clam spaghetti. Everything was delicious! Prices are spendy here, but what you're really paying for is the excellent view. Service is impeccable.

After lunch, we walked the promenade a bit more. Since we didn't get to paddle into any caves, we decided to take the walk down to Sunny Jim's Cave, the only cave accessible via land. You pay a small fee, then take a short, easy walk down to the inside of the cave. Though we hadn't really planned this ahead of time, this activity ended up being one of my favorite of the trip! I loved standing inside the cave and watching the waves come rushing in!

After Sunny Jim's and a bit of relaxing on the promenade, we asked Google Maps to point us toward the Birch Aquarium. This place was fascinating. Clay loved the jellyfish (lit dramatically from above so they glow in the water), as well as the tropical seas exhibits. The seahorses were also a big hit. But perhaps the spot we had the most fun was at the tide pool plaza, where you can put your hand into the water and touch some of the sea creatures. We also really enjoyed the education classrooms and exhibit court, where you can learn about currents and energy through hands on activities.

On the way back home, we saw Mission Bay Park from the road and couldn't resist making a stop. Tons of playgrounds, a calm bay to play in and swaying palm trees. We dipped our feet in the water, had a lie-down on the soft grass, and watched as the sun began to set.

Completely pooped by this time, we decided to head back to the apartment. On the way, our stomachs started growling. We saw an In-N-Out Burger joint. None of us had ever had an In-N-Out burger, so we figured we'd try some. OMG! They were so good! Bellies full and heads drowsing, it was off to bed for some rest.

We'd been looking forward to day five of our trip for a long time. I have an 8-year-old little boy, and he loves Legos. He has tons of them. We went to see the Lego movie. We sang the "Everything Is Awesome" song ad nauseum.

So, you can imagine the fever-pitch-level of excitement with which we approached LegoLand. We arrived before it opened, showed our tickets, and went in as far as they'll let you before the park is technically open. Then, we counted down the time, and we were off!

On the way to the two big roller coasters, we stopped to sign my son up for one of the very latest slots for MindStorms, where the kids get to program a Lego robot to perform tasks. (We'd heard these fill up fast.) Once we'd done that, it was off to the coasters!

After that, we had the time of our lives riding rides, looking at all the cool Lego creations, playing in the intricate playground (We loved the Hideaway.), and eating apple fries (OMG). We LOVED Mindstorms (I was really glad I'd reserved ahead.), and we finished out the day at Pirate Shores. Throughout the day, we traded the mini figures we'd bought earlier in the week at Geppetto's for new ones, mixing and matching until Clay got some he really liked.

If you have a young child, this park is made for them. There was nothing that my son was too short or too light to ride. He was the perfect age to enjoy every facet of the park. We left, exhausted and sopping wet from the water rides, when they kicked us out. Needless to say, we slept like rocks that evening.

On our last full day in San Diego, I slipped away from Clay and hubs for the morning to visit the San Diego Museum of Art. The museum is sizable, but perfectly do-able in a long morning. Permanent collections are impressive, and I also loved a temporary exhibit featuring haunting, narrative photos by Gregory Crewdson. I enjoyed a quiet morning before stopping back by the apartment to pick up Clay and hubs for our sand castle building adventure in Del Mar.

We'd booked a lesson in advance with San Diego Sand Castles, and this activity ended up being one of my favorites throughout the trip! We arrived at Del Mar beach at around 1:30 p.m. Our sweet teacher showed us how to build up the base of the castle using rubber mats, clamps, sand, and buckets of sea water. Once we got that done, we had to wait a bit, so we walked down to the snack shop for hot dogs.

When we got back, it was time to unmold the basic structure of the castle and start detail work and features. This was so much fun! We had special tools to use, and we created cobblestones, roof tiles, stairways, doors and windows, a moat, and trees! Clay directed most of our efforts, and our castle turned out AMAZING!! I can't recommend this activity highly enough. So, so fun!

When we finished, we spent another hour or so enjoying the gorgeous beach before our growling stomachs told us it was time for dinner.

We'd heard good things about Whisknladle, so off we went. This place was delicious! Since we were still a bit beachy, we sat on the open side of the restaurant and nibbled delicious friend chicken and other treats! Then, it was off to the apartment to pack.

The next morning, we flew back home, already missing the place. I loved, loved, LOVED San Diego and would go back in a heartbeat! What a fabulous town!!

Wow, this is an excellent trip report. Hob Nob Hill was the restaurant we went to every Friday night with family for probably 20 years. We haven't been in almost as many years now. But it is a great place. Brings back many memories.

I didn't know about the sandcastle building in Del Mar. Sounds fun, will have to check it out.

We loved, loved, LOVED Hob Nob Hill! Amazing food, great value, and waitresses who take excellent care of you. No down sides.

And I highly recommend the sand castles. Ours was off the chain. Looking at it, I couldn't believe that *we* had built it. And the photos were insanely good.

Well I'm ready to go back now.

Thank you for writing such a great report. I live in San Diego and I learned some things from you

My grandma lives in an assisted living place a couple of blocks from the Hob Nob, so I take her down for lunch sometimes. She loves to go after 2 for the early bird special The servers take such good care of her. It is a great Old School place to eat.

We have traveled many places as a family, and San Diego has to be near the top of the list. So many activities that everyone can enjoy, blissful weather, amazing scenery, and great food. I totally get why property values are so high there.

What a great report we went there for Spring Break in 2015 and our family loved it as well. We did some of the same excursions but no all.....some ideas for next time. My daughter still talks about our trip. Glad you enjoyed yours as well.

This sounds like a great trip for a family vacation. Did you post any pictures? I'd love to see your sand castle.

Thanks for reporting back.

emalloy - You can see this trip report with some companion pics (including the sand castle: here:http://nicolebradshaw.blogspot.com/s...el/San%20Diego.