San Diego with Kids
 

We are planning a trip to SD with a 5 and 2 yr old in August. Not being familiar with SD I need recommendations as to where to stay. We plan to go to Legoland, the zoo and any other fun kid friendly place. Looking for help on both location and suite type hotel place. thanks in advance!

could check into the bahia. there are plenty of hotels on hotel circle which are less expensive but not as nice a location. do a search hotel circle san diego and you'll get plenty of responses.

Highly recommend the Residence Inn on Hotel Circle Drive. The property is only 1 or 2 years old and absolutely beautiful for a family type hotel. They have 1 or 2 bedroom suites and it comes with a great buffet breakfast. The location isn't bad, but you need a rental car if staying there. This property was THE NICEST hotel in this type of category we've ever stayed in. Have fun.

kleenic, I live in San Diego. August is the month when our ocean is the warmest. It's also the most crowded month at the beach, but here's the best strategy for arriving at the beach at the least crowded times: either head out to the beach early in the morning, right after breakfast (maybe even bring your breakfast to the beach); or else wait until the afternoon, after 3:30, and by then some folks start heading home for dinner, and it's a bit less crowded. Most crowded time at the beach in August is between about 11:30 am and 3:00 pm.

Wear sunscreen!

I always enjoyed the zoo with my kids. (My "baby is now 17!) Best time at the zoo is when it first opens...the animals are the most active then and it's not too crowded yet.

We also have Seaworld near Mission Bay. Your kids would enjoy that. It does get crowded in August, again, try to arrive early when it first opens. Don't miss the penguins and the Wild Arctic with the polar bears.

The Wild Animal Park is just too hot in August, skip that.

sorry haven't been to Legoland...it's south of here.

My kids always liked the smaller water park in Vista. It's smaller and so easier to keep track of your kids. Try to get there early again because it gets crowded.

With kids 5 and 2, plan on getting an early start every day, and then return to your hotel for a rest in the early afternoon when everything is crowded in August.

Hotels near Mission Bay would be a pretty good location for you. It's fairly central, and there are playgrounds at Mission Bay, actually several playgrounds. I don't recommend swimming in Mission Bay, although you will see lots of people doing it, because there are frequently problems with the water getting poluted. It happened so often that I just told my kids we'd use the playground and head elsewhere for swimming. People also do some boating sports in Mission Bay.

Oh, also, something fun to do for free...In La Jolla the seals lie on the beach and sun themselves at what used to be called the Children's Pool, within walking distance of the La Jolla Cove. The kids can swim at La Jolla cove, but of course you need to get there early as well to avoid crowds! Then you can walk along the sidewalk, alongside scenic cliffs (low cliffs, not high cliffs), walking south, and you will see the seals on the beach by the seawall. You can also walk out along the seawall which has a railing, children enjoy this. Hold onto the 2-year-old.

Enjoy!

kleenic

Ocean Park Inn, 710 Grand Ave is located across from the ocean. You can walk from the hotel to the beach. Rooms have mini refrigerators and microwaves. Continental breakfast included (cereal, juice, milk, bagels etc.) Free underground parking included. www.oceanparkinn.com
This is a great hotel for being able to go back and forth to your hotel room.

Inn at Sunset Cliffs, 1370 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. www.innatsunsetcliffs.com
24 room inn lovrlooking the Pacific Ocean. Has some fully-equipped kitchens. Weekend continental breakfast served on the outside patio. Free parking on the side of the inn or directly on the street. Check the rates directly with the hotel 866 766-2543 which were much lower then the website.

If you have not done so request a San Diego visitors planning guide from www.sandiego.org - often can get reduced hotel rates and coupons at this site.

I recommend each of these hotels. Have stayed at both of them. Good value for the $$'s. Look at many reviews on www.tripadvisor.com

Enjoy beautiful San Diego.

Sandy

We enjoyed the Embassy Suites La Jolla when we stayed there one night in December. I think it was about $120.00 a night.

Ditto on the Embassy Suites as a good "kid-friendly" place to stay. Good overall value. We've stayed there twice with our three young children.

Do NOT miss Sea World! That would be my #1 choice over any other SD attraction. Zoo would be #2. I'd skip the Wild Animal Park, personally (too hot and too much walking for kids). I'd nix Legoland too if you run short of time (it'a quite a ways away - I've been once, wouldn't bother again)... In fact, I'd spend a second day at Sea World over those latter two activites. There's a neat kid's Discovery Museum there in SD too - great for toddler aged kids and near the Embassy Suites if I recall correctly. There's a neat IMAX theatre in Balboa Park - might have kid friendly movies when you're there. Have fun!