My husband is going to San Diego for a business meeting and we decided to add a family vacation to this trip as well. We are taking our daughter who will be 17 months old at the time.

We are going to be in the San Diego area for a week, but have only 4 days free. Two days we want to spend on the beach, just relaxing. The other two days are still up in the air.

My daughter loves to watch fish so we were hoping to go to an aquarium. We think SeaWorld would be overkill as we are really looking for the aquarium aspect only, not the shows or the rides. Can anyone give me some advice?
1. Is there an aquarium at the San Diego zoo and would this be a better option?
2. Is there even an aquarium within SeaWorld, we assume so, but we've never been, so we're only guessing?
3. Are there any other options we are not thinking of?

We are also considering going to Disneyland, but would like to know if it would be fun with a 17 month old or just a lot of hassle.
--- Are there any rides that all 3 of us could go on or is she still too young for everything?
If we do SeaWorld and Disneyland we would spread the two trips out by at least 3 days between them.
--- Also, are there any combination tickets with these two only that aren't multi-day passes or some such thing?

Thanks for all the advice!

In San Diego's La Jolla neighborhood, the Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution in Oceanography is an excellent facility:

http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/

Ninety minutes north in Long Beach is the Aquarium of the Pacific, another good facility (disclosure: I live in Long Beach), but with Birch in SD and with it being a great aquarium, I wouldn't bother going to the AotP. Stay in San Diego! And by the way, as far as I'm concerned, the SD Zoo is a must-visit, despite the copious walking you will do.

Legoland in Carlsbad, 30 minutes north of SD, might be a better (and quite a bit closer) choice than Disneyland, which is in Anaheim, about 90 minutes north of San Diego (realistic figure when traffic is factored in). Do you really want to spend a total of three hours in the car one day for teacup rides and terrifying foam-and-felt walking animals?

I love San Diego and go down for visits as often as I can. I think you'll like it a lot. Happy planning!

i do the birch aquarium in la jolla. personally, with a 17 month old i'd either skip the "parks" or just pick one that you and your husband would enjoy. at 17 months she's not going to get much out of any of them. my favorite is sea world. the zoo is great but it is very large and you need to spend all day there. i'd definitly not bother with disneyland - too young. they have a thing called baby swap so you and your husband could go on the rides but you'd be doing it alone while the other stays with the baby. not much fun in my opinion.

Strongly agree w/ others: save Disney for a few years down down the road.

I agree on the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. Nice place and very affordable. Also the Zoo in San Diego is a good choice too.You can get a tram ride and see the zoo that way. It's in Balboa Park which has a lot to offer too. If you get a chance to drive up the coast to Orange County, there is a nice Aquarium in Dana Point too. It's about a hour or so up from San Diego. Have fun whatever you decide.

We go to San Diego yearly and my recommendations with a child of that age would be the Wild Animal Park and Legoland. I've never been to the aquarium ('cause I have a membership to the Monterey Bay Aquarium) but I've heard it's good. I like Legoland even for the 17 month old, they've got enough rides she could do and a really nice water play area and lego playground. You'll get some really good pictures!

Another vote for Legoland and Scripps. And here's one of those 'nobody ever tells you these things' bits of info - San Diego Zoo is wonderful but it is not on level ground, ALOT of up and down walking - they even have escalators in the zoo. They do have nice buses, but that involve waiting. We have found on several occasions that alot of animals are napping in the heat of the day which isn't much fun, either. They do have a behind the scenes tours which is alot more expensive but wonderful, but I'd wait until your child is at least school age.

topping... planning a trip there in August.

Knott's Berry Farm may be better for toddlers then D-land, it's more kiddie-oriented.

We go to San Diego at least 2-4 times a year, usually we go to Sea World in May for a combo "mother's day & my b-day". We have twin 3-year olds and a 20 month old. We went to Sea World this last May (making the baby 17 months old exactly) and he loved it!! He passed out during the Shamu show, but he loved the dolphin show and the animal show. There is a small aquarium with eels and sting rays, and the shark exhibit is wonderful where you go under the aquarium. Also there is a penguin encounter that is similar to an aquarium. I highly suggest Sea World, it is well worth it. San Diego Zoo is also fabulous, but it is on some pretty steep hills and gets a little tiring pushing the stroller. I am also an avid Disney fan and make the trip to Disney a couple of times a year. My kids love it and your baby can go on Peter Pan (which is a great ride), Mr. Toads, Snow White, Pinnochio, Casey Jr. Train, Small World, Roger Rabbit, Tea Cups, Autopia, Buzz Light Year, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion (my boys thought it was more funny at that age than scary), Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room, Alice in Wonderland, take a ride on the monorail, and of course the ever famous Dumbo...and I am probably missing a few other good ones. Anyway, I personally would go to Sea World and Disneyland, they are well worth it and you will enjoy yourselves!! Look into Legoland on the net as it is right there in San Diego (Carlsbad), we are going over Labor Day weekend, have never been so I can't speak from experience, but it looks great for young ones also. However, you will not be disappointed with Disney or Sea World and of course only you know how your little one does being in a stroller or sitting with you (when you are on a ride). Have fun, wish I could go...want some company?????

Holy moly...this post is from July of 2004!!! Ok, by now the kid has graduated kindergarden!!!

We've done both with toddlers - never again will I go to Disneyland with such young ones. The San Diego Zoo and Sea World were great!