Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SAN DIEGO FOR KIDS
Tiny hands down, San Diego is one of America's best destinations for family travel. Here
are some highlights to jump start your vacation.
Do the
Zoo
; it's everything they say and more, and while you're there, spend another
day enjoying the rest of
Balboa Park
, one of the nation's best collections of museums.
seum
are all tailor-made for kids, and the plazas, fountains and gardens offer plenty of
space for them to let off steam.
Kids elementary school and older will appreciate
Old Town State Historic Park
and the
Mexican restaurants nearby.
Along the coast,
SeaWorld
is another landmark (look for specials and combo tickets to
keep costs down). Coronado is a calming getaway for the
Hotel Del Coronado
and the kid-
friendly public library. Views from
Cabrillo National Monument
inspire awe, and a mu-
seum tells of the Spanish explorers key to local history.
Teens will be in their element among the surfers, bikers and bladers in
Mission and Pa-
cific Beaches
, while up the coast in La Jolla the
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
entertains as
it teaches. More active kids can go snorkeling off
La Jolla Cove
.
In northern San Diego County,
Legoland
is the place for the 12-and-under set (and their
parents will thrill at the workmanship of the millions of little bricks). Inland, the
San Diego
Zoo Safari Park
will have the kids roaring.
Little Italy
Little Italy was settled in the mid-19th century by Italian immigrants, mostly fishermen
and their families, who lived off a booming fish industry and whiskey trade.
Over the last few years, the Italian community has been joined by exciting contempor-
ary architecture, galleries, gourmet restaurants and design and architecture businesses. Fun
bars and restaurants have made this one of San Diego's hippest neighborhoods.
Old Town
In 1821, when California was under Mexican rule, the area below the Presidio (fort) be-
came the first official civilian Mexican settlement in California: the
Pueblo de San Diego
.
