Location: Carlsbad (35 Miles / 40 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Generally Open 10AM – 5PM (8PM during Summer); Additional Hours during School Vacations
Cost: Several options starting at $67 ($57 for Kids ages 3-12 and Seniors 60+). Parking is $12
Features: More than 50 Family Rides; Focused on Kids ages 2 – 12; Attractions built out of LEGO blocks include Pirates, Dinosaurs, Animals, and National Monuments.
Location: Carlsbad (35 Miles / 40 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Generally Open 10AM – 5PM during Winter and 9AM – 8PM during Summer (More Details Below)
Cost: Several options starting at $19 ($12 for Kids ages 3-12 and $16 for Seniors 60+). Parking is $5
Features: Aquarium Focused on Children Ages 2 – 12; Underwater World of LEGO models; 35 foot long Underwater Tunnel; Touch Pools
Location: Vista (43 Miles / 45 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego); Near a Sprinter Train Station.
Open Daily: First Weekend in June – Middle of August; Generally 10AM – 4PM (Check schedule for specific hours and additional dates in May & September.)
Cost: Several options starting at $16 ($12 for Kids under 42″ and $11 for Seniors 60+). Parking is Free.
Features: Five Water Slides; a Competitive Pool for Swimming; Simulated Wave Maker; Early Morning Lap Swims and Water Aerobics for a nominal fee.
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Show Times: Generally Wednesdays – Sundays at 11AM, 1PM, and 2:30PM. (More details below.)
Cost: $5 ($3 for Kids 2 and up; $4 for Seniors 65+)
Features: Nation’s Longest Running, Full-Time Puppet Theater
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 11AM – 4PM (5PM on Weekends). Closed on Mondays.
Cost: $7 (Free for Kids under 15 with a Parent, $6 for Seniors 65+)
Features: World’s Largest Indoor Model Railroad Display
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: Open Daily During Summer 11AM – 6:30PM. Otherwise, Only Open on Weekends and School Holidays from 11AM – 4:30PM.
Cost: $2
Features: Miniature Replica of a Real Train takes you on a 1/2 mile ride and includes a Tunnel.
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 11AM – 5:30PM during Summer; Otherwise 11AM – 4:30PM on Weekends & Holidays
Cost: $2
Features: Built in 1910; Award Winning Historic Carousel with Original Equipment; Still offers Brass Ring Game
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 4:30PM. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
Cost: $10 ($5 for Kids ages 3 – 12, $7.50 for Seniors and Students)
Features: Anthropology Museum Famous for its Galleries covering 4 Million Years of Human Evolution; a Children’s Discovery Center; Ancient Egyptian Exhibition; Extensive Collection of Pre-Columbian Artifacts.
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 4:30PM (Must enter by 4PM). Open until 5:30PM during Summer. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Cost: $15 ($6 for Kids ages 3-11 and $12 for Seniors)
Features: One of the Nation’s Best Aerospace Museums; San Diego has the Richest Aviation History in the World
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 7PM (9:30PM on Fridays and Saturdays) Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
Cost: $16 ($10 for Kids ages 3-12 and $14 for Seniors 62+)
Features: Dinosaur and Mastodon Artifacts; Over 8.2 Million Artifacts in all; World Class Visiting Exhibitions; Giant Movie Screen for Enjoying Nature Films.
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 4:30PM
Cost: $8 ($4 for Kids ages 7-17 and $6 for Seniors)
Features: Nation’s Largest Sports Museum; Interactive Exhibits; Hall of Fame; Covers a Broad Range of Sports; Many one-of-a-kind Trophies on Display.
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Generally open 9:30AM - 8PM Summer & Weekends (5PM on Winter Weekdays)
Cost: $10 ($8.75 for Kids ages 3-12 and Seniors 65+); Additional Cost for IMAX Movies
Features: Over 100 Hands-on Science Exhibits, Southern California’s only IMAX Dome Theater, Planetarium, Simulator Ride.
Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Entrance allowed 9AM – 4PM (8PM during Summer)
Cost: Several options starting at $28.50 ($17.50 for Kids ages 3-11)
Features: World Famous; 4,000 Animals on 100 Acres; 700,000 Exotic Plants; Pandas; Koalas
Location: Downtown San Diego (Little Italy)
Hours: Thursday and Friday 10AM – 2PM; Saturday and Sunday 10AM – 4PM
Cost: $3 (Free for Kids).
Features: Firehouse Full of Old Fire Engines, including an 1841 Rumsey Hand Pumper; Listen to Stories from Firefighters.
Location: Chula Vista (9 Miles / 12 Minutes South of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: Entrance allowed 10AM – 4PM Tuesdays through Sundays
Cost: $11 ($8 for Seniors 65+ and Students; $6 for Kids 4 – 11)
Features: Wetland of International Importance; Petting Pool with Stingrays and Sharks; Up-Close Views of Endangered Green Sea Turtles, a Bald Eagle, and Golden Eagles; Butterfly and Humming Bird Garden; Nature Trails
Location: La Jolla Shores (14 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 9AM – 5PM
Cost: $11 ($7.50 for Kids ages 3-17 and $9 for Seniors 60+)
Features: Educational Aquarium Operated by the World Renowned Scripps Institute of Oceanography
Location: Mission Beach (8 Miles / 15 Minutes Northwest of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Generally 11AM – 11PM. However, rides are generally not in operation on weekdays from November to February. (Check schedule and ride calendar for specific times.)
Cost: Most rides cost $2 – $6. There is No Entrance Fee and Parking is Free.
Features: Only Oceanfront Amusement Park in San Diego, Giant Dipper Wooden Roller Coaster, Miniature Golf, Bumper Cars, Perfect Wave Rider, Largest Swimming Pool in Southern California.
Location: Chula Vista (17 Miles / 25 Minutes Southeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Memorial Day (Late May) – Labor Day (Early September); Generally 10AM – 6PM (7PM during middle of summer); Open additional weekends during May and September.
Cost: Several options starting at $29 ($19 for Kids ages 3-11 and Seniors 62+); Parking is $12
Features: Two Dozen Water Slides; Family Rides, Thrill Seeking Rides, and Little Kids Slides.
Location: Mission Bay (6 Miles Northwest of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Hours vary by day. Ranges from 10AM – 5PM during Winter to 9AM – 11PM during Summer.
Cost: Several options starting at $65 ($55 for Kids ages 3-9). Parking is $12.
Features: Shamu, Shows, Amusement Rides, Aquariums, Dolphins, Polar Bears, Penguins, Sesame Street Rides
Location: San Pasqual Valley (33 Miles / 40 Minutes Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 9AM – 5PM (8PM during Summer)
Cost: Several options starting at $28.50 ($17.50 for Kids ages 3-11). Parking is $9.
Features: African Safari-like Experience; 3,500 Animals on 1,800 Acres; Tours; Sleepovers; Lion Camp; Owned by the San Diego Zoo
Location: Wynola (On the outskirts of Julian – 62 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: 10AM – 4PM on Saturdays and 12PM – 4PM on Sundays. Weekday Reservations also Available.
Cost: Starts at $10
Features: Pan for Gold and Gems as Seen on the Travel Channel; Pick Raspberries and Pumpkins
Location: Encinitas (26 Miles / 30 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 9AM – 5PM (8PM on Summer Thursdays)
Cost: $12 ($8 for Seniors, Students, & Military and $6 for Kids 3 – 12)
Features: Most Diverse Plant Collection in the World; Meandering Trails; Ocean Views; Children’s Garden; Special Events
Location: La Jolla Shores (12 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Beach area offers Playground, Calm Surf, Kayaking, World-Class Ocean Swimming, Scuba Diving, Panoramic Views, Long Walks
Location: La Jolla (12 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Features: One of the Most Beautiful Settings Anywhere; Great Views from a Large Seaside Park; Up-close Look at Seals
Museum Curators, Gemologists, Jewelers, and Rockhounds from around the world descend on northern San Diego County looking for the perfect specimens to add to their gem collections. California’s gemstones came to notoriety during the latter part of the 19th century when abundant pockets of high quality gemstones were discovered in the Mesa Grande and Pala Districts of San Diego County. A number of famous California gem mines are now open to the public.
Location: Pala (53 Miles / 55 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Gem Mining Hours: 10:30AM – 3PM on Sundays and Some Thursdays; Reservations Required.
Cost: $60 ($50 for Kids)
Features: Pan for California Gemstones, including Pink Tourmaline; Tour a Gem Mine that supplies Museum Curators and Jewelers around the World.
Location: Santa Ysabel (75 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: 10AM – 3PM Thursdays through Mondays
Cost: $75 ($37.50 for kids ages 12-15; Free for Kids under 12); $50 for 1PM-3PM only
Features: Mine for Tourmaline from one of the most famous Tourmaline Mines of the 20th century.
Location: Pala (53 Miles / 55 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: Panning is on most weekends by Appointment Only
Cost: $20 for a Bucket of Pilings
Features: Tourmaline Mining at the famous Stewart Mine; Gem Store
Location: Julian (62 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Time: Reservations Can Be Made for Weekdays and Weekends.
Cost: Starts at $50 per Hour.
Features: Ride Horses in San Diego’s Mountains; Enjoy Mountain Views, Peaceful Meadows, Wildlife, and if you are lucky, Catch a Glimpse of the Ocean on a Clear Day.
Location: Del Mar (22 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open: June 12th – July 5th, 2009 (Closed Mondays June 15th and 22nd);
Cost: $13 ($7 for Kids ages 5-12 and Seniors 62+). Parking is $10
Features: Top 10 Fair in the Country; Several Dozen Amusement Rides; Concerts with Top National Performers; Competition in a Wide Array of Activities; Carnival Games & Food; 2009 Theme is ‘Music Mania’
Find out what the locals know.
Top 10 Reasons San Diego is more than just a leisure destination.
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