One Last Summer Hoorah for the Kids
Summer means longer days, a slower pace and quality family time making lifelong memories. Before the kids start back to the structure of the school year, enjoy one last getaway with a San Diego vacation. After all, you only get 18 of those summers before they leave the nest.
Summer vacations are a great way to unplug and reconnect with one another. And because kids will remember experiences, it’s a good thing San Diego has lots of places to experience and explore.
Where you play may depend on where you stay. Vacation in a luxurious Mission Beach rental, a perfect spot for a last-minute family getaway.
Enjoy miles of gorgeous oceanfront and bayfront, beaches, the Pacific Ocean, parks, surfing, swimming, and the Belmont Amusement Park. Belmont Park is great for families, with more than a half-dozen rides designed specifically for small kids. But there’s more adrenaline-pumping rides like the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, Beach Blaster, Vertical Plunge and others that will thrill older children and teens.
The centrally-located communities of Mission Hills, Point Loma, Ocean Beach and Sunset Cliffs offer close proximity to San Diego’s top attractions. Balboa Park, for example, is home to 16 museums, multiple art venues, gardens, trails and plenty of recreational attractions.
Balboa Park hosts The Art of Summer through Sept. 2, with special exhibits, events, and activities. On Friday nights, enjoy Food Trucks at El Prado, and late hours at the Fleet Science Center, San Diego Nature Museum and The San Diego Museum of Art.
Set aside three to four hours to visit the San Diego Zoo, 100 acres of habitat that is home to 3,700 rare and endangered animals. The Children’s Zoo is a visitor favorite. Take a guided tour on the double-decker bus to get a good look around. For an overview, take the Skyfari Aerial Tram across the grounds. Animal Encounters throughout the day give visitors a chance to see some of the residents up close.
Summer is a great time to visit Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The restored and reconstructed buildings in Old Town are now museums, shops, and restaurants that depict life in the community from 1821 to 1872. The central plaza is lined with buildings, some of which date to the 1820s. Throughout the rest of summer, Old Town has extended hours and living history activities and demonstrations in woodworking, basket-making, soapmaking, historic dance and more.
Enjoy family time in San Diego before school schedules and homework. Make those 18 years count with a before-school getaway!
