Making Memories in San Diego

Ah, San Diego – the trip that changed my outlook on traveling! I’m from Western North Carolina, and this trip was my first trip to any state west of East Tennessee, and it was magical. This post is focused on making memories in this amazing city with kids in tow!

I traveled here with my 7-year-old daughter, my sister and her family with two kids that were 9 and 11. We took this trip right before Thanksgiving, and we were there for 5 days. If I could go back in time, I’d probably add an extra day or two. Even with only 5 days, San Diego made an impact on my heart and memories. Below, I’ll share where we stayed, a detailed account of what we did each day, and other activities that would’ve been fun had we had the time. Obviously, since we stayed in one place the whole time, the order of the activities we did could be switched up.

Where We Stayed:

We stayed in a VRBO at Capri by the Sea. There is also a site for Nancy’s Vacation Rentals that had our same condo, but it was a few dollars more which is odd because usually, if you can find a home site, it’s cheaper. TripAdvisor ranks the walkability of this area as a 74 out of 100. I found it nice to walk around. We easily walked to several restaurants and to the pier. Capri by the Sea is also right on the beach, and the views from inside the condo were post card worthy.

Here is a link to the one we stayed at: Capri by the Sea Condo. You can look at photos of the building, condo, pool, etc. I noticed it’s a little more than what we paid in 2021, but it was a fantastic place to stay. Also, there are plenty of other options if you don’t need to sleep 6 people that would be cheaper but would still be in the same place with the same great views!

Our Itinerary:

Here is a map and a quick summary of the main activities we did each day not including eating, swimming, beach, walking around, etc. Below this, I go into detail for each day. I include information for cost, hours, etc. that is correct at the time of writing.

Day 1:

• Arrive
• Dike Rock at Scripps Beach at low tide to tide pool

Day 2:

• Children’s Pool
• Hike the Historic Coast Walk Trail and visit Sunny Jim’s Cave Store
• La Jolla Kayak Sea Cave Tour

Day 3:

• San Diego Zoo
• Balboa Park

Day 4:

• Whale Watching Tour
• Hike around Sunset Cliffs
• Mount Soledad for sunset

Day 5:

• Torrey Pines Natural Reserve
• Coronado Island
• Belmont Park

Day 6:

• Depart at the crack of dawn!

Day 1: Arrival, Tide Pools, Get Settled

Our flight landed in the afternoon, so we had some time for our first day, but since it was a longer flight, I didn’t want to push it too much on the first day. Because we couldn’t check in until 4:00, I decided to plan one thing for the day – tide pools! This was the perfect time to do this because I knew the kids would love climbing on the rocks and finding animals while burning off energy in a beautiful setting. You’ll want to check the tide times to ensure you come at low tide.

Dike Rock at Scripps Beach to Tide Pool

There are several tide pools you could visit while in San Diego, but Dike’s Rock at Scripps Beach is considered one of the best. The tide pools are just north of the pier on Scripps Beach. It’s not usually busy which was the case for us. Also, although we didn’t do it, you can get a guided tour here through Birch Aquarium, which would be very cool since they would know the best places to look and be able to identify everything you find.

Cost	Free
Hours	24/7; visit during low-tide
Address	8324 La Vereda, La Jolla, CA 92037 for Beach Parking Lot
Parking	La Jolla Shores Beach Parking Lot (about a 15-minute walk up) or along El Paseo Grande St. avoid parking designated for the University

After we did the tide pools, we checked in to our condo, walked to a restaurant to eat dinner (many are walkable from where we stayed), walked back along the beach, and relaxed for a while at the condo before going to bed. My sister and I also hit up a grocery store. Oh, and we went to bed early because I was trying to keep us somewhat on east coast time which is 3 hours ahead. I mainly did this because our departing flight was at the crack of dawn. However, it also worked out in the sense that some of the hikes we did in the mornings were empty because we were getting there at 6 or 7. This worked well for us since we were traveling with younger kids, and we weren’t partaking in any sort of night life.

Day 2: Children’s Pool, Historic Coast Walk Trail, Cave Store, Sea Cave Kayak Tour

Children’s Pool

Since we were staying on east coast time, we were up bright and early. We started the day by visiting the Children’s Pool in La Jolla – a famous location where harbor seals and sea lions like to visit. This was about 13 minutes from our condo. You can walk on the sea wall that partially protects the beach, but it is a little slippery and wet. My daughter thought it was hilarious when I got wet because it was unexpected! She also loved seeing the seals…or sea lions…or maybe both were there that morning?

Cost	Free
Hours	24/7; lifeguard during most of day to dusk
Address	850 Coast Blvd La Jolla, CA 92037
Parking	Limited on-street parking (2 or 3-hour free); paid lot available at La Jolla Village and Prospect St.

Historic Coast Walk Trail

Right after Children’s Pool, we went to hike the Historic Coast Walk Trail and visit the Sunny Jim’s Cave store to mainly look at the cave the store has access to. This was only a 4-minute drive from the Children’s Pool. Because we got there so early, we were able to park right by the store, and the hiking trail basically starts right there as well. Before we did the short hike, we checked out Goldfish Point which is also right there. The hike itself is on an easy-to-follow path that has the most amazing views – perfect for families with even small children!

Cost	Free
Length	0.6 miles
Address	address for cave store which is right beside it is 1325 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
Parking	Right on street (2 or 3-hour free); parking garage across street from Sunny Jim’s Cave Store

Sunny Jim’s Cave Store

We really took our time on the trail up above even though it was only 0.6 miles long. One, it was beautiful, and two, we had a little time to kill before Sunny Jim’s Cave Store opened. The perk to being one of the first ones at the cave store was that we were the first ones down into the cave.

The history behind the cave store is really cool. In 1902, Gustav Schultz, a German artist, mining engineer, and entrepreneur, hired two Chinese laborers to dig the tunnel. It leads from the store, which is where Gustav lived, down to the Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave. It’s also said that the cave was used during Prohibition to smuggle in alcohol and opium.

There are 144 steps to descend and then come back up, and they can be slick, so I suggest holding little ones’ hands…especially if they’re like my daughter who was wearing flip flops almost every day around that age. Once you’re at the bottom, you have about 15 minutes before you’re supposed to come back up. You’re also not supposed to climb or get into the water. Once you get back up, or I guess before if you’re having to wait your turn, you can shop for a souvenir. I wasn’t expecting it, but they actually have some really pretty jewelry!

Cost	Adults – $13, Youth (3-17) – $7, Seniors & Veterans -$8
Hours	9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; first come, first serve
Duration	Up to 15 minutes once in cave + store time
Address	1325 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
Parking	Right on street (2 or 3-hour free); parking garage across street

La Jolla Kayak Sea Cave Tour

After we finished at Sunny Jim’s Cave Store, we headed to La Jolla Kayak for our sea cave kayak tour. There are many different companies that offer tours, so I always look at a lot of reviews, prices, etc. before deciding on which one to go with, and I was not disappointed with this company!

Once we were all situated, the most difficult part was getting into the ocean over the first few sets of waves. My 7-year-old daughter was of no help, and I just remember the water being shockingly cold right at the beginning. Once we got past the waves, which lasted all of probably a minute max, I was good! The tour itself was amazing and beautiful!

We learned a lot about the history of the area, and the sea caves were really cool. We went into the cave a few at a time and then came back out again waiting for the others. Our guides were entertaining though, so the wait was not a problem. We did see a couple of sea lions in the cave too which was special.

Cost	Single kayak – $69; double – $89
Hours	Mon-Sun from 9 a.m. to sunset; multiple tours available
Tour Length	90 to 120 min.; told to be there 45 minutes early
Address	2199 Avenida de la Playa La Jolla, CA 92037
Parking	Very limited especially over 90 minutes; they suggest paying for a rideshare; there is a large lot on Camino Del Oro, but gets full by late morning; can park along Lowry Terrace St which is about a 5 min. walk; on weekends there is underground paid parking ($20) in the office building at the corner of Paseo Del Ocaso and Avenida De La Playa.

Rest of Day 2

Once we finished kayaking, we were starving. There are a lot of highly rated restaurants right along Avenida De La Playa where the kayak company was, so we just walked along until we found one that suited everyone…well, let’s be real, that suited all the kids! We ate at Dough Momma Pizzeria, and it was very good!

The rest of the day just consisted of us going back to relax for a little bit, swim at the pool, and walk the beach right at sunset. If you do stay at Capri at the Sea, the pool is located a little down the street behind the building which was confusing for us at first.

Day 3: San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park

San Diego Zoo

When I first envisioned taking a trip to San Diego, I knew we’d have to visit the San Diego Zoo because it is regularly ranked as the number one zoo in the world! You could easily spend two days at this zoo, but we devoted almost a full day. If you have more time, they have a number of upgraded experiences available although most are pretty pricey! If you go to the homepage, which is what I linked to above, you’ll see all of the upgraded options. You’ll also discover live cameras on a number of their exhibits. On the “plan your visit” page, you’ll find a map and an app to help navigate the zoo among other things.

As you can see from the map, there’s a lot, and it’s very hilly! I was worried about my daughter potentially getting tired and then grumpy in the middle, so I found the perfect set of directions that I’ll link here. I followed this man’s advice to make sure we were going down the bigger hills instead of up them. His directions, pictures, and arrows were so very helpful!! I printed them out and had them with me.

Cost	1-day single ticket on value day is $72 for 12+ and $62 for 3-11; nonvalue day is $76 and $66; 2-day passes for $128 and $118; also offered in Go City Passes
Hours	varies throughout the year; opens at 9:00 a.m.
Address	2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Parking	Plenty of free parking at main lot or at additional lots in Balboa Park; free shuttle runs on weekends and holidays from Inspiration Point to zoo entrance

Ava made me take a picture of almost every animal – she has always been an “animal lover” as she calls it.

Balboa Park

We spent most of the day at the zoo, but because the zoo is located in Balboa Park, we decided to check it out a little bit too. We walked around and the kids rode the carousel. You could easily make a whole day out of this place though! They have tons of museums, gardens, shopping, food, and just beautiful scenery to walk around. They also hold many events!

Cost	depends on the activity, but many things are free
Hours	24/7 but specific museums and attractions will vary
Location	not a single address, but right near zoo
Parking	plenty of free parking

That night, we walked a little around our rental, including to Duck Dive to eat food, which was fantastic, and to Crystal Pier and then relaxed from our long day!

Day 4: Whale Watching Tour, Sunset Cliffs, Mount Soledad

Whale Watching Tour

Our main thing for this day was a 3-hour whale watch tour on a private yacht! This made sense price wise since there were 6 of us. Although, we did not see whales, it was beautiful and relaxing to just sail around. We did see some seals or sea lions or maybe both, and our captain was fantastic. We also each got to “drive” the boat if we wanted. The sail came with complimentary drinks, including beers and seltzers, and snacks. We booked through Sail San Diego. It was about 25 minutes from our location.

Cost	$129 each or a private yacht for $650
Hours	9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tour Length	3 hours + 30 minutes early; multiple tours available
Address	2720 Shelter Island Drive 92106
Parking	free parking along Shelter Island Drive and surrounding streets; paid parking at N Harbor Dr. and Scott St.; here are their tips for parking

Our captain recommended that we eat at Mitch’s Seafood which was very good! Sorry, I don’t have food pics – I’m not in the habit of taking pictures of my food as I’m too excited to actually eat it, and this trip was taken before I started a blog!

Sunset Cliffs

After our yacht tour and lunch, we went to hike around Sunset Cliffs. Y’all, out of everything we did, I think this one stuck with me the most! I absolutely loved it here and so did the kids. The views were amazing, and the kids were able to climb on things, so it wasn’t a ton of boring walking (in the eyes of kids). Also, the tide pools at the bottom were awesome. Once you get down there (if it’s low tide; make sure you check), it’s fun to explore and look for animals, but the rocks are very slippery, so be careful!This was about 25 minutes from our location and had ample parking.

Cost	Free
Hours	24/7 (parking not open from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Address	1253 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107
Parking	lower and upper free dirt parking lots; Ladera St. if you only want to access stairs down to the beach

Mount Soledad

Our final stop on this day was to go watch the sunset at Mount Soledad. This was about 25 minutes from our hike, but only about 10 from our condo for the way back. In late November, the sunset was a lot earlier than in the summer (around 4:45). I had read that this place can get very busy at sunset, but it wasn’t that bad when we went…of course, it was a weekday in November, so I’m sure that helped. The kids enjoyed running around on the steps the most while we were waiting, but they also enjoyed looking at the plaques which were inspiring. The sunset was almost perfect. Clouds had come in, and the sun appeared to be setting more into the clouds than the actual horizon, but it was still pretty.

Cost	Free
Hours	7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. every day
Address	6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive S. La Jolla, CA 92037
Parking	few parking spaces surrounding the memorial; free large lot about a 5-min. walk away

At this point, we went back to our rented condo, ate dinner, and relaxed. There are so many amazing places you could go eat, but this is one way we try to usually save a little bit of money (for some meals), and I am definitely way more focused on adventures and activities than what we’re eating, and though I do love a good meal, the kids are usually pickier and could care less.

Day 5: Coronado Island, Torrey Pines Nature Reserve, Belmont Park

Coronado Island

We were sad our trip was almost over, but ready to have another memory-making day before we went back home! We started the day by going to Coronado Island and driving around to look at some of the incredible houses. Then we went to visit the legendary Hotel del Coronado and the beach area. The hotel was definitely beautiful, especially with the gorgeous Christmas tree, but also a bit pricy had we wanted to stay there; I was content visiting it though! We could’ve visited here longer, but we were just there for about an hour.

Cost	varies based on what you do; free to look around
Address	varies, but hotel is at: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Parking	varies but hotel was $39 for first 2 hours or can park on street with metered parking (free on Sundays)

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Next, we drove over to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. We had a great time here! We definitely walked more than what we did at Sunset Cliffs, which I didn’t mind because I like hiking, but my daughter complained a little bit on the way coming back up because it was uphill a bunch. She had a blast going down though because again there were some places to climb and then the beach at the bottom – a winning combo for most kids!

We took the Razor Point Trail to Red Butte and Razor Point and then went over to Yucca Point and then down to the beach via Beach Trail and the very last part of Broken Hill Trail to actually get to the beach. I think it was about 2 miles total counting going back to the car. This park, unlike Sunset Cliffs, did have an entry fee. I saw some people park at the bottom to avoid the fee, but it was a long, uphill walk! I thought it was worth it for the scenery and number of trails you could do especially if it’s closer to $10 when you go!

Cost	$15 to $25 per vehicle depending on demand
Hours	7:15 a.m. to sunset; visitor center is 9 to 5
Distance	depends on trail (there are multiple); we did about 2 miles
Address	12600 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037
Parking	There is parking once you get up, but you may have to loop around some if it’s busy

Lunch – the one meal I actually took a picture during

At this point, we went to In-N-Out Burger because my 11-year-old niece at the time was obsessed with wanting to go eat there. I’m not sure where she even learned about it because we don’t have them near where we live, but it was the one thing she wanted to do, so we went, and she was beaming with excitement! This was one meal I had to document because the whole thing was so cute to me.

Belmont Park

Next up, we went to Belmont Park – solely for the kids! They had an absolute blast at this place, and for that alone, it was worth it. The hours here vary a lot depending on the season, so make sure to double check their site. You’ll also want to check here to see all of the activities they have – definitely more than just rides though most of the rides are on the younger side in my opinion, but it was perfect for our kiddos at this age. Our kids did the ropes course with zipline, rock wall, and most of the rides.

Cost	depends on activities and number of tickets
Hours	varies a lot depending on season/day
Address	3146 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
Parking	4, free, public lots surrounding the park

After all of this, we were exhausted and needed to make sure everything was packed, cleaned up, and ready to go for our super early flight the next day. This whole trip was everything to me – it is what spurred my excitement to start dedicating real time and money to traveling! I still say this is one of the prettiest places I’ve been lucky enough to visit!

Additional Fun Activities to Make Memories

Like, I said, we only had 5 days , so I couldn’t fit in everything the splendid city of San Diego has to offer into this one trip, but I chose the stuff I thought would be best suited for my family with a balance of varying types of activities. I specifically did not try to fit in Sea World or Legoland because I knew those places would eat up a lot of time, and they are also in Florida, so they’re not truly unique to San Diego though I think if you have kids and enough time, these would be great places to visit as well! If you interested in a lot of these places, a Go City Pass may be worth it.

Each picture is linked to their site for more information if you want it.

*Children’s Discovery Museum by Alan Islas, Sesame Place photo by lilipad.ua, Waterfront Park photo by Keizers

Please feel free to leave suggestions for cool activities I missed so future readers can get even more ideas! I would love to go back here one day myself as well, so it will benefit me too!