WinterFamilySan Diego

Seven days · winter sun, Zoo days & beach nights

A 7-Day San Diego Family Trip

Winter sun without the theme-park-only trap — seven days across the San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND California, Balboa Park, La Jolla's seals, the USS Midway, and Coronado's beaches, all in 65–70°F January weather.

Cities & Urban WeekendsCoastal Drives

7 days / 6 nightsBest Dec–MarFamily of 4Estimate: $3.3K–$5.5K

Original itinerary artwork

On this page

San Diego skyline across the bay with a tall ship sailing past — San Diego · the skyline across the bay

The trip in 60 seconds

Rough budget · family of 4

Planning ranges, not quotes. Winter is San Diego's value season — the same hotel room costs notably less than in July. Check hours and prices before departure.

$3.3K–$5.5K

Seven days / six nights · flights excluded

Lodging · 6 nights: $1,100–$2,100
Food & drink: $900–$1,400
Rental car · 7 days: $350–$550
Activities · Zoo, LEGOLAND, Midway: $700–$1,100
Parking & extras: $250–$350

Saveable recap graphic for the seven-day San Diego family route — Saveable route recap · seven days in San Diego

Day-by-day summary

The idea

January in San Diego is the family-travel cheat code.

Here’s the direct answer: seven days in San Diego for a family of four, in December through March, when it’s 65–70°F and the rest of the country is shoveling. The thesis is simple — San Diego is the rare American winter destination that’s genuinely warm in January without a passport or a theme-park-only trap. Winter is also the value season: lower hotel rates, thinner crowds, and gray-whale watching season running December through March.

The route works like this: Day 1 lands at SAN, settles into a Mission Bay base, and rides the 1925 Giant Dipper at Belmont Park. Day 2 does the San Diego Zoo at 9am opening — Panda Ridge first, bus tour and Skyfari after ($78 adult / $68 child). Day 3 wanders Balboa Park’s 17 museums and finishes in Old Town. Day 4 drives to LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad for the new-for-2026 LEGO Galaxy land — buy online, never at the gate. Day 5 watches seals at La Jolla Cove and walks the Torrey Pines cliffs. Day 6 boards the USS Midway ($41 adult) and ends in Seaport Village. Day 7 ferries to Coronado for the farewell.

This is built for families who want the beach vacation in the middle of winter without leaving the country. One Mission Bay base, six nights, every day trip under 45 minutes. The two hard rules: LEGOLAND tickets get bought online before you leave home, and the Zoo day starts at the 9am opening — the pandas are worth it.

By Earth Adventure Travel

2026 GUIDELast verified: October 2026

70°FJanuary afternoons

$78Zoo adult ticket

2026new LEGO Galaxy land

Dec–Marwhale watching season

The route

Seven days of winter sun.

Use each day's anchor as the plan, not a quota. Winter days are short — front-load the big-ticket mornings (Zoo, LEGOLAND) and let the afternoons drift toward the beach. And buy LEGOLAND tickets online before you leave home; the gate price is the most expensive souvenir in Carlsbad.

Day 1 graphic: Belmont Park roller coaster over Mission Bay

01SAN Airport · Mission Bay · Belmont Park · Mission Beach

Day 1 is a soft landing in the warmest January in America. Fly into SAN — barely 15 minutes from Mission Bay — pick up the rental car, and check into your Mission Bay base. This is your home for all six nights: the bay is calm, the beach is across the street, and everything on this trip is under 45 minutes away. Drop the bags, change into shorts (yes, in January), and walk straight to the water.

Afternoon: Belmont Park

Belmont Park is San Diego's beachfront amusement park, and its centerpiece is the Giant Dipper — a wooden roller coaster built in 1925 and still running. Ride it once for history and once because the kids will demand it. The park is free to enter; you pay per ride, which keeps an arrival-day visit cheap and low-commitment. From there, walk the Mission Beach boardwalk — three miles of oceanfront path where the whole city seems to be jogging, skating, or eating ice cream.

Evening: Ski Beach sunset

End the day at Ski Beach on the bay side — calm water, fire pits, and a straight-on view of the sunset. Grab takeout fish tacos on the way (the boardwalk has a dozen options) and eat them on the sand. The winter sun sets early, around 5pm, which is secretly perfect with kids: sunset picnic, then back to the hotel for an early night. Tomorrow is the Zoo, and it starts at 9am sharp.

Where to stay

One Mission Bay base, six nights. Paradise Point Resort (from ~$250, bungalows on their own island, kids love the pools), the Bahia Resort Hotel (from ~$200, classic bayfront, great value in winter), or the Catamaran Resort (from ~$230, right on the bay with tropical landscaping). Winter rates run 20–30% below summer — book 1–2 months out.

Bad-weather plan

Winter rain in San Diego is rare but real. If it hits: the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park (swap with Day 3's museums), or the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla — both fully indoors and excellent with kids.

SAN → Mission Bay: ~15 min by car · Giant Dipper: 1925 wooden coaster · Winter sunset: ~5pm

Arrival rule: Don't overplan Day 1. The beach is the activity — the kids will remember the first barefoot hour more than any attraction.

The Giant Dipper roller coaster at Belmont Park — Belmont Park · the 1925 Giant Dipper

Day 2 graphic: giant panda at the San Diego Zoo

02Balboa Park · San Diego Zoo · 9am opening

Day 2 is the big one: the San Diego Zoo, consistently ranked among the best zoos on earth, set in a 100-acre canyon in Balboa Park. The single most important decision of the day is when you arrive — be at the gate for the 9am opening. The animals are most active in the cool morning, the crowds are thinnest, and you'll walk straight into Panda Ridge before the line forms. Tickets run $78 adult / $68 child (ages 3–11), with Value Days at $73/$63 — under 3 is free. If your dates can flex to October, Kids Free October gives one free child admission per paid adult at 100+ San Diego attractions.

Morning: Panda Ridge first

Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, the Zoo's giant pandas, are the headliners — go here before anything else. Then ride the Guided Bus Tour (included with admission, ~35 minutes) for the lay of the land: it covers most of the park and saves little legs for the afternoon. After the bus, walk Elephant Odyssey and the Lost Forest — the two best habitats in the park.

Afternoon: Skyfari and the canyon

Take the Skyfari aerial tram (included) across the canyon for the aerial view, then work the downhill side of the park — gravity is your friend after lunch. The Zoo closes the loop back at the entrance, and by 3pm you'll have seen the highlights without the death march. Budget a full day but not a heroic one: five to six hours is the sweet spot with kids under 10.

Where to stay

Same Mission Bay base — the Zoo is ~20 minutes away. If you want to splurge one night, The Lodge at Torrey Pines (from ~$400) puts you near tomorrow's coast day, but honestly, staying put is the move: the kids' bedtime routine survives the week.

Bad-weather plan

The Zoo is 90% outdoors — if rain is forecast, swap this day with Day 3 (Balboa Park museums are indoors) and keep the Zoo for the clearer day.

Mission Bay → Zoo: ~20 min · Opens 9am daily · Panda Ridge: go first · $78 adult / $68 child

Panda rule: The pandas nap midday. If you arrive after 11am, you'll see a sleeping panda — still cute, but the 9am pandas are the ones that made the trip.

Giant panda at the San Diego Zoo — San Diego Zoo · Panda Ridge

Day 3 graphic: Spanish colonial architecture in Balboa Park

03Balboa Park · 17 museums · Old Town San Diego

Day 3 trades animals for architecture. Balboa Park is 1,200 acres of Spanish colonial revival buildings left over from the 1915 Panama-California Exposition — it looks like a movie set and houses 17 museums. The rule for families: pick two museums, max. Trying to "do Balboa Park" is how vacations get ruined; picking two great hours is how they get remembered. Start at the Botanical Building (free, the lily pond out front is the most photographed spot in the park) and let the kids run the gardens before the first museum.

Morning: two museums, chosen well

For kids, the Fleet Science Center wins — hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, and the kind of controlled chaos that burns morning energy. Second choice depends on the crew: the San Diego Air & Space Museum (real spacecraft, great for ages 6+) or the San Diego Natural History Museum (dinosaurs, always dinosaurs). The Spanish Village Art Center is the free palate cleanser between them — working artists' studios in colorful casitas, easy to wander for 30 minutes.

Evening: Old Town

Drive 10 minutes to Old Town San Diego, the birthplace of California — the first European settlement on the West Coast, founded 1769. It's touristy and proud of it: mariachi, candle-making shops, and the Whaley House (book the ghost tour if your kids are 8+ and brave). Dinner here is the move — Old Town's Mexican restaurants are an institution, and eating on a patio in January while the rest of the country freezes is the whole thesis of this trip.

Where to stay

Same Mission Bay base — Balboa Park is ~15 minutes, Old Town ~10. If the kids are museumed-out by afternoon, bail early: the hotel pool is a legitimate itinerary item on a winter-sun trip.

Bad-weather plan

This IS the bad-weather plan — Balboa Park's museums are the rainy-day backbone of the whole week. If Day 1 or 2 got rained out, this day absorbs them.

Mission Bay → Balboa Park: ~15 min · 17 museums: pick two · Old Town: founded 1769

Museum rule: The Balboa Park Explorer Pass exists, but with a two-museum cap it rarely pays off for families — buy single admissions and spend the savings on churros.

The Botanical Building in Balboa Park — Balboa Park · the Botanical Building

Day 4 graphic: LEGO castle and dragon at LEGOLAND California

04Carlsbad · LEGOLAND California · ~35 min north

Day 4 is the one the kids have been waiting for: LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, about 35 minutes north of Mission Bay. Read this before you go: tickets are dynamic-priced $94–$129 at the gate for ages 2+, but online prices start around $58–$69 — buying at the gate is the most expensive souvenir in the park. Buy online at least a few days ahead, arrive at opening, and head straight to the back of the park. Under 2s are free, parking is $40 (budget it now so it doesn't sting later), and the Water Park upgrade (~$25–$30) is skippable in winter.

Morning: LEGO Galaxy, new for 2026

LEGO Galaxy is the new-for-2026 land, anchored by the Galacticoaster — the park's biggest addition in years. Ride it first; it's the longest line by noon. Then work the classics: Miniland USA (entire American cities in miniature, the detail work is absurd), the Driving School (kids 3–5 get a "driver's license," a keepsake that costs nothing and delights completely), and LEGO Technic Coasters for the brave.

Afternoon: the slow half

After lunch, do the Sea Life Aquarium (included in some ticket tiers, check yours) and the LEGO Star Wars Miniland — air-conditioned, seated, and a genuine rest. Leave by 4pm: you've beaten the worst lines, the kids are brick-drunk, and the drive back is against traffic. Dinner near the hotel — nobody has energy for a production tonight.

Where to stay

Same Mission Bay base. The LEGOLAND Hotel (from ~$350) is the splurge alternative — the rooms are themed down to the wallpaper and the kids may never forgive you for not booking it. If that's the move, make Day 4 an overnight and shift the week.

Bad-weather plan

LEGOLAND is mostly outdoors. If rain threatens, swap with Day 5 (La Jolla's tide pools need low tide anyway — check the tide tables and pick the drier day for LEGOLAND).

Mission Bay → Carlsbad: ~35 min · Buy online: ~$58–$69 vs $94–$129 gate · Parking: $40

Ticket rule: Check LEGOLAND's site for the Kids Go Free-style promos that run most of the year — a free child ticket with a paid adult is common and stacks with online pricing.

Miniland USA at LEGOLAND California — LEGOLAND California · Miniland USA

Day 5 graphic: sea lions on rocks at La Jolla Cove

05La Jolla Cove · Children's Pool · Torrey Pines · Windansea

Day 5 is the coast day — the one that makes the flight worth it. Drive 20 minutes north to La Jolla, where the coastline turns dramatic: sandstone cliffs, turquoise coves, and more marine life per square foot than anywhere else on the trip. Start at La Jolla Cove itself — a tiny, perfect beach tucked between cliffs, and the staging ground for the morning's main event: the seals. Walk the short path to the Children's Pool, where harbor seals haul out on the sand by the dozens. Stay behind the rope, keep voices down, and let the kids watch wild animals being wild — no ticket, no line, no gift shop required.

Midday: tide pools at low tide

Check the tide tables the night before and time this stop for low tide: the rocky shelves below the Cove expose tide pools full of starfish, anemones, and scuttling crabs. Bring water shoes — the rocks are sharp — and follow the docent rule: look, don't touch, never turn your back on the ocean. An hour here beats three at an aquarium.

Afternoon: Torrey Pines cliff walk

Drive 10 minutes north to the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, home of the rarest pine in America — the Torrey pine grows only here and on one Channel Island. The Guy Fleming Trail is the family pick: an easy 0.7-mile loop along the cliff edge with ocean overlooks at every turn. Finish at Windansea Beach for the sunset — the palm-covered shack on the rocks is the most photographed surf shack in California, and the winter light does the rest.

Where to stay

Same Mission Bay base — La Jolla is ~20 minutes. If you want one fancy dinner on the trip, La Jolla's Prospect Street is the place: book ahead, bring the kids' best behavior, and watch the sun drop into the Pacific from your table.

Bad-weather plan

High surf or rain kills the tide pools. Swap with Day 6 (the Midway is indoors) and do La Jolla on the calmer day — the seals don't care about your itinerary, but the waves do.

Mission Bay → La Jolla: ~20 min · Tide pools: time for low tide · Torrey Pines: Guy Fleming Trail, 0.7 mi

Seal rule: The Children's Pool seals are wild animals, not a petting zoo. The rope is there for their stress, not your safety — a quiet kid sees more seals than a loud one.

A sea lion resting on rocks at La Jolla — La Jolla · seals at the Children's Pool

Day 6 graphic: the USS Midway aircraft carrier in San Diego Bay

06Embarcadero · USS Midway Museum · Seaport Village

Day 6 goes big and gray: the USS Midway Museum, the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, permanently docked at Navy Pier on the Embarcadero. This is the rare museum that impresses teenagers and toddlers equally — it's a 1,000-foot ship you get to climb through. Tickets are $41 adult / $31 youth (4–12) at the gate, $39/$29 online — buy online, skip the line. Open daily 10am–5pm (last entry 4pm), closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plan four to five hours; the ship earns every minute.

Morning: the ship

The self-guided audio tour is included and excellent — narrated by actual Midway sailors. Start on the flight deck (30+ restored aircraft, the views across the bay), then descend into the hangar deck and below: the engine room, the brig, the enlisted mess. The secret weapon is the docents in yellow hats — retired Navy volunteers who served on carriers and tell stories no placard can. Find one, ask what they did on the ship, and give them 20 minutes. Your kids will remember the sailor more than the ship.

Afternoon: Seaport Village

Walk 10 minutes south along the Embarcadero to Seaport Village — 50+ shops and restaurants in a bayside village built for wandering. Lunch here (the fish-and-chips window is the family move), then let the kids loose on the carousel and the kite shops. If the budget has room, book the harbor sunset sail — a 1–2 hour cruise past the skyline as the light goes gold. Winter sunsets over the bay are the trip's best free show after the seals.

Where to stay

Same Mission Bay base — the Embarcadero is ~15 minutes. Tonight's the night for the hotel's hot tub: six days in, everybody's earned it.

Bad-weather plan

The Midway is 80% indoors — this is the other rainy-day anchor alongside Day 3's museums. If the week has been perfect, it's still perfect: the flight deck in a winter sea breeze is glorious.

Mission Bay → Embarcadero: ~15 min · Midway: 10–5 daily, last entry 4 · $41 adult / $31 youth

Docent rule: The yellow-hat volunteers are the museum. A 10-minute story from a sailor who launched planes off this deck beats any exhibit — seek them out on the hangar deck.

The USS Midway aircraft carrier museum — USS Midway · docked at Navy Pier

Day 7 graphic: Hotel del Coronado at sunset with kites on the beach

07Broadway Pier ferry · Coronado Island · Hotel del Coronado

Day 7 is the farewell, and it should feel like one. Check out of the hotel, drive to Broadway Pier, and take the ferry to Coronado — 15 minutes across the bay with the skyline behind you, and the single best arrival of the week. Coronado is technically a peninsula, but the ferry makes it feel like an island escape, which is exactly the note to end on. Everything today is walkable from the ferry landing.

Morning: the Del

Walk the beach path to the Hotel del Coronado — the "Del," opened in 1888, all red turrets and white siding, one of the grandest beach hotels in America. You don't need to be a guest: walk the lobby, gawk at the Crown Room's sugar-pine ceiling, and take the obligatory photo on the sand with the hotel behind you. Coronado Beach itself is consistently ranked among America's best — wide, flat, perfect for the morning's main event: kite-flying. The onshore breeze is reliable, the sand is empty in winter, and a $15 kite from the shops on Orange Avenue is the cheapest great memory of the trip.

Afternoon: farewell fish tacos

Lunch on Orange Ave — the farewell fish tacos are non-negotiable — then one last swim (the water's brisk in winter, the sand is not) before the ferry back. Time the return for mid-afternoon: SAN is 15 minutes from Broadway Pier, and a 5pm flight home means you're eating dinner in your own kitchen with sand still in the cuffs. That's the trip: seven days, one base, 70 degrees in January.

Where to stay

Tonight you're home — but if the flight's tomorrow, one night at the Hotel del Coronado (from ~$400 in winter) is the victory lap. Book the historic Victorian building, not the modern towers.

Bad-weather plan

Coronado in the rain is still lovely — the Del's lobby, the shops on Orange Ave, and the Coronado Museum of History & Art cover it. But check the forecast: if Day 7 looks wet and Day 5 looked clear, swap them.

Broadway Pier → Coronado: 15-min ferry · Hotel del Coronado: 1888 · SAN: 15 min from the pier

Farewell rule: Don't drive to Coronado over the bridge — the ferry is the experience. Park at the pier, ride the boat, and let the trip end the way it should: on the water.

The Hotel del Coronado pool and red roofs — Coronado · the Hotel del Coronado

Illustrated route map: seven days across San Diego, from Mission Bay to LEGOLAND, La Jolla, the USS Midway, and Coronado — Saveable route map · seven days in San Diego

Who is Earth Adventure Travel?

We map trips worth taking — then get out of the way.

Earth Adventure Travel publishes detailed, field-checked itineraries for families, couples, and crews — the routes, the timed tickets, the food worth the line. We don't operate tours; our Verified Tours are the only trips a team member has personally traveled. Everything else is built from official sources, recent visitor intel, and obsessive route logic. More about us · @earthadventuretravel

In San Diego, January smells like salt and sunscreen — the rest of the country is shoveling snow while your kids count sea lions.

Before you go

Buy LEGOLAND online. Pack for the beach, not the season.

These are planning ranges, not quotes. Winter is San Diego's value season — the same trip costs notably more in July. Hours and prices should be checked again before departure.

Rough budget · family of 4

$3.3K–$5.5K

Seven days / six nights · flights excluded

Lodging · 6 nights: $1,100–$2,100
Food & drink: $900–$1,400
Rental car · 7 days: $350–$550
Activities · Zoo, LEGOLAND, Midway: $700–$1,100
Parking & extras: $250–$350

What earns space

Swimsuits and beach towels — it's 70°F in January, and the kids will swim
Water shoes for the La Jolla tide pools — the rocks are sharp at low tide
Layers: a fleece and a light jacket — 70°F afternoons drop to the 50s after sunset
Sun protection: sunscreen, hats, sunglasses — winter sun at the beach still burns
A kite — Coronado Beach's onshore breeze is the cheapest great memory of the trip
Binoculars — for whale watching (Dec–Mar) and the seals at Children's Pool

**Beach days.** Mission Beach boardwalk — swimsuits in January.

Panda at the San Diego Zoo — **The Zoo.** Panda Ridge — arrive at the 9am opening.

San Diego skyline at sunset from Harbor Island — **Harbor sunsets.** The skyline from Harbor Island — pack the layers.

Planning notes

San Diego family questions, answered.

Is San Diego good for a family trip in winter?

It's one of the best winter family destinations in the US — 65–70°F days in January, the year's lowest hotel rates, thinner crowds, and gray-whale watching season (December–March). The Zoo, LEGOLAND, and the beaches all operate year-round.

How many days do you need in San Diego with kids?

Seven days covers it without rushing: an arrival beach day, the Zoo, Balboa Park + Old Town, LEGOLAND, La Jolla + Torrey Pines, the USS Midway, and a Coronado farewell. Five days works if you drop LEGOLAND or the Midway.

What does a week in San Diego cost for a family of four?

Roughly $3,300–$5,500 excluding flights: $1,100–$2,100 for six nights' lodging, $900–$1,400 for food, $350–$550 for a rental car, $700–$1,100 for the Zoo + LEGOLAND + Midway, and $250–$350 for parking and extras.

How much are San Diego Zoo tickets?

1-Day Any Day tickets are $78 adult (12+) / $68 child (3–11), with Value Days at $73/$63 — under 3 is free. The Zoo opens at 9am daily. If your dates flex to October, Kids Free October gives one free child admission per paid adult at 100+ San Diego attractions.

How much is LEGOLAND California?

Dynamic pricing runs $94–$129 at the gate (ages 2+), but online tickets start around $58–$69 — always buy online. Under 2s are free, parking is $40, and the Water Park upgrade (~$25–$30) is skippable in winter. New for 2026: the LEGO Galaxy land with the Galacticoaster.

How much is the USS Midway?

$41 adult / $31 youth (4–12) at the gate, $39/$29 online — the audio tour is included. Open daily 10am–5pm (last entry 4pm), closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plan 4–5 hours and find a yellow-hat docent.

Where should a family stay in San Diego?

Mission Bay — it's central to everything (Zoo ~20 min, LEGOLAND ~35 min, La Jolla ~20 min), the bay is calm for kids, and winter rates run 20–30% below summer. Paradise Point, the Bahia Resort, and the Catamaran Resort are all strong family picks.

Do you need a car in San Diego?

Yes — San Diego is a driving city, and LEGOLAND (Carlsbad), La Jolla, and Torrey Pines all need a car. Budget $350–$550 for the week plus $40 LEGOLAND parking. Rideshares work for the Zoo and Midway days if you want to skip a rental day.

Can you swim in San Diego in winter?

The air is 65–70°F but the Pacific is in the high 50s to low 60s — brisk. Kids swim anyway (especially in heated hotel pools), but for the ocean, a spring wetsuit makes it actually fun. The sand, the sun, and the tide pools are all fully in season.

When is whale watching season in San Diego?

Gray whale season runs December through March — the migration passes right by San Diego. Book a 3–4 hour whale-watching cruise from the Embarcadero or Mission Bay; morning departures have the calmest water.

Is SeaWorld worth adding?

It's the classic swap option: single-day tickets run ~$60–$100 online (under 3 free), and Kids Go Free promos (ages 2–9 with a paid adult) run through November 1, 2026. If your kids are marine-life obsessed, swap it for the Balboa Park museum morning — but the Zoo + La Jolla seals already cover a lot of animal ground.

What should we pack for San Diego in winter?

Beach gear plus layers: swimsuits and towels (yes, really), water shoes for the tide pools, a fleece and light jacket for 50s evenings, sun protection, a kite for Coronado, and binoculars for whales and seals.

Before you book

Official trip checks.

Hours, prices, and promo windows change — verify these on the official sites before departure.

San Diego Zoo tickets$78 adult / $68 child; opens 9am daily — zoo.sandiegozoo.org

LEGOLAND tickets$94–$129 gate vs ~$58–$69 online; parking $40 — legoland.com/california

USS Midway tickets$41 adult / $31 youth; 10–5 daily — midway.org

Kids Free October1 free child per paid adult at 100+ attractions — SanDiego.org

SeaWorld promosKids Go Free (2–9) through 11/1/2026 — seaworld.com/san-diego

La Jolla tide tablesTime the tide pools for low tide — check the night before

Keep exploring
Related travel guides

Florida Keys Family Guide Grand Canyon Family Guide Utah Mighty 5 Family Guide Maui Family Guide

Sources
Where the facts came from.

Every price, hour, and ticket rule in this guide was verified against official sources in October 2026. Re-check before departure — details change.

San Diego Zoo · tickets & hours LEGOLAND California · tickets USS Midway Museum · tickets & hours Balboa Park · official site SeaWorld San Diego · tickets San Diego Tourism Authority · Kids Free October

Photo credits: all location photos are Wikimedia Commons, CC-licensed — see assets/photo-credits.json for per-photo attribution.

The trip in 60 seconds

Rough budget · family of 4

Day-by-day summary

January in San Diego is the family-travel cheat code.

Seven days of winter sun.

Day 1 · Arrive · Mission Bay·The Giant Dipper, the boardwalk, and your first 70-degree sunset.

Day 2 · Animals · San Diego Zoo·Pandas at opening, bus tour by noon, Skyfari over the canyon.

Day 3 · Culture · Balboa Park·Seventeen museums, one botanical building, and Old Town at dusk.

Day 4 · Bricks · LEGOLAND·The new LEGO Galaxy land, Miniland, and a driver's license for six-year-olds.

Day 5 · Coast · La Jolla·Seals on the rocks, starfish in the tide pools, cliffs at golden hour.

Day 6 · Harbor · USS Midway·Sixty years of naval history, then sunset on the Embarcadero.

Day 7 · Farewell · Coronado·The ferry over, the grand hotel, and one last beach.

We map trips worth taking — then get out of the way.

Buy LEGOLAND online. Pack for the beach, not the season.

Rough budget · family of 4

What earns space

San Diego family questions, answered.

Official trip checks.

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Where the facts came from.

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