Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego with Kids
Cabrillo National Monument was our first family adventure in San Diego. It was a perfect spot to start getting to know our new home.
Cabrillo offers incredible views of San Diego, the mountains, and the Pacific Ocean. It also shares some local history.
It was also an opportunity for us to get our National Park passports stamped. More on this geekiness below.
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Field Trip to Cabrillo National Monument
First stop: Visitor’s Center
I always stop at the Visitor’s Center first for three reasons:
- Get a map. The rangers or volunteers are usually super friendly and helpful. They can show you which paths are best for kids or let you know what is best to see that time of year or that time of day.
- Get your passport stamped! My kids both have a mini-passport book and I have a big one. We get pretty giddy about stamping them. It’s hard to explain why but we’ve definitely gotten the bug. I linked to both above on Amazon, but you can get them at most National Park Visitor Centers as well. It is a great way to get your kids excited about visiting the parks.
- Get a Junior Ranger newspaper. My kids love the Junior Ranger Program. It is best for kids ages 5 and up. For Cabrillo National Monument kids their age had to complete 4 or more sections. I love that this program keeps them engaged and helps us direct them towards things they will find interesting. Bonus: I always, always learn something myself. When they are done head back to the Visitor Center to get a badge from the Ranger.Also Read: How to Make the Most of Your Fourth Grade National Park Pass
what to see
There are a lot of options at the Cabrillo National Monument even though for a National Park it is on the smaller side.
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First – The View
Our kids are generally not overly impressed with views but since this is our new town they were a little more excited about scoping it out from up high. We could also spot their Daddy’s new work from up here which was exciting too.
These were taken from right behind the Visitor’s Center.
Cabrillo Monument
This statue is dedicated to Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo who was the first European explorer to set foot on the United States’ west coast in 1542.
The Junior Ranger program helped us learn more about the focus of this park.
The Old Lighthouse
This was a highlight for our kids. They love lighthouses.
It is a tiny lighthouse and we weren’t able to go up to the top, but my kids still loved going inside and seeing the recreated quarters for the lighthouse keeper.
We also learned about chamber pots which they thought was hilarious.
read also: 52 things to do with kids in san diego
Kelp Forest and Whale Overlook
This is a short kid friendly trail that goes along the western edge of the point. The views are incredible.
We spotted whales spouting and could see the kelp forest off the coast of San Diego.
I highly recommend bringing binoculars for your kids if you are visiting during the whale migration periods. You can learn more about when and what to watch for on the National Park Website.
Good things to know about Cabrillo
- There are bathrooms at the Visitor Center and by the Kelp Trail past the lighthouse.
- Bring your own snacks and water to drink, especially on a hot day.
- Dress for the weather. You are up high and exposed so wear sunscreen and bring water on a hot day. Be prepared for wind and a bit of a chill off the water on cooler days.
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Tide Pools
One of the best tide pooling areas in San Diego is on the Cabrillo peninsula. If your visit coincides with a negative low tide time don’t miss the chance to explore.
Read More: Top Tips for Tidepooling with Kids
