Balboa Park sits in the heart of San Diego, just east of downtown. As accurately stated on their website, Balboa Park is “Where culture, science, and nature collide.” It is home to the world famous San Diego Zoo, but also numerous museums, gardens, and trails. It is a beautiful, historic and not to be missed, whether you all San Diego home or are visiting for the sunshine.

Balboa Park certainly markets itself well and I do not work for them in any capacity, so that isn’t the point of this post. This post is for families who want to make the most of the park. We absolutely love Balboa Park so I simply want to share what we’ve learned, enjoyed and how we’ve made the most of the park. Where are the best places to visit with kids? Which museums work and which can you skip? How do you get the best deals?

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3 Options for Visiting Balboa Park

1. Stick to Free Days

The first and obviously least expensive option is to stick to free days. If you are a San Diego resident, Balboa Park offers Resident Free Tuesdays to various museums in the park on a rotating schedule. You can check out the schedule on their website. Many of the museums and the zoo are also free to kids in the month of October – you can learn more about that here.

2. Individual Museum Fees & Packages

The second option is to simply visit a museum and pay the entrance fee. If you’re particularly a lover of art or have a kid who loves science, then going to just that museum or paying for a single membership to a museum is an option.

3. Explorer Pass

If you want to visit more than one museum then the Explorer Pass is 100% the way to go. You can get an annual, one day or multi-day Explorer Pass, so regardless of whether you are a resident or just visiting for a couple of days I would still recommend one of these variations. My main reason is this – while together, the area, the gardens, the playgrounds, the trails, and the many museums are extraordinary, I do not personally think that any of the individual museums is spectacular or particularly large. There are really good ones. Ones we’ve been to many times and I will get into some of that below, but really what is so great about Balboa Park is the diversity of experiences that you can pop into and out of.

We get the annual Explorer Pass. 365 Days. 16 Museums. 1 Pass. The only thing not included is the Zoo, which although adjacent to the park is a separate entity. I personally think this pass makes for a great holiday gift idea if you like gifting experiences.

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What to do in Balboa Park with Kids

So now that you are on board for a morning or day at Balboa Park, where do you go? I will admit to being completely overwhelmed by that question the first time I visited. A few tips first, before we start picking out museums:

• Parking, especially on the weekend, can be difficult. I usually try to arrive early (always my advice, especially if you’re already up with little ones or trying to fight your body over the time change). We usually park near the Air & Space Museum which is on the opposite side of the park from the zoo and is a large lot, so it seems to fill up a little more slowly.
• Another good parking option if you’re there early enough is behind the Fleet Science Museum which situates you close to some of the best museums and near the playground on that end of the park as well.

About Balboa Park

Balboa Park was set aside by the city in the 1800s and was beautified in the 1890s, largely in preparation for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and largely by a woman named Kate Sessions. If you’re a book person, like I am, you might enjoy sharing this wonderful picture book about Kate Sessions. It is about how one woman who loved trees completely transformed San Diego from a desert into what it is today. It’s one of our favorites and really affected how we see the park and our city.

What to Do in the Park with Kids

Now the biggie. What do you actually do in the park with kids. Balboa Park’s website does have a list of kid friendly things to do in the park and it’s a good one, but if you’re trying to figure out priorities, here are some thoughts.

Japanese Friendship Garden

The Japanese Friendship Garden is one of our family’s favorite parts of Balboa Park. We have visited it more times than anywhere else in Balboa Park and it is beautiful any time of the year.

The Cherry Blossom Festival is their biggest event of the year. We went the first year we lived here and did enjoy it, but the garden is SO crowded during this time. Personally I think it is much more pleasant on a normal week day or even early on a normal weekend day.

Best for: All ages, Families who love gardens, nature.
Kid Tip: Don’t miss the two large coy ponds and the opportunities to walk over the stream on all of the bridges.

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

My kids love the Fleet Science Center. There are lots of hands on activities and they often have a fun visiting exhibit (that costs a little extra money). I wouldn’t say it is the best science center we have ever visited but it is a fun way to spend a few hours and one of my twins’ favorite parts of Balboa.

Best for: Toddlers and up. Great for families who love science.
Kid Tip: This one has a decent food area adjacent that has kid friendly options.

San Diego Air and Space Museum

Having been to both amazing space museums in Washington DC, I find it hard to be impressed by other Air and Space Museums. This one does have some interesting parts about Naval and Air Force history. The best part about this museum is probably the visiting exhibits – so pay attention to the calendar and try to get over there when something good is visiting.

Best for: there is a space for little kids, but I would say this is best for kids who are 5+

San Diego Art Institute

It isn’t huge, but I was impressed with this little Art Museum. It has good and diverse (albeit small) collection and is very family friendly.

Best for: ages 3+, families who love art. Highly, highly recommend bringing your kids something to do – their own drawing materials, a scavenger hunt, etc.
Kid Tip: make sure to check out their free family events. My kids always love these opportunities to create and it gets them more excited about the exhibits at the museum afterwards. These were temporarily suspended during Covid19.

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

If you know someone who loves trains, this is a not to be missed museum. Tucked into the lower level of the Casa de Balboa Building on the Prado in Balboa Park is the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. Don’t let the basement entrance fool you, at 27,000 sq. ft., it is the largest such indoor model train exhibit in North America, and one of the largest in the world. Read Full Post

Best for: all ages. This is a great one to visit with grandparents.
Kid tip: for the kid who loves trains, make sure to go ride the miniature train afterwards. Check the hours first to avoid disappointment!

San Diego Museum of Man

This is a fun museum full of interesting exhibits. We loved the ones about Monsters and Living with Animals. Note: Going up in the tower and the special exhibit are not included in the main cost.

Best for: kids 5 and older.

San Diego National History Museum

The Natural History Museum is a lot of fun for kids who like animals, dinosaurs, or science – my kids happen to like all three. There are lots of exhibits that engage kids. It isn’t a children’s museum in the sense that it’s super hands on, but there are still plenty of things to touch and manipulate and explore.

Best for: Kids who are 5+ and interested in one of the topics covered at the museum.

Mingei Museum

I explained this museum to my kids as an art museum full of art that people actually use. The museum website calls them “arts of daily life.” It is a small, but beautiful collection.

Best for: 5+ The museum is not interactive but the “every day” aspect – beads, quilts, etc. is appealing on a broader basis than other art museums might be.

All in all, we love Balboa Park. While there isn’t a single amazing museum, together if you have the explorer pass and view them as one big museum – together they are impressive. We love spending days in the park wandering in and out of different museums or popping in for an hour to our favorites.

Balboa Park itself is a beautiful place to walk around and there are always interesting things to see and people to watch.

Read More San Diego with Kids Tips HERE

Sometimes I wish our busy days had enough hours for big, grand adventures every day but the truth is they just don’t. And that’s okay. 

Our busy days are full of things we love and the good thing is we can still make time for adventures. 

Sometimes our adventures have to be little and quick and inexpensive but they can still feel like big adventures. 

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Since moving to San Diego we have found quite a few quick little walks that feel like adventures – at least to little kids and often to me as well. 

Here are 10 of our Favorites:

1. Piedras Pintadas Interpretive Trail

I could just have easily written “HIKE” here. There are dozens of quicker easy hikes in the San Diego area that are fun with kids. This is one of our favorites for the ease of getting there from us, uncrowded trails, and just enough climbing to make it fun for my kids.

2. Kate Sessions Park

If you have a smaller kiddo then just running up and down the hill near the parking lot could feel like an adventure and you will get to enjoy the stunning view. If your kids are up for a little hike (about 1 mile) then head off on the trail behind the playground.

3. Mission Bay

Mission Bay has beaches around every corner. We love riding our bikes around the Bay and playing at the playground at Fulton Street. (Great for little kids too!) Our favorite however is kayaking or swimming in the little cove beaches. North Cove Public Beach and Mission Point Park are two of our favorites.

4. Walk out on a Pier

Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach and the pier in Ocean Beach are both fun quick adventures. There is some cool about being over the water instead of just standing on the beach looking out at it. My kids love watching the surfers and watching the fishermen. You can also bring your own pole and give it a try if your kids are a little older.

5. Tide Pools

Tide pools are one of our absolute favorite adventures. I probably wouldn’t have attempted this when my kids were toddlers because the rocks can be pretty slippery, but once you have about a 3 or 4 year old these are endless entertainment. Dress for your kids to get wet, I highly suggest shoes with good grips (we use these Keen Sandals), and check tide charts beforehand to make sure you’re hitting a low tide period.

6. Watch Seals

This is on most touristy lists for San Diego, but it is so super cool. Our favorite is going right around when the new babies are born (early Springtime) but any time of year seeing seals and sea lions up close and in their natural environment is really cool. I usually park around Children’s Beach in La Jolla and then we walk north along the coast.

7. Balboa Park Hike

There are 5 trails in Balboa Park and they vary in length and difficulty. You can read details about each on the Balboa Park website. I love that these are all so close and offer easy parking (although Saturdays can be a little tricky late morning and early afternoon) and still feel like you’re getting away in nature despite being so close to downtown.

Also Read: In Depth Look at Balboa Park for Families

8. Suspension Bridge

This is one of those quirky things that you could drive by a million times and never see. It’s close to Balboa Park so we usually pair the two. Just search Spruce Street Suspension Bridge and google maps will lead you right there.

9. Visit the Sculpture Garden at Kit Carson Park

Speaking of quirky – this is the quirkiest on the list. This Sculpture Garden is kind of random and a little bit of a drive north of San Diego but my kids LOVED it. We brought along “adventure supplies” which I always suggest but they loved exploring the sculptures, drawing, and taking photos.

Kit Carson Park also has a fun playground and is close to the San Diego Safari Park if you want to make more of a day of your time up there.

10. Watch the Sunset at Torrey Pines

This is possibly my favorite. There are a lot of beautiful places to watch the sunset in San Diego but so far this is my favorite. The beach at Torrey Pines is beautiful and the sunsets never fail to amaze me. My kids love the excuse to run and play on the beach. I always bring something for them to do – kites, model airplanes, sand toys, etc. This one is perfect for the Winter months when the beach is uncrowded and the sun sets earlier.

Also Read: Little Walks Big Adventures
You Can Take Anywhere

Christmas is almost here. Can you feel the excitement growing? I think that – the waiting, the excitement – is probably my favorite part of Christmas.

Because we are a family that loves to go on adventures, Christmas Adventures are part of our holiday family traditions.

We started taking our twins on Christmas Adventures pretty much as soon as they could walk.

When they were two they toddled around the block at my parent’s house in Wisconsin to look for Christmas lights. That took a remarkably long time compared to the blocks my kids walk now with their Christmas lights scavenger hunts in hand, but it was an early attempt at exploring the season and laid the groundwork for our family Christmas adventure traditions.

Since then these traditions have grown and changed and we’ve moved several times, but getting out and finding the spirit of the season in our city or town is always a part of our December.

Download Christmas Printable

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10 Christmas Adventures for Kids

Below are 10 of our favorite annual Christmas Adventures. I hope you find at least one new one to try with your family this holiday season.

1. Searching for Signs of Christmas

As early as Thanksgiving weekend we like to go on a Christmas signs hunt. We walk our neighborhood or town and take in the signs of Christmas approaching – the decorations, the Christmas trees, the lights.

Last year we loved finding the smell of Christmas trees on the street corners in New York City.

This year we’re planning to wander Little Italy and Liberty Station, as well as our own neighborhood to search for signs of Christmas.

2. Christmas Book Shopping

We are a book obsessed family so really any excuse to go to the bookstore will do. I always love making a special trip around the holidays to read new Christmas books. On a cold winter day there is little better than snuggling up in a warm, cozy bookshop for an hour or two.

We have explored many bookshops over the holidays looking for gifts and new books to add to our already insane Christmas Book Collection.

This picture is from last December in the cozy children’s section at Boswell Book Co on Downer Ave in Milwaukee WI.

This year I’m hoping to do some Christmas book shopping at one of the local San Diego indies. If you have a favorite, let me know in the comments!

3. Window Displays

New York City window displays are famous and one of my musts if you are in Manhattan for the holidays, but even if you are somewhere else it is likely that stores this time of year in your area will have to festive window displays. Go take a walk and peek in.

Last year we were pressing our noses up to the windows at Macy’s.

This year I doubt we’ll find anything quite as impressive, but we’re planning to explore some shopping areas and see what we can find.

4. Holiday Parade

This has been one of our favorite holiday traditions in the different places we have lived.

In the Twin Cities we bundled up for the Holidazzle parade.

In Baraboo WI, we super bundled with hand warmers for the night time Winter Lights parade.

In Madison MS, we enjoyed the relatively warm holiday parade down main street and the chance to chat with Santa and Mrs. Claus afterwards.

In New York City, we watched the incredible Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with it’s detailed floats, performers, and jaw dropping balloons. (Read my tips for doing that with kids in this post)

I’m not sure what California has in store for us, but I’m excited to find out. We have the La Jolla Christmas Parade.

5. Holiday Lights Walk

This is another one we have always loved. I like to wait until about the week before Christmas. We bundle up one evening and go for a walk. We’ve used this Scavenger Hunt the past few years for some integrated literacy and because my kids are a bit scavenger hunt obsessed.

Most towns have an area infamous for their lights. When we lived in Brooklyn the Dyker Lights were an annual must.

This year we’re going to walk around our neighborhood and check out one of these holiday light displays.

6. Holiday Markets

Our favorites in New York City were the one in the Oculus and at Union Square. My kids love browsing the different little shops and we also take turns bringing them to pick out gifts for each other and for us (their mom and dad). We use these adventures as mini-math and currency lessons, much like going to the farmers’ market.

This year I’m planning to go to the Maker’s Holiday Fairy at the Broadway Pier and browse shops at our favorite Little Italy Farmers’ Market.

7. Special Holiday Displays

My kids are awed by a really special holiday display. This one is the luminary display in Brookfield Place in lower Manhattan and it was our favorite in New York City at Christmas Time.

This year we are planning to visit the San Diego Botanic Garden for their garden of lights and watch the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights.

8. Ice Skating

My kids love ice skating….or at least the concept of ice skating. Actually moving across the ice is a work in progress. We love trying though. I read this list of rinks in San Diego and was so excited that this wasn’t a Christmas adventure we were going to have to miss in California.

This picture was taking at the Brookfield Place in lower Manhattan overlooking the river, Lady Liberty, and New Jersey’s skyline. We also loved ice skating in Prospect Park in Brooklyn and although pricey, I thought skating at Rockefeller is one of those ‘you should do this at least once’ experiences.

9. Christmas Tree Hunt

One of my favorite things about Christmas are the beautiful lights and trees that pop up everywhere. Hotels, town squares, train stations, libraries. They are everywhere and we love searching for them. If you follow Little Kid Big City on Instagram I think she is the queen of hunting down Christmas trees every year.

This one is from the New York Public Library in 2017.

One of the things I love most about hunting for Christmas trees is that they often surprise you. You round a corner and wow – there is an incredible tree.

10. Find the Best Hot Cocoa

In our case this is more of a find good Vegan hot cocoa in our current town. Not an easy task. I’m a huge hot cocoa fan though so I like to taste test some this time of year.

Download Christmas Printable

What are your favorite holiday adventures? I’d love to hear about them and San Diego suggestions you have for us in the comments!

My twins love animals so the San Diego is one of our favorite places to visit. My kids love watching the sleepy pandas, climbing like the koalas, and quizzing zookeepers wherever they find them perched.

It is a frequent after school adventure for us and I love finding ways to mix it up and re-engage them in things so this time I had a surprise scavenger hunt.

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Field Trip to San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is located inside Balboa Park and is a massive 100 acres in size. There are over 600 species of animals and among those are some more rare animals, such as the two Giant Pandas my kids adore.

The zoo is known for it’s beauty and it is a lovely place to walk around but be prepared – it is quite hilly and you will get a good work out. This is especially true if you intend to see the whole zoo which can take at least four hours.

For afternoons we usually pick a couple parts and focus on those – the benefits of an annual membership

Visit: San Diego Zoo Website

Although my kids are in public school, their second grade teachers sent home a letter at the beginning of the year explaining that they would not be assigning homework (cue happy dance) which frees up our afternoons for more project based learning that follows their interests and field trips – like this one to the zoo.

I think these experiences are so vital to supporting and extending their learning.

Related curriculum or projects

This field trip was planned, primarily, because of their current interest in animals. It also worked on the following second grade standards:

• Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says help, get information, or clarify something says in order to gather additional information or in order to clarify comprehension, gather additional that is not understood, or deepen understanding of a topic or issue. My kids are NOT shy about asking “experts” to clarify signs, presentations, or any questions my kids might have. They love finding zookeepers and volunteers because they know their knowledge base is deep. 
• Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Plants depend on animals for pollination or to move their seeds around. There is a lot of discussion about endangered animals at the San Diego Zoo and we talked a lot about the reasons different animals are endangered – some relating to habitats and food. 

Before the Field Trip

Before a field trip, I always find it helpful to prep my kids.

Some ways we have prepared for various trips include:

• Reading books about animals they are most excited about
• Looking at the zoo map online and plotting our route
• Thinking of questions we want to try to find answers for at the zoo

If you’re going with a full class or as part of a homeschooling project, the San Diego Zoo website has an extraordinary amount of curriculum materials and resources for all ages on their website.

For this most recent trip to the San Diego Zoo I made a scavenger hunt for my kids of the portions of the zoo we hadn’t explored much yet.

Note: The San Diego Zoo does have a scavenger hunt program that we’ve done in the past. If you haven’t done this already I highly suggest asking at the Guest Services desk for this hunt that will have you circling around Australia, Africa and into the Asian part of the zoo and if you turn it in at the gift shop you get a little prize.

Our Scavenger Hunt took us to the Lost Forest, Wegeforth Bowl, and Discovery Outpost at the San Diego Zoo. I created it knowing we’d use it at the San Diego Zoo but it’s not an “official” San Diego Zoo scavenger hunt and not necessarily San Diego Zoo specific. I think it would work at a lot of larger zoos around the country.

Download our FREE Scavenger Hunt

What to Pack for a Trip to the San Diego Zoo

• Scavenger Hunt (download)
• Clipboard(s)
• Pen or Pencil
• Snacks
• Water Bottle(s)

Also Read: Adventure Supplies I Can’t Live Without

During the Field Trip

We started our afternoon at the San Diego Zoo with a sky glider ride. My kids always love the Skyfari and if the lines aren’t long at the front of the zoo we usually do this first.

The sky glider drops you off by the Polar Bears and if you head west down the hill towards the Hippo Trail you can begin this hunt.

We also stopped to visit the Pandas before hopping on the Hippo Trail.

Also Read: 52+ Kid Friendly Things to do in San Diego

I love scavenger hunts at places like the zoo because they encourage my kids to slow down a little and look more closely at the animals. Otherwise I often feel like we’re just running from animal to animal and while my FitBit and lungs thank me for that, it doesn’t do much for actually learning about animals.

Even though we’ve been to the zoo a ton of times already, the Scavenger Hunt helped us poke into areas we hadn’t seen much or look more closely at animals we had breezed past before. Just the act of doing the scavenger hunt seems to slow my kids down for the entire zoo – even animals that aren’t on the hunt were more closely observed.

On this trip my kids particularly enjoyed exploring the Reptile House. They looked in every single window hunting for the creatures living inside long after they answered the question on their Scavenger Hunt.

We ended the afternoon by the turtles. At the end of the day I think we spent about 2 1/2 hours at the zoo and saw a little less than half of it, but we looked really carefully at the animals we did see and learned a lot.

Good things to know about the San Diego Zoo

If you haven’t been to the San Diego Zoo before, it is helpful to know a few things:

• It’s huge and hilly so be prepared to walk a lot.
• The zoo operates on several different levels which can be a little confusing on the map. Look at it carefully at the map and don’t be afraid to ask for directions.
• Food stands with soda machines will refill your water with nice cool water if you ask nicely. We always bring a water bottles and stop to get more water frequently.
• San Diego Zoo is FREE for kids in October!

after the field trip

After the field trip don’t let the learning stop! Explore more about your favorite zoo animals or the new animal you discovered that fascinated you. This collection of Zoo Animal Activities for All Ages is a great starting place.

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We love the San Diego Zoo and can’t wait to spend another afternoon exploring, learning, and having fun.

Don’t Forget: Download FREE Scavenger Hunt

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Zookeeper Training Unit Pack

Joshua Trees stretch before us as far as the eye can see. We drove into the park only moments ago, but with the Junior Ranger booklets in their hands and rocks towering just outside the windows my kids are giddy to get out of the car.

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Joshua Tree National Park with Kids

Joshua Tree National Park is about two hours East of LA and about two and half hours Northeast of San Diego. The park is huge and contains two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado.

Read Also: 5+ Kid Friendly Day Trips from San Diego

The park is completely fascinating and we saw plants and animals we haven’t seen anywhere else.

joshua tree day trip packing list

• Water (we went through an entire cooler of water bottles)
• Sunscreen
• Sun Hats
• Good Walking Shoes
• Pens
• Snacks
• Lunch
• National Park Passports

when you get to joshua tree

Start by asking for the Junior Ranger booklet at the Ranger Station when you enter the park. We LOVE this program.

You get a booklet (see below) for each kid to fill out. It has sections for different age ranges and ours started doing this when they were about 4.

Also Read: How to Make the Most of Your Fourth Grade National Park Pass

We’ve done this at a ton of different National Parks and they are always interesting and help to keep our kids engaged. This one focused on the plants and animals native to the Joshua Tree National Park.

family friendly hikes

Our family did 3 hikes in Joshua Tree. It took us most of the day. We arrived at the park around 10 and didn’t leave until around 4. There are a huge range of hikes that you can do at Joshua Tree National Park. This post from JUST GO offers a lot of helpful information about the various hikes from popularity to how strenuous they are to what you can expect to see along the way to help you decide what will work best for your family or group.

These are the hikes we did with our twin 7 year olds:

HIKE ONE: Hidden Valley Campground Trail to the Barker Dam Trail

This was the longest hike that we undertook. I should say up front that if I were to do it again I might skip the Hidden Valley Trail portion. You can park closer and just do the Barker Dam Loop and I would probably do that if we did it again.

That being said, we did see the best animals on the Hidden Valley portion of the hike. It was a long open space for long stretches where all you could see were Joshua Trees and Cactus and dry grasses.

We saw both a jackrabbit and this chirping squirrel. That was definitely one of the highlights of our day.

The Barker Dam was beautiful. You go up a tiny bit in elevation and the view is cool. My kids loved the opportunities to climb more rocks because it’s their absolute favorite part about hiking.

Hike 2: Cholla Cactus Garden

This was a super short hike. I wouldn’t even call it a hike so much as a walk around a garden on a path. I though it was super cool though. I had never seen cacti like this and it was a bit surreal to see them all together extending out so far.

also read: Los Angeles Day Trip with Kids

Two notes however; 1. there was this welcoming sign about bees. We didn’t see many but depending on the time of year that could be bad. 2. You are close to the cacti and there are signs everywhere about not touching them. There’s even a first aid kit at the entrance because apparently people can’t help themselves.

We emerged completely bite and pricker free with no problems, but when you’re thinking about this one for kids just keep those things in mind.

Hike 3: Arch Rock Nature Trail

This was another super short hike but probably my favorite. This was such a gorgeous part of the park. There were more rocks for climbing and the arch in the rocks was kind of cool.

We also made several hopping out of the car to do a little climbing stops. These little stops were our kids’ favorite parts.

also read: Mt. Whitney and Death Valley with Kids

on our way out of the park

When we were done hiking, we stopped at the Visitor’s Center. There are 3 I believe at different corners of the park.

Here we got our National Park Passport stamped and the kids got sworn in as Junior Rangers by one of the Park Rangers.

Click to Find More National Park Adventures

Good things to know about Joshua Tree

• It gets hot – super hot. The park rangers were telling us that it gets over 115 degrees there in the summer. We visited in April and it was perfect. Warm but there was a definite breeze that kept us from over heating. Because of this, avoid the Summer and early Fall months when it tends to be the hottest and always bring Sunscreen and Water.
• The park is huge. Look at a map beforehand and figure out what hike or hikes you most want to do. Be prepared to do some driving in between. This worked out well for us to re-hydrate and fill up on some snacks before we got out of the car again.

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I’ve been fighting off some serious wanderlust. When I scroll through Instagram places like Bora Bora and Iceland and Scotland and Thailand are constantly tempting me.

Then I hear about my friends plans to move abroad, go on a safari, RV around the country and I start feeling that itch to explore even more.

A couple of weeks ago my kids were off for a Spring Break. The other families at school spent the week before and after sharing their trip plans for Hawaii and Jamaica and the mountains to experience snow.

We went…nowhere.

But really that’s not true. Sure we didn’t jump on a cruise ship or airplane but we didn’t sit around in our pjs binge watching the new magic school bus either. (not that we haven’t or you shouldn’t!)

For one thing we just moved to San Diego in January so everything is new to us and for another I truly believe it is possible to have awesome meaningful experiences right were you are.

Since we moved here we have seen seals close up, including several Babies with their mothers.

We have learned about koalas and elephants

And helped care for goats.

We have learned about San Diego history

And even learned about snails in our own backyard.

In three months we have already had a huge variety of experiences without driving more than a mile or spending thousands of dollars.

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What’s more we have done this before:

in a smaller city in Mississippi

and in rural Wisconsin

and New York City.

I’m not saying I’m not going to keep planning and saving for those next flights abroad or plotting a course for our next road trip.

My wanderlust is alive and well.

I’m saying don’t forget about where you are right now.

For us, the timing and my health and my husband’s job limit us. You may have the same or different reasons – but whatever is holding you in one place right now – embrace it. Lean into it.

Adventures are possible anywhere. You just have to look for them.

The moment you arrive at Torrey Pines State Reserve it is pretty obvious why this hike makes it onto so many Best San Diego Hikes for Kids and Best San Diego Attractions for Kids lists.

It is gorgeous! And this isn’t even close to the best view.

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Now I aim to be completely honest here – so I’m just going to say it – the first part of this hike kind of sucks.

You start down here – either park in the lot or on the street just before the park entrance – and then you hike up a hill. You can park at the top but then you’re going to end with the hard part so I don’t recommend that.

So, once you park, you head up a hill. A big hill. Like a super big hill. Not steep for the most part but a long, slow climb up.

Now to be fair, ever since I had that huge part of my lung taken out hills have been hard for me. Part of why I like to hike so much and love California so much, is that forcing myself to walk up these things, while hard, is super helpful for strengthening what is left of my sad lungs.

Even still, those of us that didn’t have a partial lobectomy were also struggling up that hill.

Hang in there through that climb, it is worth it.

The views from the top are spectacular. On a clear day you can see ocean for miles.

I am fascinated by the west coast landscape right now so I loved every bit of this hike. The ocean. The rocks. The foliage…

At the top there is a small nature center and there was also a Ranger outside the bathroom (port-a-potty) area. My kids immediately started asking him questions about the different things on his table.

They walked away (many many many minutes later) with new knowledge about the animals in the hills of San Diego. Learning thru adventure for the win!

We also got our handy bird guide that has since been used on several hikes at the nature center.

So bird guide, new knowledge and rested legs (and lung) in hand we headed down the mountain.

All the way down the views were spectacular. I’ll spare you the hundreds of pictures I took but it was amazing.

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The hike down is definitely doable for little legs. My kids are good hikers at this point (my twins are 6) but I think most kids about 4 and up could handle the walk down. I would probably have attempted it with my kids when they were three but especially the uphill part would have been a struggle.

At the bottom you are rewarded with a stunning beach.

also read: rock field trip to Torrey Pines and activity ideas

The hills, the rocks, the water, the beach. This was pretty much my version of heaven. A busy heaven – because this is a super popular park, but it was amazing.

also read: 52 things to do in san diego with kids

We walked along the beach back in the general direction of the car taking our time the whole way.

My kids loved hopping on rocks and wading into the little pools of water.

I took more pictures and just marveled. Truly. What a beautiful place we get to call home for a while.

We ended at the beach in front of the entrance. My kids couldn’t resist a splash in the (freezing cold) Pacific. And really after all that hiking they had earned it.

Good Things to Know about Torrey Pines

In conclusion, here is what you need to know before you hike at Torrey Pines.

• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Be prepared to go uphill.
• Bring water for going uphill and for the sun.
• Wear sunscreen.
• Stop at the bathroom at the top.
• The top is also a good place to stop and have a snack.
• Be prepared for kids to want to get wet at the bottom.
• It is awesome

If you’re looking for a hike in San Diego I definitely recommend this one. It is one we will do again.

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“Do we have to go to the Flower Fields? It’s going to be so boring just watching you take a million trillion photos,” they whine from the backseat.

Whining is what my 6 year old twins appear to be majoring in this year.

“Yup!” I cheerfully reply.

My husband launches into a very sweet lecture about how we are a family and that this means sometimes we do things for people we love that we don’t want to do.

They don’t buy it but they do stop whining. Then several minutes later –

“Mom look! A tractor ride!”

“Mom look at all those flowers!”

We have arrived at the Carlsbad Ranch and the huge rainbow of flowers sits before us. Also before us is a sprawling area full of things to do.

Their eyes are wide and I know this is going to be so much better than they expected.

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5 Things for Kids to Love about the Flower Fields

There is no doubt that I did take a million pictures. How could you resist? The flowers were incredible.

What did surprise all of us however was just how much my kids loved the Flower Fields.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are located just north of San Diego. We drove up for the afternoon and spent about 2 hours wandering, exploring, playing and yes, photographing.

1. Scavenger Hunt

When we walked in the gate the ticket taker offered my kids a scavenger hunt. They could run around the activity area and find stamps at each of the different activities.

Note – some of these cost extra money and almost all only took cash so be prepared for how you want to deal with this.

2. Tractor Wagon Ride

My son spotted this one from the parking lot and was SO excited. The tractor ride is his favorite part of our trips to pumpkin patches so he had no doubt it was going to be the best part of this too.

We paid the extra 3-5$ per person at the front gate. You can also buy tickets later.

It is not required that you ride the tractor to get out to the flower fields. You can easily walk and if it were just me that’s what I would have done, but my kids loved the tractor ride.

3. Rainbow of Colors

My twins were very excited about the rainbow of colors. They had a long discussion about why there weren’t green flowers and then of course wanted to look at and smell each color.

They spent a lot of time smelling flowers.

Note: you are not supposed to touch the flowers. This illegal activity pictured above is a big no-no. You can however smell them without touching – we practiced this.

You also cannot walk among the flowers. Only the workers can do that. My kids followed that rule easily, but with littler kids you may want to warn them about staying behind the green barrier line.

4. Photo Opps

Now this one was more for me. My kids though have gotten into taking pictures.

They are happy to be in photos right now as long as I also give them a turn with the camera.

Their favorite photo opp was the one with the tractor positioned out in the field. Who wouldn’t want to hop up on an antique tractor?

We also took lots of photos of the flowers. I don’t think a single one of them really captured how pretty this place was though.

5. The Sweet Pea Maze

One of their favorite parts was our last activity – the Sweet Pea Maze. There is a map of the maze on the inside of the scavenger hunt page and my kids LOVED following along as they went through the maze.

Good things to know about the flower fields

• Bathrooms are available in the activity area and porta potties are available throughout.
• There is food for purchase, but it is limited. The mall right down the block is probably your best bet for finding more of a meal.
• We had a pleasant breeze on the afternoon we visited, but I imagine on still days there would be some bugs – bug spray would be a good idea.
• Sunscreen and a sun hat would be a good day every day. Don’t underestimate that bright California sun, even on a cooler day.
• The tractor only makes two stops – one where it picks you up and the other in the back middle of the field. Then you can get off and hop back on later if you want a ride back up to the start.

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You can feel their excitement as my twins scamper off down the trail ahead of us. Even though we have been outside a LOT since we moved to San Diego almost two months ago, this is the first time we’ve been able to get out of town for a hike.

My twins might be city kids like their mama, but they also love wide open spaces.

Fortunately for them, the Mission Trails Regional Park is full of open space and is a short drive from our house.

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Field Trip to Mission Trails Regional Park

This was our first trip to Mission Trails Regional Park but we will definitely be back. The park encompasses 7,220 acres and is teeming with beautiful views, rocky hills, and trails of all different lengths and difficulties.

related projects

• Birds Unit
• Observing Nature
• Rivers

also read: adventure supplies i can’t live without

Before the Field Trip

My kids have been very interested in birds since we moved to San Diego. They haven’t seen any beyond the occasional pigeon much in the past year, so the great variety in our backyard alone is fascinating.

I got a laminated Local Birds Guide for our county a couple of weeks ago and it has gotten a lot of use. I thought that getting outside the city a little might give them more opportunities to discover even more birds.

On a sunny Sunday, we packed our bird guide and other adventure supplies and headed to Mission Trails.

During the Field Trip

When we got there we looked the big map by the Visitor’s Center and decided to start with the easy Visitor Center Loop.

My kids have big plans to scale the mountain peaks at some point, but this seemed like a good place to start.

Almost immediately my daughter spotted a bird. We pulled out their binoculars for a better look.

After watching for a few minutes and consulting their guide we determined that it was definitely a hummingbird. Can you spot it on the tree? It’s bright green is pretty well camouflaged among the leaves.

Eventually we continued down the trail.

Climbed a tree. Watched more birds.

Took on a moderately difficult crossing trail that took us across the San Diego River.

This diverged more into water play in the river.

Eventually we made it back to the Visitor’s Center, which you should not miss if you’re visiting with kids.

Upstairs there are incredible views of the park.

And both down and upstairs has a variety of interactive exhibits for the kids to learn more about the animals that are native to the area.

read also: 12 walk ideas for toddlers

All said, we spent about 2 hours exploring the park and loved every moment. It is amazing to feel like you are in the middle of nowhere when you are just minutes from the city.

Mission Trails Regional Park is an amazing resource for families!

Good things to know about Mission trails regional park

• Bathrooms are located in the Visitor’s Center.
• Trails are well marked. The Visitor Center Loop is definitely stroller (with some off road capability) and toddler friendly.

after the field trip

I can see other interests developing from a trip to Mission Trails, but our kids went in with an interest in birds and that has definitely not diminished. We will be reading about, observing, and learning about the birds in our area more in the weeks to come.

We are already planning to;

• Buy a hummingbird feeder for our backyard.
• Try to get a good picture of several hummingbirds.
• Draw pictures of the hummingbirds.
• Try to identify the specific kinds.
• Learn more about their specific homes.
• Finding more books about birds. Does anyone have a good one with hummingbirds in it to recommend?

read our bird unit for kindergarten and first grade

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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:

1. 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.
2. 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. 
3. 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

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