Puffy, white clouds scudding across a big, blue expanse and the
gently lapping ocean in front of you...sounds like San Diego to me. The
kids are playing in the surf, and you're relaxing and soaking up some
rays of much-needed sunshine.
And then, the little ones come
running up and drip cold water on your baking, bikini-clad body. "What
next?" "Where are we going after this?" "I'm hungry; can we go get some
food?" Don't worry: there's plenty for the whole family to do and see
in San Diego - and it's all close by.
UNCONVENTIONAL FUN
Take
the family for a hot air balloon ride over the local wine country/ How
many kids can brag that they've been in one of those? Yours will love
it, and you'll be able to get some awesome photos to commemorate the
big event.
BUILD SOME DREAMS
Olympic hopefuls train at
the U.S. Olympic Training Center in nearby Chula Vista, and the center
offers daily tours. You'll see all kinds of training facilities for all
of the summer sports, from archery to track; you may even bump into a
past Olympian as you're touring the grounds!
SLEEP WITH THE FISH
Well,
visitors don't actually sleep with the fish, but they're welcome to
touch and interact with them in three different places at the Birch
Aquarium. You can also peer into a massive 70,000-gallon tank filled
with all kinds of seafaring creatures and take a peek at a live shark
reef.
DITCH THE SAND
If you still want to play in the
water but could do without the sand between your toes, check out
Belmont Park - it boasts plenty of righteous man-made waves, and guests
can even surf on them. It also has rollercoasters, thrill rides,
arcades, and lots of good food.
IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME
Who
can resist the world's most popular building blocks? The first Legoland
ever is located in San Diego, and it houses millions of Legos just
begging to be played with. It also has rides - which, thankfully, are
made of steel instead of building blocks - and places to eat, and
anyone who has ever picked up a Lego is sure to have a blast.
PANDA-MONIUM
You
can't take a trip to San Diego without visiting the world-famous zoo.
It houses a phenomenal panda exhibit, which draws visitors from all
over the globe. Everything is within a reasonable walking distance and
is kept clean and well-maintained, too.
HAVE A WHALE OF A TIME
Sea
World has a huge base in San Diego, where Shamu has catapulted the park
into eternal fame. Visitors can pet bottlenose dolphins, get splashed
by Shamu's massive tail, and stroll around checking out sea life
exhibits that highlight some of the coolest sea creatures ever.
FEED THE FAMILY
San
Diego is home to every fast food restaurant imaginable, so if you're on
the go visiting theme parks and other attractions, drive right on
through. However, if you're ready to take a break and actually sit down
at a table to eat, you're in luck - there are dozens of family-friendly
restaurants all over the area. In San Diego, you won't go more than a
mile without seeing a few tempting places to stop. From local
delicatessens to swanky five-star restaurants, there's no shortage of
food in this town!
Sunny beaches, jaw-dropping scenery, and an
abundance of activity make San Diego one of the best places to take
your family on vacation. Besides, you can't resist the promise of
beautiful year-round weather (San Diego averages between 65 and 80
degrees all year). Break out the bathing suits and flip-flops and head
for Southern California!
This tidbit of real travel advice was contributed by family woman Angie Papple.
Planning an excursion to check out Legoland, frolic with the pandas or just play in San Diego's soft sand? Book your rental home before you go!