We’ve gone to San Diego every Fourth of July for the last six years, and somewhere along the way, it became one of those places that just feels like home.
The weather is almost always perfect. The beaches are beautiful. There are great restaurants, coffee shops, walkable neighborhoods, and enough family activities to keep everyone happy without feeling like you’re running from attraction to attraction all day.
We’ve stayed all over the area, including Hyatt Mission Bay, La Valencia in La Jolla, and Pacific Terrace in Pacific Beach. Every trip somehow makes us love San Diego a little more.
At this point, we joke that we’re moving there someday.
Friend to friend, it’s not really a joke. It’s more a question of when.
If you’re planning a San Diego family vacation, here’s everything we personally love about staying in Pacific Beach and La Jolla with kids.
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Why We Keep Coming Back to San Diego Every Year
Someone once described San Diego as Barbieland, and honestly, I kind of get it. The weather is incredible. The people are friendly. Everyone seems to be outside doing something. Whether they’re walking the beach, biking the boardwalk, surfing, running, or sitting on a restaurant patio, there is just an energy to the city that feels different.
For Fourth of July, it has to be one of the most patriotic places in the country. Everyone is walking around in red, white, and blue swimsuits, carrying beach chairs down to the sand, and spending the day outside with family and friends. The fireworks seem to go on forever, and the whole city feels like it’s celebrating together.
San Diego Can Fit Any Vibe
One of the things we love most is that San Diego can be whatever kind of vacation you want it to be.
Do you want to spend the day at the zoo? Go for it.
Do you want to visit SeaWorld? Great.
Do you want to do absolutely nothing except sit by the pool, walk to breakfast, spend the afternoon at the beach, and eat your way through Pacific Beach and La Jolla? That’s a perfect day too.
The first few years we came, we tried to do everything. We bought CityPass and packed our days full of activities because we wanted to see it all. And we did. But eventually we realized our favorite San Diego trips weren’t the busiest ones.
Now we usually pick one major activity a day, sometimes none at all, and spend the rest of the time enjoying the beach, the pool, the boardwalk, and all the little things that make San Diego special.
Our family is made up of beach people who somehow ended up living in the desert. We need to see the sparkles on the ocean every couple of months or we start getting cranky.
We love our Mexico trips. We love the Florida beaches. But there is just something special about San Diego.
Maybe it’s the weather, the walkability, or the lifestyle. Whatever it is, the beaches, the people, and the memories we’ve made there over the years have completely stolen our hearts.
Why We Always Stay in Pacific Beach
If you asked me where to stay in San Diego with kids, my answer would be Pacific Beach every single time.
It’s right in the middle of everything. You’re about 10-15 minutes from La Jolla, Mission Beach, SeaWorld, and around 20 minutes from Downtown San Diego and the zoo. It also happens to be one of the most walkable areas we’ve found.
That walkability is a huge reason we keep coming back. We love being able to park the car and leave it there. We want to walk to breakfast, ride scooters down the boardwalk, grab coffee, stop in shops, and just be immersed in wherever we’re visiting.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t Pacific Beach a party town? Kind of. But also not really.
It’s definitely lively, and that’s part of what we love about it. Everyone is outside. People are biking, running, walking the boardwalk, surfing, or heading to dinner. It feels active and energetic without ever feeling like it isn’t family-friendly.
We’ve had nothing but great experiences staying here with our girls.
Our Favorite Hotel in San Diego: Pacific Terrace
Where do I even start with Pacific Terrace?
It is probably one of our favorite hotels ever, and it’s definitely the hotel we’ve stayed at the most. That alone says something.
How We Discovered Pacific Terrace
Our first family trip to San Diego was actually at Hyatt Mission Bay. We had a great time there. The pool was fun, the rooms were comfortable, and it was a beautiful property.
But one day we decided to walk the boardwalk from Mission Beach toward Pacific Beach. We were doing what we always do on vacation: admiring beach houses, deciding which ones we’d buy if we won the lottery, and stopping to look at all the little hotels along the way. Then we came across Pacific Terrace.
The pool sits right on the boardwalk overlooking the ocean. It has secure gated access, is only a few stories tall, and immediately caught our attention. I remember looking at Corey and saying something along the lines of, “Next time we’re staying here.” And that was it.
The following year we booked Pacific Terrace and completely fell in love with it. The location was exactly what we had been looking for. The beach is right outside your door. Restaurants, coffee shops, ice cream, shopping, and the boardwalk are all within walking distance. We barely use our car once we arrive.
Family Friendly Rooms
Over the years, we’ve developed our favorite room types, too. We love the ground-floor rooms, and eventually discovered the larger corner family suites. Before checking out one year, we asked which room number it was so we could remember it for next time.
The front desk laughed and said, “Why don’t you just book it now?” So we did. Now booking our next San Diego trip while we’re checking out has become a family tradition. We’ve watched the property continue to improve over the years, bringing back room service after Covid and making updates that keep enhancing the guest experience. Every trip feels a little like coming home.
The rooms are spacious, even the standard rooms. Most have ocean views or partial ocean views, and the pool overlooking the beach never gets old.
One of my favorite things is how much beach equipment they provide. They have beach chairs, umbrellas, beach toys, bikes, and all sorts of things you can borrow. It makes packing so much easier because you don’t have to bring half your garage with you.
Amazing Location
The location is really the magic of Pacific Terrace. We can walk to Duck Dive for dinner and stop at Baked Bear for ice cream afterward. If we’re feeling lazy, Corey can scooter down to Prince Street Pizza or Irv’s Burgers and bring dinner back to the room. In the mornings, we walk a few blocks to Breakfast Republic, which has become one of our family favorites. Everything is right there. For us, that’s what makes Pacific Terrace so special.
Other San Diego Hotels We’ve Enjoyed
Hyatt Mission Bay
Our first trip to San Diego was at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, and we enjoyed it.
The pool is fantastic, especially for families, and the rooms were comfortable and spacious. It’s also conveniently located near SeaWorld, Mission Beach, and Downtown San Diego.
The only downside for us was the location. Because it’s tucked away on its own little peninsula, we found ourselves driving everywhere. If you’re perfectly happy hopping in the car to get around, it’s a great option. We’re just walkers.
La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla
La Valencia is the iconic pink hotel overlooking the ocean in La Jolla, and it’s every bit as charming as it looks. We’ve stayed there for anniversary trips and occasionally add a night there before heading down to Pacific Beach because we love La Jolla so much.
If Pacific Beach feels fun, active, and laid-back, La Jolla feels elevated, romantic, and timeless. The ocean views are incredible, the location is unbeatable, and being able to walk directly into the village is one of my favorite parts of staying there.
If I could choose between living in Pacific Beach or La Jolla someday, I honestly don’t know which one I’d pick. I love them both for completely different reasons. I have a full La Valencia review if you’d like a deeper look at the property, but it’s absolutely a hotel I’d recommend.
Hotel del Coronado
Another San Diego hotel we absolutely love is the historic Hotel del Coronado. Built in 1888, The Del is one of the most iconic beachfront hotels in California. There is so much history there, and you can feel it the moment you walk onto the property.
We visited during the Christmas season and completely fell in love with both the hotel and Coronado Island. Coronado has a completely different feel than Pacific Beach or La Jolla, but we loved it just as much. We stayed in an oceanfront fire pit room, and it was incredible. Sitting outside listening to the waves at night is one of my favorite San Diego memories.
The beach is beautiful, the grounds are gorgeous, and Coronado is full of charming shops and restaurants that are fun to explore on foot. I’ll be sharing a full Coronado Christmas guide in the future, but if you’re looking for another amazing area to stay in San Diego, Hotel del Coronado is absolutely worth considering.
Our Favorite Family Activities in San Diego
One of the reasons we keep coming back to San Diego is that there is never a shortage of things to do.
You can spend the entire trip at the beach and have an amazing vacation, or you can fill your days with zoos, theme parks, shopping, museums, and sightseeing. Over the years we’ve done a little bit of everything, but these are the activities we keep coming back to.
Beach Days in Pacific Beach
There is something about salty air and ocean water that just heals your soul. Our girls could spend hours playing in the sand, collecting shells, building sand castles, and running back and forth to the water.
The beach directly in front of Pacific Terrace is more of a surf beach, but that has never bothered us. We’re not out there trying to surf. We’re usually sitting in beach chairs, reading a book, building castles, and letting the girls play.
The water is definitely colder than Florida or Mexico, which is part of the reason we don’t spend a lot of time swimming in it. That and the jellyfish. In 2025, Selene got stung by a jellyfish in Destin. Then somehow both Selene and Sadie got stung again in Cancun. At this point the ocean and my children are currently taking a break from each other.
We still love walking along the shoreline, exploring the beach, and spending hours outside. Some of my favorite memories are simply walking the Pacific Beach boardwalk at sunset, watching people ride bikes, rollerblade, surf, and enjoy life. There is something about that boardwalk that immediately puts me in vacation mode.
La Jolla Cove
If you’re visiting San Diego, La Jolla Cove is a must. Even if we’re staying in Pacific Beach, we always end up spending at least one day in La Jolla. The ocean views are stunning. The cliffs are beautiful. The sea lions are adorable and hilarious at the same time. We love walking along the coast and stopping to watch them sunbathe, bark at each other, and generally act like they own the place.
One of our favorite little attractions is The Cave Store. You can pay to walk down through a historic tunnel that leads to a cave overlooking the water. It’s a fun experience and gives you a closer look at the sea lions that hang out below the cliffs.
We also love wandering through the village shops. One year we wandered into a small family-owned jewelry store while looking at pre-owned Rolex watches. The shop was completely decorated for Christmas, and before we left they gave both of the girls little Santa ornaments. It was such a simple gesture, but it stuck with me.
Moments like that are part of why we love La Jolla so much. It’s beautiful, but it’s also full of genuinely kind people. More about La Jolla in my La Valencia Review, and our favorite restaurants further down this guide.
San Diego Zoo & San Diego Zoo Safari Park
These are two completely different experiences, and they’re also pretty far apart. Do you need to do both? No. Would I do both eventually? Absolutely.
The Safari Park feels more like an adventure. One of the highlights is the safari ride where you drive through large open habitats and see animals roaming without traditional zoo enclosures. It feels a little like a Disney safari, and our family loved it.
The San Diego Zoo is the classic San Diego attraction for a reason. It’s enormous. You could easily spend an entire day there and still not see everything. There are interactive exhibits, playground areas, animal encounters, and plenty of opportunities for kids to run around and burn energy.
If you’re planning on visiting multiple attractions, I’d strongly recommend looking into the CityPass. We’ve used it several times over the years, and it can save a significant amount of money depending on what attractions you’re planning to visit.
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld is only a few minutes from Hyatt Mission Bay, which makes it a convenient stop if you’re staying in that area.
Over the years, we’ve watched the park evolve quite a bit. There are still animal exhibits and experiences, but there are also a lot more rides than people expect. The newer roller coasters are actually really fun, and the park does a good job of having attractions for both younger kids and bigger thrill-seekers.
One of our girls’ favorite areas is the large playground they added near the front of the park. It’s perfect for burning off energy between rides. I always tell people not to go into SeaWorld expecting Disney. It’s not Disney. It’s its own thing. Part zoo, part marine life park, part theme park. Once you look at it that way, it’s much easier to appreciate what it does well.
One thing I would consider if you’re visiting during a busy season is purchasing the FastPass. We found it incredibly helpful for the roller coasters and bigger attractions.
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is another attraction you should consider adding to your beach day, especially if you are going to Mission Beach. If you’ve never been, think classic beachfront amusement park.
- Rides.
- Games.
- Boardwalk snacks.
- The whole experience.
Both of our girls love it. I, however, have officially reached the age where the Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster beats me up. Last year I got off wondering if I needed a chiropractor. My oldest daughter agreed that we were probably good skipping that one next year. Thankfully there are plenty of other rides that are much easier on the body.
For families, it’s a fun way to spend a few hours and soak up that classic Southern California boardwalk atmosphere.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Birch Aquarium is another attraction included on the San Diego CityPASS and is worth adding to your itinerary if you have kids who love marine life. It sits on the cliffs above La Jolla, so even before you walk inside you’ll be treated to beautiful ocean views.
We don’t visit every trip, but we’ve been a couple of times and always enjoy it. It’s much smaller than some of the larger aquariums we’ve visited, which actually makes it easy to see everything in a few hours. The exhibits are well done, the kids love seeing the sea creatures up close, and the location alone makes it worth the stop.
The New Children’s Museum
The New Children’s Museum was one of the biggest surprises on one of our San Diego trips. This isn’t your typical children’s museum. Instead of traditional exhibits, the entire museum is built around interactive art installations that encourage kids to climb, create, explore, and get involved.
The highlight for my girls was the giant crocheted rope playground that stretches through multiple levels. They spent forever climbing through the webs like little spiders, swinging on the hanging sack swings, and exploring every corner they could find. There was also an interactive sculpture where kids could add paint and another area where they could create their own clay designs.
We ended up staying for several hours because the girls were having so much fun. If your kids enjoy hands-on activities and creative play, this is a really unique stop in San Diego.
USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum is one of the most popular attractions in San Diego (and a part of the San Diego CityPass), and after visiting it’s easy to see why.
I think adults will appreciate it even more than younger kids, but our girls still had a great time exploring the ship. You can walk through different sections of the aircraft carrier, see the living quarters, and sit inside some of the aircraft on display. One of the coolest parts is simply realizing how massive these carriers are in person. Pictures don’t do them justice.
If you have older kids, aviation enthusiasts, military history buffs, or just want to experience something uniquely San Diego, the USS Midway is definitely worth adding to your list.
Best Restaurants & Coffee Shops We Love
One of the reasons we love San Diego so much is that every trip feels like a food trip.
We have our favorites that we return to year after year, and every time we visit we discover something new that gets added to the list. Some places have become traditions, while others are newer finds that immediately earned a spot on our “must visit again” list.
Breakfast Spots
If I had to pick one meal that San Diego does exceptionally well, it would be breakfast. Some of our favorites include:
- Breakfast Republic (Pacific Beach)
- Richard Walker’s Pancake House (La Jolla)
- Morning Glory (Downtown/Little Italy)
- Woody’s Breakfast & Burgers (Pacific Beach)
- Pacific Terrace Hotel (Pacific Beach)
- Kono’s (Pacific Beach)
- ZENTRL Kitchen & Bar (La Jolla)
- Little Frenchie (Coronado)
Breakfast Republic has become a tradition for us. If we’re staying in Pacific Beach, there’s a very good chance we’ll end up there at least once.
Richard Walker’s is another favorite, and if you’ve never had their Dutch Baby, order one for the table. Fully loaded with lemon, powdered sugar, and syrup. It sounds simple, but it’s one of those things we talk about long after the trip is over.
Morning Glory is one of the most popular breakfast spots in Little Italy, and worth the wait if you’ve never been.
Little Frenchie in Coronado was one of our favorite discoveries. I ordered the kids’ steak frites because it was the perfect portion size for me, and it ended up being one of my favorite meals of the trip. We also shared the French hot chocolate with a croissant and strawberries on the side, and I still think about that hot chocolate.
Coffee Shops
Coffee and beach vacations just go together. Our favorites include:
- Parakeet Cafe (La Jolla)
- Better Buzz (La Jolla & Pacific Beach)
- Copper Top (Pacific Beach)
Parakeet is probably my favorite overall for coffee and pastries.
And yes, I know we have Better Buzz in Las Vegas now. I still think it tastes better in San Diego.
Ice Cream
Vacation calories don’t count. At least that’s what I tell myself. Our favorites are:
- Baked Bear (Pacific Beach)
- Handel’s (Pacific Beach)
Baked Bear has become part of our Pacific Beach tradition. Dinner, a walk along the boardwalk, and then ice cream. It’s basically required at this point.
Casual Restaurants
These are the places we find ourselves returning to again and again.
- Irv’s Burgers (Pacific Beach)
- Prince Street Pizza (Pacific Beach)
- Hideaway (Pacific Beach)
- Duck Dive (Pacific Beach)
- Bare Back Grill (Pacific Beach)
- Duke’s La Jolla (La Jolla)
- Draft Mission Beach (Mission Beach)
- Rustic Root (Downtown/Gaslamp)
Duck Dive is one of our Pacific Beach staples. We almost always end up there at least once during every trip, and if you go, order the duck fat fries. Trust me.
Hideaway is one of the newer restaurants we’ve added to our rotation. The pizza is fantastic, the atmosphere is fun, and depending on when you go, there can definitely be a wait. We’ve found it’s worth it.
And on nights when we don’t feel like sitting down for dinner, Corey has been known to scooter down to Prince Street Pizza, Irv’s Burgers, or both, and bring food back to the hotel.
Rustic Root is one of our favorite spots in the Gaslamp Quarter if we’re spending time downtown.
Elevated Dining
Most of our favorite elevated dining experiences are in La Jolla.
- Paradisaea (La Jolla)
- Marisi (La Jolla)
- The Whaling Bar (La Jolla)
- The Marine Room (La Jolla)
Paradisaea has become one of our favorite spots for a nicer meal. It also happens to be where I accidentally Bruce Wayne’d my margarita, which is a story for another day.
The Whaling Bar is another favorite. If you go, order the Twinkies. They sound ridiculous, but somehow they’re incredible and one of those dishes you keep thinking about afterward.
The Marine Room is one of those uniquely San Diego experiences that feels special every single time. Watching the waves crash right outside the windows while enjoying dinner is something you don’t forget.
La Jolla has so many amazing restaurants that it honestly deserves its own guide. If you’re planning to spend time there, be sure to check out my La Valencia Hotel review where I share more of our favorite spots and experiences in the area.
The Grass Skirt (Pacific Beach)
One of our favorite unique restaurants in Pacific Beach is The Grass Skirt. It is speakeasy vibes, but with kids.
At first glance, it looks like a tiki bar, but it’s actually very family-friendly, and our girls love it.
Part of the fun is getting inside. You enter through what looks like a freezer door hidden inside a small shop, which immediately makes the whole experience feel like an adventure.
The atmosphere is fun, the decor is over-the-top in the best way, and the food has always been great when we’ve visited.
It’s one of those places that feels a little different from the typical beach restaurant and has become a memorable stop for our family over the years.
Seaport Village (Downtown San Diego)
Seaport Village deserves its own mention.
Located on the Downtown San Diego waterfront, it’s a beautiful waterfront shopping and dining area right on the bay. We love walking around, browsing the shops, grabbing a bite to eat, and taking in the views.
It’s one of those places that reminds you why San Diego is such a great city.
You don’t really need a plan when you visit. Just wander around, enjoy the waterfront, and see where the day takes you.
Why San Diego Works So Well for Families
Some destinations are great for adults. Some destinations are great for kids. San Diego somehow manages to be both. You can spend the morning at the zoo, the afternoon at the beach, and the evening walking to dinner. You can visit Balboa Park, tour the USS Midway, spend the day at SeaWorld, or simply sit on the sand and watch your kids play.
There is something for every type of family.
- Want a big-city experience? Spend time downtown or in the Gaslamp Quarter.
- Want incredible food? San Diego has an unbelievable restaurant scene.
- Want a laid-back beach vacation? Head to Pacific Beach or La Jolla and slow down.
One of my favorite things about San Diego is that you don’t feel pressured to do everything. Some of our best trips have involved very little sightseeing and a lot of beach time.
What I Love Most About the California Coastal Lifestyle
This is the part where I fully admit that San Diego has ruined me. I love waking up and walking to breakfast. Taking family walks along the ocean and seeing people outside exercising, surfing, biking, and enjoying life.
There is something refreshing about living somewhere that encourages you to be outside year-round.
I love that you can wear a sweatshirt in the morning, a swimsuit in the afternoon, and a sweater again after sunset.
Watching the sun set over the ocean, sitting on the beach and doing absolutely nothing. Just listening to the waves and remembering how small we really are in the grand scheme of things.
There is also something about being near the ocean that completely resets my nervous system. I feel better every time I’m there.
My family jokes that I’m basically Moana. See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me.
Every trip reminds me why I want to live there someday. I want my morning walks on the beach. I want my ocean views. I want my sweatshirt mornings and shorts-in-the-afternoon weather.
One day.
Tips for Visiting San Diego With Kids
One of the best things about San Diego is that there really isn’t a bad time to visit.
- We love the Fourth of July because the entire city comes alive and the weather is incredible.
- We’ve also visited in October for anniversary trips, which locals call “local summer.” The weather is still beautiful, the crowds are smaller, and the Halloween decorations around town are surprisingly charming.
- We’ve even visited around Christmas and still found ourselves outside most of the day.
My biggest recommendation is to pack layers. Mornings and evenings can be surprisingly cool, especially near the water. One spring break trip we were absolutely freezing during our Safari Park tour because we underestimated how chilly it could be.
If you’re staying at a hotel like Pacific Terrace, check what beach equipment they provide before packing. Many hotels offer chairs, umbrellas, toys, and other beach gear.
And definitely bring a stroller if you have younger kids. We used ours constantly when the girls were little. Long boardwalk walks are much more enjoyable when you’re not carrying a tired child the entire way back.
My biggest piece of advice is to avoid over-scheduling. Pick one major activity a day. The zoo, SeaWorld, or La Jolla. Then spend the rest of the day enjoying the beach, the pool, or simply exploring. Those slower moments are usually the ones we remember most.
Is San Diego Worth Visiting With Kids?
Absolutely.
One of my youngest daughter’s first phrases was, “I want to go ocean.”
Her second was, “I want to go Diego.”
That should tell you everything you need to know.
Some of our favorite family memories have happened in San Diego. Our girls have grown up visiting these beaches, walking these boardwalks, and exploring these neighborhoods.
You would think after six years we’d be ready to try somewhere new. Instead, every trip ends the same way. We wonder why we waited so long to come back and start talking about when we can squeeze in another visit.
More Family Travel Posts You’ll Love
- La Valencia Hotel Review
- Carlsbad Family Weekend Getaway
- Family Travel Tips
- Cancun Resort Review
- Disney VIP Tour
Why San Diego Feels Like Home
There’s just something about San Diego that keeps pulling us back year after year.
Between the beach days, slower pace, incredible food, and all the family memories we’ve made over the years, it has become one of our favorite places in the world.
Maybe it’s the ocean, the lifestyle, or the fact that every trip seems to leave us a little happier than when we arrived. Whatever it is, I know we’ll be back.
And if our family is lucky, maybe one day we’ll never have to leave. 🤍