SeaWorld San Diego

Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience

When: Spring 2024
With its walk-through archway habitat and giant viewing wall, SeaWorld San Diego’s newest aquarium (and its eye-catching inhabitants) promise to make all of the world’s other jellyfish jealous. The exhibit will feature four different species of the delicate, tentacled invertebrates. And while you might not actually be able to hug a jellyfish, there will be a hands-on component to the experience.

Seven Seas Food Festival

When: March 1 - April 28 (Fridays-Sundays), 2024
Sip and sample your way through international street-food traditions, craft beers and wines, and enjoy live musical performances along the way. Waves of flavor will tantalize the taste buds, with gourmet offerings created by SeaWorld's expert culinary team. The festival features fresh cuisine with local, sustainable ingredients and signature flavors from around the world. 

Viva la Musica

When: May 3-19, 2024
Get into the rhythm of irresistible Latin music and cuisine in this festive celebration, featuring a live concert series, dance performances and a family-friendly party atmosphere in SeaWorld’s Zócalo zone. Enjoy fish tacos, traditional pupusas and more as you take in the tunes and good times at this one-of-a-kind happening.

San Diego Zoo

When: Year-round
A local and national treasure for more than a century now, the San Diego Zoo continues to build upon its reputation as one of the world’s top zoological parks, as well as the most-visited zoo in the United States. Families will love the 3.2-acre Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, which hosts more than 100 species in four distinct environments as well as a splash pad, rope bridge and other interactive play opportunities. And from the Reptile Walk to the Elephant Odyssey to the Lost Forest, Zoo visitors can enjoy a veritable round-the-world trip through the stunning park’s wildlife wonders.

Sesame Place San Diego

Aquatic Excitement

When: Water rides open March 23, 2024 (weather permitting)
Not only is Sesame Place San Diego the only “Sesame Street”-themed park on the West Coast, but its 18 rides include 11 aquatic attractions — and those watery wonders reopen for the season in early spring. Don’t miss the half-million-gallon wave pool as well as the park’s newest aquatic feature, the Count’s Splash Castle.

Elmo’s Eggstravaganza

When: March 23 - April 7, 2024
The Easter holidays will get hoppin’ at Sesame Place with rides, a stage show, a Golden Egg Hunt and the Sesame Street Party Parade. The fun happenings also include an interactive Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt, a Furry Friends Bunny Hop Dance Party and much more.

Elmo’s Springtacular

When: April 13 – May 19, 2024
Don’t miss the spring fun during Elmo’s Springtacular at Sesame Place, featuring the Sesame Street Party Parade, a Furry Friends Dance Party, a craft station, character meet-and-greets and a whole lot more.

LEGOLAND California

25th “Brickday” Celebration

When: Spring 2024
LEGOLAND® California is getting ready to celebrate its 25th birthday (aka “brickday”) all year long — and the fun starts this spring at the Carlsbad attraction with plenty of special events as well as new attractions, entertainment and experiences.

Dino Valley

When: Opens Spring 2024
Say hello (or the equivalent greeting in dinosaur-ese) to Dino Valley, a newly themed area coming to LEGOLAND California in spring. Dino Valley will be chock-full of fun features, including three rides, an interactive zone with a reimagined Dino Dig space, and meet-and-greets with costumed characters.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Spring Safari, featuring Butterfly Jungle

When: March 16 – May 12, 2024
The Safari Park’s immersive wildlife experience will include semi-exclusive access to the Hidden Jungle aviary, which teems with colorful butterflies. With a ticketed reservation, visitors ages 3 and up can take in the delicate majesty of these fluttering wonders, and learn all about the park’s conservation efforts along the way.

The San Diego Padres and Petco Park

San Diego Padres

When: Opens March 28, 2024 (Padres' home opener)
The San Diego Padres bring big-league excitement right to San Diego's East Village. With a star-studded team igniting fans' fervor, Padre games will be an exhilarating spectacle all season long. Don't miss your chance to be part of this amazing baseball experience, including standout giveaways, immersive activations and some of the best dining options of any ballpark in the country.

Petco Park

When:  Spring 2024
On top of all the excitement over the Padres’ 2024 season, there are also lots of exciting developments this spring at Petco Park — deemed the best MLB ballpark in the nation by USA Today. The park’s family-friendly Gallagher Square is getting a $20 million glow-up that will including a new Tony Gwynn Terrace viewing deck and picnic space, a dog park, temporary pickleball courts, public art displays spotlighting San Diego-area artists, and much more. And the ballpark — which also hosts pop concerts and other special events — celebrates its 20th anniversary this year; look for plenty of special events as the anniversary season unfolds at this beautiful venue.

USS Midway Museum

When: Year-round
Spring is an ideal time to visit the USS Midway, a historic aircraft carrier that’s now open to the public as a one-of-a-kind floating museum. And 2024 is an especially exciting time to discover the Midway, as the museum celebrates its 20th anniversary. Climb aboard the majestic ship for an unforgettable experience, starting with the gorgeous views of the city and harbor from the carrier’s flight deck. Take in a self-guided audio tour, and be sure to check out the Midway’s flight simulators, climb-in aircraft, ejection seats and cockpit and more.

San Diego Maritime Museum

When: Year-round
Make your way to San Diego’s sparkling Embarcadero under San Diego’s balmy springtime skies and explore a fascinating fleet of vintage vessels at the San Diego Maritime Museum. Take a tour of the Star of India — the world's oldest active sailing ship, and a proud San Diego landmark — and then check out the stately, Victorian Era steam ferry Berkeley, the USS Dolphin submarine, a replica of the 16th-century galleon replica San Salvador and more.

Belmont Park

Belmont in Bloom

When: March 30 – May 27, 2024
Belmont Park, San Diego’s must-see beachside amusement park, will once again host Belmont in Bloom, a festive springtime celebration complete with gorgeous floral arrangements and vibrant spring-themed sculptures. Numerous interactive art installations will be arrayed around the park, and the fun will be amplified by seasonal treats (think funnel cakes and quaffable cocktails) and live music from San Diego artists.

Balboa Park

When: Year-round
No place captures the heart and soul of San Diego quite like Balboa Park, the 1200-acre oasis of art, culture, recreation and reflection just minutes from downtown. With its rich history, eye-catching architecture and bounty of museums and beautiful green spaces, the park is a must for any visitor.

The Gardens of Balboa Park

When: Spring
Balboa Park’s beautiful gardens come alive in springtime, from the fragrant blooms of the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden to the formal, ornate delights of the Alcazar Garden. And the Japanese Friendship Garden – symbol of city sisterhood between San Diego and Yokohama, Japan — is renowned for its spring Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place March 7-10, 2024.

Balboa Park Explorer Pass

When: Year-round
There’s so much to discover in Balboa Park — in spring and throughout the year — that investing in an Explorer Pass can be a great option. Offered at three price levels, the Explorer Pass provides admission to as many as 16 of the park’s museums and attractions, at big discounts compared with buying individual admission tickets.

Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Hold Fast Art Exhibit

When: Through September 2024
The Birch Aquarium at Scripps is combining art with environmental awareness this spring with Hold Fast, an immersive art installation that explores San Diego's kelp forests and climate change through the lens of three local artists and scientists. Visitors can wend their way through a labyrinth of cyanotype-printed giant kelp, created by artist and marine scientist Oriana Poindexter, plus discover gyotaku prints of local ocean life and learn about kelp forest mapping.

Discount Passes

When: Throughout Spring 2024
For more great discounts on activities and attractions around San Diego, check out such excellent deals as the San Diego CityPASS, which can save you up to 40% on visits to SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California, the San Diego Zoo and more; and Go City, with all-inclusive passes offering discounts of up to 45% on 50-plus attractions and happenings.