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7 Reasons to Bring the Family to San Diego

There's fun for everyone

San Diego is the perfect destination for families looking to spend quality time at the beach, at a world-class attraction or up close and personal with wildlife!

From award-winning attractions and affordable public transportation, to educational day trips and convenient access to parks and museums, San Diego offers families great options for daytime fun.

Belmont Park and the Giant Dipper roller coaster at sunset

Belmont Park

BEACHFRONT CLASSIC

Located by the surf and sand of Mission Beach, Belmont Park is San Diego's only beachfront amusement and entertainment center! From the historic Giant Dipper Roller Coaster to the dynamic oceanfront restaurants, Belmont Park is the quintessential Southern California beach experience.

Father and son ridining the Manta roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld San Diego

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

Spread across 190 acres in beautiful Mission Bay Park, SeaWorld is known for its amazing animals, interactive attractions, aquariums, beautiful landscaping and education programs for all ages. The park also attracts visitors with its array of more than a dozen rides, from such thrill-seeker favorites as the Electric Eel and Manta coasters to the scenic Bayside Skyride and splashy Shipwreck Rapids. SeaWorld's latest adrenaline-spiking ride is the Emperor, a floorless coaster that’s the tallest and fastest of its kind in California and gives passengers a firsthand feel for the resident emperor penguins' epic journey from frosted Antarctic cliffs to the depths of the ocean.

Kids playing at Basecamp at San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo

WONDERS OF WILDLIFE

The world-renowned San Diego Zoo is a must-see in Southern California. Spend the day exploring a wildlife wonderland as you interact with animals such as gorillas, Komodo dragons, tigers, flamingos, polar bears, giant tortoises, elephants and more. The Zoo's newest and most spectacular addition is the family-minded Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, a 3.2-acre adventure zone that combines inventive play areas with up-close wildlife encounters and even a splash zone for kids.

Shotter statue on the Flight Deck of the USS Midway Museum

USS Midway Museum

HISTORY AND FUN IN ONE

Take advantage of a rare opportunity to explore a historic aircraft carrier. The USS Midway Museum offers activities for all ages, include self-guided audio tours, a theater, flight simulators, climb-in aircraft, ejection seats and cockpits, bridge tours and much more.

Families racing LEGO Ferrari models at LEGOLAND California Resort

LEGOLAND® California

WHERE AWESOME AWAITS

LEGOLAND® California Resort has more than 60 rides, shows and attractions, including THE LEGO® MOVIE™ WORLD, where the hit Lego movies come to life! The resort is also home to LEGOLAND Water Park, SEA LIFE® Aquarium and Surfers' Cove – a water-park expansion featuring the Riptide Racer water slide. Plus, don't miss your chance to take a spin in a build-your-own hot rod at LEGO Ferrari Build and Race — a three-zone fantasyland of full-throttle fun. Visitors can even sit in a life-size LEGO Ferrari F40 for a keepsake photo!

Blue Penguins at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Birch Aquarium at Scripps

THEIR WORLD AWAITS!

If your family is looking for fun with a side of science, La Jolla's Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the place. As the public outreach center for the renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Birch brings guests into the exciting world of cutting-edge research. Explore interactive exhibits and get up close with exciting creatures, from jellyfish to sharks to seahorses. Kids will especially love meeting the residents of the aquarium's latest addition, the Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins habitat. The new exhibit, which comes complete with an 18,000-gallon pool, makes the Birch the only aquarium in the western United States to host the species, the smallest penguins on Earth.

Caravan at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME ENCOUNTERS

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park immerses you in an interactive safari experience where herds of animals roam natural habitats in a vast reserve. Choose from a variety of exciting safari expeditions by caravan truck, cart, zip line — there's even an overnight option. And make sure to transport yourself Down Under to wander among kangaroos and wallabies and wonder at cassowaries in the new Walkabout Australia habitat.

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