Mentioned by Traveling Mom
12 Things to Do in La Jolla with Kids
"You’ll keep returning to this 1,200-acre urban park for its world-class zoo, restful cultivated areas, museums in refined Spanish Revival buildings and live shows. There’s a tapestry of gardens around the park, planted with more than 350 plant species hand-selected at the turn of the 20th century by the botanist Kate Sessions, the “Mother of Balboa Park”. An emblem for the park and San Diego is the Botanical Building, one of many splendid holdovers from the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition."
"Nothing had quite the same impact on our San Diego architecture as did the Spanish Colonial Style Confections in Balboa Park, which revived an enthusiastic interest in this type of Spanish-style architecture. Designed in 1915, this building is an exhilarating mélange of various architectural styles. While they may have been somewhat haphazardly thrown together, they still manage to attain striking visual harmony."
"This is the place where the first-ever World’s Fair took place. I know it reminds you of Silvester Stalone but that’s not the vibe here. It has 17 museums, five playgrounds, a carousel and a train for children."
"With 17 museums at Balboa Park, it’s easy to miss this fun spot for children in the heart of San Diego’s downtown Gaslamp Quarter. Some areas of The New Children’s Museum are age-specific, like Sketch Aquarium for ages 2+ and Reconnecting to Home for ages 6+. Meanwhile, other spaces engage children across age groups."
"This unique museum collaborates with contemporary artists to create one-of-a-kind art installations. The exhibits include playhouses, clubhouses, and climbable towers. Kids can interact with the exhibits and engage in active play as they would at home."
"A new model of children’s museum whose mission is to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking in children and families through inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art."
"This French bakery serves classic pastries and light café fair. If you need another Instagram-worthy dessert, this place should definitely be on your list. Check out the map below for directions:"
"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Le Parfait Paris (@le_parfait_paris) on May 11, 2019 at 8:26am PDT"
"The Portland phenomenon with a cult-like following opened up their first San Diego location in Little Italy a year ago with plans for a north county location in 2019!. Many people ask, “is the line really worth it” and our answer is yes – it seems that no matter what time of day you visit this joint, you’ll be waiting in a long line with other ice cream enthusiasts. Once you get up to the counter, you’ll be helped by one of their very friendly staff who are more than happy to let you try as many flavors as you’d like (just beware of eye rolls and irritation from those still waiting if you try “too many”)!"
"A visit to the San Diego Harbor is not complete without a stroll through the Embarcadero Marina Park. Surrounded by the bay on three sides, the Embarcadero Marina provides an authentic San Diego experience complete with scenic views and fresh sea air. Visitors also get a chance to discover the loyalty and courage of many of our Naval Military personnel through various memorials and statues including the Aircraft Carrier Memorial, The Homecoming Statue, and the USS San Diego Memorial."
"During the summer season, a variety of venues host free concerts from local, regional, and national artists. From the Coronado Summer Concerts in the Park to the La Jolla Concert by the Sea, there is an event planned for every week of the summer. At these free concerts, guests are invited to bring their own food, beverages, chairs, and towels for the ultimate concert experience."
"Embarcadero Marina Park South is a park in San Diego, in the U.S. state of California. Embarcadero Marina Park South is situated 1 km northeast of Coronado Ferry Landing Shopping Center. Photo: jimmyweee, CC BY 2.0."
"Cans of beer on the production line at Modern Times brewery in San Diego. Credit: Courtesy of Modern Times Beer. This fairly experimental company is famous for its delicious hybrids, or what they call “Island-of-Doctor-Moreau-style mash-ups.” The entirely employee-owned company is named after a utopian community from the 1800s (now known as Brentwood, Long Island)."
"Despite having only opened its doors for the first time in 2013, Modern Times has swiftly become one of San Diego’s preeminent beer hot spots. With distribution in seven states and tasting rooms up and down the West Coast, they’re clearly doing a lot of things right. Chief among them: the beer."
"Modern Times' newly opened Far West Lounge has got you covered. Located on Highway 101 in the heart of downtown Encinitas, this retro-styled coastal den offers a mouthwatering and diverse selection of plant based grub alongside its staggering list of craft beers."
"Dedicated to sustainability and pure, quality ingredients, this brewery was started by a SoCal couple who traveled to Costa Rica before settling back in San Diego. Not only do they craft fine beers, but this brewery also supports local nonprofit organizations. So, you can drink your beer and do good, too."
"Mon 3:00 - 9:00 PM; Tue - The 12:00 - 9:00 PM; Fri & Sat 12:00 - 10:00 PM; Sun 12:00 - 8:00 PM"
"Karl Strauss Brewing is one of the oldest San Diego breweries on the block!. Starting back in the mid 80’s, Karl Strauss has been leading the craft beer scene before it became popular. Their craft brews have received many gold medals, including the famous Red Trolley Ale (which has been award 11 gold and 5 silver medals)."
"Their red trolley ale is my favorite and a great pick for first time visitors. Many convenient locations across San Diego (even inside airport terminal!) makes it a great option to try."
"Time: Tuesday – Friday from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.Specials: $2 off of appetizers and other food and drink specialsOcean View: Panoramic ocean viewWhy Go: Counter-serve café serving mostly Italian cuisine adjacent to UCSD with views in addition to indoor and outdoor seatingNeighborhood: Torrey Pines/UCSDAddress: 2880 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, California 92037"
"It's always good, but the drinks are pretty inconsistent in quality. It seems like they always have new employees making the drinks different ways."
"A post shared by skybound coffee☕️ (@skyboundcoffee) on Jun 6, 2014 at 7:37am PDT. Skybound is your go-to coffee or lunch break lounge. They offer healthy sandwiches, with vegan options, and renders a consistently pleasing customer service."
"Coronado’s rich and complex history is a fascinating subject even for those that don’t consider themselves history buffs. The Historic Walking Tour sponsored by the Coronado Historical Association is a great change of pace and something your whole family will enjoy. Stroll through historic Coronado while a knowledgeable guide spills all the details behind the architecture and adventure that makes Coronado so unique."
"It is a not-for-profit organization with permanent and transitory exhibitions of local art & history and vast archives. It is a landmark Historical Association building that lies right in the center of the city. Also, there is a Museum Store that offers antique items for sale and a Museum Café in the Museum building."
"The Coronado Historical Museum’s collection includes art and ephemera from Coronado’s unique history. Check out a 22-minute video of Coronado that is shown every hour. *Small donation requested."
"With 17 museums at Balboa Park, it’s easy to miss this fun spot for children in the heart of San Diego’s downtown Gaslamp Quarter. Some areas of The New Children’s Museum are age-specific, like Sketch Aquarium for ages 2+ and Reconnecting to Home for ages 6+. Meanwhile, other spaces engage children across age groups."
"This unique museum collaborates with contemporary artists to create one-of-a-kind art installations. The exhibits include playhouses, clubhouses, and climbable towers. Kids can interact with the exhibits and engage in active play as they would at home."
"A new model of children’s museum whose mission is to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking in children and families through inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art."
"The San Diego Asian Pacific Historic District, San Diego’s historic Chinatown, is an eight-block district adjacent to and in part overlapping with the Gaslamp Quarter Historic District. The San Diego Chinatown is bounded by Market Street on the north, 2nd Ave. on the west, 6th ave. on the east and J st. on the south. 22 structures are considered historically contributing."