Whether you’re planning a quick getaway or adding San Diego to a California road trip, two days is enough to experience the city’s highlights with kids. From sandy beaches and sea lions to world-class attractions and waterfront dining, this family-tested itinerary shows you how to make every hour count without feeling rushed.
Highlights:
- Build in flexibility. Swap attractions such as the San Diego Zoo or Coronado to customize the itinerary based on your family’s interests and the time you have.
- Prioritize San Diego’s signature experiences. Visit family favorites like La Jolla, SeaWorld, Cabrillo National Monument and the USS Midway while still leaving time to relax on the beach.
- Stay strategically. Family-friendly hotels in La Jolla or Shelter Island put you close to top attractions and make it easy to enjoy beach time between adventures.
Are you ready to explore off the beaten path? Let us inspire you!
Start Your 2-Day San Diego Itinerary in La Jolla
Beach Time in La Jolla
You have chosen to enjoy a San Diego weekend with your family. It will be important to slide your feet into a sandy beach and splash in the water.
We suggest starting your visit in La Jolla. La Jolla Shores is a beautiful sandy beach with a beachfront park for the kids. Kayakers and surfers hit the water from here. Your family may not have time for surfing and kayaking this weekend, but you can watch others enjoying water sports. It is also a short 5-minute drive to La Jolla Coves, where you can check out the sea lions at the Children’s Beach.
Start your San Diego weekend by checking into your hotel in La Jolla and heading out to the beach. If you go at low tide, be sure to head towards the southern end of La Jolla Shores to explore the tide pools.
Then head to dinner. This would be the time to take advantage of a beachfront restaurant like La Jolla Shores Restaurant. You can either take in a sunset during dinner or eat and then step down to the beach for a sunset stroll.
Birch Aquarium
Birch Aquarium is the perfect place to learn a little more about sea life and kelp forests. All ages will enjoy this colorful and interactive aquarium, but especially toddlers and preschoolers. Here, they can dip their fingers in the water and watch divers feed a huge black sea bass at the Kelp Forest Show.
Plan on one to two hours to explore the aquarium and to take in the views of the Pacific Ocean from the deck with outdoor interactive exhibits. The Birch Aquarium is one of the attractions included in the Go City San Diego All-Inclusive Pass, which saves you approximately 50% on visiting many of the popular destinations.
Optional Substitution: Coronado is another beautiful California beach. You could visit Coronado instead of La Jolla and splurge on the historic Hotel del Coronado.
Morning #1 of 2-Day San Diego Itinerary
Rise early and sneak in another visit to the beach. Grab a quick and hearty breakfast and head out to SeaWorld to arrive just before opening.
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld really is a must-see on a San Diego weekend visit. Ocean and sea animal education is such an important cause for this coastal city. And SeaWorld has expanded its conservation, rescue and rehabilitation programs in recent years.
Splurge on the close-in or VIP parking to get in and start with the more popular rides such as Shipwreck Rapids, Manta or Journey to Atlantis before the lines get long.
While it would be easy to spend a couple of days here and still be entertained, we’d recommend bringing snacks to tide you over and leaving in time to get a late lunch off-site, perhaps in Balboa Park. After all, there’s still much more to see and do!
Optional Substitution: Not into Sea World, or have already been? Replace Sea World with a visit to the San Diego Zoo, one of the most famous zoos in the world.
Balboa Park, San Diego
If your family still has energy after SeaWorld and lunch, there are plenty of museums to discover in Balboa Park. Spend a little time here.
Balboa Park is home to the Natural History Museum, Fleet Science Center and a Model Railroad Museum that is ideal for toddlers and preschoolers. The 100-year-old Spanish architecture is stunning!
More Beach & Pool Time
Use the afternoon to relax and again enjoy the beach. There are great beachfront family-friendly hotels in San Diego.
Again, dine with water views. Shelter Island has a couple of fun options. One is Fathom Bistro Bait & Tackle. Here you can enjoy a casual meal while watching pelicans and seagulls trying to score their own. Or sit on the patio at Vessel Restaurant at Kona Kai Resort. The patio overlooks the marina, pool and beach and has an excellent happy hour. Then roast s’mores on the beach to finish a day of San Diego fun.
Optional substitution: San Diego boasts a variety of authentic Japanese, Italian and Mexican foods. If you still have the energy, venture out into one of these districts like Little Italy, where you are sure to find food to please the whole family.
Morning #2 of 2-Day San Diego Itinerary
Cabrillo National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument is on Point Loma and has an old lighthouse, as well as interesting tide pools. It opens at 9 a.m. Arrive at opening and spend one to two hours here. It is a spectacular vantage point.
Cabrillo National Monument is open year-round. In the winter, you may be able to spot whales. One to two hours should cover a brief visit to the Visitors Center, the lighthouse and the tide pools.
Next head over to the USS Midway.
USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum is an important piece of American history. The museum is housed aboard this famous and permanently docked aircraft carrier that was the longest serving of the 20th century. It is really eye-opening to see how the sailors, pilots and officers lived aboard the ship from 1945 to 1992.
Be sure to make time for the tour of the bridge to see where the carrier is steered and how the captain oversees flight operations. It was here that we learned about the new nuclear-powered aircraft carriers that only have to refuel after 20 years. On the way out, it is worth the splurge to let the kids experience the virtual reality flight simulator.
This itinerary wraps up a busy and perfect weekend for families in San Diego. Wondering where to stay in San Diego? Read on!
San Diego Hotels
Looking for family-friendly hotels in San Diego? Here are two that we really enjoyed!
La Jolla Shores Hotel
La Jolla Shores Hotel is situated directly on the beach. The kid-friendly beachfront patio restaurant, spacious rooms (some with kitchenettes) and neighboring park make this the ultimate family-friendly San Diego hotel. It also has old Spanish charm along with ping pong tables and other fun family activities scattered throughout the property. The village area surrounding it has delightful restaurants and an authentic non-touristy beachfront charm.
Kona Kai Resort
Kona Kai is trendy, yet still family friendly. The in-room binoculars to watch the ships go by and the lemon tree by the pool delighted our kids the most. We visited just before summer kicked in; we were offered sand toys, cruiser bikes and many other amenities to keep the entire family occupied.
FAQs
Yes! While you won’t see everything, two days is enough to experience many of San Diego’s family highlights. This itinerary combines beaches, marine life, history and great food while leaving a little time to relax.
La Jolla Shores is a great choice for families. It has a wide sandy beach, a beachfront park, gentle waves, tide pools at low tide and easy access to the sea lions at nearby La Jolla Cove.
This itinerary includes family favorites like La Jolla Shores, Birch Aquarium, SeaWorld San Diego, Balboa Park, Cabrillo National Monument and the USS Midway Museum, giving you a mix of outdoor fun, wildlife, history and unforgettable ocean views.
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