Visiting San Diego in late June--must see spots?

[bloom]

Originally Posted by MarciaMarshaMarcia

Your daughter is the perfect age for Legoland. It's in Carlsbad, so I would also wander around the beach there.

Since you will be staying in LaJolla, the Birch Aquarium is worth a visit, & explore the cove there...otherwise LaJolla is expensive stores & restaurants, not too interesting for children.

With children, the Safari Park, aka Wild Animal Park is a good choice, lots of open space, animals are more approachable & in a more natural setting than the zoo...then, skip the zoo, which would be a repeat.

The botanical gardens in Encinitas are very pretty, low key, educational & not far from Legoland. My kids loved it there...where else can you find blue bananas?

Cabrillo National Monument is a good choice due to lighthouse & tide pools.

The USS Midway is fun for kids & adults.

The ferry to Coronado is a nice little adventure, with great views of the San Diego skyline, a sandy beach, the Hotel Del, places to wander, get ice cream, etc.

Balboa Park is big & green & has good museums, a big arboretum & a cool carousel.

With children, the Gaslamp is not a good choice, mostly bars, lots of homeless. Black's Beach is also not a good choice for kids...long hike up & down, naked sunbathers. No Seaworld, too exploitive of nature's creatures.

Agree that LegoLand is a very good suggestion

[Zen88]

Belmont Park is a neat place to visit, with or without kids. And YES, a lot of homeless in the Gaslamp Quarter, I can't get the image of a young man in withdrawal out of my mind. Or of a woman yelling at no one. Besides the homeless, Gaslamp is very nice. Balboa Park has a free tram that goes around so you don't have to hike the large hills. There's a Botanical Garden and a few museums there, as well as a Japanese Friendship Garden. Balboa Park is a nice day.
Unless you want to be bored to tears, avoid the Old Town, except to access the trolley.