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Old 07-08-2016, 10:51 PM
 
10 posts, read 9,029 times
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I'm looking for advice- my family is going on vacation to San Diego in October and we rented an Air BnB in Ocean Beach. It seemed like a cool area but now I'm worried that the town isn't family friendly, as we have a 15 month old. I'm not all that familiar with San Diego outside of La Jolla and Coronado so I really have no idea.

Can anyone speak to what the atmosphere of Ocean Beach is like and whether or not it's safe?

Thanks!
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Old 07-09-2016, 02:46 AM
 
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Great atmosphere laid back hipster's everyday people a good number of homeless but they don't bother you for the most part. Nice beach check out sunset cliff's and the dog beach at ocean beach. Many things to do, also mission beach, point loma, and downtown are not far away. As far as being safe compared to the east coast san diego is very safe. As I said there are many homeless and they just had a case involving a guy beating up homeless people near ocean beach. He was caught yesterday or the day before. Check it out your family will love it
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Old 07-09-2016, 09:43 AM
 
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Ocean Beach has some homeless vagrants who hang out around the pier. During the day, they won't bother you (although they may ask for a handout). From OB, you're within 15 minutes of a lot of fun, family-friendly places and things to do, so it is a convenient place to stay.

Be sure to visit Balboa Park. There is a nice playground just south of the main area of museums that has an area suitable for younger kids (directions: Pepper Grove Playground | Balboa Park). And, the main area of Balboa Park is fun to walk around, as there are usually musicians, artists, and other street performers there, especially on the weekends. If you are here on a Friday, Balboa Park brings in many food trucks along the Prado (the main museum area) in the early evening, which would be great for a family with young kids. Here is some more info on Balboa Park: Balboa Park | A landscape of Arts and Culture

There are multiple museums in Balboa Park. One that my kids always liked when they were toddlers was the Model Train Museum. There is also a small train ride near the zoo that is geared towards toddlers and their parents. The Reuben H. Fleet Museum can also be fun with younger kids, although it can get crowded at peak times. (You can find info on all of these on the Balboa Park website that I linked to above).

Balboa Park is also where the Zoo is located. When my kids were your child's age, we found the Zoo was a little better for them than the San Diego Safari Park because there are more animals that you can get up close to. Just be aware that it is very hilly, so if you go, bring your energy for pushing the stroller.

Instead of Sea World, I'd recommend the Birch Aquarium (again, about 15 minutes from OB) for younger kids. It is small and less crowded, and just right for the attention span of a toddler. :: Birch Aquarium: The interpretive center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego ::

Finally, here are some other sites that will give you ideas for things to do in San Diego with young kids that, you may find helpful:

Plan a San Diego Family Vacation | Official CA Travel Resource

City Vacation: 10 Things to Do with Kids In San Diego, California

Things to do in San Diego with a baby or toddler - Rookie Moms

Have a great trip!
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Old 07-09-2016, 12:14 PM
 
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We're a retired couple that moved to Ocean Beach last year and are completely comfortable going to the Newport Street part of OB in the day or evening. (Most of the crime reports involve incidents late at night or overnight.) There are always families around; plenty of them with babies and toddlers in strollers. Not sure where your rental is, but once you're a few blocks away from downtown and the ocean, it's a normal residential area. There are some very good elementary schools in the area. You'll be close to Liberty Station and one of the most popular restaurants for families in San Diego, Corvette Diner. It's also an easy drive to Cabrillo National Monument; very family friendly park.
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Old 07-09-2016, 01:18 PM
 
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Thank you all so much! Our rental is only about 3 blocks from the beach and the neighborhood looks pretty normal. OB seems like a pretty cool area from my google searches but I just wanted to make sure that it was also safe.

@rosieSD and @catwarmer I really appreciate the advice. We've been to SD plenty of times but never with a toddler so it's helpful to know where to go! The Zoo & Aquarium are definitely on out to-do list but I'm also really interested in checking out more of Balboa Park and eating at Corvette Diner!
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