City: San Diego, CA

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (858) 488-0668

Address: 3146 Mission Boulevard

Description: Home of the Giant Dipper, one of two remaining antique wooden roller coasters in California, Belmont Park is a small amusement park featuring rides, restaurants, and attractions for the whole family. In the tradition of Coney Island in New York, Belmont Park sits alongside the beach, and the ocean view from the top of the Giant Dipper is spectacular, though the roller coaster itself is quite tame by today’s standards.Besides the roller coaster, you can enjoy an arcade, the Bumper Cars, an endless wave machine, the Vertical Plunge (a three-story drop), the Liberty Carousel, the Sea Serpent ride, a Crazy Submarine, and Baja Buggies. If those seem too much for the young ones, they may enjoy Pirates Cove, a play facility with more than 7,000 square feet of tunnels, slides, and a ball pool. Adults and kids will enjoy the arcade game center and CyberStation, which has a collection of the latest electronic games.One of the park’s oldest and best-loved attractions is the indoor Plunge, a nice alternative to the salty ocean. Built in 1925, it’s Southern California’s largest indoor swimming pool. When you get hungry, stop at the food court, which has numerous fast-food establishments, or enjoy one of the oceanfront restaurants within the park.Admission to the park is free; rides and attractions are priced separately, or you can buy a wristband for unlimited riding. For good, old-fashioned family fun, try combining a day at the beach with a visit to Belmont Park.