This summer was full of firsts: my first passport, my first international trip, our first visit to Crete and Athens, and our first time traveling without the kids. After that whirlwind, we decided to plan a true family getaway with the children—just the four of us—something we had never done unless it involved visiting other relatives.
We chose San Diego for our family trip — a city with beautiful weather and plenty of family-friendly attractions. The trip brought us closer together and, as a delightful bonus, we finally succeeded in potty training our daughter Madeline. Back home in New Mexico now, I find myself longing for that sunny California air.
Does family travel stress you out, or do you enjoy it? Here are highlights from the first two days of our San Diego adventure.
Day 1 – San Diego Harbor
We arrived in San Diego early and spent the afternoon at the harbor before checking into our hotel. We visited the Maritime Museum of San Diego to tour restored ships and submarines — the museum houses an impressive collection of historic vessels open to the public.
The Maritime Museum is especially fun for kids; Logan and Madeline loved peering through the periscope of the submarine. We toured several vessels, including the HMS Surprise, a recreation of a Nelson-era 24-gun frigate made famous by the movie Master and Commander; the Soviet-era B-39 submarine, a large diesel-electric boat designed for long-range tracking; and the USS Dolphin, known for its record-setting deep dives.
The kitchen of the USS Dolphin
Nearby is the USS Midway Museum, one of America’s longest-serving aircraft carriers. We walked past it and got a great view from our harbor tour, which the kids loved. We took the one-hour North Harbor Tour, which covers about 12 miles of scenic sights: North Island Naval Air Station, the Naval Submarine Base, Fort Rosecrans Cemetery, the historic Star of India and Maritime Museum vessels, Cabrillo National Monument and the Point Loma Lighthouse, and colonies of sea lions.
The sea lions were the highlight for the kids. We arrived a bit late and had to sit on the lower deck, where the guide’s commentary was harder to hear, but the boat ride, the views, and seeing the animals made it a memorable first day.
Family Sleeps
We spent the first two nights at Paradise Point on Mission Bay — a family-friendly resort located on a private island. Instead of a traditional hotel layout, each guest stays in a bungalow-style room. Our accommodation featured a master bedroom with a king-sized bed, a sitting area with a fold-out couch for the kids, and a small kitchenette. The rooms connected through a bathroom with separate sinks and closets on both sides, which worked well for our family’s needs.
The grounds felt lush and tropical, a refreshing contrast to the New Mexican desert. Our room faced the water, and we could step out onto sand and shallow water just feet from our door. One evening we even watched SeaWorld’s closing fireworks from our room.
San Diego Eats
That evening we took the kids to the Corvette Diner, an energetic 1950s-themed restaurant that quickly became their favorite spot on the trip. The staff, vintage cars, classic playlist, and retro decor made dining fun. The menu featured playful items like Hula-Hoop Onion Rings, bottomless chocolate milk, and nostalgic soda-fountain drinks alongside kid-friendly staples such as grilled cheese and pizza. Eric enjoyed a hearty Blues Brother Burger, and I loved the BLAST sandwich with bacon, avocado, swiss, and turkey.
After dinner we turned in early, excited for the next day’s big outing.
Day 2 – The San Diego Zoo
Our animal-obsessed daughter made the San Diego Zoo a must-see. The zoo is vast and world-famous, and we prioritized visiting a few key attractions, starting with the pandas. Early morning is the best time to beat the crowds; the pandas are irresistibly cute and very popular with visitors.
We also enjoyed watching the young elephants play — one little elephant was especially entertaining, swinging its trunk and bouncing around like it was putting on a show. The zoo offers live cams and profiles for many animals, which is a great way to learn more about them before or after a visit.
The San Diego Zoo is so large that seeing everything in one day is impossible, but we packed a lot into our visit. A highlight was the Skyfari Aerial Tram: riding above the zoo gave us a fantastic perspective on its size and helped us move quickly between areas while enjoying panoramic views.
San Diego Eats
Although the kids adored the Corvette Diner, our favorite dinner spot was Cucina Urbana. The restaurant strikes a balance between being upscale and family-friendly, with a creative menu and a thoughtful kids’ selection. Despite my initial nerves about taking the kids to a nicer restaurant after a long zoo day, they were well-behaved and we had a wonderful meal.
We shared Buffalo mozzarella with fried baby artichokes and a Little Gem Caesar salad to start. Eric ordered goat cheese and mascarpone ravioli with spring peas and parmesan butter, while I savored a Bosc pear and gorgonzola pizza topped with caramelized onion, pecans, arugula, and balsamic. The pear pizza was unexpectedly addictive — I kept going back for another bite even after I was full.
For dessert we shared roasted strawberries with pistachio gelato and Meyer lemon coulis, plus zeppole—Italian donut holes—with blueberry-tarragon sauce. The kids loved their cheese pizza, which may have been the best kid’s cheese pizza we’ve ever tasted.
After dinner we returned to Paradise Point and rested up for more family fun. Days three and four included SeaWorld and Legoland, which continued to make this San Diego trip a memorable family adventure.
Thank you to the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau for their help planning our trip.