Kid-friendly places in San Diego

Two big play areas right on the bay, with climbing, swings, slides and room to run between them.

Suites with a kitchen, for the trip where you'd rather make dinner than find another restaurant.

An inclusive zipline, climbing coves and a shaded sand area right by the bay, so kids of all abilities get a turn.

Suites of about 600 square feet with a sofa sleeper, big enough for a group to share.

New inclusive climbing and play equipment right on the bay.

Shaded climbing for the middle of the day, and lawn games nearby.

Suites with a kitchen for dinners in after a long day out.

A tot lot and a rope-climbing area for older kids, by the water.

Two play areas, one for younger kids and one for older, plus a sandbox and picnic tables for the snack break.

The main pool is adults only, so kids get a family pool of their own.

A playground and lawn with splash fountains close by.

A playground and plenty of grass.

Boats to watch in the marina and a heated pool for the downtime between outings.

A tot lot and swings sized for toddlers, right next to the sports fields.

Swings and slides, then a lawn to run on.

Suites with a separate sleeping area.

A playground and a flat stretch of grass looking out over the bay.

Two outdoor pools on the water, and one of them has a splash area just for kids.

A little tot lot right by the bay. Ten minutes of climbing, then out comes the picnic blanket.

A playground next to a big lawn, so there's room for running once the climbing's done.

Slides and sand structures beside wide lawns, with room for a picnic after the climbing.

A whole kids' area of rope bridges, caves, splash jets and a waterfall grotto, plus the Skyfari ride across the park and polar bears at eye level.

Open-air fried chicken, with lawn games for the kids.

Tot lot, slides, swings and a stretch of grass, tucked on the quieter east edge of a big park.

Fresh tortillas made in a window kids can watch, with mariachi music out on the patio.

Climbing structures on sand, swings for big kids and babies, and a path around the park.

A bayfront beach, tropical gardens with ducks, turtles and koi to watch, and ground-floor rooms that open onto grass where kids can play.

A tot lot, swings and slides, with open lawn beside them for running.

Two tot lots along the water, with bucket swings, small slides and sand, and wide open fields.

Renovated play structures with a wood theme, for a break between the downtown sights.

Swings and climbers right on the bayfront promenade.

A fire engine to play on for the under-fives and climbing obstacles for older kids.

Oreo pancakes and s'mores French toast, with the lawns and playground of NTC Park a short walk away.

A 48-jet splash pad and two shaded playgrounds in a 14-acre park.

Suite layouts with kitchenettes for dinner in, and a separate living area for after a kid's bedtime.

Bayside breakfast and themed weekend brunches on a patio with fire pits, steps from a calm bay beach and the resort marina.

Waffles on an open patio, the brunch treat a kid will actually finish.

Burgers come in smaller sizes for small appetites. Good straight off the beach.

Breakfast burritos big enough to split, and you can carry them straight onto the sand.

Pizza and pasta, the two words most kids want to hear, with a menu written just for them.

Slides, swings and a climbing wall right by the sports fields. The wall is what school-age kids head for.

Swings, slides and monkey bars. A no-frills neighborhood playground.

Fresh tortillas get rolled out where kids can watch.

Dinner in a tent, with s'mores made at the table. Kids think it's a campout.

An outdoor cafe in the art museum's sculpture garden, with a menu just for kids, right in the middle of the sights.

Pizza, root beer floats and a wall of arcade games.

A small-kid area of jet-ski and rescue-boat rides and soft play, plus touch pools with reef sharks and sea lions to feed.

Pizza big enough to share. A good place to end a stroll.

An easygoing daytime patio and a menu with kids in mind. A simple lunch, nobody fussing.

A calm bay beach, a playground, a pool and resident rescue seals kids can visit at feeding time, all without leaving the grounds.

Outdoor tables in a courtyard with music and dancers to watch between bites.

An old-school Italian dining room with pizza and pasta to split, so the kid who only eats plain noodles is covered.

A bayfront resort with a pool area of waterslides, and boats to rent right at the marina.

Two kinds of play: a tiki pool and a sandcastle beach.

Pizza by the slice, so everybody picks their own and lunch is quick.

A shaded playground and a big grass field to run around on, with a walking loop that has views and a few exercise stops.

Look for the frog sculpture. Around it: a tot lot for toddlers and climbing structures for bigger kids.

Surfboards hang from the ceiling of this 1960s surf-culture tribute, the biscuits are huge and flaky, and the beach is at the end of the block.

Restored old buildings around a wide plaza, and hands-on living-history demos for kids.

A small sandy tot lot tucked in among the sports fields, handy while an older sibling is at practice.

Its own beach on the bay, plus a shallow wading pool so toddlers get to splash too.

A long waterfront path and a pier for watching the boats go by.

Waves to watch from the top of the bluff, and whales when they're passing.

Three floors of hands-on art installations to play in, and a park outside built for more of it.

A small playground in a park full of colorful birdhouses. Count them on the way in.

Neighborhood park with a shaded sandy playground, a ball field, basketball hoops and a gazebo.

Enchiladas and churro ice cream on a patio overlooking the historic plaza.

Recreation center park with a tot lot, picnic areas overlooking Mission Bay, ball fields and a tennis court.

Community park with a playground, a tot lot, a skate park, a sports field and a walking loop.

Shakes, retro music, dancing servers and a big arcade.

Weekend brunch on the ocean, with the rides and the boardwalk right outside.

Weekend brunch with live music and a big lawn set up with cornhole and bocce for kids to run around on.

A big brewpub with a large outdoor beer garden, built with room for kids to spread out, and brunch on weekends.

Neighborhood park with a playground.

Wide sand with lifeguards on duty, and room for your kid to dig a proper hole.

Pizza, and a play space nearby for a break between courses.

Community park with a playground, basketball courts, pickleball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Come for the outdoor pool. For a kid who rates a hotel by its swim, that settles it.

Recreation center with a children's play area, picnic tables, basketball courts, softball fields and a gym.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a sports field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a sports field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball and pickleball courts, a sports field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a walking loop.

Sports fields with a playground.

Jewish deli and diner with a kids' menu of pancakes, mac and cheese and grilled cheese, each with a cookie.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball and pickleball courts and a walking loop.

Mariachi and folklórico dancers in the courtyard. The swirling skirts hold a small kid's attention better than you'd expect.

Hands-on science galleries, a Kid City for the younger ones and a giant dome theater.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball and tennis courts and a walking loop.

Early local history and a hilltop view. Best for the curious school-age kid who asks how old everything is.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Market treats to sample and street musicians playing, which keeps a kid happy while you shop.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a walking loop.

A one-room schoolhouse from 1865, desks and stove still there. Kids can't believe it was all one room.

Just over a mile of ocean sand watched from permanent lifeguard towers, with an old wooden roller coaster right behind it for when your kid is done digging.

A young kids' area with picture books and a separate teen area for older siblings.

An interactive video tour, then gold-panning and brickmaking demos, so school-age kids get history they can get their hands on.

Recreation center with a playground, basketball and tennis courts and a lighted field.

A neighborhood street market where kids can graze the snack stands and pick out their own fruit.

A busy street market where kids pick out their own snack and meet the people who grew it. Hold hands, it gets crowded.

Busy ocean sand running south from a pier with cottages built on it, watched from permanent lifeguard towers, with showers to rinse off before the car.

Lemon ricotta pancakes and benedicts on a big, shaded garden patio.

A reading nook shaped like a sailboat and a working periscope.

Known for its puffed Dutch baby and oven-baked apple pancake, with a Children's Corner on the menu.

Old stagecoaches, wagons and carts up close, which is all a vehicle-mad kid needs to hear.

Pancakes or French toast, so the breakfast negotiation is short.

Burger spot with a big backyard of picnic tables, an enclosed play area with a sandbox, and tater tots kids love.

A big garden to wander between courses.

Old-school diner known for Belgian waffles and chicken and waffles, with a kids' menu.

A whole aircraft carrier to walk through, with a junior-pilot audio tour that gives kids their own way in.

A roomy resort patio with space for a kid to wiggle between courses.

Mini-park with a playground and a tot lot.

Mini-park with a playground and a walking loop.

County park with two playgrounds (one gated for small children), half basketball courts, picnic areas and walking paths.

Recreation center with a children's play area, a game room and a lighted softball field.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a sports field.

Air track tumbling and trampolines, plus a ninja course, dodgeball and an area for younger kids.

Brewery with a kids' corner of toys and puzzles, a small Tony Gwynn museum, and rotating food trucks.

Gelato in odd, inventive flavors.

Rotating gelato flavors a few steps from the beach, the treat that ends a sandy afternoon.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a sports field and a walking loop.

Recreation center with a children's play area, picnic tables by the barbecue grills and basketball courts.

A 1910 carousel of hand-carved animals, not just horses, with a brass ring to grab for, right by the zoo.

A short loop through a tunnel and past animal statues, just right for a kid who's done walking.

Community park with a playground, a sports field and a walking loop.

Rides right on the ocean: a wooden coaster, a carousel, rides for younger kids, a climbing wall, mini golf and an arcade.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts, a sports field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a sports field and a walking loop.

A public pool by the sports fields, for the hot days when the playground isn't enough.

Your kid can earn a Junior Ranger badge here.

Hermit crabs, anemones, sea stars and urchins in the rocky pools at low tide, with the old lighthouse up on the point.

Mini-park with a playground.

Recreation center with play areas for children, picnic areas, ball and soccer fields and tennis courts.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a sports field.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a sports field.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a sports field and a walking loop.

Community park with two large playgrounds, picnic areas, a baseball field, and basketball and pickleball courts.

Recreation center with a playground, a tot lot, picnic areas, a sports field, tennis courts and a gym.

Mini-park with a playground.

Park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a tot lot.

A playground, a tot lot, a skate park and basketball courts among the bridge pillars, painted with the largest collection of outdoor murals in the country.

A big playground up on the mesa, a small one with swings facing the lake, and free fishing for kids 15 and under.

Recreation center with a playground, a tot lot, picnic areas, a sports field, tennis courts and a gym.

Mini-park with a playground.

Mini-park with a playground.

Community park and recreation center with a playground, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, a sports field and a walking loop.

Mini-park with a playground and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a basketball court.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a skate park, basketball and tennis courts, a sports field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Recreation center with tot lots, ball fields, barbecue areas, and basketball and sand volleyball courts.

Park with a playground, a tot lot and a basketball court.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a tot lot.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball and tennis courts and a walking loop.

Recreation center with a tot lot, picnic areas, baseball and soccer fields and a basketball court.

Park with a playground and a walking loop.

Mini-park with a playground.

Gymnastics equipment and a foam pit, all indoors.

A food hall with pizza and ice cream for kids and plenty of other choices.

Community park and recreation center with a playground, basketball and pickleball courts, a sports field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a basketball court.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Recreation center with a children's play area, a gazebo and amphitheater, a fitness course and basketball courts.

Neighborhood park with a playground.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground.

Mini park with a playground.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, tennis courts, pickleball courts and a multipurpose field.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Recreation center with a tot lot, a BMX track, picnic areas, ball fields and a fenced dog park.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a multipurpose field.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a walking loop.

Park with a playground.

Recreation center with three big children's play areas, picnic tables and basketball courts.

Mini park with a playground and a tot lot.

Community park with a playground, a tot lot and tennis courts.

Lots of food counters, so every kid picks their own lunch and you all still eat together outside.

Cones and waffle ice cream sandwiches, the obvious way to end a walk on the beach.

Recreation center with a tot lot, a skate park, tennis courts, softball fields and a multipurpose court.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a basketball court.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, tennis courts, pickleball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

A real live puppet show, which is exactly the right first theater for a preschooler.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a walking loop.

Real historic ships you can climb aboard, and every deck is a new place for your kid to poke around.

Community park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, tennis courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a walking loop.

Community park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground.

Athletic park with a playground, basketball courts, tennis courts and pickleball courts.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Community park with a playground, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts, tennis courts, pickleball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Community park with a playground, basketball courts and a multipurpose field.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Big city park with children's play areas, a dog park, shaded picnic tables, an exercise circuit and ball fields.

Community park with a big playground full of climbing rocks and boulders, plus a sand area.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a basketball court.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Mini park with a playground.

Recreation center with a sand tot lot, a lighted field, basketball courts and tennis courts.

Community park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, pickleball courts, a multipurpose field, a walking loop and a skate park.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Proper gelato for your kid and a coffee for you.

Recreation center with a tot lot, a playground, a skate park, a walking trail and a picnic area.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a walking loop.

Mini park with a playground.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, pickleball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Athletic field with play areas, a big multipurpose field and a teen center.

A casual seafood lunch with fishing boats coming and going, something to watch while your kid eats.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

A play cafe for toddlers and young kids up to 4, with imaginative activity centers and a coffee cart for grown-ups.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Community park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a multipurpose field.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Recreation center with a tot lot, a multipurpose court and youth ball fields next to a big picnic area.

Real aircraft and spacecraft up close, plus flight simulators to try, for the kid who points at every plane in the sky.

Classic and rare cars on rotating display, with parts kids can touch and model displays.

Old fire engines and gear in a former station.

One of the largest model railroads anywhere, with miniature trains running through tiny, detailed California landscapes.

Dinosaurs and fossil digs for bigger kids, and the Backyard, a protected space for kids five and under to climb and explore.

Community park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and tennis courts.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Bayside recreation center with tot lots, picnic areas, a softball field and outdoor courts.

Community park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, pickleball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, pickleball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Mini park with a playground and a tot lot.

Recreation center with two children's play areas, softball fields, a basketball court and a gym.

Mini park with a playground and a tot lot.

Recreation center with a tot lot, a basketball court, picnic tables and softball fields.

Community park with a playground, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a walking loop.

Community park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, tennis courts and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Recreation center with a tot lot, indoor and outdoor basketball courts and a weight room.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts and a skate park.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Recreation center with two tot lots, a picnic shelter, softball and soccer fields and basketball and tennis courts.

Mini park with a playground.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a walking loop.

Mini park with a playground and a tot lot.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Recreation center with a playground, picnic areas, baseball fields and basketball courts.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Pick two cookies and an ice cream and they build the sandwich in front of you.

Paint a piece of pottery, or make a craft your kid gets to take home.

A movie with food brought to your seat.

Pancakes and fruit to share, a straightforward breakfast for the kid who likes things plain.

A heated, glass-walled pool with ocean views, a shallow end for kids and an inflatable obstacle course during recreational swim.

Neighborhood restaurant with a turf back patio, cornhole and a life-size Connect Four.

Recreation center with a children's play area, picnic areas, tennis courts and a gym.

Slides, a ball pit and climbing areas alongside a pretend kitchen, dress-up and a library nook, with a toddler zone for the youngest.

Your kid hand-dips a candle one layer at a time and takes it home.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a multipurpose field.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a multipurpose field.

Neighborhood park with a playground and a tot lot.

Mini park with a playground.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, pickleball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.

Mini park with a playground.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, basketball courts, pickleball courts and a walking loop.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, a multipurpose field and a walking loop.

A house from 1856 with a spooky reputation. Best for older kids who like their history a little creepy.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot, basketball courts and a walking loop.

Sports complex with two tot lots, picnic areas, ball fields and multipurpose fields.

Mini park with a playground.

Neighborhood park with a playground, a tot lot and a walking loop.