Places to Go and Things to Do

San Diego County has no shortage of great locations for visiting with your children. There are many neighborhood parks, restaurants, beaches and recreation centers as well as the bigger and more expensive places, such as Sea World and the Wild Animal Park.

Your main objective is to enjoy the company of your children, converse and communicate. Movies tend to limit conversation. Live theater and concerts may be better, especially for older children.

Here are some links to a few recommended attractions:

• San Diego Zoo - downtown - in Balboa Park



• Wild Animal Park- near Escondido



• Sea World - feed and pet the dolphins and bat rays - always popular



• Legoland - in Carlsbad - great fun, especially for the younger children.



• Balboa Park - lots to do for all ages - science and train museums very popular with the younger children.



• Birch Aquarium - at Scripps in La Jolla - kids love the tide pool and it's not too expensive - very educational.



• Seaport Village - downtown on San Diego Bay at Kettner Blvd. and West Harbor Drive.



• San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum - featuring the USS Midway



• Maritime Museum of San Diego - tour the Star of India and watch cannon battle reenactments.



• Museum of Making Music - Carlsbad



• Del Mar Fairgrounds - Del Mar - Always something going on. Avoid the horse racing season. Pelly's Mini Golf is fun.



• San Elijo Lagoon. - Carfiff-by-the-Sea. Good spot for older children with an interest in nature. Bring a picnic. There is construction under way in 2008, so the parking lot may not be accessible. Trails are still open and maps may be found on the web-site



• Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad - Game and bird sanctuary with a 2 mile hiking trail.



• Chula Vista Nature Center - at Gunpowder Point in Chula Vista.



• Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center - 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad. Various activities throughout the year - guided tours. Remember your bug repellent as well as your sunscreen when visiting the lagoons.



• K-1 Speed Go-Carts - 6212 Corte Del Abeto, Carlsbad, CA 92011 - Phone: (760) 929-2225



• Ceramic Cafes and Clay Painting Studios: Color Me Mine - in Carlsbad, Rancho Bernardo and Santee
  CeramiCafe Art Lounge - Carlsbad
  "Paint and Clay" - 7740 El Camino Real, Carlsbad - in La Costa Town Center 760-632-5124.



• Quail Botanical Gardens - in Encinitas - events throughout the year, such as the Spring Chocolate Festival and the Halloween Parade.



• "The Tide Pools" - Swami's Beach - South end of Encinitas. Study the tide tables to find out when low tide occurs.



• Historic Train Rides - hosted by the Pacific Southwest Railroad Museum in Campo