California - San Diego-what to do after the seaworld & zoo??

Hi there, we are going from Oz - Disneyland then to San Diego. We've bought our park passes and are staying at the Bayside Inn (Best Western) which is close to Little Italy. We have a 6 yr old--any suggestions on what to do after adventures with the zoo/seaworld?

What time does everything stay open in San Diego?
Read something about a train museum in the Balboa Park?
Any areas that native SD's recommend??

Thanks lisa:confused:

Legoland in Carlsbad is a fun amusement park for young kids: http://www.legoland.com/California.htm It is about a 1 hour drive north from San Diego. We did Legoland and the Wildlife Park portion of the San Diego Zoo together as a day trip with my 3 year old last summer. It was a bit of a long day but very nice. You could easily spend the whole day at either one of these attractions.

1. Seaport Village
2. Wild animal park-better than zoo
3. Gas lamp quarters dinner
4. Cabrillo national monument/Point Loma
5. Scripps acquarium
6. Tijuana-trolley

I'd skip Tijuana. Nothing there for a 6 year old.

Legoland would be great as is the Wild Animal Park, but they would be best done on separate days. They are 45-60 minutes apart.

Balboa Park is another nice place to visit.

We did look at Legoland but it is so expensive! and thought that as we are doing DL and the zoos we'd leave it. Were hoping to see a Native American museum if they have any in S.D. I used to love Scott O'Dell as a kid but don't know if Island of the Blue Dolphins was around San Diego? I know the lady that the story was based on is buried around that area (I think?)

No argument here, Legoland is expensive. Like one of the other posters, we liked the Wild Animal Park even better than the main San Diego Zoo. They are both great, but the Wild Animal Park is truly unique. By luck we happened to take the safari trolley ride near dusk. The animals were quite active and there was no line. The guide says this is normal. So if you wind up going, take the trolley ride at dusk for a special treat. We didn't get to do any of the cultural (mueseum) type attractions, so I can't help you with that. Scripps aquarium was nice but on the smaller side. If you want to see the La Jolla area then you could easily do both on the same day. Gas Lamp with a six year old may not be so great. It is more oriented towards the nightlife scene with lots of trendy restaurants and clubs. Whatever you wind up doing, it is hard not to enjoy San Diego. It is a great city.

--Jon

I'd skip Tijuana. Nothing there for a 6 year old.

Legoland would be great as is the Wild Animal Park, but they would be best done on separate days. They are 45-60 minutes apart.

Balboa Park is another nice place to visit.

Near the zoo is a really great little aviation museum, if you are so inclined.

http://www.aerospacemuseum.org/

You can now visit the Aircraft Carrier Midway:

http://www.midway.org/

Also, while Tijuana is not a place for children, IMHO, the Light Rail train or "trolley" as it is called in San Diego, is fine and could be entertaining, especially if you are from a place where they have not been built yet.

http://www.sdmts.com/Trolley/Trolley.asp

You could take it to the border, but there is not much of a way to see over in to Tijuana. If you want to teach your kids a lesson (if they are old enough to understand) about how corrupt governments and non-egalitarian society must be prevented at all costs, take one of the guided tours over, and don't stray far from the tourbus:

http://www.coachamerica.com/sandiegograyline/tours_mexico.cfm

Coaster up towards Ocenaside gives you a nice ride along the Pacific.

http://www.gonctd.com/

I used to love Scott O'Dell as a kid but don't know if Island of the Blue Dolphins was around San Diego? I know the lady that the story was based on is buried around that area (I think?)

Wow, blast from my past, too!

The island featured in that book is part of the Channel Islands. It's a good bit offshore from the coast and is probably not something you'd be able to do on this trip (if it's even possible to get out there at all!).

See this article for more details, which also has a decent map showing its location:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Nicolas_Island

The woman, Juana Maria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Nicolas_Island), is buried in the Santa Barbara Mission cemetery. That area is about 3.5 hours (without trafffic) north of San Diego.

We did look at Legoland but it is so expensive! and thought that as we are doing DL and the zoos we'd leave it. Were hoping to see a Native American museum if they have any in S.D. I used to love Scott O'Dell as a kid but don't know if Island of the Blue Dolphins was around San Diego? I know the lady that the story was based on is buried around that area (I think?)

We did both Disneyland and Legoland with a 5yr old and she enjoyed Legoland much more. Disney is more of the watch and wonder experience which can bore a child over time and the line are very long. Legoland has rides that are all interactive where the kids have to participate and all of the areas are geared to younger children.

The best indicator was even a year latter she is asking to go back to Legoland and hasn't mentioned Disnyland once.

X

We did look at Legoland but it is so expensive! and thought that as we are doing DL and the zoos we'd leave it. Were hoping to see a Native American museum if they have any in S.D. I used to love Scott O'Dell as a kid but don't know if Island of the Blue Dolphins was around San Diego? I know the lady that the story was based on is buried around that area (I think?)

Liska we are on the Gold Coast and will be in SAN DIEGO in June. Last time we were there we did the Zoo but not the rest of Balboa Park. We will do it to the extreme this trip. Also we will be going on board USS Midway an aircraft carrier and the Gaslamp area and Little Italy. We of course will be without the 6 year old but I think these will also be interesting. Log into Google maps and zoom into Balboa Park and you will see all it has to offer. PM me if you wish.

Here is a link that consolidates most places to see for children

http://wikitravel.org/en/San_Diego_with_children