Especially for Kids

If you didn't know better, you would think San Diego was designed by parents planning a long summer vacation. From toddlers to teens, activities abound for children. Dozens of public parks, 70 miles of beaches, and many museums are just part of what awaits kids and families. For current information about activities for children, pick up a free copy of the monthly San Diego Family Magazine, or check it out online at www.sandiegofamily.com; its calendar of events is geared toward family activities and kids' interests. The International Visitor Information Center, 1040 1/3 West Broadway at Harbor Drive (tel. 619/236-1212), is also a great resource. The Children's Museum/Museo de los Niños, 200 W. Island Ave., downtown (tel. 619/233-8792), has been in limbo for years, struggling to come up with the money needed to finish its new facility. In 2006, Leap Wireless came to the rescue and donated $1 million toward completion of the museum's $25-million, 50,000-square-foot space. It's scheduled to open early in 2008. For an update, see www.sdchildrensmuseum.org.

The Top Five Attractions for Kids

Balboa Park has street entertainers and clowns that always rate high with kids. They can usually be found around El Prado on weekends. The Natural History Museum, the Model Railroad Museum, the Air & Space Museum, and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center -- with its hands-on exhibits and IMAX theater -- draw kids like magnets.

The San Diego Zoo appeals to children of all ages, and the double-decker bus tours bring all the animals into easy view of even the smallest visitors. There's a Children's Zoo within the zoo, and kids adore the performing sea lion show.

SeaWorld San Diego, on Mission Bay, entertains everyone with killer whales, pettable dolphins, and plenty of penguins -- the park's penguin exhibit is home to some 350 birds, including the stars of the penguin world, Antarctica's emperor penguin. Try out the family adventure land, "Shamu's Happy Harbor," where everyone is encouraged to explore, crawl, climb, jump, and get wet in more than 20 interactive areas; or, brave a raging river in Shipwreck Rapids.

The San Diego Wild Animal Park brings geography classes to life when kids find themselves gliding through the wilds of Africa and Asia in a monorail. For visitors age 4 and up, the Roar & Snore camping program -- held year-round (except Dec and Jan) on weekends -- is immensely popular.

LEGOLAND California, in Carlsbad, features impressive models built entirely with LEGO blocks. There are also rides, refreshments, and LEGO and DUPLO building contests. The park advertises itself as a "country just for kids" -- need I say more?

Other Top Attractions

Birch Aquarium at Scripps, in La Jolla, is an aquarium that lets kids explore the realms of the deep and learn about life in the sea.

Seaport Village has an old-fashioned carousel for kids, lots of shops and outdoor eateries that children enjoy, plus harbor views of some very impressive ships.

Whale-Watching Tours offer a chance to get up close to 40-foot gray whales that migrate past San Diego each winter.

Old Town State Historic Park has a one-room schoolhouse that rates high with kids. They'll also enjoy the freedom of running around the safe, parklike compound to discover their own fun.

The Gliderport will entertain kids as they watch aerial acrobats swoop through the skies.

Chula Vista Nature Center is a small facility near the bottom of San Diego Bay that has a walk-through aviary and tanks for getting up close with turtles, stingrays, and small sharks.

That's Entertainment

The Old Globe Theatre (tel. 619/234-5623; www.theoldglobe.org) in Balboa Park showcases Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! each year during the holidays -- performances are scheduled mid-November through December. Tickets are priced $39 to $59 for adults, $19 to $29 for kids 3-17. San Diego Junior Theatre (tel. 619/239-8355; www.juniortheatre.com) is the oldest continuing children's theater program in the country, operating since 1948. The productions (shows like Peter Pan and Little Women) are acted and crewed by kids 8 to 18, and are staged at three different theaters: Balboa Park's Casa del Prado Theatre, the Theatre on Third in Chula Vista, and the YMCA Firehouse in La Jolla. Ticket prices are $10 to $15 for adults, $8 to $11 for seniors, and $5 to $11 children (ages 2-14). More than a dozen shows are staged each season, with performances held on Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons, as well as some weekday matinees.

Sunday afternoon is a great time for kids in Balboa Park. They can visit both the outdoor Spreckels Organ Pavilion for a free concert (the mix of music isn't too highbrow for a young audience) and the House of Pacific Relations to watch folk dancing on the lawn and taste food from many nations. Or try the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre, in Balboa Park's Palisades Building (tel. 619/544-9203; www.balboaparkpuppets.com). Individual shows might feature marionettes, hand puppets, or ventriloquism, and the stories range from classic Grimm's Fairy Tales and Aesop's Fables to more obscure yarns. Performances are Wednesday through Friday at 10 and 11:30am, and Saturday and Sunday at 11am, 1pm, and 2:30pm (additional showtimes are added in summer). The shows cost $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for children over 2; they're free for children under 2.