My kids love this place. We live in CA but visit friends in Utah so when we finally drive to Thanksgiving Point...we know we need to stop and let the kids explore this amazing museum. The museum has a great little shop (perfect for unique birthday gifts ) and a kid friendly cafe. They do birthday parties and I have heard the Girls Scouts do events here as well.

This is a nice aquarium that is doable in 2 hrs. Perfect for the 3-5 yr old attention span. It does not get to crowded, except when school field trip arrive. We call ahead to see if any special events are going on or if there will be any school groups visiting. There is a family membership which is a good deal if you are coming w/ grandparents etc or if you will be returning again with in the year. I like this place better than Legoland Aquarium.

We have been to SeaWorld many times. My kids love the shows, and the dolphin encounter where you can touch and feed dolphins. The cost is high, but if you are local or plan on returning soon, SeaWorld usually offers a pay for a day get the whole year for free. That is an amazing deal if you live in SD. There are many good places to eat and a few rides, but nothing to advanced. The night shows (generally held in the summer months or during the holidays) are fantastic, but the park is crowded during those "touristy" times.

We have stayed at this Hyatt twice. Once as a couples escape and most recently as a family getaway. I loved it both times! There is so much to do at the hotel from shopping to roasting smores on the courtyard fire pits to long days hanging by the kids pool ( complete with three water slides ). The beach is across the street and the downtown area is a mile down the road. Hyatt often runs a deal where if you book two rooms, one room is 50% off. Perfect for my family of 5.

My family of 3 visited the Museum. It was summer and crowded with vacationers and camp programs, but the place is large so plenty of room for all. My 4 yr old enjoyed this venture the most. He ran us through the place in just over an hr. That is not really long enough to warrant future trips. My 8 yr old found it mildly amusing and my 10 yr old did not have fun, The store and cafe are fabulous and if you live in the area a great place to pop in for lunch or to pick up a birthday gift. I was so excited when the museum opened, but found myself disappointed.