There is a place in San Diego I have been to many, many times. It’s a place we go when we have friends and family visit. We go when the weather is nice and we go when the weather isn’t so nice. We go during the holidays, on weekends, weekdays and even for a field trip. It is simply one of my son’s favorite places – Legoland. He’s 7 and like most boys his age; he LOVES Legos. This weekend, my daughter wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed home with dad and Brett had Legoland to himself (or at least I think he felt that way). So what’s a boy to do when he doesn’t have to share Legoland with his sister or family? Have fun!

We started with the Coast Cruise ride, which surprised me because it is usually the first ride we take newcomers on. The leisurely boat ride takes you “around the world” as you see famous monuments made from Legos. The Sydney Opera House, Taj Mahal, and Eifel Tower are all on display. Next we headed to Miniland. We could spend forever here checking out the amazing recreations of American cities. During the Halloween season, Legoland will have many of the Lego people dressed up in costume. You can also find an apple bopping party, a kids costume party and other fun Halloween related events.

During this trip, we rode some of Brett’s favorite rides, The Dragon, Lost Kingdom Adventure, and Coastersaurus. After lunch, Brett got his driver’s license at the Volvo Driving School. You can even have your picture taken and made into a “real” license. At the end of our day, nothing would be complete without stopping by The Big Shop and looking at all the new Lego toys.

Be sure to check out Legoland Saturdays in October for their Brick-or-Treat Celebration. I know we will be there!

So you are coming to San Diego for a convention or vacation and staying downtown (can anyone say – Gaslamp Quarter?). Oh wait, you’re coming with the kids. Don’t despair, there are actually quite a lot of things to do that entertain both parents and kids alike.

What to do:

Children’s Museum and Children’s Park –

Children's Museum at night
This museum is great for kids 10 and under. They do have a tween/teen area, but I have found kids under 10 get the most out of it. There are some really great interactive exhibits, and when the weather is nice, they open their doors and you can’t tell if you are inside or out. Be sure to make and take home your very own clay sculpture!

Seaport Village – With 54 specialty shops and over 15 restaurants (and not to mention the awesome bayside location) Seaport Village is a great stop downtown. There is a carousel and other fun activities for kids. On the weekends be sure to look out for the balloon artist. He has made some of the best balloon animals/objects we have ever seen! He is definitely worth the wait.

Embarcadero Marina Park – Located adjacent to Seaport Village, Embarcadero is a great spot to picnic and watch sailboats go by. You can also walk the length of the park, which extends all the way around, to the USS Midway Museum.

USS Midway Museum – This is actually one of my favorite spots for kids and adults of all ages. Visitors can experience “life at sea” by touring galleys, officer’s quarters, engine rooms as well as getting inside real planes and helicopters.

Horton Plaza – If you have any tweens/teens in your group, this mall will not disappoint. With a movie theatre and more than 100 shops and dining options, as well as a festive European open-air atmosphere, Horton Plaza is sure to please even the most discerning teens.

Gaslamp Quarter – Primarily known for its nightlife, the Gaslamp Quarter is a great place to take a stroll, people watch and do a little shopping during the day. There are grand Victorian-era buildings which are now home to more than 100 restaurants, 35 pubs and nightclubs and 100 retail shops, as well as theaters and art galleries.

Where to eat:

Below is a list of some of my favorite places to take the kids downtown– however with over 100 restaurants in Gaslamp alone, feel free to find a restaurant that is perfect for you. Most restaurants post their menus outside so that you can see what is right for you.

Brickyard Café – Located just a block from Children’s Museum and Seaport Village, this café is a great place to catch breakfast or lunch outside. You will find mostly locals here. My kids love it because the Trolley stops in front of the café which keeps them entertained. Our favorite is their chili and grilled cheese sandwich combo. They also have a great coffee bar.

Maryjane’s - Located in the Hard Rock Hotel, this is an ideal spot any time of day. When the weather is nice be sure to sit outside and people watch. The menu includes a lot of diner style options. Be sure to try the fish tacos – they are great!

Buca di Beppo – This place screams kid-friendly and with good reason. With its family- style portions and festive atmosphere, it’s sure to please the kids.
Spaghetti Factory – Located right in Gaslamp, this restaurant is a popular spot, so expect a wait. The atmosphere is always festive and fun. On some days there is also a balloon artist out front to keep the kids entertained.

Filippi’s Pizza Grotto – A mainstay in San Diego for over 50 years, this is an awesome place to experience San Diego’s Little Italy. The restaurant, located behind the deli, offers some of the best pizza in San Diego. Be prepared for a wait, but it’s worth it!

Sweet Treats:

Pinkberry –If you haven’t tried Pinkberry, it’s worth the stop. Located in the Hard Rock Hotel, Pinkberry is my favorite yogurt shop in San Diego. Love the original with raspberries and chocolate chips!

Heavenly Cupcakes – For some reason on Friday’s, I always find a reason to be in the area to pick up some cupcakes. My favorite is the black and white. My son loves the mint chocolate.

Ghiradelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop – Need I say more? This is for serious desert people. Located in the heart of the Gaslamp, it is open late and offers the best chocolate sundaes!

Tell us, what is your favorite activity downtown (with or without the kiddies)?

Recently we had the treat of visiting SeaWorld San Diego and seeing the new Dolphin Show “Blue Horizons.” We love visiting SeaWorld and often take our friends and family when they visit. A few of our favorite stops are the Wild Arctic, Penguin and Shark Encounters. One show my son loves to see every visit is Pets Rule! It features rescued dogs, cats, pigs and birds doing some amazing tricks. It never fails to entertain him (and I have to admit me too).

On this trip however, we were all so excited to see the new dolphin show, and it didn’t disappoint. The show features dolphins, pilot whales, birds and acrobatic performers. Visually, it is a delight. While the dolphins are the main attraction, there is so much more to the show. Birds fly across the stadium and acrobatic divers fly through the air into the water and back up again. My daughter thought they were so brave to dive from those heights!

The dolphins and pilot whales appear throughout the show and perform some amazing tricks on their own, in groups or with their trainers. One word of caution, when they say you could get wet in the soak zone; believe them. I’ve been to a lot of these shows, and I have to say at our show, some people got drenched! So unless it’s a really hot day and you need to cool off, I would suggest being at least 10 rows up.

It’s a great addition to SeaWorld and I look forward to the next time we have friends in town so that we can take it them to it. If you have seen Blue Horizons, what was your favorite part of the show?

Kicking back on Coronado Island
A day on Coronado Island with the family
One of our favorite things to do is spend time on Coronado Island. With each visit there are some must do’s, as well as taking time to discover something new. It never disappoints us! You don’t have to stay on the Island to enjoy it (although that is fun too!)
Here are some of our favorite things to do on Coronado Island.
What to Do
• Bike/walk/scooter around the beach boardwalk and through the neighborhoods. This is a great way to enjoy the island and get outside. There are several places to rent bikes and they all include maps. The island is mostly flat, which makes it a lot easier on the kids if they are riding on their own. We start by riding along the beach boardwalk, and then ride through some of the neighborhood streets. Many residents have some of the most beautiful flowers growing in their yards, and it gives you a real sense of the small town that Coronado is.
• Beach – of course. The beaches here are wide and the waves are great. Bring your boogie boards and head out, or enjoy a nice walk along the water.
• Walk along Orange Avenue. This is the main commercial street for Coronado Island. At the south end of the Street is where you will find the Hotel Del Coronado. If you have never been, it’s worth it to walk around and see this historical hotel. My kids aren’t especially fond of looking around a hotel, so we have only done that once when we stayed there last summer.
• Spreckles Park – is a great park a short distance from the main shopping area on Orange Avenue. The trees provide a ton of shade and they recently installed new play structures. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the park will feature Concerts in the Park on Saturdays.
Where to eat
• Café 1134 (1134 Orange Ave) is a little café a couple of blocks away from Hotel Del. We like coming here for breakfast/brunch. It attracts a loyal resident following and offers a great and varied menu. It’s fun to sit outside and people watch. We love coming here because they offer breakfast all day, a kids menu and they have games and other activities to keep the kids busy.
• Village Pizzeria (1206 Orange Avenue) My husband (originally from New York) really likes their pizza. It’s usually busy and fun and my kids love it.
• Coronado Brewing Company (170 Orange Avenue). We have eaten here several times and it’s a great place for a group and/or kids. And on Tuesdays kids eat free!
• Coronado Candy Factory – ok this is actually dessert. This sweet shop recently opened last fall and already has made a name for itself on the Island. Most residents (especially their kids) are frequent shoppers. They make their caramel and other treats fresh each day. Be sure to check out their specialty the “Coronado Crunch”. It’s a yummy combination of marshmallow, peanut butter chips, caramel, chocolate chips, rice crispy and white chocolate.
• Mootime Creamery – they are so popular, they have two locations. One inside the Hotel Del and another on Orange Avenue. There is usually a line in the summer – but worth it after a hot day on the beach!

I recently took my two kids ages 6 and 7 and their grandfather to the USS Midway. It was so much more fun than we thought. They show you a lot of the ship and you wear headphones that tell you about the ship and how it was used. I don't recommend it for anyone who is cannot handle a lot of stairs or children who have a hard time going up and down stairs because some of the stairs are very narrow.