How To Plan The Best 3-Day Family Trip To San Diego

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As moms, it can sometimes feel as though we’re expected to do everything, and planning the family vacation is often no exception. The problem is that it isn’t always easy to find the time that you need to do the job properly, and family trips can often end up feeling like an afterthought if you’re a busy working mum with a family to look after.

But a family trip doesn’t have to be an extensive, weeks-long vacation that requires tons of prep. Weekend getaways are one of the best ways to take the family away, learn about a new place, and relax in a short amount of time. They’re positively refreshing! And one of the most fun places you can visit with your family is San Diego.

And the good news for you is that we’ve done the research for you and created this quick and easy itinerary for San Diego so that you can make the most of your time in the area without having to waste hours carrying out research. The best part is this can be adapted for any season. Here’s what we would recommend as part of your three-day family trip itinerary.

Day #1

On your first day in San Diego, you’ll want to settle into your Airbnb and get your bearings in the city. If you can, spend a little time wandering the city and checking out some of the gift shops and attractions, or consider going on a guided bus tour to see the highlights of the city in comfort and style.

In the evening, you’ll probably want to treat yourself to something delicious to eat, so consider going out to one of the city’s popular family-friendly hotspots, like Waypoint Public, Troy’s Family Restaurant, or Station Tavern. No matter what type of cuisine you’re looking for, you’re sure to find some food that’s of interest to everyone—picky eaters included.

Day #2

Day two should be all about letting the kids decide and taking them to make some memories that they’ll never forget. San Diego is a great place to visit with a family, with attractions including Legoland, the Sea Life Aquarium, the San Diego Zoo, and San Diego Safari Park. There’s plenty of stuff to keep the kids entertained, but there’s a lot of fun stuff for Mum, too.

 If you plan out your day just right, you can even get to see a couple of different attractions and still have time in the evening to check out some entertainment. San Diego is great for live music, but there’s also plenty of theatre, dance, comedy, and more to cater to whatever you’re into. Many of these events are family-friendly, too.

Day #3

The last day is all about treating yourself, so consider checking out the spa facilities at Rancho Valencia or going wine tasting at one of the region’s many vineyards. And if retail therapy is more your thing, check out the Carlsbad farmer’s market or look into local arts and crafts fairs.

After that, it’s time to leave the city, but who says that you can’t do that in style? If you can, we’d recommend boarding a ship, whether you’re cruising to San Diego on day one or whether you’re cruising out of the city on day three.

Conclusion

Now that you know just a few of the highlights of San Diego if you’re visiting as a mum, it’s over to you to plan out a trip of your own. Feel free to adapt our suggested itinerary as necessary, and go ahead and book things early where you can to save some money. Other than that, you’re all set to go ahead and book your trip to San Diego!

What are your favorite tricks for weekend getaways? Have you been to San Diego? Let us know in the comments below!

Want more fantastic ideas for family trips? Check out our roundup of 5 mini vacations for families!

About the Author

Andrea is the author of Weekend Wander Club, a blog on the mission to take big trips with little amounts of time—to make traveling with full time jobs feasible. Andrea did not grow up traveling to big and grand places. Her parents were both born in other countries and grew up abroad, so hearing about other destinations, in addition to growing up in one of the most diverse places in the United States (South Florida), nurtured a healthy craving to see the world for herself.

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