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If you or your grandchildren are interested in aviation, the 94th Aero Squadron is the place for you. This restaurant housed within a replica of a World War I French farmhouse gives you an up-close view of the Montgomery Field Airport. The place is very kid-friendly (check out the old airplane wings hanging overhead in the dining area) and the food is great (the extensive Sunday brunch buffet is well worth it) but the main attraction here is the tables with headphones that allow you to listen in on the FAA control tower. Your grandkids just might think they’re in the cockpit of a jumbo jet!
Hours: Lunch: Monday–Friday 11AM–4PM; Brunch: Sundays 9AM–3PM; Dinner: Monday–Thursday 4:30PM–10PM, Friday–Saturday 4:30PM–11PM, Sunday 4PM–10PM
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Kid Friendly Eats
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Put on a wetsuit and wade into a tropical lagoon, or chilly arctic waters, to swim and interact with friendly dolphins or magnificent white beluga whales at one of Sea World’s fascinating Animal Interaction Programs. These unforgettable, eye-to-eye encounters will leave you and your grandchildren spellbound. It’s an exclusive, behind-the-scenes opportunity that allows you to feed, feel and give training signals to these intelligent creatures while gaining an appreciation for their protection.
Info: Admission: $150 and park admission; Wild Arctic Interaction: $160 and park admission
Hours: Monday-Friday 10AM-6PM, Saturday and Sunday 9AM-9PM
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen
Animals & Nature
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When you and your grandkids visit Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, you’ll be experiencing the largest desert state park in the contiguous U.S. It takes its name from the Spanish explorer Juan Batista de Anza and the Spanish word (borrego) for bighorn sheep, These 600,000 acres of Colorado Desert are home to sweeping vistas and tons of wildlife like roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, bighorn sheep, iguanas and (gulp!) rattlesnakes. Cacti, wildflowers and palm groves make up the plant life. The naturally occurring phenomena of mineral water hot springs (which happened here when a seismic fault forced water up to the desert floor) are a big draw. The park has two natural pools that are naturally maintained at about 96-degrees. There are also trails for hiking and biking. Camping is available at several campsites and backcountry camping is allowed with a permit.
Info: Admission: free
Hours: daily dawn-dusk
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Animals & Nature
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Arts Tix
Broadway Circle at Westfield Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 497-5000
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Keep Arts Tix in mind before you head out to a live performance. This discreet ticket booth, located on the corner of Broadway and Third Ave. at Broadway Circle, often sells half-price tickets to same day events. These discounted tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis so it’s best to be there when Arts Tix opens. Lines can be long so if this is a problem with younger grandchildren, perhaps they can explore the nearby Horton Plaza Mall with one grandparent while the other one buys tickets
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11AM–6PM, Friday–Saturday 10AM–6PM, Sunday 10AM–5PM, closed Monday
Age: Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Live Performances
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Travel back in time when you take in the Back to the 50's Car Show every summer Thursday night in La Mesa. This classic car-viewing event draws thousands of visitors to La Mesa Village each summer. DJ’s, occasional live music, shopping, contests and food are all part of the fun. Give your grandkids a glimpse of the backseat you used to ride in when you were a kid. Or check out a hot rod like that cool next-door neighbor of yours used to have. There are also a few classic motorcycles thrown in for good measure.
Info: Admission: free
Hours: June 1-August 31 Thursday 5PM–8PM
Age: Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Planes
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Balboa Park
1549 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 239-0512
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Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural center in the nation. Eight live performance venues, 15 museums, 18 gardens (including the most photographed spot at the park: the botanical garden), several restaurants, cultural attractions and the world-famous San Diego Zoo all call these 1,200 acres home. With so much to see and do, it’s an ideal spot to share a fun-filled day with your grandkids. The Spanish Revival-style museum buildings (originally built for the Panama-California Exposition of 1915-1916 and the California Pacific International Exposition of 1935-1936) are a lovely sight—so much so, that just strolling along El Prado (the main promenade through the park) and taking in the architecture or watching the street performers is a delight in itself. The park is also the site of the city’s largest Earth Day celebration each spring. This event hearkens back to the days of old when Balboa Park was the site of two world’s fairs. Best of all, Balboa Park offers free admission to alternating museums every Tuesday so you and your grandchildren can take in art and culture at no cost!
Info: Admission: park entrance and parking free; admission prices vary by museum and events
Hours: vary by museum and events
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Attractions & Landmarks
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Bates Nut Farm
15954 Woods Valley Rd.
Valley Center, CA 92082
(760) 749-3333
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Bates Nut Farm is the premier pumpkin patch in San Diego but it doesn’t have to be Halloween for you and your grandkids to enjoy a great day here. The 100-acre farm has a petting zoo, picnic tables, parks and a beautiful setting. The market is full of mouthwatering foods from candies, homemade fudge and so many nuts that you might go nutty just looking at them. Your grandkids will get a kick out of the peanut butter machine as it whips fresh peanuts into creamy peanut butter right before their eyes. There is also an enormous gift shop featuring home and garden items, stationery, jewelry, candles collectibles and so much more. Keep in mind that Bates is known for their seasonal activities so expect bigger crowds then. Check out their events calendar online.
Hours: daily 9AM–5PM
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen
Local Unique
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An old Native American proverb says, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” What better way to teach your grandkids about the importance of being environmentally conscious than to participate in a Beach Clean Up? The San Diego chapter of the Surfrider Foundation holds bi-monthly beach clean ups. The second Saturday of each month focuses on a North County beach, while the fourth Saturday of each month focuses on the South County. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes and sunscreen. Surfrider will provide all the clean up essentials. Just a few volunteer hours on a Saturday can make a world of difference for the coastal environment and marine life of San Diego.
Hours: vary
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Local Unique
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Belmont Park
3146 Mission Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92109
(619) 228-9283
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If you want to show your grandkids how you used to play when you were a kid, Belmont Park is just the ticket. This amusement park on the boardwalk in Mission Beach has bumper cars, thunder boats, tilt-a-whirls and more. Hang ten on the FlowRider, a simulated and never-ending perfect wave that’s ideal for sharpening all boardsport skills. The Plunge is a massive indoor swimming hole and the park’s original centerpiece. It holds 400,000 gallons of water and a whole lot of fun. But the piece de resistance is the Giant Dipper roller coaster. This 1925 classic is one of only two original West Coast oceanfront roller coasters still dipping, dropping, turning and thrilling riders of all ages.
Info: Admission: rides vary $2-$15; 1/2 price Family Night on Tuesdays during the summer
Hours: Spring: March 2-May 24 Monday-Thursday 11AM–8PM, Friday-Sunday 11AM–10PM; Summe r: May 25-June 15 Sunday-Thursday 11AM–10PM, Friday and Saturday 11AM–11PM; Extended Summer: Sunday–Thursday 11AM–11PM, Saturday 11AM–12PM
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen, Teen
Fun & Games
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Birch Aquarium at Scripps is part of the world-renowned Scripps Institute of Oceanography at UCSD. Various Pacific marine life make their home in over 60 habitats where there’s plenty of opportunities for you and your grandkids to indulge in some interactive education. Journey through the Hall of Fishes starting in the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest and ending in the warm tropical waters of Mexico and the Caribbean. The Shark Reef exhibit, featuring white and black tip reef sharks, brown banded bamboo sharks, Port Jackson sharks and wobbegongs is not to be missed. There are also plenty of other marine animals to see like octopus and creatures that camouflage themselves for protection. Preuss Tide Pool Plaza, with its sweeping views of the Pacific, is the highlight here. There are three touch tanks available for hands-on exploration of starfish, sea cucumbers, hermit crabs, lobster and other local inhabitants of San Diego tide pools.
Info: Admission: ages 18-59 $11, 60+ $9, 3-17 $8, 2 and under free
Hours: daily 9AM–5PM
Age: Toddler, Child, Pre-teen
Animals & Nature
