San Diego is a city of endless appeal with a near-perfect climate year-round and a laid-back, relaxed style. Frequently referred to as the Birthplace of California, San Diego is where Europeans first stepped ashore on the West Coast of the United States. The city has a rich history and a thriving urban core that includes sophisticated art, world-class dining, and inland neighborhoods with a unique style and flavor.
Along with many historical sites and museums, San Diego has over 70 miles of spectacular coastline to explore, featuring miles of incredible beaches, including some of the best family beaches in the country. After a day at the beach, experience San Diego’s easy-going culture by sampling one of the many craft beers or wines found in the region and enjoy some of the city’s unique food offerings.
This shortlist is just a few things that make it hard to find a better family destination than San Diego.
Mission Bay Park
Mission Bay Park is an artificial saltwater bay featuring 27 miles of shoreline, with 19 miles of sandy beaches and eight designated swimming areas. With over 4,235 acres of land and water, Mission Bay Park is the biggest aquatic park of its kind in the country and the ninth largest municipally-owned park in the United States.
While swimmers and sunbathers can take advantage of the warm water and beautiful beaches, the park’s west end consists of a network of channels and islands ideal for wind-surfing and water skiing. Located within the park, Fiesta Island is a popular area with a large off-leash dog park and a diverse population of rare, threatened, and endangered bird and plant species. With boat launching facilities, sail and motorboat rentals, bicycle and walking paths, basketball courts, and playgrounds, Mission Bay Park is one of San Diego’s most fun-filled spots to visit.
Bicycle Around the Bay
One of the best ways to take in the sights and feel the atmosphere is bicycling around the twelve-mile Mission Bay Bike Loop. Several hotels and resorts in the area rent beach cruisers, electric bikes, kid’s bikes, and even tandem surreys, which can hold up to four adults and two children. The flat, scenic route travels around the bay, passing through 10 public parks and two wildlife reserves, offering loads of wildlife sightseeing opportunities, plenty of grassy areas perfect for a picnic, and several playgrounds for the kids.
Mission Beach
Mission Beach is a wide sandy beach that is just over a mile long, at the center of what is known as the Golden Strand, the area between South Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. A pathway popular for walking, running, skating, and bicycling takes you south to the end of the peninsula at South Mission Beach and north to Pacific Beach. Mission Beach is arguably the most popular beach area in San Diego, with lots of people and activity and drawing large summer crowds to its oceanfront and nearby Belmont Park.
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a classic amusement park next to Mission Beach that kids of all ages will enjoy, and that can bring out the kid in many adults. Located on the Mission Beach Boardwalk, the small park has attracted thrill-seekers since it first opened in 1925.
The centerpiece of Belmont Park is a 2.600-foot-long traditional wooden roller coaster that debuted at the park on July 4th, 1925, and was designated a National Historic Landmark on July 4th, 1990. The Giant Dipper is a thrill-seeker’s delight, reaching speeds of nearly 50 miles through spiraling drops and sharp winding turns. Towering 73 feet above the ground, The Giant Dipper offers an unparalleled view of the ocean and surrounding area.
Belmont Park offers several other classic rides, such as bumper cars and the Tilt-a-Whirl, and calmer pursuits like an arcade, miniature golf, and a merry-go-round. Along with hot dogs, corn dogs, and cotton candy, you’ll find beachfront dining, shopping, and entertainment for the entire family.
Balboa Park
With nearly 1200 acres, 15 museums housed in magnificent Spanish Colonial Revival buildings from the 1915-1916 Panama-California Exposition, several gardens, and the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park is a destination you will not want to miss. Balboa Park is also home to San Diego’s most prominent arts organization, the Old Globe Theatre, which presents at least 14 productions and 550 live performances annually on its three stages.
Balboa Park features an incredible set of gardens throughout the park with over 350 plant species hand-picked by botanist Kate Sessions, regarded as the “Mother of Balboa Park.” The Botanical Building is another structure from the Panama-California Exposition that holds about 2,100 individual plants with a pond in front filled with annual displays of lilies and lotuses.
Just minutes away from downtown San Diego, the park features a sports complex designed for international competitions. With picnic areas, playgrounds, disc golf, lawn bowling, a golf course, canyon trails for hiking, and more, Balboa Park is a place that offers something historical, horticultural, educational, and recreational for everyone.
Old Town San Diego
The historic neighborhood of Old Town San Diego is one of San Diego’s best-known attractions. It is where Father Junipero Serra built the first of California’s missions in 1769 and was the first permanent Spanish settlement in the region. A visit to the neighborhood is a step back in time to the mid-1800s when Old Town was the heart of San Diego.
Visit the historic sites and explore life in the 1800s through educational entertainment, preserved and replicated buildings, and museum exhibits. Meander through lush gardens, visit the many quaint specialty shops, and indulge your tastebuds with authentic Mexican cuisine while listening to the strolling mariachis play. Old Town San Diego offers a mix of entertainment, history, and cuisine that creates a unique experience you are sure to remember.
Contact The San Diego Bay Experts at Wander Rentals
Whatever your interests are, world-class attractions, building sandcastles and surfing at the beach, engaging with animals, enjoying the nightlife, or exploring the deluge of art, culture, museums, and monuments found throughout the area, San Diego has something for the entire family.
Whether you are visiting San Diego on business, for a family vacation, or just trying to escape, at Wander Rentals, we can help. We have quality rentals available in some of the city’s most desirable areas at prices that will meet nearly any budget. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help make your visit to San Diego a truly unique experience.
