There are lots of KT'ers around that area who will give you some ideas. When I went to visit, we went to Old Town. It was wonderful. One of my favorite places. The zoo is great of course. I think the ocean will be too cold but that's just my opinion. My kids could play in the ocean no matter how cold it is. lol

I'm just running out the door but ...

We were in San Diego a month ago and saw lots in three days.

1. Old Town
2. Port of SD
3. Gas Lamp district and downtown
4. Balboa Park (where the zoo is though we didn't go to the zoo)
5. Coronado Island and the Hotel Coronado
6. La Jolla

Below is a link to my Photobucket album of our weekend (Sat-Mon morn) in San Diego.

Here is a link that might be useful: San Diego weekend

I love going to the Wild Animal Park in Escondido......and driving out to Julian to see the apple orchards, eat apple pie and enjoy the old town atmosphere.
Have a great time!

I love the Wild Animal Park too. And of course Disneyland is north of you in Orange County, a 2 hour drive with Legoland somewhere in between.

Sea World and the SD Zoo are great! Do NOT sit in the front rows at the Orca show. Sit up high where you can see better but especially where you will stay dry.

Two years ago a friend and I spent the night at the San Diego Wild Animal park with a program called Roar & Snore. Had a blast!

Below is another link, this time to my Roar & Snore photos.

Jodi-

Here is a link that might be useful: Roar & Snore photos

Don't let the kids miss the Reuben Fleet Space Museum. It's located in Balboa Park near the zoo, it's hands on and fun!
Legoland is 30 min or so north of your hotel. It's great for kids who love Legos or are 10 and under. They also have a small aquarium on the same premises but requires a different ticket. I have some family discount passes for both, if you're interested send me an email through GW and I'll send you one.

Here is a link that might be useful: Reuben Fleet Space Museum

Try and buy tickets ahead for Disneyland and SeaWorld from Costco. I think there's some discounts available if you purchase in advance. Disneyland is free if you go on your birthday!

Here is a link that might be useful: San Diego multiple attraction discounts

All good suggestions :-) You didn't say the ages of your children, so you have lots of choices.

Legoland is in Carlsbad, about 35 miles north of SD. Disneyland would be a long haul - traffic in So. Cal. is brutal. One reason I don't live there any longer LOL.

There used to be boat tours around the Navy yard, but since 9/11, perhaps not.

Here is a link that might be useful: Birch Aquarium

Thanks everyone! I need to do some more research with your ideas!

My kids are little (4 1/2 and 15 months now) so nearly 5 and 18 months when we go. I doubt I'd do Disney by myself, plus the drive. Is Legoland an sctual amusement park-I looked it up for a little bit. I figured it was a tiny place!

Actually, today is my birthday! So no discount for me :) I can't believe how expensive some of these places are, but I'm spoiled since our zoo is free (Washington DC)

Also excited that there's an In & Out burger listed in SD. I missed going in Vegas a long time ago!

Hi Teresa---First- happy birthday! Second, we went to San Diego almost 2 years ago and all of the suggestions here are very good. La Jolla was fun and they have a kids beach, but it's a pricey little town. Gas Lamp is nice for an evening out to eat, but I'm not sure with 2 kids, especially with Katie being 1 and all.

Legoland is smaller than Disneyland, but not small. Your one year old won't be able to do many rides, but the 5 year old will be very happy! besides the rides, there is plenty for you to do with both of them. There's a great water play feature if the weather is warm enough.

the zoo can be daunting but! they have a wonderful tour bus that lets you see about 85% of the actual zoo. (sit behind or on the same side of as the driver..he thows cookies to the bears, lol)

then walk down to the primate area, petting zoo, and if you like the snakes are on the same walk...you're not tired...and can go on to drive thru the rest of balboa park. several museums.

my favorite spot in all of san diego is the lighthouse at cabrillo nat monument...it's at the tip of where the san diego bay begins, and you can see all the way to mexico...in the 1970's i used to go up there and watch dh's ship come in when he was in the navy...you'll pass one of the navy cemetaries which is so touching...notice, as you drive out, the "holes" in the side of the "hill"..they're old gun bunkers from ww2..

if you like to golf, there are several public courses, including one on coronado island...

my other fave place is (as mentioned) old town. lots to see and do...the actual san diego mission is in mission valley.

If your hotel is in Mission Bay, you will be walking distance to Sea World. There is also a fun boardwalk area there. The water is almost always too cold in California, but September is the warmest the water gets so you might find it tolerable in Oct.

I think most people have covered San Diego attractions for you. There is also a beautiful flower farm next to Legoland in Carlsbad.

Have a great time!

Here is a link that might be useful: Flower Fields

Looks like the flower fields are closed until spring, but there is an awesome upscale outlet mall right there, and its very near Legoland.

Here is a link that might be useful: Carlsbad flower fields info

October is a perfect time to visit SD -- no fog, and probably no bad weather. With an El Nino on its way this winter, water temps should be moderate as well. I remember water temps being ~68 until September, but maybe that will extend into October this year. In any case, I wouldn't think water temps would go much below 65, so be sure to pack your swimsuits! My favorite beach for swimming was La Jolla Shores, but with smaller kids, La Jolla Cove is great. Almost any of the other beaches along the Mission Beach area (OB-MB-PB) are also great, as are the beaches at Coronado. Depending on your kids ages, you may want to look into surfing lessons -- imagine the stories they can tell their friends!

i wouldn't count on walking to seaworld, if you decide to go...the way the area is situated, too much traffic...what you might want to d is take advantage of the "inland" beach area near the hilton hotel...no waves...not as refreshing as waves crashing, but with little ones. all that area is man-made...and they have tide pools in la jolla, the 5yo might find interesting,,don't know if it's still there but scripps oceanography used to have a aquarium that was very kid friendly. going during the week hard to find parking should be ok in la jolla...
i'm including the address and site of our fave hamburger place...(i'm hoping they;re still good) they come to the table "bare" with a relish tray and you did your own. used to have pool tables and very kid friendly...super casual...

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60750-d840895-Reviews-Boll_Weevil_Incorporated-San_Diego_California.html

We just got back from a week long trip with a 3 year old.

He was not all that impressed with the zoo--I love the zoo and was not impressed with it either. The bus tour basically just showed you where the animal attactions were--most of the time you could not really see anything.

He loved the train ride in Balboa Park. We did not have time to do any of the museums.

We did the Wild Animal Park and he liked that much better than the zoo. It was a LOT of walking though. They were having a dinosaur exhibit that he really liked. His favorite things there was the Lorikeet feeding and carousel that was full of wild animals--not the standard horses like other carousels.

We went on a tour of the USS Midway--he was not interested at all.

We did a bay tour with one of the companies there on the bay and he loved that. Bring lots of quarters if you go downtown because it's all meter parking.

While there we went over to Seaport Village and he loved that. They have a large fountain that fascinated him as well as a beautiful antique carousel ride from 1895 (all wooden horses). He loved the pizza place there and the candy shop.

We went to Coronado one day and he loved the beach/ocean. He would have been happy with any beach/ocean though. We went to La Jolla on our way back from the Wild Animal Park and it was beautiful but it would have been too rough for him to play in the water.

We didn't make it to Legoland because we also had a teenager with us. We also didn't go to Seaworld just becaues we have one near us and go all the time.

dktrahan..did you eat at seaport village? they used to have a place called the fish market? we used to go there once in a while...and the spaghetti factory?

sorry you didn't like the tour at the zoo..so often the animals arn't active but i always suggest it if you're pressed for time...

I too loved the Lorikeets at the Wild Animal Park.

I am so mad they built an Outlet mall right in front of the Flower Fields. It makes getting to the fields a real hassle. I had just bought a brand new car two days before we went to the fields this year. The mall parking lot was incredibly crowded and I had so many close calls from idiots backing out, not paying attention, etc. that we turned around and left. Took some beautiful pictures of the flowers along the on and off ramps though. :-)

Too bad your kids are so small (but enjoy them while they are small, they grow too fast) ... you can go ocean kayaking in La Jolla and kayak right inside some caves that line a portion of the coast. As I rowed to the caves one day, there were dozens of sharks (medium size and harmless, I think) under my kayak and dolphins playing just a few hundred yards away. It was an incredible experience.

I second the Birch Aquarium recommendation. We attended a "private dinner function" there. It is ideal for keeping the interest of small children without overwhelming them. I also enjoyed the zoo not only for the animals but the plantation is spectacular. For adults - the boat tours on the water and aircraft carrier tour. I got to do a tour of Miramar but I don't think it is open to the public.

We had the deep dish pizza at the Seaport Village. We've been dieting so it was a big splurge for us. It was Asaggio Pizza place.

The only problem we had at Seaport Village (with a young one) was when we visited the Captain's Cove shop and my toddler ran over and rang a bell on something that had a "do not touch" sign. I dragged him outside and gave him a good talking to. My husband joined us and told me the price tag on the item he "touched" was over $1K.

My visit to the zoo was a little tainted because it wasn't that long ago we visited the Memphis Zoo and I loved it. It was inexpensive and their bus tour was incredible. I just felt a little cheated at the San Diego Zoo because the ticket price was so much more expensive and I kept comparing it to the Memphis Zoo.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pizza