5 Days in San Diego with Tweens
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Budget
$2,500
Mid-Range
$4,000
Luxury
$6,500
Best Months
Jun, Jul, Aug
Highlights
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1: Arrival & La Jolla Cove
Morning
Land at SAN, grab a rental car, drive north to La Jolla (20 min). Check in. Head to La Jolla Cove — the protected marine reserve has crystal water, sea lions on the rocks, and (in summer) dozens of harmless leopard sharks resting in the shallows. You can snorkel right off the beach without a boat. $0 entry.
Afternoon
Walk the La Jolla Coastal Trail from the cove to Windansea Beach (1.5 miles, flat, dramatic cliffs). Stop at the Children's Pool — the sea lion rookery that was controversially ceded to sea lions. Tweens are immediately interested in the politics of this.
Evening
Dinner at Puesto in La Jolla Village — upscale Mexican, exceptional birria tacos, great for families. Walk the village after.
💡 Tip: La Jolla Cove is best for leopard shark snorkeling in July–August. The sharks are harmless and 3–5 feet long — seeing them in 6 feet of clear water is genuinely spectacular. Arrive before 10am before crowds.
Day 2: San Diego Zoo Behind-the-Scenes
Morning
San Diego Zoo opens at 9am. Skip the standard route — book the Behind-the-Scenes Guided Tour ($49 add-on, minimum age 12, worth every cent). You enter exhibits from the keeper side, see animals up close, and handlers explain animal behavior. Tweens who 'know' zoos are recalibrated.
Afternoon
The Safari Park (45 min north in Escondido) is a half-day option if energy remains — the Africa Tram through open-range rhino and giraffe territory is unlike any US zoo exhibit. Or stay at the main zoo for the afternoon.
Evening
Gaslamp Quarter for dinner — Hodad's Mission Hills for the legendary burger (no Gaslamp location — drive 5 min north), or Puesto downtown. Gaslamp at dusk is visually fun for tweens who appreciate urban street activity.
💡 Tip: Book the Behind-the-Scenes tour when you buy zoo tickets online — it sells out a week in advance in summer.
Day 3: Surf Lesson + Mission Beach
Morning
Pacific Surf School at Mission Beach ($75/2-hr group lesson including board and wetsuit). Best beginner surf spot in San Diego — consistent small beach break, sandy bottom, instructor-to-student ratio kept low. Mission Beach is the quintessential San Diego beach experience.
Afternoon
Rent bikes from Mission Beach Rentals ($10/hr) and ride the boardwalk from Mission Beach to Pacific Beach and back — 3.5 miles each way, flat, fun. The Pacific Beach boardwalk has every tween requirement: food trucks, surf shops, street performers.
Evening
Kono's Surf Club for breakfast-for-dinner — the classic PB breakfast burrito served all day. Cash only, worth it. Then sunset at Crystal Pier.
💡 Tip: Wetsuit rental is included in surf lessons — San Diego water is 65°F even in summer and you need it. Tweens who resist the wetsuit change their mind in 45 seconds.
Day 4: La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak
Morning
Book through La Jolla Kayak ($65/person, 2-hr guided kayak tour) departing from La Jolla Shores. The sea cave circuit includes paddling through 7 sea caves carved into the sandstone cliffs — the famous Sunny Jim Cave is accessible from the water. Tweens kayak independently (tandem with parent is option).
Afternoon
Post-kayak lunch at The Cottage in La Jolla — eggs, sandwiches, outdoor garden patio. Then afternoon at La Jolla Shores beach — the calmest swimming beach in San Diego, gentle waves, lifeguarded.
Evening
USS Midway Museum — the aircraft carrier docked in downtown San Diego. Open until 8pm. Tweens who want to touch real jet fighters get their wish. The flight simulator ($10 extra) is worth the add-on.
💡 Tip: The Midway has a self-guided audio tour that tweens can control via phone — let them lead the route through the ship. They'll spend 4x longer than a parent-directed tour.
Day 5: Torrey Pines + Departure
Morning
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve — short hikes (1–3 miles) through rare Torrey Pines on sandstone cliffs above the Pacific. The Guy Fleming Trail (0.7 miles, flat) or Beach Trail (1.5 miles to the beach) give tweens a legit outdoor accomplishment. Free entry before 9am.
Afternoon
Airport. SAN is famously compact — arrive 90 min before domestic departure. Stop at the 7-Eleven near Old Town for a $2 paleta (Mexican popsicle) on the way — the tamarind ones are the dare worth taking.
Evening
Flight home.
💡 Tip: Torrey Pines' parking lot fills by 9am in summer. Arrive at 8am or use the beach lot at the bottom of Carmel Valley Road and hike up.
Packing List
- ✓ Wetsuit (or trust surf school's rental — but their own fits better)
- ✓ Rash guard for kayaking and beach days
- ✓ Reef-safe sunscreen (California state recommendation)
- ✓ Waterproof phone case for sea cave kayaking
- ✓ Bike-friendly clothing for Mission Beach boardwalk day
- ✓ Comfortable closed-toe shoes for zoo and Midway
- ✓ Dry bag for sea cave kayak tour
- ✓ Small backpack for Torrey Pines hike
- ✓ Reusable water bottle — San Diego tap water is fine
- ✓ Light layer for evenings (San Diego cools to 60°F at night year-round)
Safety Notes
La Jolla Cove's leopard sharks are harmless but the underwater visibility and depth can disorient inexperienced snorkelers — stay within 30 yards of shore and always swim with a buddy. The sea cave kayak tour requires basic paddle competence; the guide assesses capability before entering caves. Torrey Pines cliff edges are unrailed — enforce a 6-foot rule from the edge for tweens at all times. San Diego ocean water averages 65°F — hypothermia risk is low but tweens in wetsuits stay warmer and perform better.
Full Destination Guide
San Diego may be the most naturally family-friendly city in America, combining world-class attractions, beautiful beaches, and year-round perfect weather.
Read the San Diego, California family guide →