When families plan a trip to San Diego, all sorts of places come to mind: the San Diego Zoo, Legoland California, SeaWorld and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. But if the kids are giving you that been-there-done-that look, here are some other attractions that you can add to your itinerary.
Creative outlet
The New Children’s Museum (www.thinkplaycreate.org) in downtown San Diego is an interactive arts destination that encourages children to think, play and create with innovative hands-on art projects, classes and exhibitions.
“Animal Art,” an exhibit that runs through September, explores the powerful relationship between humans and animals and asks such questions as “How do you communicate with animals?” “If you were an animal, what would you be?” and “Ever wondered how an armadillo sees the world?” For sheer old-fashioned fun, Mission Beach boasts Belmont Park (www.belmontpark.com), a historic turn-of-the-century style seaside amusement park that includes the Giant Dipper, a national historic landmark and one of only two remaining beachfront wooden roller coasters on the U.S. West Coast.
The Wave House’s on-land wave simulators re-create the ocean with waves meant for novices and tubes and curls designed for experienced surfers. There are coconut trees for climbing and a rope course.
By the sea
At the USS Midway Museum (www.midway.org) on San Diego Bay, the family-oriented activities include climb-aboard aircraft cockpits and a T2 Buckeye jet. A self-guided audio tour, narrated by a fictional character, Airman Sam Rodriguez, is meant just for kids. The tours take visitors through the crew’s sleeping quarters and the ship’s jail and engine room.
The Maritime Museum of San Diego (www.sdmaritime.com) consists of several historic sailing vessels docked on San Diego Bay, such as the Star of India, built in 1863. During Sailor Days in April, children go on scavenger hunts, win prizes, learn knot tying and set sails. On May 21 and 22, the museum will hold a weekend of pirate activities, costume contests and a parade, swashbuckling demonstrations, live plays and carnival games.
Playing in parks
In Encinitas, the San Diego Botanic Garden (www. sdbgarden.org) features the Hamilton Children’s Garden, one of the largest interactive children’s gardens on the West Coast. Kids can explore a treehouse, see live quail, play in a stream or visit the Butterfly Bed and Breakfast, an enclosure for caterpillars to eat, rest and transform into butterflies.
If you are heading to Balboa Park, there are three museums that are tops with kids: the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center with educational, entertaining experiences and an IMAX Dome Theater; the San Diego Air & Space Museum with displays of historic aircraft and spacecraft; and the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, with an interactive toy train gallery.
On March 19, more than 20 Balboa Park institutions will present a park-wide Science Family Day with special programs. Kids can learn the art of paper-making at the Mingei International Museum, make a skull mask at the Museum of Man, fold space-themed paper airplanes for a competition at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, build cars using Legos at the San Diego Automotive Museum and participate in a mock archaeological dig at the San Diego Historical Society. For a complete schedule, visit www.sdsciencefestival.com.
Photo at top:
Kids play in artist Felipe Dulzaides' “Missing Links” at The New Children's Museum, a 30-foot rainbow “jumpy.” The artist explores in this 2009 multimedia installation is fun for all ages. On a deeper level, the artists' work explores how humans are in a constant and evolving process of change. “Missing Links,” 2009, Felipe Dulzaides. Commissioned by The New Children's Museum. Photo by Philipp Scholz Rittermann.
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