Packed with attractions and outdoor adventures, sunny San Diego is one of the most family-friendly destinations in the country. No matter where you stay, you're bound to be only a short drive away from fun things to do with kids.
At Mission Bay, many of the resorts lie close to bike paths, as well as the bay's sandy shores and calm waters. These are a great base for families who want to visit nearby SeaWorld, and they are also close to Balboa Park's San Diego Zoo and many museums.
Resorts at Del Mar lie a short hop away from sun-soaked beaches, as well as Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and Birch Aquarium. This area north of the city is also closer to LEGOLAND in Carlsbad.
Beach-loving families also enjoy Coronado Island, where the historic Hotel del Coronado presides over a beautiful white-sand beach, a short ferry ride away from downtown tourist attractions.
From plush resorts packed with kid-friendly amenities to good-value hotels with homey suites, San Diego delivers on fun places to stay for families. Research your options with our list of the top family resorts in San Diego.
1. Fairmont Grand Del Mar
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| Fairmont Grand Del Mar | Photo Copyright: Courtesy of Fairmont Grand Del Mar |
Accommodation: Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Set on 400 acres in the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, this sumptuous Mediterranean-style resort is one of the best luxury family resorts in San Diego. This is a place where you can be forgiven for feeling like you've taken the kids on a lavish vacation in Tuscany.
The Fairmont Grand Del Mar lies in a central location between LEGOLAND to the north and Balboa Park to the south, yet with all the family-friendly activities here, you'll never want to leave the resort.
Kids can splash around in the wading pool or swim in the sprawling family pool, with underwater piped music, and the resort also offers personalized family tennis lessons, as well as a junior golf program on the Tom Fazio-designed course.
To explore the wilderness around the resort, you can sign up for a guided hike or a family trail ride at the on-site equestrian center, which also offers horseback riding lessons, pony rides, and kids' day camps.
Fancy a family day at the beach? The resort will gladly whisk you down to Del Mar Beach in their private car, with beach chairs and a picnic lunch. During summer, the resort adds family movie nights and s'more roasting to the busy agenda.
Parents can also enjoy a little adult time here. While the kids are at the Explorer's Club creating colorful art projects or enjoying outdoor activities like scavenger hunts and obstacle courses, you can head to the resort's famous five-star spa or bask at the peaceful adults-only pool.
Rooms range from well-appointed guest rooms and spacious suites to large luxury villas.
All the restaurants offer special children's menus, and you can purchase light meals, snacks, and gelato at the on-site café. As a special bonus, the resort is pet-friendly, so furry family members can enjoy some pampering, too.
Address: 5300 Grand Del Mar Court, San Diego, California
2. The Lodge at Torrey Pines
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| Photo Source: The Lodge at Torrey Pines |
Accommodation: The Lodge at Torrey Pines
One of the top luxury resorts in California, The Lodge at Torrey Pines is a five-star, five-diamond property. In the wealthy suburb of La Jolla, it is set atop the cliffs at Torrey Pines State Park Beach and adjacent to the award-winning Torrey Pines Golf Course. It is also family friendly. Babysitting services can be arranged, and the resort has both family rooms and suites.
The lodge is modeled after early 1900s Craftsmen-style architecture, specifically Pasadena's renowned Gamble and Blacker houses. The exterior features sandstone-bluff and brick along with shingles, while the interior has plenty of wood and stone surfaces. Rooms and suites are spacious and ultra comfortable and done up in the same style as the public spaces.
Amenities here include a destination fine-dining restaurant known for its regional fare with lots of SoCal ingredients. There is also a less formal grill restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating that is a better choice for families.
If you are in need of some pampering, book a treatment at the full-service spa. Kids and adults will enjoy the heated outdoor pool, hot tub, and game room. Finally, if your family includes a dog, the hotel is pet friendly.
3. Hotel Del Coronado
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| Hotel Del Coronado | Photo Copyright: Courtesy of Hotel del Coronado |
Accommodation: Hotel Del Coronado
Beach-loving families will have a blast at the Hotel Del Coronado, one of California's iconic resorts. Capped with its distinctive conical red towers, this National Historic Landmark towers over an inviting stretch of sand and sea on Coronado Island, less than 10 minutes by ferry from downtown San Diego's attractions. This is one of the top San Diego family resorts on the beach, and it's now part of the Curio Collection by Hilton.
The resorts presides over one of San Diego's best beaches, with tide pools and typically calm waves, and guests can also paddle in the heated outdoor swimming pool, where you'll also find water toys and a Jacuzzi.
Kids are entertained for hours at the year-round Kid's Club (ages 4-12) with arts and crafts, games, and even stage performances. Teens can indulge in Teen Treats at the spa, as well as special summer activities, such as pool parties and ping pong tournaments, or relax at the summertime Coast Club Teen Lounge.
Parents can also take advantage of the resort's many activities. Popular things to do include lounging on the beach, relaxing at the spa, and browsing the many specialty shops, plus the babysitting services make date night easy.
Other fun family-friendly activities include surfing, stand up paddleboarding and kayaking lessons, biking around the island, yoga, and beach bonfires. In summer, the resort offers s'more and dive-in movie nights, and if you're visiting in December, you can glide around the hotel's beachfront ice-skating rink.
Rooms range from Victorian-style guest rooms to spacious suites in beachfront cottages and villas, some with multiple bedrooms, as well as freshly upgraded California cabanas.
Dining options are expansive, with multiple seaside restaurants and a MooTime Creamery with delicious ice-cream treats, but the restaurants and shops of Orange Avenue are also only a short stroll away.
Furry family members can also join in the fun at this pet-friendly resort, with special in-room pet dining menus, treats, toys, and even pet bedding.
Address: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, California
4. Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
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| Omni La Costa Resort & Spa | Photo Copyright: Courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts |
Accommodation: Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
Commanding 400 acres of lush tropical gardens, about a 10-minute drive from LEGOLAND, the sprawling Omni La Costa Resort & Spa offers something for every member of the family.
The fun begins at check-in, when kids receive a backpack filled with goodies, and it continues with a busy lineup of activities that change each week, from surf camps, fitness boot camps, and nighttime s'more roasting to dive-in movies and seasonal events.
Families can also cool off at their choice of eight swimming pools, with fun features such as 100-foot water slides and a sandy beach.
The Kidtopia Kids Club keeps children six months through 12 years old busy with arts and crafts, interactive games, and daily resort activities.
In addition to all the kid-friendly facilities here, the resort offers a world-class spa (children's manicures and pedicures are also available); a fitness and weight loss camp; and the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, with wellness retreats and complimentary meditation sessions – perfect for parents who want to relax and recharge. Active adults can tee off on the two championship courses, play tennis on one of the 17 hard and clay courts, or join a group fitness class at the athletic club.
Not surprisingly, the rooms here are also family friendly. They range from spacious guest rooms and family suites with two bedrooms and two bathrooms to three-bedroom villas with full gourmet kitchens.
Multiple restaurants and cafés serve up plenty of healthy meal options, and this is also a pet-friendly resort, making it a fun getaway for the entire family.
Address: 2100 Costa Del Mar Road, Carlsbad, California
5. Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
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| Photo Source: Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa |
Accommodation: Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
For a taste of Hawaii on the California coast, the Catamaran Resort & Spa is a fantastic option for your next kid-friendly vacation. This Polynesian-themed family-owned resort sits on a private beach on Mission Bay in the Pacific Beach neighborhood, minutes from top family attractions like SeaWorld San Diego.
Tiki torches, tropical landscaping, koi ponds, colorful parrots, and waterfalls evoke a fun island feel, and kids can even take part in activities like lei making and hula lessons. Other activities include summer sunset luaus, biking along the waterfront, Segway tours, swimming in the palm-lined pool, paddleboarding, kayaking, and more.
Tropical touches extend to the rooms, with views of Mission Bay and the boardwalk or the lush palm-studded gardens. Choose from guest rooms, studios, or suites, each with a balcony or patio.
Other highlights of this family-friendly property include pamper sessions at San Diego's only beachfront spa and dining at Oceana Coastal Kitchen or Moray's Outdoor Lounge, with fire pit tables and a surf and turf menu.
Address: 3999 Mission Blvd, San Diego, California
6. San Diego Mission Bay Resort
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| Photo Source: San Diego Mission Bay Resort |
Accommodation: San Diego Mission Bay Resort
For a kid-friendly location, it's hard to beat the San Diego Mission May Resort. This sprawling resort overlooks an 18-acre palm-studded park and a sandy beach on Mission Bay. It's also less than a mile from SeaWorld and a short drive from all the family-friendly attractions at Balboa Park and downtown.
Basketball, volleyball, tennis, bocce ball, windsurfing, sailing, and paddleboarding are just some of the sports on offer here for active families, and you can also rent Jet Skis, aqua cycles, and Segways.
If you need a little down time from all these fun activities, Spa Brezza offers luxurious body treatments and salon services.
The seasonal Kids Kamp will keep kids busy for hours with arts and crafts, sandcastle building, and games. The Sandbox has bike rentals and beach toys, and other fun family-friendly activities include s'mores and dive-in movie nights at the sprawling palm-shaded pool. Babysitting services and children's menus are also available.
The freshly renovated rooms vary in size and layout, but some studios come with private patios and fire pits. Pets are also welcome to join in the fun.
Address: 1775 East Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, California
7. Homewood Suites by Hilton San Diego-Del Mar
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| Photo Source: Homewood Suites by Hilton San Diego-Del Mar |
Accommodation: Homewood Suites by Hilton San Diego-Del Mar
If you're watching your wallet, the Homewood Suites by Hilton San Diego Del Mar offers excellent value in a homey environment with one and two-bedroom suites.
This is a great option for a San Diego family vacation if you're looking for a little more space and privacy, especially if you want to prepare meals in a fully-equipped kitchen. It's also great for extended stays, as the rooms have separate sleeping and living areas.
The hotel lies about a 25-minute drive from LEGOLAND and about 20 minutes from Balboa Park, plus a free shuttle is available to destinations within a five-mile radius on weekdays during certain times. The hotel is also only minutes away from the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, the Birch Aquarium, and multiple beaches, and you can ask the friendly staff for beach toys and umbrellas.
One of the hotel's best features are the complimentary meals. Included in the rates are a cooked breakfast every morning and light dinners (with a full salad bar) and drinks Monday through Thursday evenings – a huge money and time saver for families. The hotel also has a restaurant serving American bistro classics with a California influence, as well as a deli with sandwiches and snacks.
If you prefer to make your own meals, you can take advantage of the hotel's grocery shopping service.
Amenities here include a heated outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, fitness center, and a 24-hour convenience store. Playpens, high chairs, and cribs are available on request.
Address: 11025 Vista Sorrento Parkway, San Diego, California
Map of Family Resorts in San Diego, CA
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