San Diego Area

TMDMJAOCT07

We're traveling to San Diego next month, staying near Carlsbad.  We have been there a few times, so I have some ideas of things to do.  We are debating Disneyland one of the days, and then another day DH will be in meetings, so dd and I need something fun to just the 2 of us. Last time we were out there dd was like 15 months old, so we wandered one of the malls in the area, this time, her opinion will be much different.

Just looking for a few suggestions of places that won't break the bank, and will only take about half the day for DD and I do to.

TMDMJAOCT07

Thanks! Are the seals at the Childrens Pool Cave near the aquarium? I know that's in La Jolla, would we be able to do both, easily?

We did the Animal Park last time and DH and I have done the Zoo. I did consider the Zoo because it has different animals then the one we go to a lot. 

I know Mission Bay Park is huge - is there a certain section that you would recommend?  We drove through it last time but didn't really stop, I kind of think DD was sleeping in the car and we went on our way back to the hotel after going down to the coast in San Diego (I am blanking on the name shopping area right there, right now). 

honeybee111

Legoland?  It's super close to where you are, but if that's too pricey for a half day, you could also do the Scripps Birch Aquarium.  It's in La Jolla, so maybe 15-20 min. south of Carlsbad, but it's not large, so good for a half day.  DD always has fun there.  There's also the Botanical Gardens, I think in Encinitas.  We haven't been there in a year, but there's several kid areas to run around in.

1026pumpkin

If you only have a half day and are starting near Carlsbad, I'd recommend the sealife aquarium at legoland.  It has a separate admission from the main park and is about $20 for an adult and kids under 2 or 3 are free.  The cafe in there is pretty decent too for lunch.  Their displays are at least as good as Birch, and more oriented to kids, and you could spend about 2 hrs seeing the displays.  Nearby the flower fields are in bloom and they will have tractor tours, kids activities and play areas, and great views....makes for amazing pictures.  The outlet mall is also right over there.

Not to dissuade you from the bigger attractions, but it will be at least a 30 to 45 minute drive to the wild animal park, zoo, sea world, balboa park, etc. from Carlsbad.  And they are all pretty pricey except for balboa park and birch aquarium. 

TMDMJAOCT07

Thanks for the lego land tip! I'll have to look into that. We're actually staying right near Lego land so that would be really easy for me to get too. I'm all the aquarium in La Jolla, but SeaWorld, etc is a bit pricey if we do Disneyland on the same trip. 

NYE

I don't know where Carlsbad is, but I am in Coronado right now.
Super great beach town, just take them to the beach.
There is also a childrens museme near the convention center that would b good.
I heard a tour guide say free Tuesdays about some musemes in balboa park and there were kids in line.
Whale watch