San Diego and NYC with a 9 y/o

[eb777888]

San Diego- 6 full days.  We'll be going in mid-February. We've been to SD several times. We saw Legoland and the waterpark, the surrounding areas (Los Angelas, Hollywood, San Clemente, pretty much all of the beaches.) We'll be staying at the Omni. One thing we haven't taken our 9 y/o to is the SD Zoo. We've also done Coronado but want to do it again. Anything else I'm missing?


NYC- 7 days. This will be in mid-March. We'll have our 9 y/o who has never been, but H and I have so this will be more centered around family oriented things. He wants to do the touristy stuff and he LOVES desserts. He's also an easy-going traveler, up for adventure, not afraid of heights. I'm thinking Central Park, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty. Anything we must see?

Thanks!!

[sarahbear]

San Diego-
1. Balboa Park - Science Museum, Museum of Man, Museum of Natural History and Model Railroad Museum are our favorites. Catch a free organ concert if you're there at the right time.

2. Definitely the zoo if you like animals.

3. Take the ferry to Coronado for something fun.

4. Point Lola Lighthouse and tidepools.

5. La Jolla Cove- see the seals, window shopping, art galleries

6. Ride the trolley to Old Town- Mexican food, gift shops, history of San Diego, some free walk through museums and historic buildings

7. Visit the Mission San Diego de Alcala.

8. Go to Julian for apple pie, cider, old mine tour, a few brewery/wineries.

9. Visit some breweries across the county. They are kid friendly.

10. Bike around Mission Bay. Visit Mission Beach and the roller coaster. You can rent bikes in Coronado too.

11. There's a nature center out in Chula Vista. I've never been, but supposedly pretty cool.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Hope it helps!

[eb777888]

Jan 2, 2018 23:08:54 GMT -5 sarahbear said:

San Diego-
1. Balboa Park - Science Museum, Museum of Man, Museum of Natural History and Model Railroad Museum are our favorites. Catch a free organ concert if you're there at the right time.

2. Definitely the zoo if you like animals.

3. Take the ferry to Coronado for something fun.

4. Point Lola Lighthouse and tidepools.

5. La Jolla Cove- see the seals, window shopping, art galleries

6. Ride the trolley to Old Town- Mexican food, gift shops, history of San Diego, some free walk through museums and historic buildings

7. Visit the Mission San Diego de Alcala.

8. Go to Julian for apple pie, cider, old mine tour, a few brewery/wineries.

9. Visit some breweries across the county. They are kid friendly.

10. Bike around Mission Bay. Visit Mission Beach and the roller coaster. You can rent bikes in Coronado too.

11. There's a nature center out in Chula Vista. I've never been, but supposedly pretty cool.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Hope it helps!

This is AWESOME!! Thank you!!

[alleinesein]

San Diego

1. SD Zoo
2. Wild Animal Park up in Escondido
3. San Diego Children's Discovery Museum in Escondido www.sdcdm.org/ I keep hearing rave reviews about this place and it looks really cool.
4. Balboa Park. Aside from museums, there are a ton of playgrounds and the International Cottages usually have a program on Sundays. The Ruben H Fleet science center has a lot of hands-on exhibits and IMAX movies www.rhfleet.org/ ***Avoid Balboa park on Tuesdays. Tuesdays are Resident Free days and select museums are open to SD county residents for free and they get insanely busy.***
5. Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. aquarium.ucsd.edu/
6. Cabrillo National Monument. This is where the lighthouse and the tide pools are located. You do have to pay to get in but your pass is usually good for a week so you can come back. Get to the tide pools early; parking is limited and it can fill up.
7.

[majesty318]

New York for dessert: Max Brenner

[dearprudence]

Jan 3, 2018 1:06:40 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

3. San Diego Children's Discovery Museum in Escondido www.sdcdm.org/ I keep hearing rave reviews about this place and it looks really cool.

Not for a 9 year old. My 6 year old is pushing it on interest level. It's definitely geared toward younger kids.

The New Children's Museum downtown might be a better fit.


The Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista is what sarahbear is referring to, and it's awesome.

If your 9 year old is interested in music, the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad is fun. Small, but very hands on and you get the experience of playing some cool instruments.

[jinkies]

We took our son to nyc for his 9th birthday in April, and he loved it so much he is choosing to go back for his 10th bday this year.

He loved the Natural History museum and could have spent most of a day there if his little sister had cooperated.

They both could have spent a full day in central park. They loved climbing the rocks, and listening to musicians. They also liked climbing to the top of belvedere castle and exploring the trails near there.

He got pulled into a street performance in times square, which was probably the highlight of his trip.

We got a Groupon for an off-broadway show called "that physics show." For the groupon price, it was a fun science show for 9-12 year old ages.

Max Brenner looked awesome, but we couldn't fit it in. We had dinner at New York Beer Company because it was across from our hotel. It wasn't fancy, but my son still talks about the burger he had. We got dessert at Shake Shack.

We were actually only there overnight-- we want to do lower Manhattan/ statue of Liberty this year.

[erbear]

My kids (7 and 9) LOVE NYC. They like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, riding the Staten Island Ferry, exploring the playgrounds in Brooklyn, all of Central Park, the top of 30 Rock, Chelsea Market, and the High Line

[eb777888]

Thanks so much for the tips, you guys!!!