Who’s ready to get out and have some fun in San Diego this summer? Here are 31 awesome ideas—one for every day in July.
- Plan a late-night date with the kids. We recommend going out for chocolate chip pancakes in your PJs at 9 pm. Not for any reason except that you probably don't do it during the school year — and it just sounds super fun.
- Play tourist for a day. Take an Old Town Trolley Tour to learn new things about your hometown. On-and-off privileges allow families to explore points of interest along the way. Want to ride for free? Register for San Diego's Hometown Pass!
- Have a beach day and build sandcastles with the kids. Learn how the experts do it by scheduling a family lesson with San Diego Sand Castles.
- Experience an old-fashioned, small-town Fourth of July celebration right in our backyard. Consider spending the night in Julian on 7/3 in order to get a seat on the parade route (Main St.) early on July 4. The parade, which starts at Noon, features bands, mariachi, classic cars and more.
- Gaze at millions of stars (and the Milky Way!) at Desert View Park in Julian or join astronomers at Fleet Science Center for a planetarium show.
- Set goals and offer prizes to kids who keep reading this summer. Maybe a special day out with Mom or Dad for reaching a specific number of books or pages? See what local summer reading programs are doing.
- Have you seen our “Frozen Treats to Beat the Heat in San Diego” list? How fun would it be to dedicate a different day to try each ice cream shop on the list and then discover a new beach or park? That’s 21 joy-filled days! Start planning now.
- Visit a local farmers market. Let the kids choose some fresh fruits or vegetables; then try a new recipe using what you bought.
- Build something together as a family. Try a bird feeder, a fort, a playhouse, or a sprinkler using PVC pipe. Get more ideas from our Cool DIY Projects board on Pinterest.
- Pitch a tent in the backyard. S'mores, flashlights, gazing at the night sky — such a fun way to spend a summer evening! Even if your kids don't want to sleep in the tent, they'll love hanging out in it all day.
- Take the kids roller skating and bowling at Viejas Casino & Resort. Be sure to bring a change of clothes so the kids can play in the interactive fountains (Saturdays & Sundays).
- Organize a day of summer competitions with friends and family: a three-legged race, pie-eating contest, frisbee throwing, hula hooping, etc.
- Cheer on the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Check schedule for themed events and special promotions.
- Pack a picnic and attend a free summer concert.
- Have a block party. It could be as elaborate as a barbecue, carnival games and kid-friendly competitions or as simple as an ice cream sundae party. Either way, get your friends and neighbors together for some summertime camaraderie.
- Make a schedule and visit several of San Diego’s awesome parks and playgrounds.
- Treat the family to an unforgettable day at Sesame Place in Chula Vista. There are water slides and attractions for all ages and Sesame Street characters for little ones.
- Now that you’re a few weeks into vacation, have the kids start creating a summer scrapbook, complete with printed photos and journal entries. It’s a great way to keep them writing while they're out of school. Add a few pages each week so the project isn’t overwhelming.
- Explore tide pools at Birch Aquarium or Cabrillo National Monument and experience up-close encounters with marine life.
- Discover a hidden gem in San Diego or make a day of it by exploring several.
- Take a harbor cruise on Hornblower. Celebrating a birthday or special event? Make it a brunch cruise! Visit www.cityexperiences.com/san-diego for info.
- Catch an outdoor movie with Summer Movies in the Park or pay a little extra to see watch a film under the stars at Rooftop Cinema Club or Cinema Under the Stars.
- Engage in water fun. Play baseball with water balloons, run through sprinklers or have a water gun fight.
- Climb aboard the USS Midway Museum and learn about San Diego's impressive naval history. Allow plenty of time to explore.
- Enjoy the great outdoors while walking one of San Diego's beautiful hiking trails.
- Go night fishing at Santee Lakes.
- Create a fairy garden. Visit our Fairy Garden board on Pinterest for inspiration.
- Rent a kayak, paddleboard or jet ski and spend the day on the San Diego Bay.
- Watch hang gliders and enjoy one the county’s most spectacular ocean and sunset views at Torrey Pines Gliderport.
- Spend a day at Balboa Park. Ride the carousel, go to San Diego’s world-famous Zoo, visit a museum, explore hidden trails, or people-watch while eating lunch by the big fountain.
- Need more than 31 days of ideas? Choose from hundreds of family adventures in the new edition of our annual publication, Out & About: San Diego with Kids.
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Managing Editor Lisa Gipson is more of a “fall fun” kinda gal, but she’s determined to do at least 10 things on this list.
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