SoCal Nature Kids’ Guide to San Diego County, California

Looking for a nature area to explore with your family in San Diego County? Check out these family-friendly places, recommended by me or other Southern California parents.

It’s always a good idea to check each location’s web site for updated information before you go, and use your judgment regarding safety for your family at these locations.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

  • Moonlight State Beach (surf) near 400 B St Encinitas, CA 92024

  • Kellogg Park (ocean) 8277 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla, CA 92037

  • Fletcher Cove Beach Park (whale) 111 S Sierra Ave, Solana Beach, CA 92075

  • Fanuel Street Park (dolphins) 4000 Fanuel St Pacific Beach, CA 92109

  • Hilton Head Park (pirate) 1605 Hilton Head Rd, El Cajon, CA 92019

SAN DIEGO COUNTY GARDENS AND FARMS

  • San Diego Botanic Garden (300 Quail Gardens Dr. Encinitas, CA 92024)

  • Balboa Park gardens in general, especially the Japanese Friendship Garden (2215 Pan American Rd E, San Diego, CA 92101)

  • The Water Conservation Garden (12122 Cuyamaca College Dr W, El Cajon, CA 92019)

  • Alta Vista Botanical Garden (1270 Vale Terrace Dr, Vista, CA 92084)

  • San Diego Zoo and Safari Park boast not just animal collections, but many plants too.

  • Balboa Park Cactus Gardens (one is the Kate Sessions/Old Cactus Garden and the other is the Desert Garden)

  • Bates Nut Farm Tour (15954 Woods Valley Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082)

  • City Farmer's Nursery (3110 Euclid Ave, San Diego, CA 92105)

  • Carslbad Strawberry Company (1050 Cannon Rd, Carlsbad, CA 92008)

  • Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures (4425 CA-78, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070)

  • Julian Farm and Orchard (4381 Julian Hwy, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070)

  • Children's Nature Retreat (5178 Japatul Spur, Alpine, CA 91901)

  • San Diego Botanic Garden (300 Quail Gardens Drive at, Ecke Ranch Rd, Encinitas, CA 92024)

  • Balboa Park has so many to choose from! Cactus Garden (there are two), Trees for Health, Botanic Building, Japanese Garden, Marston House and Garden, Palm Canyon. Zoro Garden has a special butterfly focus

  • The Water Conservation Garden (12122 Cuyamaca College Dr W, El Cajon, CA 92019)

  • Alta Vista Botanic Garden (1270 Vale Terrace Dr, Vista, CA 92084)

  • Tijuana Valley Regional Park Bird & Butterfly Garden (2310 Hollister St, San Diego, CA 92154-4305)

  • Summers Past Farms (15602 Olde Hwy 80, El Cajon, CA 92021)

  • Dave’s Rock Garden (200-298 B St. Encinitas, CA 92024) - small, but you can make an afternoon of it with the Moonlight Beach Playground and Beach just a couple blocks away!

  • The Flower Fields ( 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008) - Springtime only

  • Dog Beach Memorial Garden (3902 29th St, Del Mar, CA 92014) small garden at entrance to Dog Beach in Del Mar

  • Lucy Evans Lauren Memorial Garden (854 Golden Park Ave, San Diego, CA 92106)

  • Palomar College Arboretum (1140 West Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069)

  • Point Loma Native Plant Garden (4444 Greene St. San Diego, CA 92107)

  • San Diego River Garden (3382 Camino del Rio N in Mission Valley)

  • Civita Park (7960 Civita Blvd, San Diego, CA 92108)

  • Cal Pacific Orchard Farm (1122 Orpheus Ave, Encinitas, California 92024)

  • Exotica Rare Fruit Farm (2508 E Vista Way # B, Vista, CA 92084)

  • Harper’s Topiary Garden (3549 Union St, San Diego, CA 92103) - quick stop

  • Butterfly Garden at San Dieguito County Park (15940 El Camino Real, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067)

  • Grand Tradition Gardens (220 Grand Tradition Way Fallbrook, CA 92028)

  • Leo Carrillo Ranch (6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Ln, Carlsbad, CA 92009)

SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER PLAY

  • Legoland Water Park 1 Legoland Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008

  • Sesame Place  2052 Entertainment Cir, Chula Vista, CA 91911

  • The Plunge - indoor pool - 3115 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego, CA 92109

  • The Wave Waterpark  101 Wave Dr, Vista, CA 92083

  • splash pads at San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

  • Hilton Head County Park splash pad 1605 Hilton Head Rd, El Cajon, CA 92019

  • Waterfront Park splash pad 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101

  • Kroc Center Aquatic Center - indoor pool 6845 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92115

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CAMPING SPOTS

  • William Heise County Park (4945 Heise Park Rd, Julian, CA 92036)

  • Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (14592 CA-79, Julian, CA 92036)

  • South Carlsbad State Beach (7201 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad, CA 92008) cute restaurant here too

  • San Elijo State Beach (2050 S Coast Hwy 101. Cardiff, CA 92007)

  • San Onofre Bluffs Campground (5200 S. Pacific Coast Hwy, San Clemente, CA, 92672)

  • Kumeyaay Lake Campground (2 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119)

  • Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve (9310 Fanita Pkwy, Santee, CA 92071)

  • Doane Valley Campground (Palomar Mountain, CA 92060)

  • Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay (825 E St, Chula Vista, CA 91910) RV and cabins only

  • San Diego Metro KOA (111 N 2nd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910)

  • Silver Strand State Beach (5000 CA-75, Coronado, CA 92118)

  • Lake Jennings (9535 Harritt Road, Lakeside 92040)

  • Campland on the Bay (2211 Pacific Beach Dr, San Diego, CA 92109)

  • Laguna Campground (Laguna Mountain Recreation Area)

  • Borrego Palm Canyon Campground (200 Palm Canyon Dr, Borrego Springs, CA 92004)

  • Bow Willow Campground (Anza Borrego State Park)

  • La Jolla Indian Campground (801 Campground Rd, Pauma Valley, CA 92061)

  • Dos Picos County Park (17953 Dos Picos Park Rd, Ramona, CA 92065)

  • Agua Caliente County Park (39555 Great Southern Overland Stage Route of 1849, Julian, CA 92036)

  • Lake Morena County Park (2550 Lake Morena Dr, Campo, CA 91906)

SAN DIEGO COUNTY BEACHES AND TIDE POOLS

    • Calm without waves:

      • Mission Bay Park - many beaches throughout this area, all providing calm waters

      • Spanish Landing Park 3900 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

      • Glorietta Bay Park Beach 1975 Strand Way, Coronado, CA 92155

    • Regular Beaches:

      • La Jolla Shores Beach

      • Coronado Central Beach 919 Ocean Blvd., Coronado, Ca. 92118

      • Moonlight Beach, Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas, CA 92024

      • Silver Strand State Beach 5000 Highway 75 Coronado, CA 92118

  • Tide pools -

    • Cabrillo National Monument 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego, CA 92106

    • Sunset Cliffs - Ladera St, San Diego, CA 92107

    • Dike Rock 303 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

    • Swami's Beach 1298 S Coast Highway 101. Encinitas, CA 92024

    • Cardiff State Beach 2504 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA

    • Terramar Beach - Carlsbad Blvd and Cerezo Dr Carlsbad, CA 92008

SAN DIEGO COUNTY MUSEUMS

  • San Diego Natural History Museum (1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 - in Balboa Park)

  • Fleet Science Center at Balboa Park (1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101)

  • Maritime Museum of San Diego and Star of India 1492 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

  • USS Midway Aircraft Carrier (museum) 910 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

  • Point Loma Lighthouse / Cabrillo National Monument - 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego, CA 92106

    San Diego Air and Space Museum (Balboa Park) is a large museum with many exhibits!

  • Fleet Science Center (Balboa Park)

SAN DIEGO COUNTY HIKING TRAILS AND NATURE AREAS

  • Palomar Mountain State Park (19952 State Park Drive, Palomar Mountain, CA 92060)

  • Laguna Mountain (visitor center = Off Sunrise Hwy 1 at Mile Marker 23.5)

  • Cuyamaca Rancho State Park(14592-14674 CA-79, Julian, CA 92036)

  • Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve (8833 Harmony Grove Rd, Escondido, CA 92029) - popular, with many hiking trails around a reservoir - ask for recommendations at the small (beautiful!) visitor center or try the botanical trail with little ones, or the Way Up trail for more ambitious hikers

  • Carmel Mountain Preserve (11600 Clews Ranch Rd, San Diego, CA 92130) - hiking

  • Guajome Regional Park (3000 Guajome Lake Rd, Oceanside, CA)

  • Ramona Grasslands County Preserve (Highland Valley Rd, Ramona, CA 92065) -  good in cooler months

  • Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch (16281 Sycamore Canyon Rd, Poway, CA 92064)

  • Tecolote Canyon Nature Park (5180 Tecolote Rd, San Diego, CA 92110)

  • Oak Riparian Park 4625 Lake Blvd Oceanside, CA 92056

  • Los Penasquitos County Canyon Preserve 12020 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92129

  • Green Valley Falls in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park - Julian

    • Lindo Lake Community Park 12660 Lindo Lane, San Diego, CA 92040

    • Santee Lakes 9310 Fanita Pkwy, Santee, CA 92071

    • Lake Murray - Murray Reservoir (La Mesa)

    • Famosa Slough 2925 Famosa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110

    • San Elijo Lagoon  2710 Manchester Ave, Cardiff, CA 92007

    • Batiquitos Lagoon 7380 Gabbiano Lane, Carlsbad, Ca

    • Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad, CA 92008

    • Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center (301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach, CA 91932)

  • Guajome County Park (3000 Guajome Lake Rd, Oceanside, CA 92057)

  • Lake Murray (Murray Reservoir) 5540 Kiowa Drive La Mesa,  CA 91942

  • William Heise County Park (4945 Heise Park Rd, Julian, CA 92036)

  • Chula Vista Bayside Park (999 Bayside Pkwy, Chula Vista, CA 91910)

SAN DIEGO COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS

SAN DIEGO COUNTY ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS

  • San Diego Zoo (2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101)

    San Diego Zoo Safari Park (15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027)

    Birch Aquarium (2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037)

  • Living Coast Discovery Center (Chula Vista) - Visit sea turtles + view exhibits focused on the wildlife of San Diego Bay. 1000 Gunpowder Point Dr, Chula Vista, CA 91910

  • Sea Life Aquarium at LEGOLAND (Carlsbad) - this is often included if you buy a ticket bundle from LEGOland (especially if you get a free kids’ ticket), so it’s worth stopping by if you’re visiting the rest of the park! 1 Legoland Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008

  • Children’s Pool (850 Coast Blvd. La Jolla) Lots of seals here on the beach (fyi the beach is often blocked by a rope + if not, the water is pretty dirty. Go to see seals, not swim!)

  • La Jolla Cove - sea lions are frequent here! You can walk between the Children’s Pool + La Jolla Cove (0.6 miles) to see both. This whole area is quite popular and busy!

  • **Wildlife Research Institute (18528 Highland Valley Rd, Ramona, CA 92065) hosts periodic “Hawk Watch” educational programs - more info here: https://www.wildlife-research.org/hawkwatch

  • San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife Program (5480 Gaines St. San Diego) offers classes, and events: https://www.sdhumane.org/programs/

  • **San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center (18740 Highland Valley Rd, Ramona, CA 92065).

  • **Living Coast Discovery Center (1000 Gunpowder Point Dr, Chula Vista, CA 91910)

  • Free Flight Bird Sanctuary (2132 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014)

  • ** Agua Hedionda Nature Center (1580 Cannon Rd, Carlsbad, CA 92008)

  • ** San Diego Zoo Safari Park (15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027) - don’t miss the California Condor exhibit!

  • California Wolf Center (Julian)

  • Lions, Tigers, and Bears (24402 Martin Way, Alpine, California 91901)

  • EcoVivarium (641 E Pennsylvania Avenue, Escondido, CA 92025)

  • Farm Animal Refuge (33233 Shockey Truck Trail, Campo, CA 91906)

  • San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm (5178 Japatul Spur, Alpine, CA 91901) - previously known as Children’s Nature Retreat.

  • Wild Wonders (5712 Vía Montellano, Bonsall, CA 92003)