Are you looking for the top family-friendly activities in San Diego that your teens will love? From thrilling roller coaster rides and fantastic beaches to outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone on this list. With so many choices available, it can be hard to narrow down what attractions are best suited for teenage tastes and interests. Fortunately, we’ve done the research and put together a comprehensive guide of our top 5 teen-friendly things to do while visiting San Diego! Keep reading if you want to know more about all the exciting possibilities awaiting you and your family during your visit.
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Beaches
San Diego is a paradise for beach lovers of all ages! Teens can feel the sand between their toes joining in a family game or two – be it football, volleyball, or even Frisbee golf. Unforgettable adventures await with low tide exploring Point Loma’s tide pools and La Jolla Cove hosting playful sea lions and a cave kayaking adventure. And don’t forget to try surfing at Pacific Beach, or snorkeling around La Jolla cove. For teens looking to get their thrills, surfing lessons can be found on Pacific Beach or boogie boarding the waves at Fletcher Cove Park! What better way to spend days together as a family?
San Diego Theme Parks
When thinking of parks that are appropriate for teens, the San Diego Zoo may not come to mind. But do not discount its sister site, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. This location is unique in that some of its activities cater to an older crowd. You can add on the Flightline Safari. Think zip-lining over the Asian savannah and part of the African plains, while seeing rhinos and elephants from the viewpoint of a flying hawk. While an African Safari and the Cheetah Run automatically come with your general admission, you may want to consider customizing the experience.
Does your teen have an interest in veterinary science or a career with animals? Then choose from one of the customized experiences at either the San Diego Zoo or the Safari Park by adding additional events to your ticket like behind-the-scenes tour packages that let you get a closer look at what it takes to care for these amazing animals.
Is your teen into thrill rides? Then SeaWorld is another option for your San Diego vacation plans! Our oldest’s favorite ride was Manta with The Electric Eel and Journey to Atlantis ranking high as well. But they’ve added two new thrill rides recently! Check out The Emperor and Arctic Rescue (coming later in 2023). Date-specific tickets start at around $70 but go up if you purchase an “Any Day” ticket. If you are going to hit all three parks, the zoo, safari as well as SeaWorld, then you can grab the 3-for-1 pass for $173 which is good for 7 days.
If your kiddo likes the idea of getting up close and personal with the animals consider purchasing the Dolphin Encounter upgrade. You get 15 minutes to feed and practice training a dolphin. Or increase your time to 1 hour and don the wetsuit and hop in the pool with dolphins. Are you raising a future marine biologist? Then you can get them a full-day “Trainer for a Day” package for an experience they’ll never forget!
San Diego Museums
With teens, a trip to the Natural History Museum might be old news. But there are some unique museum experiences in San Diego that can entertain the older kids too. Consider a trip to the USS Midway where teens can learn all about what allows a ship to function with a crew the size of a small city. They walk throughout the ship and get to interact with actual crew members who can tell them all about day-to-day life on board a vessel, or what it takes to take off and land on a ship.
Teens can also get a taste of flight on their own with a flight simulation experience. Try your hand at combat with the Ride AirCombat 360 where riders get to experience a simulated dog fight complete with take-offs, rolls, and evasive maneuvers. Or you can try your hand at a virtual reality flight training exercise with the “Screaming Eagles VR”.
Or check out the memorable Museum of Us. This thoughtful museum is focused on highlighting aspects of the human experience in a thoughtful way. Their decolonization focus is a welcome gift that allows visitors to contemplate how we might honor all people who contribute to our historical understanding of San Diego.
San Diego for Sports Fans and Adrenaline Junkies
Do you have a teen with a need for speed? Consider renting a speed boat and heading out to San Diego Bay for a ride. It’s not every day your teen will get to enjoy the wind slapping their hair around while you bounce over waves and enjoy a city view.
If your group is interested in baseball, take a tour of Petco Park home of the San Diego Padres, and catch a game. Or head over to the UTC Ice Sports Center and slide around the rink for a bit. You can check out their website for more information on public skate times.
Coronado Island
Take your kids on a tour of the haunted happenings at Hotel del Coronado. Then hang out at the Hotel del Coronado beach for a bit. Grab yourself a drink and the kids a pretzel at Coronado Brew Pub in the afternoon and breakfast at Clayton’s Coffee Shop the next morning. You can rent a bike to explore the island or take a walking tour. You could spend at least one full day here on the island if not two by taking in a beach view with drinks for you and dessert for them at the Coronado’s Sun Deck followed by a performance at Lamb’s Players Theater.
Is the San Diego GoCity Card Worth It?
The quick answer is a resounding “hell yeah!” Doing even just 2 – 3 of these activities a day, you’ll save money with the GoCity card. For example, let’s have a Friday with the speedboat rental ($90) followed by a tour of Petco Park ($30) and an evening public ice skating session ($20 if you buy online in advance). That’s $140 per person. Then we’ll add a second day by the beach with kayak rentals at La Jolla (dbl kayak cave tour for $69 or rental for $45), and snorkel rental for later in the day ($40). That’s between $85 – $109 per person. So on the low end, you’ve spent $225 for two days. The two-day San Diego GoCity card is only $179 per person, a savings of $46 per person.
I ran a couple of different itineraries over the course of 3 – 5 days as well and there are increased savings for every day you plan to stay, especially if you plan to enjoy the larger ticket items like theme parks. When you look at the list of activities that get a discount you will see there is literally something for everyone in your group. Have a shopper in your group? There is even a package that includes dining credit and valet parking, along with shopping discounts at one of the area’s high-end shopping malls. Want to go hiking but not sure where? There is a discounted hiking tour package available. Have a historian on your crew? There are two or three variations of city tours available at great prices as well. You can check out the San Diego GoCity card here.
San Diego is a renowned vacation destination for families with teenagers. With an array of activities to keep everyone in the family happy, from stunning beaches and thrilling roller coasters to great shopping and outdoor adventures, there’s no shortage of things to do here. This comprehensive guide of our top 5 teen-friendly activities in San Diego is focused on helping you make the most out of your trip. If you’re looking for an action-packed vacation that will create lasting memories, look no further than this beautiful California city.
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