The weather in San Diego is usually perfect for a vacation, and the beaches all 70 miles of them are so inviting. No matter what the kids' ages, San Diego can be an ideal vacation base, particularly for families who like to alternate between kicking back in the sun and seeing the sights. Family Fun magazine thinks so, too. Last spring, it rated San Diego as the most family-friendly city in the Southwest. I find San Diego far easier to navigate with kids than Los Angeles, which is about a two-hour drive north.
Tourism is one of the city's leading industries.
There are more than 460 hotels, and families who come to see the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Legoland and SeaWorld are a big piece of the city's tourism pie. That's not counting the city's many museums, which are a terrific option on those rare rainy days. One of the best is the interactive Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, with its IMAX theater. Be sure to get the Sunny Money coupon book, which features discounts to major attractions and hotels, as well as a visitors' planning guide. San Diego also is known for its restaurants, golf, water sports and, increasingly, luxurious hotel spas just the ticket after a long day at the zoo or SeaWorld.