Get Ready for Summer!
Posted on: May 6, 2019 | Posted in: Community Blog
Spending quality time with family is important, which is why SDMFC is happy to provide this list of fun activities and places in San Diego! Tell the kids it’s time to put on some sunscreen, dust off their sunglasses, and get ready for summer!
When it was first commissioned in 1945, the legendary aircraft carrier, USS Midway, was the largest naval vessel in the world, and was famously too big to fit through the Panama Canal! Located at Navy Pier in Downtown San Diego, the USS Midway Museum boasts 60 impressive exhibits and activities, including 29 restored aircraft, flight simulators, guided tours, and a junior pilot program! Ticket prices vary – click here to learn more!
Right down the street from the USS Midway Museum, at 1600 Pacific Hwy, is Waterfront Park. Open to the public for FREE, you and your family can splash around in the interactive fountains, explore distinct garden rooms, have a picnic, or let off some energy in the children’s play zone.
Known as the birthplace of California, Old Town San Diego is one of the best places to spend time together as a family. Wander through the historic storefronts at the Old Town Market, grab a bite at one of several amazing restaurants, tour a haunted building, or catch a play at the Cygnet Theatre! If you’ve never visited Old Town before, this summer is an excellent chance to check out one of San Diego’s best locations.
The remarkable San Diego Zoo and Safari Park is where animal-lovers the world-over flock to in droves every single year. The zoo, located in Balboa Park, offers in-depth tours, family-friendly shows, botanical gardens, dining options, and aerial tram rides! Admission to the zoo is FREE for active duty service members; those with a dependent card receive 10% off tickets. Click here to purchase tickets!
The Safari Park, located in Escondido, offers similar services, but is a more immersive experience than one may expect! Check out the balloon safari, the Africa tram ride, and a Summer Camp! Since the Safari Park is linked with the San Diego Zoo, the same active duty discounts apply. Click here to purchase tickets!
One of the coolest museums you will ever see, the San Diego Air & Space Museum at Balboa Park never ceases to amaze! Observe a huge collection of historic aircraft, including the 1901 and 1902 Wright Gliders, a Bell AH-1E Cobra Helicopter, and the real Apollo IX command module! Take some extra time and visit the impressive film and audio archive, as well as special exhibits that change throughout the year. Active duty service members receive FREE admission; veteran-priced tickets are only $16.95. Active duty youths aged 3-11 will pay the reduced price of $8.95 per ticket, and dependents aged 12-17 pay the student rate of $14.95 per ticket. Adult dependents also receive a discount, at $17.95 per ticket.
There is so much more to Balboa Park than just the incredible zoo and Air & Space museum! Walk around the beautiful park to visit Casa Del Prado, the fountains at Plaza de Panama, the House of Hospitality, the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Botanical Building, and more! Every Tuesday, the park offers free admission to select museums. Each week, the free museum list changes. Luckily, most of the park is free. Click here for pricing and information!
Located in Carlsbad, Legoland California Resort is one of the most popular family-friendly amusement park destinations in the world, and its popularity keeps growing. Spend a fun day with the kids on multiple rides, watch a 4D movie, interact with Lego characters, and cool off at the Legoland Water Park! Plus, there’s plenty more happening in 2019 to honor Legoland’s 20th Anniversary! For more information, contact 760-444-5601, or click here! Ticket prices vary – Click here to claim the military discount!
Designed to stimulate, cultivate, and nurture creativity for kids and families, the New Children’s Museum in Downtown San Diego is a sight to behold! Check out mind-boggling art installations, like the interactive Sketch Aquarium, Wobbleland, the Rain House, and many others. Parents and their kids can also create art together in the clay studio, community gallery, and Innovators LAB. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, active duty service members get free admission thanks to the Blue Star Museums program. The rest of the year, military pricing is $10 (with valid I.D.). All other tickets are $14. Kids aged one or under receive free admission. Click here for more information, or call 619-233-8792!
Located in Mission Bay, SeaWorld San Diego is home to a wide variety of attractions and exciting events. Enjoy a live show or concert, ride a the rollercoasters, feed sea lions, and explore some of the coolest aquariums in the world! There’s a lot to do at SeaWorld, and military families receive significant price reductions for attendance, including free admission for active duty service members and up to three dependents – visit the page for their Waves of Honor program for more information.
Belmont Park & Surrounding Beaches
Not far from SeaWorld in Mission Bay is the historic oceanfront amusement center, Belmont Park. It’s difficult to figure out what’s not available at Belmont Park, where you and the kids can enjoy bumper cars, mini golf, laser tag, rock-climbing walls, arcade games, and the famous Giant Dipper rollercoaster! Not only is there a bevvy of amusement park rides and related activities, there’s also a plethora of great restaurants and shops all along the beachfront. And, if you decide to move on, you can walk (or drive) up or down the coast to Pacific Beach, the La Jolla Cove, Ocean Beach, and others. If you want a genuinely San Diego-experience, there is no better outing than Belmont Park. Ticket prices vary – click here for more information!
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