A family vacation in San Diego may be just what the doctor ordered any time of the year as one of the nation’s sunniest cities. It offers countless beautiful beaches along with plenty of family-friendly attractions to enjoy, including one of the world’s top zoos and LEGOLAND. No matter what’s on your itinerary, these hotels are sure to provide a great place for families with kids of all ages to base their stay.
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
The Fairmont Grand Del Mar is located in the Carmel Valley neighborhood with easy access to Interstate 5 and is widely considered to be one of San Diego’s very best hotels. This five-star, kid-friendly property offers a kids’ club with half-day, full-day, and evening sessions and is free for two hours when you book a spa treatment. The supervised Explorers Club includes the latest video games, a fully-stocked arts and crafts center, traditional games, foosball, ping pong, and more. The hotel also offers a family pool with underwater music, a children’s pool with a wading area for tiny tots, personalized family tennis lessons, BMX bikes (including bikes for the kids), horseback riding lessons at the onsite Equestrian Center, seasonal activities like dive-in pool movie nights and more. Parents can enjoy the private golf course with exclusive access for hotel guests, one of the best spas in the city, and multiple dining options, including the top-rated Addison.
Key Amenities:
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Kids’ club with half-day, full-day, and evening sessions available (free with spa treatment)
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Family pool with underwater music and a kids’ pool
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Activities like personalized tennis lessons, BMX bikes, horseback riding, and dive-in pool movie nights
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Access to a spa and a private golf course exclusive to hotel guests
5300 Grand Del Mar Ct, San Diego, CA 92130, USA— +1 858-314-2000
Hotel Del Coronado
The historic Hotel Del Coronado is a Coronado Island landmark that offers lots for families with children, including DelVentures, a kids’ club with one-hour activities as well as activities in the evening from 6 pm to 9 pm so parents can enjoy a romantic dinner. It sits on one of America’s best beaches, Coronado Municipal Beach, with its calm waters and tide pools fun for exploring, and it also offers surf and stand-up paddleboard lessons. There are summertime dive-in movie nights and s’mores, bike rentals, boat rentals, a swimming pool, and spa services for ages 14 and up. The property also hosts a wide range of upscale shops, multiple beachfront dining and cocktail areas, yoga on the beach, and the very best Sunday brunch in the city.
Key Amenities:
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DelVentures kids’ club with one-hour activities and evening activities from 6 pm to 9 pm
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Surf and standup paddleboarding lessons and bike and boat rentals are available
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Activities like summertime dive-in movie nights and s’mores, yoga on the beach, and Sunday brunch
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On-site spa, upscale shops, and multiple beachfront dining and cocktails venues
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
There is a long list of kid-friendly amenities at the Omni La Costa Resort, which is conveniently located near LEGOLAND. One of the most accommodating hotels in the U.S. for babies and toddlers, its Kidtopia Kids Club includes areas that simulate the ocean with lots of sea creatures, a magical forest, and an interactive game floor, with each area designed for specific age groups from infants on up. The property also hosts six swimming pools with water slides, a spa, tennis courts, golf courses, and multiple shops, while rooms are large enough for everyone to stretch out.
Key Amenities:
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Conveniently located near LEGOLAND
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Kidtopia Kids Club with ocean simulation areas, a magical forest, and an interactive game floor
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Home to six swimming pools with water slides, a spa, tennis courts, golf courses, and multiple shops
2100 Costa Del Mar Rd, Carlsbad, CA 92009, USA— +1 760-438-9111
Hilton San Diego Bayfront
One of the best Hilton hotels in San Diego, the Hilton San Diego Bayfront sits right on the bay, directly across the street from PETCO Park. Just steps from a trolley station, getting around is a breeze, but you’ll find plenty to do on-site as well. The hotel’s pool includes a Splash Zone with fountains, toys, and a water slide, and there is a wide range of children’s amenities in the summer, from kids’ games to dive-in movie nights. Vela, the hotel’s signature restaurant, offers bay views and California coastal cuisine, and the kids eat for free.
Key Amenities:
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Well-situated next to the bay and PETCO Park and steps from a trolley station
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On-site pool and Splash Zone with fountains, toys, and a water slide
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Summertime children’s amenities, including games and dive-in movie nights
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Signature restaurant with bay views and serving California coastal cuisine (kids eat free)
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club offers a unique San Diego experience with access to one of the few remaining private beaches in all of California that also happens to be one of the most family-friendly beaches in San Diego. It’s also ideal for larger families with accommodation for up to eight people in a room; most include kitchens. The kids and adults will love its idyllic location on beautiful La Jolla Shores beach, which offers separate areas for swimming and surfing, along with free beach chairs, umbrellas, and towels. The Kellogg Park playground is just steps away, and the property also hosts swim lessons, junior golf, and tennis programs.
Key Amenities:
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Easy access to a private beach with separate areas for swimming and surfing
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Family-size rooms, many of which include kitchens
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Free beach chairs, umbrellas, and towels available
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Steps from the Kellogg Park playground
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa
One of the most luxurious hotels in San Diego and one of the best golf resorts in the state, the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa hosts an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, multiple swimming pools, a tennis club, six restaurants, and views overlooking the Pacific and Batiquitos Lagoon. During the summer, kids from 4 through 12 can join the Aviara Kids Academy by Camp Hyatt, take golf lessons at the Aviara Golf Academy, or participate in junior tennis clinics. The property hosts an outdoor family swimming pool with underwater lights, a shallow wading pool, and a poolside cafe. Kids aged six and above can take advantage of the surf concierge, which offers transportation to Ponto Beach and two hours of boogie board or surf lessons. Parents have their own adults-only pool with panoramic views, a huge spa that offers couples treatments, saunas, steam rooms, and whirlpools. Fine dining is offered at the California Bistro, Vivace, and Argyle steakhouse.
Key Amenities:
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Home to an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, a tennis club, and multiple swimming pools
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Summertime kids’ camp, plus access to golf lessons, junior tennis clinics, and boogie board and surf lessons
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Outdoor family swimming pool with underwater lights, a wading pool, and a poolside cafe
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Adult amenities include an adults-only pool, a spa, and fine dining options on-site
7100 Aviara Resort Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011, USA— +1 760-448-1234
Paradise Point Resort & Spa
The Paradise Point Resort & Spa has a distinct Hawaiian feel with its five beautiful pools (among some of the coolest hotel pools in San Diego), a lagoon by the bay with sharks and other fish to feed, and a boat dock where guests can rent motor boats, jet skis, sailboats, kayaks, and paddle boats. Accommodations include secluded lodges that sit on semi-private beaches, while Adirondack chairs face the water. The 40-acre property also includes two restaurants, one casual and one fine dining, a full-service salon, spa, workout room, and an observation deck with a 360-degree view of San Diego. The Coronado Kids Club, for children aged 4 to 12, is available during the summer on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, offering crafts, games, Wii, indoor and outdoor activities, scavenger hunts, and more.
Key Amenities:
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Home to multiple swimming pools and a lagoon with sharks and fish to feed
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Motorboats, jet skis, sailboats, kayaks, and paddle boats available for rent
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Access to a full-service salon, spa, workout room, and observation deck
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Coronado Kids Club with crafts, games, Wii, scavenger hunts, and more
Marriott Coronado Island Resort and Spa
Another great choice on Coronado Island is the Marriott Coronado Island Resort and Spa, one of the best Marriott hotels in San Diego. While it may not be as famous as Hotel Del Coronado, it does offer advantages for families as a good value with large standard guest rooms – even the smallest rooms sleep five and have balconies and living areas. Enjoy views of the city skyline along with easy access to San Diego attractions via the hotel’s ferry too. It’s just a short stroll to shops and dining at Ferry Landing and features three pools, including two free-form pools and one with lap lanes.
Key Amenities:
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Large standard guest rooms, with even the smallest room sleeping five
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Balconies and living areas in every room
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Three swimming pools, including two free-form pools and one with lap lanes
