The San Diego Zoo is one of the area’s best-known attractions. The zoo also operates a Wild Animal Park offering an array of fantastic safari-style experiences.

One of the amusing moments during our recent visit to the park was this vision of a lion sleeping on this range rover. OK, so that’s not really what happens in Africa, but nonetheless, it’s nice to see these animals so relaxed and comfortable in their environment.

We spent last weekend in San Diego and had the opportunity to check out the new Legoland Water Park. My favorite thing about Legoland in general is that it’s so optimized for toddlers and school-aged kids.

You don’t have to worry about rides that are too scary (using your judgement based on your kids) and unruly teens.

I’m always happy to write about San Diego because it’s simply the perfect family vacation spot. I just wrote an article for Shermans Travel with an updated list of the top kid-friendly activities in and around the San Diego area, including a few of my favorite kid-friendly restaurants (I grew up in Del Mar).

The beauty of San Diego is the ability to balance swimming time with structured activities that are both fun and educational.

I was just reading about The Q Family Adventures Legoland experience and it reminded me of our trip to check out the best kid-friendly San Diego hotels last August. For us, the stand out feature at Legoland vs. other amusement parks is that there are so many age-appropriate activities for toddlers and young children.

Although I wasn’t wowed by many of the lego sculptures (I thought this would be the highlight), the lego cities were amazingly intricate replicas of my USA favorites—New York and San Francisco.

I grew up in Del Mar, a great beach town in the North County area of San Diego. What I find special about this area is that it has retained a laid-back beach feel despite the addition of outstanding accommodations, restaurants and shopping.

Twice a year we head west to get a snippet of California life. What could be a better way to connect with your inner Californian than riding the waves?

What I love about this picture is that it reminds me of the joy I experience when something amazes my children. I feel truly lucky to experience the world through their eyes….

Loaded with fun and accessible kid activities, San Diego is a terrific destination for families. Many people don’t think of San Diego for mid-winter vacationing, but the mild year-round temperature turns San Diego into a chillier version of its’ summer self with out any crowds.