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Five San Diego County parks that are family-friendly and fun

June 2nd, 2009 • Related • Filed Under
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Summertime is meant for turning off the TV and electronic toys and heading outside. Here are five fantastic San Diego County parks that you and your kids will love to fold into your staycation plans.

In central San Diego, Balboa Park and Mission Bay Park are the hands down favorites for kids.

  • Balboa Park has great playgrounds, one just off Park Boulevard and another just off 6th Avenue. You’ll also find plenty of walking trails and wide grassy areas for tossing around a ball or frisbee. The park’s many museums offer great indoor fun, too.

    • For more information, directions and a map of Balboa Park, go to balboapark.org

  • Mission Bay Park with its beaches, playgrounds and almost 14 miles of walking and riding paths is a great place to spend a day.

    • Our favorite playground when our kids were young is located just north of the SeaWorld Drive exit off of Interstate 5. You can access it off of East Mission Bay Drive.

    For more information on Mission Bay Park, directions and a map of the area, go to the Mission Bay section of the city of San Diego’s park and recreation Web site.

  • In the South Bay, Rohr Park in Bonita is a great spot for families. Located off Sweetwater Road, the park has playgrounds, softball fields, picnic tables, barbecues and a 3-mile path that meanders through the park.


    • On the second weekend of every month, children can ride the train in the park operated by volunteers with the Chula Vista Live Steamers.

    For more information on Rohr Park, go to the city of Chula Vista’s park and recreation site.

    Directions: Take the 805 freeway to Highway 54 east. Exit at Plaza Bonita Center Way and turn right, continue to Sweetwater Road and turn left. Sweetwater Road will take a sharp left, continue on until you see the park on your right.

  • One of our family’s favorite places to visit when our kids were young was Old Poway Park. We took many a ride on the Poway-Midland Railroad.


    • The park is not large, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in beauty and rich history. Massive sycamores offer plenty of shade if you want to bring a picnic lunch. A playground is located just across Aubrey Street in Aubrey Park.

    If you want to stop for lunch, the Hamburger Factory in the park has great food and great prices.

    The volunteer-run railroad operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. (It’s closed the second Sunday of each month.) For more information, go to powaymidlandrr.org.

    Directions: Take Interstate 15 and exit at Poway Road and head east. Continue a few miles until you reach Midland Road and turn left. The address is 14134 Midland.

  • For sheer beauty and a sense that you are away from it all, San Dieguito County Park is a perfect choice. This 125-acre park is less than five minutes from Interstate 5, but you would never know it.


    • The park located in an unincorporated area near Solana Beach offers many hiking trails, beautifully landscaped grassy areas and picnic tables and barbecues under towering trees. The lower part of the park is perfect for small family gatherings, while the upper portion, with playgound areas, is great for larger, organized get-togethers. Parking is $3.

    This is an amazing place to spend a day. For more information, go to sdcounty.ca.gov.

    Directions: Take Interstate 5 to Lomas Santa Fe Drive and head east. Turn left on Highland Drive; the entrance to the upper portion of the park will be on your righthand side. To reach the lower park, continue down Highland to El Camino Real and turn right.

    Looking for other great summer fun ideas in Southern California? You don’t want to miss these stories:

    Five family-friendly beaches in San Diego County

    Ten family-friendly car trips in Southern California Day trip suggestions from Jack Brandais, author of “Weekend Driver San Diego: Day Drives in and Around San Diego County” and creator of the Web site WeekendDriver.com.

    Ten family-friendly hikes in San Diego County Day hike ideas from Jerry Schad, author of “Afoot and Afield in San Diego County.”

    Five family-friendly hikes in Orange County More suggestions from Jerry Schad.

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