San Diego Spring Break from a SLOCAL
View from Coronado Ferry Landing
Why We Chose San Diego
We’re not a family that always does a spring break trip. In fact, this was our first real spring break adventure.
Lately, we’ve really started to feel how quickly our kids’ childhoods are passing. So we made a decision: we’re going to be intentional about creating amazing family memories while we can… and hopefully beyond, if they’ll keep hanging out with us.
Also, if I’m being honest, I’m kind of famous for deciding we should take a trip… then getting stuck in planning paralysis and never actually booking it. But we’re doing things differently now.
So, why San Diego?
A few key reasons:
We wanted to skip the cost of five plane tickets
I am a warm-weather person, and my kids are the “just add water” type. Put them near a pool or beach and suddenly everyone is happier
My mom gifted us experiences for Christmas this year, and we kept hearing that our kids are the perfect age for LEGOLAND… so that piece was already handled
At that point, I had no excuses left. San Diego just made sense.
Where We Stayed
This is where I almost derailed the entire trip.
I spent way too much time going down the rabbit hole of every possible micro-area in San Diego. Carlsbad was tempting because of LEGOLAND. Then I looked at everything south of there.
Eventually, we landed on Coronado Island.
When I was younger, I worked in Avila Beach, and I loved how families could stay there and not need to get in their cars. Everything was walkable, easy, and relaxed. That’s exactly what I wanted for this trip.
Then came the hotel decision… and more overthinking.
Pool? Priority.
Location? Also critical.
Vibe? Obvi.
But here’s where I finally got out of my own way:
We’re Marriott Bonvoy members. Between last year’s 18-day stay in Palo Alto for the kids’ surgeries and various work trips, we had status, points, and free nights. It’s a brand we trust. Clean, safe, reliable, with solid pools. Done.
Initially, I was underwhelmed by the room options… but that’s because I was accurately putting in that we’re a family of five. The world is not built for families of five. That’s a separate rant.
Once I (strategically) searched as a family of four, we found these perfect little cottages:
King bed + pull-out couch
Kitchenette (fridge, microwave, toaster oven)
Patio
Right next to the quieter/less used pool
And since June happily sleeps on the floor for reasons I will never understand, it worked perfectly.
Our Itinerary Day by Day
Monday: Travel + Settle In
We left San Luis Obispo around 9am and stopped in Carpinteria to meet friends for lunch at The Spot.
Quick note: the name of this restaurant led to a very confusing text exchange where I thought we were meeting at a spot in the park. We were not.
From there, we drove straight through. We hit a bit of traffic near Carlsbad due to an accident, but still made it to the hotel around 5pm.
Perfect timing:
Kids → pool
Alex → grocery store
Me → pool + reading (three strong swimmers = a whole new life)
We did frozen pizza for dinner and started watching Love on the Spectrum as a family.
I could write an entire separate blog about that show. I’m obsessed.
Tuesday: The Bike Ride Dream Day
This was the day I had pictured the whole time.
We brought with us:
3 kids’ bikes
2 Tommy Bahama chairs
Bike rack + Alex’s very thorough (some might say over-engineered) securing system
Our hotel included bike rentals, so we grabbed adult bikes and set off around Coronado.
There were bike paths most of the way, with some street riding mixed in. Alex and I bookended the kids, which felt like a solid parenting strategy. I took the front, which was far less stressful because I couldn’t see the near-misses happening behind me.
We made it to the beach in front of Hotel del Coronado and grabbed coffee and breakfast from ENO Market & Pizzeria.
It was everything I hoped for.
The only downside: bacteria levels were too high in the water, so no swimming. But we made it work with sand play, reading, and ocean watching.
Afterward, we finished the loop around Coronado and headed back to the pool.
That evening:
Attempted dinner at The Henry (no reservation = rookie mistake)
Ended up at a nearby Irish pub (fine, not memorable)
Got ice cream at MooTime Creamery — 10/10, will absolutely repeat
And yes… more Love on the Spectrum before bed.
Wednesday: Ferry + Downtown + Kids Museum
We walked to the Coronado Ferry Landing, grabbed coffee, and took the ferry across the bay.
The kids loved this. Honestly, we did too.
We rode over toward downtown with views of the USS Midway Museum.
We spent most of the day at:
Children’s Park
Then walked to the ferry landing near the Convention Center and headed back for… you guessed it… pool time.
Thursday: San Diego Zoo
Big day.
We used a Go City Pass and headed to the San Diego Zoo right when it opened at 9am.
Key move: go early.
We started with the guided bus tour to get the lay of the land. Even right at opening, it was about a 30-minute wait, so I can’t imagine later in the day.
My biggest tip:
Have low expectations.
I told myself if we lasted an hour, great. No pressure to “see everything.”
We made it until 11:45 before the first request to go back to the pool.
We powered through:
Skyfari ride
Pandas (non-negotiable)
Lunch at Hua Mei Café (orange chicken = win)
Then wrapped up around 3pm.
Back to the hotel. Pool. Dinner. Love on the Spectrum.
You see the theme.
Friday: LEGOLAND + Drive Home
Final day.
We packed up and drove to LEGOLAND California, where our friend met us.
Having a third adult was a game changer. Without her, ride logistics would’ve been… complicated.
The park was perfect for our kids’ ages (8, 6, 5). All three turned out to be little thrill seekers.
Lunch at Knights Smokehouse BBQ was surprisingly great for a theme park.
Then we made a bold decision:
Drive all the way home to San Luis Obispo that night.
In theory, brilliant. In reality, I was exhausted. I could not keep my eyes open, which never happens when Alex drives.
But we avoided traffic and made great time, so… still calling it a win.
Things We Loved and Highly Recommend
Biking around Coronado
Watching Love on the Spectrum together
Coffee + breakfast from ENO Market & Pizzeria
Ferry rides across the bay
Slow pool afternoons
San Diego Zoo (especially the guided tour + Skyfari)
LEGOLAND for this age range
Things We Don't Need to Repeat
Most of the food was just okay… except MooTime Creamery, which we would absolutely go back for
How We Paid for It: Tips on Getting the Best Price
This is where the trip really worked in our favor:
Used Marriott Bonvoy points + free nights
Drove instead of flying (huge savings for a family of five)
Grocery stop for breakfasts + easy dinners
Go City pass for bundled attractions
It made a big difference in keeping the trip doable without feeling like a splurge we’d regret later.
Tips We Got From Our Community
Before we left, I asked for recommendations, and people delivered.
Highlights:
Zoo vs Safari Park
Consensus leaned Zoo for convenience and walkability, especially with younger kids.
SeaWorld
Great shows and less crowded, but the captivity aspect is a personal decision.
Beaches
Coronado: easy, family-friendly
La Jolla Shores: calmer water
La Jolla Cove: seals + views
Food Standouts
Richard Walker’s Pancake House
Hidden Gems
Annie’s Canyon Trail
Waterfront Park splash pad
Old Town San Diego
Belmont Park
