San Diego is an excellent place to visit if you have young children. There are plenty of toddler activities in San Diego, from museums to zoos to theme parks and more. Whether your tot is a nature lover, a budding artist, a Sesame Street fan, or an animal enthusiast, there’s sure to be something in San Diego that will spark their interest and imagination.
Plan An Exciting Day Out With These Toddler Activities In San Diego
The New Children’s Museum
200 W. Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
The New Children’s Museum, which reopened in 2008, is an innovative and interactive art museum. They strive to spark children’s minds and creativity through a series of art installations and displays. This three-level art museum has plenty of space for kids to roam and explore. It even has designated toddler areas! Wobbleland is a space designed specifically for children ages 4 and under. They can safely roam around and play with food sculptures. Tikitiko is a space for toddlers 3 and under. They love this sensory wonderland full of color, hiding spots, and places to learn to appreciate connectedness.
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
The San Diego Zoo sits in Balboa Park, just minutes away from downtown! This zoo strives to integrate wildlife health and care, science, and education to come up with sustainable conservation solutions. This is a great place to visit with toddlers, as there are many animals and plants to learn about and see close up. Animals include leopards, snakes, monkeys, condors, camels, cheetahs, alligators, elephants, turtles, giraffes, and much more. The Early Morning Explorers program is a fun event where young kids can join Dr. Zoolittle for jokes, games, and zoo magic, all before the zoo opens for the day.
Balboa Park Carousel
1889 Zoo Place, San Diego, CA 92101
Located adjacent to the San Diego Zoo, the Balboa Park Carousel is an original carousel built in 1910 that features a variety of animals to ride on – and almost all of them are original! This carousel features hand-painted murals that surround the upper portion. This carousel is one of the only carousels to feature a historic brass ring game, where riders can try their luck at grabbing brass rings to win a free ride. Kids of all ages will love riding this historic carousel in Balboa Park.
Sesame Place San Diego
2052 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista, CA 91911
Sesame Place San Diego is the perfect place for toddlers to find adventure and meet their favorite television characters! This is a place where the imagination and magic of Sesame Street come to life, where kids can meet all their favorite furry friends and enjoy family-friendly rides that will keep kids of all ages entertained all day long. Shows and parades are a great way to experience Sesame Place as well. This theme park even has character meet and greets, where your little ones can get photos with some of their favorite Sesame Street friends.
San Diego Botanic Garden
300 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024
The San Diego Botanic Garden is a 37-acre urban oasis that features 4 miles of wandering trails and ocean views, with 5,000 plant species and 29 uniquely themed gardens. This natural wonderland will entertain kids and adults alike and is a great space for toddlers to explore and appreciate nature. Each week, the San Diego Botanic Garden hosts Toddler Tales and Tunes in Hamilton Children’s Garden. This activity, led by “Grandma Kathy,” teaches and entertains little ones with puppets, bells, pompoms, and more. Toddler Tales and Tunes helps children connect with the wonder of plants and nature, all in a beautiful outdoor setting at the top deck of Hamilton Children’s Garden.
I Hope Your Family Enjoys These Fun And Engaging Toddler Activities In San Diego
Luckily, we have plenty of toddler activities in San Diego, from zoos to amusement parks to botanic gardens and more. Whether your little one is a thrill seeker, a plant enthusiast, an animal lover, or an aspiring artist, San Diego has many wonderful destinations for toddlers to visit that the whole family can enjoy.
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