Arrivals & Departures San Diego treats kids like kings

More than 100 hotels, restaurants, attractions, museums, tours and transport companies will make your visit a little kinder on the wallet. 

You can’t get cheaper than free — and that’s what some places are offering.

Kids can eat free at many hotels or receive special welcome gifts. 

Participating family-friendly restaurants will also let little ones eat at no cost. 

BIG ATTRACTIONS:

Free admission for kids at theme parks...

• San Diego Zoo: For kids under 11.

What’s on: Africa Rocks is the zoo’s newest exhibit, highlighting Africa’s biodiversity.

This offer is also valid at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, which is a 728ha wildlife sanctuary with more than 300 species. 

• SeaWorld San Diego: Free admission for one child (aged 3-9) with one fully paid adult ticket.

What’s on: Ocean Explorer is a new attraction featuring five rides. Parents can check out Electric Eel, San Diego’s tallest and fastest roller coaster, which opened in May.

This offer is valid at Dine with Orcas. Children aged 10-12 can participate for free in SeaWorld’s Dolphin Interaction Program with one paid adult (kids must be at least 1.2m tall to participate).

• Aquatica San Diego: This waterpark has seven slides, a wave pool, three family-friendly pools, a relaxing river and up-close animal experiences. Kids aged 3-9 are admitted free with a paid adult admission.

HOTELS:

Accommodation options range from budget to luxury escapes...

• The Pendry opened in 2017 in downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter and offers families a modern luxury getaway where kids under 12 can have a sleepover party with complimentary PJ Salvage pyjamas, two in-room movies, snacks and Kid’s Sleepy Time aromatherapy pillow spray from Spa Pendry. The Kids Party Free package is available for every night booked.

• Paradise Point Resort & Spa on Mission Bay is a family-friendly option. Kids under 12 will be able to play, shop or eat for free with an allowance worth $50. The credit can be applied towards ice-cream, a toy from the gift shop or bike rental.

DINING OPTIONS:

• Carnitas’ Snack Shack at the Embarcadero — along the waterfront near family attractions like the USS Midway Museum and Seaport Village — is offering kids under 12 one free combo with the purchase of an adult meal. 

• Rockin’ Baja Lobster in the Gaslamp Quarter boasts “signature Baja buckets filled with lobster tails, crab legs and grilled shrimp accompanied with corn on the cob and flour tortillas”. It’s a family-friendly restaurant where children under 12 can have one free meal and drink with every paid adult entree. 

EXPLORE:

• “Families travelling across the US-Mexico border can now save time and money with the Cross Border Xpress (CBX), a unique pedestrian bridge connecting the Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) with San Diego,” San Diego Tourism Authority says.

“When flying into TIJ, children aged 12 and under can get a free single trip CBX ticket from Tijuana to San Diego with the purchase of an adult ticket. The offer is not available online and must be purchased at CBX counters at TIJ.”

• Kids aged under 12 can hop around town for free on San Diego’s newest tour, The Hopper. 

(Top image: Mother panda Bai Yun and baby panda Yun Zi at San Diego Zoo. Picture: San Diego Tourism Authority)

Fact File

• For more details visit SanDiego.org/KidsFree