With its near-perfect weather and abundance of beaches and activities, you could easily spend two weeks in San Diego and never run out of things to do.  But what if you only have a few days?  Here’s one fun and sane itinerary for an entertaining family vacation in America’s Finest City.

Day One:

Since theme parks are probably your kids’ top priority, it’s best to go right away while energy levels are high.  If you’ve got toddlers and preschoolers, point your compass for Legoland.  Older kids and adults will probably prefer SeaWorld.  Wherever you decide to go, be sure to arrive early so you can leave early.

Touristy as it is, Old Town San Diego is a lot of fun.  The State Historic Park here consists of five original adobe buildings, a schoolhouse, as well as various shops and stables.  Look around a little, do some souvenir shopping, and then order some fish tacos at one of the many Mexican restaurants that offer patio dining (the lively and colorful Old Town Mexican Café is as good a choice as any).

Day Two:

By now you’ll be ready for a day of body surfing and beach combing, and there’s no better place for that than Coronado Beach.  It’s clean and beautiful with nice public restrooms, kid-sized surf, and year-round lifeguards.

When you need a break from the sun, you can stroll around downtown Coronado or pop into the iconic Hotel del Coronado (a national Historic Landmark and a gorgeous example of Victorian architecture) for lunch or just an ice cream cone.

If you’ve got energy to spare, consider driving over to Mission Bay and renting tandem (or even triple!) sea kayaks at Mission Bay Sportcenter for an afternoon spin around the bay.  It’s a great way to get out on the water without worrying about the surf.

Day Three:

You won’t want to leave San Diego without visiting the world famous San Diego Zoo.  You could spend the entire day here, and you probably will.  If you go see the uber-popular Panda bears and gorillas right away, you’ll have the rest of the day free to wander.  You’ll never see all 4,000 animals, so don’t even try.  There’s always next time!

Did you know Homewood Suites has three affordable and convenient San Diego locations?  Choose the one that suits you best.