This is our third time going to San Diego (see our recap post listing here, so it feels pretty comfortable for us. We'll be re-visiting some of our favorite places while there, since this is the first time we're going as parents...and we're bringing all 3 of our boys with us.
The last time we went was in 2010, before any of them were even a twinkling in our eyes, so to say this is going to likely be a DRASTICALLY different trip is a major understatement. Still, we're very excited!
The big boys are excited to fly in an airplane again, as it has been two years since they've flown. Cashel remembers our trip to Key Largo, but Kendrick does not, so this will be the first flight he actually remembers, as well as Ryan's FIRST flight!
Accommodations
While we've been pleased with our previous accommodations while in San Diego, this time around, we want to actually enjoy the trip even with kids in tow, so we booked a rental condo off vrbo.com, and we can't wait! Here are some pics of this gorgeous condo:
Planned Activities
If there's one thing we've learned from years of planning vacations with kids in tow, it's to be extremely flexible. On our 5 day trip (4 full days), we have only 2 major activities planned: The San Diego Zoo and Sea World. We'd also like to take the kids out to Coronado for a picnic on Silver Strand Beach, check out Seaport Village, and visit Point Loma as those were favorites from previous trips, but we can squeeze those times into the other days as we get around to them, and if we don't make it there, then so be it. I've also heard great things about La Jolla, so we may check that out as well, keeping in mind that we only have 4 days, and we'll be traveling with 3 kids ages 5 and under, so we'll probably have to save some of that for another trip.
Planned Eating
Staying in the condo with little kids, the vast majority of our meals will be eating in or picnics. We learned that pizza or sandwiches at the park are GREAT with kiddos, but, of course, we want to eat out while on vacation too, and we've also learned some tricks to go along with that. We'll probably eat out one meal a day, and we've definitely got Phil's BBQ on the list, as it is just to DIE for bbq. Beyond that, we don't really have anything specific planned. Being pregnant this time around, I've also learned that I'm not always going to be hungry for what I have planned, so we have to sorta play it by ear. Another GREAT trick for eating out while on vacation with kids is to just get takeout and eat it either at the park or at the condo. It's just not worth the hassle most of the time, especially when you're in a big city and end up having to wait to be seated. Another great option is a buffet, where they can try different things but don't have to wait for their food. Trying to eat out all the time with our kids in tow was the only downside to our trip to Key Largo back in 2015, but to say it was a "downside" underplays the part where it practically RUINED our vacation. It was awful, and it's just not something I want to repeat all the time. So...we get condos or rental homes and find places to eat that aren't inside busy restaurants with lots of noise and lots of other patrons to distract the kids (and places for them to run off and get lost or, you know, knock peoples' food off their tables. Don't ask.)
Stay tuned! I hope I'll be able to get a trip recap out within the year haha
