Should I bring the kids?

My husband will be in San Diego for 9 days in February for a meeting. I am debating whether I should bring the kids and all of us take advantage of his hotel room. We live in NC and so don%26#39;t get to see southern CA too often! (I%26#39;ve never been myself!). I love the idea of exposing them to different things, seeing different areas, doing fun things in different places, etc. But then there is also the logistics of its a LOT of work to travel with kids and very expensive- it%26#39;ll be $2000 just for the extra airfare, plus food, car, activities- that%26#39;ll be pretty expensive. Now, I%26#39;m sure San Diego is lovely, I%26#39;ve heard wonderful things about it, and I%26#39;m sure there%26#39;s lots to do- BUT my question is, would you think it%26#39;d be enough fun/different stuff for the kids and me to do for 9 days to justify spending $3000? I am so on the fence and hard for me to make an informed decision since I know so little about the place! (I of course know about the zoo and Sea world!) Thanks for an guidance you can give me!

Should I bring the kids?

Sorry- should have added that the kids are ages 10, 8, 5, and 3. Thanks!

Should I bring the kids?

First of all of course SanDiego is a great destination to take kids. Are they very young and not in school? I understand about budgets so I think you could come for part o f the time not necessarily the whole 9days to save money. Where are the meetings your husband is attending and will he be occupied the whole 9days?

How old are the kiddies? I would be hapy to suggest activities for you if I know a little more.

Well I guess we were typing at the same time!!!

Besides the zoo there is Balboa Park with tons of museums on different topics and gardens. See www.baboapark.org

The 5th grade students in our city spend a week at the park going to the different museums as part of their school experience.

Then there is Oldtown State park which our 4th graders visit for a week.

There is whale watching at that time of year from the harbor. I just took my sister for a morning trip and we saw whales spouting,flipping their tails and turning over. There were also dolphins surfing in the wake of the boat. Take a little dramamine II before to make sure noone gets queasy.

You can rent bikes,skates and go through MissionBay Park or take the passenger ferry across the bay and rent a Surrey(3wheeled vehicle) for th ewhole crew to ride in along the bay.

YOu can go to La Jollacove to see the seals on the beach and go tidepooling at low tide.

That%26#39;s just a few ideas.

Wow! That sounds great! I%26#39;d read in the guide book about Balboa park and Old Town, but it%26#39;s hard to tell from their description if it is actually something kids would like! So good to hear that from you! Some of the things the guide book has marked for kids, I read the 2 sentences and think ';Even I don%26#39;t think that sounds that interesting!'; So, advice from a real person is so helpful! Thanks!

Depending on where you are in NC, check southwest for airfare, you can usually fly Raleigh to San Diego for $109 one way internet special. I just booked my friend on that exact flight.

My kids love San Diego and not just for the parks. We go down there once or twice a year and we always have a good time (kids are now 9 %26amp; 5). There are some great museums, beaches to ride bikes on, ride the old town trolley. Depending on where you are staying, you may be able to get away with not having a car.

Also, if you search the internet and check the zoo%26#39;s and sea worlds websites, you should be able to find some discounts for the tickets.

I personally think you and the kids would have a wonderful time if you came out.

Thanks for your advice! I could get that SW $109 for one of the ways, but the other way, it was like $243 lowest available, ending up $326+ tax and fees to a total of $2000 for the 5 of us (not counting my husbands whose air will be paid for). The times 5 part really gets ya!