by Walter Allen

Created on: November 15, 2008   Last Updated: November 21, 2008

Are you looking for a family beach vacation that's fun and affordable? Without a doubt, then, you should check out San Diego, the fun and sun capital of Southern California. With its variety of beaches and ocean-side destinations, San Diego is the place for your family to enjoy some fun in the surf and sand.

MISSION BEACH - Probably the most popular destination for family beach vacations, Mission Beach is the home of a boardwalk carnival that includes a roller coaster, a pirate ship swing, and various other thrill rides and kiddie adventures.

To add to the excitement, your family's mouths will water at the smell of carnival foods such as churros, pretzels, and pizza. After you eat and before you head back to the cool waters of the Pacific, be sure to check out the numerous souvenir shops located one block off the beach on Ventura Place.

Although this beach is one of the most crowded in the summer, the two-mile stretch of sand offers water activity zones for swimming and for surfing. In addition, Mission Beach lifeguard stations are staffed daily, typically from 9:00 a.m. until dusk.

CHILDREN'S POOL - If you are looking for a calm and picturesque area to lounge away the day, the La Jolla's Children's Pool is the place for you. Much of this smaller beach is protected by a seawall. And seals and sea lions can often be seen on the beach or just offshore on Seal Rock.

If you and your family want to try out scuba diving, this is definitely the place to be. The reefs just offshore create a beautiful underwater garden and lifeguards are typically on duty from 9:00 a.m. until dusk during the summer. (Hours change to 10:00 a.m. until dusk at other times during the year.)

The waters of this beach are dedicated to swimming and scuba diving, but there are other smaller beaches (Wipeout Beach and Shell Beach) nearby for surfing activities. In addition, Children's Pool is just a short walk away from the commercial area of the La Jolla community, a quaint and charming community about ten miles to the north of San Diego's downtown district.

OCEAN BEACH - If your family includes any four-legged friends, then you will definitely want to check out Ocean Beach. This one-mile-long beach features a sandy area to the north where dogs, with their owners, can run and play off-leash. Dog Beach, as it is called, features an area with breaking waves from the Pacific as well as a small walled area to the far north where smaller dogs can play in the calmer eddies.

Furthermore, Ocean Beach features a municipal pier along its south end. Ideal for doing a little recreational fishing, the pier also has a bait shop to help you enjoy this sport. And don't worry, if you don't catch anything, there's always the restaurant located at the beach-end of the pier. You can fill you and your family's seafood cravings there.

In addition to Mission Beach, Children's Pool, and Ocean Beach, there are many other fun and exciting sands to visit in the San Diego area. You can find more information on all of San Diego's diverse beaches on the City of San Diego's official web site at http://www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches.

With so many choices, you and your family will no doubt be able to find the perfect place to enjoy the sun, sand, and water. In fact, you may even find yourself referring to the city as locals do because without a doubt "Sun Diego" is the family beach vacation destination of choice.

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