by Julie Diaz

Created on: December 08, 2008   Last Updated: September 10, 2009

When you think of San Diego you imagine mild, sunny days spent at the beach. But San Diego is so much more than that. San Diego boasts some of the finest museums in the country, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and possibly the best zoo in the world. Oh, and there are some great beaches, too!

San Diego has a multitude of kid-friendly activities from which to choose. If you live in San Diego you can visit attractions at your own pace. However, if you are visiting San Diego how do you decide where to go and what to do in such a limited amount of time? Although these are not the only destinations for families with kids, here are 17 that are definitely worth the trip.

For Younger Children

>Miniature Railroad Located within Balboa Park off of Zoo Drive, this rare antique model train takes a three minute, mile trip around the track. It is open daily from 11 AM- 4:30 PM and is sure to delight the young and the young at heart. To learn more visit www.balboapark.org or call 619-239-0512.

>Carousel Next to the Miniature Railroad in Balboa Park is this 1910 carousel with nearly all of its original hand carved animals. Be sure to look at the hand painted murals surrounding the carousel while taking this five minute ride. Go to www.balboapark.org or call 619-239-0512 for more information.

For All Ages

>San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park, www.sandiegozoo.org , 619-231-1515. This world famous zoo will amaze you from the time you walk in the gates. After the first exhibit, Flamingo Lagoon, the path splits into a myriad of choices. To the left you can go to Children's Zoo and Reptile Mesa, or even catch the Skyfari to Polar Bear Plunge. To the right is the Bus Tour platform, or the Koalas, or even Cat and Bear Canyons. Other paths will take you to Monkey Trails, Tiger River, the Panda Research Station (and see the baby panda!), or Gorilla Tropics. For a little rest, stop by the Wegeforth Bowl to see the Sea Lion show. It is sure to bring you some laughs.

>Ruben H. Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado in Balboa Park, www.rhfleet.org , 619-238-1233. This hands-on museum has more than 100 exhibits that demonstrate the principles of math, science and technology. For the youngest kids, there is Kid City, where they can play, work, create and learn about the working world. The museum features San Diego's only IMAX dome theater showing IMAX films daily and a monthly planetarium show.

>San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado in Balboa Park,

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