School is almost out and summer is on our minds… with almost 10 weeks of break, we share activities and creative ways to keep our kids busy over the summer months.
OCEAN EXPLORERS
Summer months families spend a lot of time at the beach so let’s learn about our oceans while also having fun! Between Scripps Oceanography and Birch Aquarium, Class Programs and more there are many ways to become an Ocean Explorer and learn about all the amazing marine life through activities and lessons through aquariums, interactive tide pools and even outside on the beach.
One way to dive into summer fun is through the newly launched Ocean Explorers program at the Hotel Del Coronado. It is a living classroom, with curriculum and experiences designed to help children learn about preserving the ocean and all of its amazing marine life. Children enjoy fun activities and lessons both inside the classroom and outside on the beach. The program is designed to immerse children ages 5-12 in a spectacular underwater world, with amazing sea creatures, creative activities, one-of-a-kind adventures, an underwater aquarium with an interactive tide pool, and more. Underlining The Del’s commitment to the work which began at its boathouse more than 100 years ago, a portion of all Ocean Explorers’ experience tuition will benefit Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and its vital efforts to promote ocean conservation.Both half-day (9am to 12pm, or 1pm to 4pm), and full-day (9am to 4pm) sessions are available. We love that whether you are doing a staycation or vacation at the Hotel Del, programs like these offer mom and dad a little down time while the kids have a great time.
Also at the Hotel Del this summer, you can experience the thrills of the ocean with the property’s brand-new immersive underwater virtual reality experience at the hotel’s Cabana Pool. Guests ages 7+ can experience the depths of the ocean in this weightless underwater environment, with the choice to select two exhilarating adventures, from an exploration of the ocean to a voyage through space, a dive into the ruins of Atlantis, or a thrilling skydiving experience.
FARM FUN! U-PICK AND COOKOUTS
Spend time on a working farm! Whether you want to pick your own veggies and fruit, or take a tractor tour, Tanaka Farms is one of the only family-owned and operated farms open to the public. Plus they have family farm-to-table cookouts and even cooking classes!
Each season Tanaka Farms provides a different farm tour experience! Bring the entire family for a fun and educational tour of a real working farm led by a knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. Most of their tours include a guided wagon ride around the beautiful thirty-acre farm, making several stops in the fields along the way to pick fruits and vegetables right where they grow!
Plus spend a few hours at the farm harvesting vegetables, then enjoy a true farm-to-table meal! The Farm-To-Table Cookout Tour is a unique Tanaka Farms experience! You take a guided walking tour around the farm where you will be able to pick your own seasonal veggies in the field and then, go to their shaded cookout area where a farm-to-table meal is prepared and served.
PARK HOP AND SUMMER CAMPS
Many families have maximized out the summer months with camps ranging from sports to educational… most are full and waitlist is the only option but there are still some with openings. You can also gather a group of friends/families and park hop! Pick a different location each week and all meet up to enjoy the playground, sand or a pick-up sport like basketball or tennis.
With over 340 parks in San Diego, summer can be a great time to explore a new park or two. When we were younger our moms would meet up with other moms and “park hop” and now as moms we love continuing this tradition. Sometimes one family would pick out a new park and everyone would meet there for the day and other times each kid would get to pick a park and the group would spend an hour at that park and rotate to the next park. Either way, it is a fun way to keep things lively, check out new parks and of course have fun with friends. We have found that a new park often helps break the boredom because there is new equipment to explore and new challenges to overcome.
Whether you head to the beach or park, it is so important to stay sun safe. We love sun protective clothing from Coolibar. It was pretty shocking for us to learn that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer over the course of a lifetime, and there is a 300% increase in skin cancer incidences over the past 40 years! So sun protection tops our list as we play.
With UPF 50+ built into the fabric, we know we are staying safe while also looking stylish. Tested more than any other brand, endorsed by experts worldwide and recommended by dermatologists, Coolibar industry-leading fabrics block 98% of UVA/UVB rays to provide you with ultimate UPF 50+ protection guaranteed for the life of the garment as set by ASTM/AATCC standards. The protection also won’t wash out or lessen in the chlorinated water. Plus we love the feel of the fabrics and the ease at which we can still do everything from play soccer to chase bubbles, ride bikes and build sand castles. And Coolibar isn’t only for the kids! They have a great variety from active wear and swim for adults too.
SAN DIEGO RESIDENT FREE DAYS
Take advantage of living in San Diego county — from the museums at Balboa Park to the world famous San Diego Zoo, all offer resident free days throughout the year, including the summer!
Several Balboa Park museums offer free general admission on a rotating basis throughout each month to residents of the City and County of San Diego, and to active military personnel and their dependents. Every Tuesday of the month different museums, gardens and the theatre open their doors. Click HERE to see what is free on each Tuesday.
The San Diego Zoo offers free admission to San Diego County residents on the fourth Tuesday of each month with a valid ID. The San Diego Zoo is a 100-acre wildlife park that is home to over 14,000 rare and endangered animals, representing more than 700 species and subspecies. The newest habitat is the Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, built on the site of the historic Children’s Zoo. It features fresh and innovative elements, including eight buildings and habitats dispersed throughout four different habitat zones: Rainforest, Wild Woods, Marsh Meadows and Desert Dunes.
