Bring music to your ears during a visit to this sensory park. You’ll find 4 mallet percussion instruments that have the sound quality worthy of an orchestra. This park also has a cute mosaic butterfly labyrinth for kids to follow, an herb garden, frog and lizard sculptures to climb on and our favorite are the bridges and gently rolling grassy hills to run on.

If you’re looking for a little more adventure, take a hike on a volcano. Don’t worry though, it’s considered extinct as it last erupted over 20 million years ago. There are lots of easy and well-maintained trails criss-crossing all over this volcano. The loop trail up and around the lake and over the dam is almost 2 miles, but getting up to the top might be a bit too much for little legs to do on their own. Consider an out and back trip which starts on the easy flat foothills.

Behold the region’s first bike skills park for all levels of experience: Sweetwater Bike Park in Bonita! Freewheeling kids will revel in the freedom of riding their bikes in this adventurous setting which includes two flow trails, four jump lines ranging from beginner to expert and a kid’s pump track. Other onsite attractions include a skill zone, kid zone, perimeter trail and several shaded picnic areas––making the venue an ideal spot for meet-ups and special events.

You don’t need a boat to take the kids fishing here. There are 7 different lakes to choose from and even though the fishing pier is currently closed (construction), there are various ramps and docks, but most fish from the shoreline. Fishing is currently allowed with social distancing from other guests. You’ll need to buy a fishing permit from the Gatehouse as you enter or from outside park staff.

Grab the boards and your little skaters and head to the skate park. There are so many skate parks in San Diego that I’m sure you’ll find one in your neighborhood. The Linda Vista Skate Park is the largest and one of the newest in San Diego. There are plenty of areas for all skill levels to practice tricks or just to learn how to ride. Good To Know: Helmets and knee & elbow pads are required at all skate parks. Some have a nominal entry fee.

Splish splash the day away at the always fun Waterfront Park downtown. Kids love to frolic through the fountains as they spray into the pool area. This is great for littles because it has a zero entry and the depth is just a couple of inches. There’s a playground just behind the splash area and a large grassy field for kids to run around. Sometimes the snack shop is open and there are bathrooms closer to the playground.

Just one more reason to love San Dieguito County Park are all the interactive self-guided kids programs they have. Once you pass the entry ranger station, look just beyond the booth and you’ll find a little information stand. It’s filled with pamphlets to grab for Scavenger Hunts, Nature Hide & Seek and a Sensory Challenge. You’ll find this cute Butterfly Garden to the right of the entry ranger booth next to the bathrooms.