When you think of San Diego likely sun and sand come to mind. If you have kids, then the attractions like the San Diego Zoo and Legoland also come to mind. These are all the reasons we decided to go on a San Diego weekend trip this past Fourth of July.
We only had 3 days in San Diego, but we made the most of it. We visited Legoland, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and found time to relax at a 5-star hotel. Keep on reading for a summary of each of these destinations.
Legoland California
The main reason we wanted to visit San Diego was Legoland. For younger kids this place is awesome. It has the right amount of excitement and is enjoyable for adults as well. The grounds are well maintained, and the park is easy to navigate. We spent an entire day there and were exhausted by the time we reached our hotel. However, we had a super happy kid and we loved seeing him have so much fun. To read more about our Legoland California visit, click here.
San Diego Zoo: Safari Park
The Safari Park was a last-minute addition to our agenda. But we are so glad we visited! The Safari Park is part of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, which is a nonprofit conservation organization, which makes us happy to support. We decided to take a Wildlife Safari (which is about $89/per person) while we were there and had the opportunity to see the Greater One-horned Rhinos up and close. This park is expansive, so wear comfortable shoes. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to see the whole park because we had to catch a flight – so we hope to visit again.
The Park Hyatt Aviara
Many of the hotels in Carlsbad and near Legoland were already booked for the holiday weekend. However, this gave me an excuse to try the 5-star Park Hyatt Aviara, which is one of the most expensive hotels we have stayed at.
I didn’t want to stay at a Legoland hotel because I wanted to incorporate some relax-and-chill after the go-and-thrill of Legoland. This is where the Park Hyatt Aviara came into play.
This hotel is truly beautiful. It’s also dog-friendly (a little bonus for dog lovers). It’s located within just minutes from Legoland and close to the San Diego Safari Park. The property is stunning, and the dining is fantastic – which is one of the main reasons we selected this location. Additionally, they have a large market onsite for vacation necessities, snacks, to-go food, coffee, and other essentials.
It was too cold to enjoy the pool when we were there. However, it is nicely laid out, has a waterslide (always a hit with kids), and offers great poolside service (a hit with adults). One evening we rented a Top Golf Swing Suite (located onsite) to host some of our friends and their kids that live in town. The suite was a good spot to let everyone spread out, play games, and have a private space to ourselves.
Would I recommend this hotel to other families? I’m honestly not sure. It’s beautiful and upscale, but next time I’m in San Diego I will likely try another location. It was expensive and we couldn’t take advantage of all that it had to offer. It might be better suited for couples, or those wanting total serenity.
All in all, it was a fast San Diego weekend trip, but we were able to enjoy so many activities and built some great memories. Until next time, San Diego!
