Granted being a resident in beautiful San Diego hardly leaves you without options for a weekend plan. But if you are a mom like me and have jittery and activity-hungry toddlers craving to shed that energy you need to have an arsenal of playgrounds to tire them out in. Only if you want to keep things under a budget - otherwise of course you are free to take them one of the many heavy-on-the-wallet parks/venues out here.
Playgrounds... kids never seem to tire out of them and grown ups dont need to walk around so much, we get to pack as light as we like and don't need to make a whole day out of it... phew.
Where you live you would undoubtedly have a few options within a few miles... my goal is to share some amazing and unique play areas we have explored as a family and maybe it helps you mix it up a but since it is boring for us grown ups at least to sit and stare at the same playground week after week. I list them in the order of within San Diego to a bit further out. All or most of these have restrooms unless noted otherwise.
Maruta Gardner at Bonita Cove park:
This playground is pink, has fun climbing structures, a spin-around for wee ones.. and it has a nice view of the bay and Belmont amusement park. Nice and small-ish but sure to entertain the kids.
Tecolote playgrounds:
North - https://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/missionbay/tecoloteshores
South - https://parksinsandiego.com/tecolote-shores-south/
This is the most abundant playground in terms of variety of play structures! It is new and shiny, with a view of Mission bay. The play areas have some shade as well for year round enjoyment.
Olympus park:
This playground has more desirable play structures (zip line, skating area) for kids and grass slide with free-for-all flattened amazon packages to slide on (or you can bring your own)! Super fun and has a nice ramp leading up to some tandem swings and easy-on-the-eyes neighborhood! This playground did not have a restroom, so plan accordingly.
Encinitas Community park:
https://parksinsandiego.com/upcp_product/encinitas-community-park/
This park has something in it for everyone - generous play area with shade, dog park, gardens, ball fields, soccer field, skating area. Great joint to spend the day in!
San Dieguito County park:
https://www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/SanDieguito.html
This is more like a village in itself spreading across 125 acres of nature! There is an upper side with 5 playgrounds and ball fields and numerous picnic areas :
Upper entrance - 1756 Highland Dr. Solana Beach, CA 92075
The lower entrance leads to two small lakes with turtles and ducks, a butterfly garden, many green expansive picnic areas lined with huge trees to rival the English countryside.... This is one park unlike any other I have seen in San Diego!
Lower entrance - 15936 El Camino Real Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
The two sides are connect by trails and surprise ..suspension bridges! On both sides picnic areas and playgrounds are well planned with restrooms and parking close at hand.
This is a park where you pay ($5 as of 2025) for parking inside. There is ample parking just outside the gates on both upper and lower sides, if you care to walk some to get to where you want.
Lake Poway park:
https://poway.org/401/Lake-Poway
Another beauty close to San Diego - this park offers it all - two playgrounds, camping, fishing, boating (motor and pedal), archery range, ball field..
Lots of places to have a picnic overlooking the lake or otherwise. Parking outside is not an option and you have to pay $10 per car on weekends if you are not a Poway resident, although it is free on weekdays. Restrooms are close to the play areas. Great place to spend a day.
Irvine Regional Park
Beautiful spacious park with numerous playgrounds, lakes with boats for hire, horse-riding, OC zoo, picnic areas and more! If you are ever in the area, do not hesitate to stop here with or without kids. We were welcomed by exotic peacocks walking alongside the park paths closer to the zoo inside... they were even perched on some parked cars! Can't say enough about this place - it comes alive with kids train rides, bounce houses, scavenger hunts, pony rides for various occasions round the year - like easter time for instance.
You do have to pay $3 to park inside, parking outside gates in not an option unfortunately. But it is totally worth it as you can easily spend the whole day out here.
That's it for now. Hope you enjoy one or more of these - one thing is for sure - your kids will take away fond memories!!
