Favorite Places to Explore Nature in San Diego

Today’s guest post is part of the “Favorite Places to Explore Nature” series and comes from a travel blogger I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in real life, Colleen of TravelMamas.com. I love that she has a soft spot for getting close to nature when she’s out and about with her kiddos. I’m excited to see what she has to say about exploring nature in San Diego.

Visitors to Southern California often jam-pack their schedules with nonstop amusement park adventures and other manmade fun. While I love splashing down a waterslide, zipping around on a roller coaster and eating corndogs as much as the next mama, there is something to be said for slowing down to explore the outdoors while on vacation.

I have lived in San Diego County for 11 years and I never tire of visiting these family-friendly places to connect with nature.

San Diego Botanic Garden
At this garden in Escondido, there is no fancy gift shop peddling a slew of toys, no bouncy house, no rides and no cotton candy – which is precisely why I love San Diego Botanic Garden! There are more than 20 gardens in which to gaze at flora, fauna and cacti from around the world and listen to the soothing sound of waterfalls or burbling fountains.

There are two children’s gardens here. Seeds of Wonder is a shady spot geared toward preschoolers and toddlers. Go here to create bubbles with wands dipped in big tubs of soap, dig up mini dinosaurs in the dirt, play make-believe in a child-sized wooden house and watch a miniature train scoot through the garden.

Kids of all ages love Hamilton Children’s Garden, a newer and more elaborate space. The centerpiece is Toni’s Tree House, complete with rope bridges, tunnels and a spiral staircase to explore. A stream on which you can float tiny plastic boats is a favorite place to roll up pant cuffs and cool off on warm days. Children can play a giant wooden tic-tac-toe game, run through a labyrinth, make arts and crafts and oh-so-much-more in this garden!

My kids, Karissa & Leo, climbing Toni’s Tree House at the San Diego Botanic Garden

Balboa Park
There are museums aplenty at Balboa Park – from the Museum of Natural History to the Miniature Railroad Musuem (my children’s favorite!). But it’s also a fun place to simply wander the beautifully landscaped grounds and enjoy some fresh air. There are several gardens throughout the park, including the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Rose Garden and Desert Garden. The large walkways, beautiful architecture and street performers make Balboa Park feel like a slice of Europe in California.

Rose Garden at San Diego Balboa Park

Birch Aquarium at Scripps
While many flock to SeaWorld to get their fill of splashy dolphin and whale shows, Birch Aquarium at Scripps provides a smaller, educational peek at the ocean’s creatures. Glowing jellyfish, shark tanks and seahorses amaze children – even babies! The hands-on educational exhibits teach children about ocean animals and conservation in a fun way.

Jellyfish at Birch Aquarium at Scripps

San Diego Zoo and San Diego Safari Park
I have been a member of the San Diego Zooand its sister location, the San Diego Safari Park for more than five years. Sure, children can read about animals in books, but seeing a real-live lion, hippo, panda or polar bear is so much more impressive and meaningful! The San Diego Zoo is known as one of the best in the world, with its large habitats for the animals and beautifully landscaped trails for the humans.

The San Diego Safari Park gives kids an even better glimpse into how animals live in the wild, with its gigantic savannah inhabited by giraffes, zebras, rhinos and more. The highlight is the Journey Into Africa tram ride to get a closer look at the animals. Every single time I climb aboard, I learn something new from the tram driver’s educational talk.

Feeding birds at Lorikeet Landing at the San Diego Safari Park with my daughter, Karissa

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Many weekends you can find my family hiking at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, which offers a series of trails located on cliffs perched over the ocean in La Jolla. Come here to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and take in breathtaking vistas of the ocean. This is one of only two places in the world where twisty Torrey pine trees grow naturally.

Hiking with my daughter at Torrey Pines Natural Reserve

Take the Beach Trail if you want to descend all of the way to the ocean. If visiting with young children, choose the Guy Fleming Trail, an easy loop that is just the right size (two-thirds of a mile) for my nearly three-year-old. During warmer months, spend the day splashing in the water at Torrey Pines State Beach just below the reserve.

La Jolla Cove
La Jolla is well known for its designer shops and upscale dining options, but “The Cove” is a favorite place to come enjoy nature’s beauty as well. Enjoy a picnic lunch while listenening to live music in the grass at Scripps Parkway during the summer. Walk along ocean cliffs and peer at California Harbor Seals lazing about on the beach at Children’s Pool – a small cove protected by a concrete breaker. Go swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving in the waters at La Jolla Cove. Whenever my family makes our way to the gorgeous area of La Jolla, my Midwestern born and raised husband and I stare out at the ocean’s waves pounding white ruffles of water against the rocks and say, “Can you believe we live here?” It overwhelms us with its beauty every time.

La Jolla Cove

Colleen Lanin is the creator and editor of TravelMamas.com, a site for parents who want to travel with children … and stay sane! The website offers printable packing lists, travel tips, giveaways and stories for parenting on the go. Colleen is a freelance writer and author of the upcoming book, The Travel Mamas’ Guide. She has lived in Arizona, Minnesota and Southern France. Now she makes her home in San Diego with her husband and two children.