Free Museum Tuesday — Balboa Park
Every Tuesday, San Diego residents enjoy free admission on a rotating basis to Balboa Park's world-class museums. Check the schedule — there's always something wonderful waiting just a short drive away.
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. — Proverbs 22:6
Museums & Nature Centers
Step aboard historic ships including the 1863 Star of India, the oldest active sailing ship in the world. A living lesson in seafaring history, perfect for curious kids and parents alike.
A beloved San Diego institution devoted to sustainable urban gardening. Explore heirloom vegetables, chickens, and hands-on demonstrations that connect families to the wonder of growing things.
Located at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, this beautiful garden teaches responsible stewardship of our natural resources through stunning drought- tolerant landscapes. Admission is free — a rare gift.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Home to over 3,500 animals representing 650 species, the San Diego Zoo is one of the finest in the world. The Safari Park in Escondido offers a wilder, open-range experience worth the drive.
Nestled in the Chula Vista National Wildlife Refuge, this gem celebrates the coastal wildlife of San Diego Bay — sharks, rays, sea turtles, and native birds in their natural habitat.
Children's Museum of Discovery
In Escondido (North County), this hands-on museum sparks a love of learning for ages 0–10 through science, art, world cultures, and outdoor discovery gardens. A wonderful morning outing.
Located in downtown San Diego, this innovative museum blurs the line between art and play, offering rotating artist-designed installations that delight children and adults in equal measure.
Commemorating the first European expedition to reach the West Coast in 1542, this National Park site on Point Loma offers stunning views, tide pools, and the historic Old Point Loma Lighthouse.
A stunning architectural landmark downtown, the Central Library hosts free summer reading programs, story times, and activities. The rooftop garden and children's section are family favorites.
Walking Tours & Neighborhoods
Stroll the charming streets of La Jolla, peek into galleries and boutiques, and end your walk at the cove to spot the colony of harbor seals resting on the rocks below. Best visited in the cooler morning hours.
A waterfront shopping and dining destination on San Diego Bay with a vintage carousel, street performers, and bay breezes. A delightful leisurely walk the whole family can enjoy.
A beautifully restored former Naval Training Center in Point Loma, now home to arts venues, restaurants, open lawns, and the NTC Park — a perfect spot for an unhurried family afternoon.
Parks & Outdoor Adventures
A peaceful inland park near Del Mar with open meadows, oak woodlands, and a children's playground. Ideal for picnics and quiet nature walks away from the summer crowds.
Set along the shores of Mission Bay, Tecolote offers wide lawns, a playground, and calm bay access — great for kite flying, frisbee, and watching the sailboats drift by.
Downtown San Diego's crown jewel park, featuring a spectacular interactive fountain that children can run through, vast lawns overlooking San Diego Bay, and easy access to the Embarcadero.
A neighborhood park featuring interactive water play features — perfect for cooling off on hot San Diego summer days. A local favorite for younger children who want to splash and play.
A beautifully designed 14-acre urban park in Mission Valley with an adventure playground, splash pad, dog park, and amphitheater. Free summer events make it a community treasure.
A charming historic park in Poway featuring a working 1907 steam locomotive that carries passengers on weekends. The little ones absolutely love it — history comes alive in the most delightful way.
Surrounded by chaparral hills, Lake Poway offers fishing, hiking trails, and rowboat rentals. A beautiful slice of wilderness just 30 minutes from downtown — a great day trip.
One of the largest urban regional parks in the United States, with over 60 miles of trails. The Visitor & Interpretive Center is a wonderful starting point for the whole family.
A natural marine classroom teeming with sea stars, anemones, urchins, and hermit crabs. Plan around low tide for the best experience — and marvel at the Creator's handiwork up close.
Faith & History
San Diego's Catholic heritage runs deep. These destinations are not merely tourist attractions — they are living places of prayer, history, and encounter with the Church's presence on the Pacific Coast.
A beautiful Italian Renaissance church in Little Italy, built in 1925 and lovingly cared for by San Diego's Italian-American community. Gorgeous tilework, stained glass, and a profound sense of peace.
The mother church of the Diocese of San Diego, located in the heart of downtown. Attend Mass, admire the soaring architecture, and let the beauty of the sanctuary speak of God's grandeur.
Founded in 1769 by Blessed Junípero Serra, this is the first of California's 21 missions and the birthplace of Catholic life in California. A living parish and a profound pilgrimage site.
A working Benedictine monastery in Oceanside set amid rolling hills. Guests are welcome to walk the grounds, attend the Liturgy of the Hours, and experience the prayerful rhythm of monastic life.
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
The "King of the Missions," founded in 1798 in Oceanside. The largest of all California missions, it houses a museum, active parish, and beautiful historic gardens — a must-visit for families.
Just an hour north in Orange County, this legendary mission — founded in 1776 — enchants visitors with its famous swallows, rose-filled gardens, and the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the Great Stone Church.
Volunteer as a Family
Service is at the heart of our faith. Summer is a perfect time to introduce children to the joy of giving — these organizations welcome family volunteers with open arms.
San Diego's largest hunger-relief nonprofit distributes millions of meals each year. Family volunteer shifts are available for sorting and packing food — children as young as 5 can participate.
Hosted by Catholic Charities of San Diego, this inspiring community event brings families together to pack one million meals for neighbors in need. Check the link for this summer's date — it fills up fast.
Surfrider Foundation Beach Cleanup
Care for God's creation by joining a Surfrider beach cleanup event. The San Diego chapter hosts regular cleanups along our coastline — a hands-on lesson in environmental stewardship for children of all ages.
The San Diego Rescue Mission serves men, women, and children experiencing homelessness throughout our county. Donating goods as a family — clothing, toiletries, household items — is a tangible, age-appropriate way to practice the Works of Mercy together.
Getting Around
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS)
Did you know MTS offers day passes, a free Youth Opportunity Pass for school-age children, and a network of trolley and bus routes connecting to many destinations on this list? The journey by trolley is itself an adventure — and a wonderful lesson in using shared community resources. Visit sdmts.com to plan your route.
Books to Read With Your Family
Reading aloud is one of the great gifts you can give a child. These beloved titles span ages and temperaments — classics of wonder, stories of courage, and quiet tales of nature that leave room for God.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis's masterpiece follows four children into the enchanted land of Narnia, where a great Lion fights for the world's redemption. Endlessly re-readable, it carries one of literature's most moving portrayals of sacrifice and resurrection.
Based on the true story of Salva Dut, a South Sudanese "Lost Boy," this short but powerful novel opens children's eyes to suffering far from their own — and the extraordinary resilience the human spirit is capable of.
The Little House on the Prairie Series
Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved series brings frontier life to vivid life — celebrating family, hard work, gratitude, and faith through the simplest of circumstances. Perfect for reading a chapter a night all summer long.
Kenneth Grahame's gentle masterwork follows Mole, Rat, Badger, and the irrepressible Toad through the English countryside. A book about friendship, home, and the deep goodness of the natural world — quietly enchanting.
Frances Hodgson Burnett's story of a neglected garden — and the neglected children who restore it — is a beautiful meditation on healing, hope, and the quiet miracles hidden in growing things.
Told from the perspective of a 216-year-old red oak tree, Katherine Applegate's gentle story explores belonging, prejudice, and community. A quick read that sparks meaningful conversations with children of any age.
Also from Katherine Applegate, this tale follows a girl who loves unloved creatures and discovers an unexpected friendship. A tender story about creation care, compassion, and finding beauty in what others overlook.
A.A. Milne's original stories of Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and friends in the Hundred Acre Wood are among the warmest ever written. Deceptively wise, they are as nourishing for parents as for children.
Katherine Paterson's Newbery Medal novel is a story of friendship, imagination, and loss that has moved generations of readers. Beautifully written, and an invitation for honest conversation with older children.
Saint Resources
The saints are our family — brothers and sisters who walked before us and now pray for us. Summer is a wonderful time to introduce children to these heroes of heaven through stories, podcasts, art, and prayer.
Saint Stories for Kids Podcast
Beautifully produced short episodes that bring the lives of the saints to life for young listeners. Perfect for car rides, quiet time, or winding down before bed. Kids ask for it by name.
Accessible episodes on individual saints, their lives, and their witness — suitable for older children and parents listening together. A wonderful companion for the feast days of summer.
My Catholic Life — Saints Biographies
A beautifully written, comprehensive collection of saint biographies for adults and older teens. Look up the feast day of any family member or explore the patron saints of your favorite places.
Meet the Saints — My Catholic Kids
Child-friendly saint biographies written with warmth and accessibility. A great daily summer tradition: read about one saint a morning and see what questions your children bring to the breakfast table.
Generate free coloring pages of your favorite saints from Tiny Saints' beloved illustrated style. A quiet, creative activity for younger children that doubles as gentle catechesis.
Shining Light Dolls — Free Downloads
Printable saint activities, coloring sheets, and crafts from a beloved Catholic family brand. A treasure trove for parents looking for meaningful screen-free activities rooted in the faith.
Tales of adventure, courage, and holiness drawn from the lives of the saints — written accessibly for younger readers. Beautifully illustrated and perfect for reading aloud at bedtime.
Inspirational stories of Catholic saints that read like the adventure tales they are. Ideal for older children who love heroes — these are the greatest heroes the world has ever seen.
A year-round companion with a brief, engaging story for every day of the liturgical calendar. Keep it on the kitchen table and let it anchor each morning with a moment of faith and reflection.
Lives of the Saints (Illustrated)
A richly illustrated children's edition of the lives of the saints, connecting young readers to the beautiful cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. A book to keep and return to for years.
Saints and Feast Days: A Resource & Activity Book
Part reference book, part activity guide, this resource helps families celebrate the liturgical year through crafts, recipes, and reflections tied to the feast days of the saints. A perennial family favorite.
Family Game Night
There is something irreplaceable about gathering around a table to play. These games — cooperative, creative, and genuinely fun — build patience, strategy, and the kind of laughter that makes a home feel alive.
A whole line of cooperative games designed to build teamwork rather than competition — everyone wins or loses together. Especially wonderful for younger children just learning to play alongside others.
Wildly silly, lightning-fast, and absolutely guaranteed to produce howls of laughter. All ages play on equal footing — which means the youngest child often wins, and nobody minds at all.
A clever, quick tile-laying game where players build their own kingdoms. Easy to learn but full of strategic depth — perfect for ages 8 and up and a lovely introduction to the world of modern board games.
A beautifully designed abstract strategy game set in the northern forest. Simple rules, deep play, and stunning wooden components that feel right at home on a summer evening table.
The classic that introduced millions of families to modern board gaming. Trade, build, negotiate — and practice the art of gracious winning and losing. Endlessly replayable, and never the same game twice.
Players build a medieval landscape one tile at a time, placing knights, monks, and farmers across fields, roads, and cities. A deeply satisfying game that rewards patience and creative thinking.
An accessible card-and-dice game of daring adventure set in an enchanted forest. Simple enough for young players, with enough luck and strategy to keep parents engaged. A lovely introductory game for ages 6 and up.
Players become giant monsters battling to rule Tokyo — rolling dice in a push-your-luck style that kids absolutely love. Fast, energetic, and full of gleeful chaos for ages 8 and up.
A fast-paced, head-to-head sliding puzzle race that sharpens spatial reasoning and pattern recognition. Two players race to match a scrambled Rubik's pattern — exhilarating and over in minutes.
Recipes, Crafts & Life Skills
Children learn by doing — and summers are long enough to let them really do things. These resources offer hands-on activities that build creativity, capability, and confidence right in your own kitchen or backyard.
A classic homemade play dough recipe that comes out beautifully scented and brightly colored — made with pantry staples and Kool-Aid packets. A timeless afternoon project that children love to make and use.
A simple, satisfying slime recipe using liquid starch — stretchy, smooth, and endlessly customizable with food coloring and glitter. Two ingredients, ten minutes, and an afternoon of entertained children.
Gems on the Go — Family Recipes
A lovely collection of family-friendly recipes from Gems — a Catholic girls' program — designed to get children involved in the kitchen. Cooking together is one of the oldest and richest forms of family life.
The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs
Developed with America's Test Kitchen, this cookbook teaches real cooking skills through 100 tested, kid-friendly recipes — from breakfast to dinner. A gift that builds confidence in the kitchen and lasts a lifetime.
The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs
The baking companion to the Young Chefs series — also from America's Test Kitchen — covering breads, cookies, cakes, and more. Baking with children is patience, precision, and joy all in one flour-dusted afternoon.
Life Skills Checklist for Kids
A practical, printable checklist of age-appropriate life skills — from making a bed to cooking a meal to doing laundry. Summer is the perfect time to work through a few. Children rise to the challenge when we give them the chance.
Prayer
Summer's slower pace is an invitation to pray more intentionally as a family. These resources offer gentle, beautiful ways to bring children into the ancient rhythms of Catholic prayer.
Lectio Divina — "sacred reading" — is an ancient practice of praying slowly with scripture. This guide adapts it beautifully for children, teaching them to listen for what God might be saying to them personally.
Taught by Pope Francis himself, this simple prayer method uses the five fingers of the hand as a guide to remembering who to pray for — from those closest to us to those hardest to love. Easy enough for any age.
A clear, comprehensive collection of traditional Catholic prayers — the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, the Rosary, and more. A summer of daily prayer is a gift children will carry for a lifetime.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are. — 1 John 3:1
More activities and resources will be added throughout the summer — check back soon.