San Diego, California, Family Vacation

San Diego has everything a family could want in a vacation: beautiful beaches, tons of attractions (including the world-famous San Diego Zoo and LegoLand), luxurious resorts, quaint neighborhoods, miles of museums, great food, friendly folks, and, perhaps most importantly, beautiful weather all year long. Everyone smiles at your kids in San Diego. Go there, and you'll be smiling too.

San Diego is alive with tourists all year round, especially from Memorial Day to Labor Day, when attractions debut new exhibits and rides. But the weather is so nice that you can visit any time of year. The off-season is a good time to go because hotels lower their prices and you can often find good deals on plane fares. A well-kept secret is that September is an ideal month to visit. The weather is still warm and gorgeous, things are more affordable, and there are fewer crowds.

Average temperatures for summer months range between 64 and 75 degrees, but every month has nice weather in San Diego. Get more weather info.

The San Diego International Airport (SAN) is a large international airport, and you can often find amazing deals on carriers like Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airways. You can take an Amtrak Intercity and Coaster to and from the airport, or numerous other Amtrak trains and Greyhound bus lines. Shuttle buses, limousines, and taxis are also widely available.

Chances are you'll need to rent a car for your visit (which is surprisingly affordable at the airport).Be aware that most rental car companies have strict policies regarding travel across the Mexican border.

The public transportation system, San Diego Trolley, has trolley services that cost between $1.25 and $3, depending on the distance traveled. Blue and Green Lines go from downtown to Old Town, Mission Valley, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego State University, and to the Mexican border across Tijuana. The Orange Line serves the San Diego Convention Center area and San Diego's East County.

San Diego's Metropolitan Transit Development Corporation buses, known as the Breeze, serve the metro area. While sprinter trains connect different towns within greater San Diego. Cabs are easy to find, and pedicabs are also common in the more touristy parts of town.

There are festivals and events in San Diego throughout the year, and each has its own corresponding website. Visit SanDiego.org for an exhaustive list.

SanDiego.org is the official San Diego Convention and Visitors' Bureau's website.

The bad news: San Diego is an expensive city to visit. The good news: there are a lot of ways to find deals and steals. Check out deals and steals at SanDiego.org. If you want more, see their list of 25 fun and free things to do.

• San Diego is considered the birthplace of California but it hasn't always been in the hands of the North Americans. In 1542 Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (hence the national monument's name) disembarked in what is now San Diego Bay and claimed the area for Spain.
• In 1769, Father Junipero Serra established the Mission San Diego de Alcala, one of the most important of his 21 missions that later extended to Northern California.
• The 1915 and 1936 international expositions sparked the development of the city's 1,200-acre Balboa Park.
• There are approximately 54,155 hotel and motel rooms in San Diego County and approximately 6,700 restaurants countywide.