A few weeks ago our family took a trip down to San Diego to see family and friends. This trip was a little different than most of ours. The focus was spending time with loved ones and not necessarily sightseeing. However, we did want to spend one night near Old Town San Diego so we could spend some time at one of our favorite spots in San Diego. Keep reading for our tips and recommendations for visiting Old Town San Diego with kids! Some links contain affiliates, all opinions are my own.

how to spend 24 hours in Old Town San Diego with kids

The great thing about Old Town San Diego is that even though it’s a must-do you can easily get a full experience with one day there. Or even a half day! It is easy to park your car in one location and walk to all the places you want to see. There’s also the option to take a trolley tour (more on that later) or stay right in Old Town like we did!

where to go

First of all, there is Old Town San Diego, and there is Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Old Town is like any main street area with small town vibes lined with restaurants and souvenir shops. You can sit on the patio of a Mexican restaurant and watch the people and cars pass by. Meanwhile, the State Historic Park has restaurants and shops also. However, it is closed off to traffic and you can meander about at a more leisurely pace. It really does feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

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Don’t miss:

• The Mormon Battalion Historic Site at San Diego is a can’t miss stop and best of all–it’s completely free! You’ll learn the history of this group’s contribution to the settlement of the west. The guided tour includes an interactive video presentation, viewing of historical artifacts, and demonstrations on gold panning and brickmaking.
• Unique Candy Shops are almost as plentiful as Mexican restaurants. Make sure you stop into one and purchase some candy by the pound form old fashioned barrels. The colorful salt water taffy bins also make for great photo ops–you know, if you care about that sort of thing. I bet you can guess if I do, haha.
• La Casa de Estudillo is a beautiful place to wander the grounds. It is a historic adobe house–so big that it’s actually considered an adobe “mansion”. It’s also a National Historic Landmark and you can take either a self-guided or docent-led tour. It is just one of the many museums that you can tour for free and your kids will love!

Insider travel tip: Even though there is plenty of free parking spots fill up quickly, especially on the weekends. Get to Old Town San Diego early and park for the day!

what to eat

If you go to Old Town San Diego without eating some Mexican food–you’re doing something wrong. If you’re a fan of Mexican food you’ll be a happy camper. There are so many great restaurants to choose from! A visit to Old Town San Diego with kids wouldn’t be complete without a stop at one of the unique candy or ice cream shops for some dessert. Most of these have a very vintage vibe and are a fun experience for the whole family.

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• Café Coyote is definitely a favorite restaurant for our family in Old Town San Diego. Plus, they’re one of many restaurants on the main street that make and sell fresh homemade tortillas to people walking by! It’s a fun experience and an even more delicious snack.
• Old Town Tequila Factory has the most incredible views because it sits up higher than most other restaurants in Old Town. Everything is made fresh in house too! Don’t let the name fool you–they’re actually very family friendly with a colorful atmosphere and kids menus with crayons.

Insider travel tip: Make sure you save room for dessert. There are lots of old school candy shops and ice cream parlors in Old Town that you don’t want to miss!

if you have older kids…

• Visit the Whaley House, regarded as the Most Haunted House in America. Tours during the day are self-guided, but the evening tours are fully narrated and talk more about the dark history of the Whaley House.
• Download the GPSmyCity App and take a self guided tour of San Diego which covers just under a mile and will take approximately 2 hours.
• Let teenagers browse the shops and free museum of Casa de Aguirre alone while you enjoy a quiet meal with your spouse at one of the restaurants.
• Take a tour with Old Town Trolley Tours. Book through Get Away today and use code LITTLEDOVE to save money!

Have you ever been to Old Town San Diego?

Follow our family’s adventures on Instagram with #YoungFamilyJaunts