JAMPACKED JULY
SCHOOL’S OUT, BUT THE KIDS NEED SOMETHING TO DO, AND THERE’S A WEALTH OF FUN-FILLED ACTIVITIES IN SAN DIEGO THIS MONTH
Pedal around Coronado on a surrey bike:
Team up with your family members to ride a surrey bike — which has one to two rows of covered seating, a front basket for small children and a set of pedals for everyone — and explore the small beach town of Coronado. You can rent one of these unique bikes seven days a week, starting at 9 a.m., from Wheel Fun Rentals. The last rental goes out at 6:58 p.m., with just enough time to ride off into the sunset. 9 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. daily. Wheel Fun Rentals, 1019 C Ave., Coronado. $30 per hour for single-row surrey bike; $40 per hour for double-row surrey bike. wheelfunrentals.com/ca/coronado/ coronado-island
Join in an All Inclusive Day of Play: Open to all ages, this event hosted by the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego offers countless engaging and accessible activities, including crafts, games and more. Be sure to check out the super wheelchair course, rubber duckies literacy pond and lightsaber creation station as well as booths showcasing disabled business owners and their products. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 15. Miramar Hourglass Recreation Center, 10440 Black Mountain Road, San Diego. Free. Register by searching “All Inclusive Day of Play” on eventbrite.com.
Light up the night at SeaWorld: This summer, SeaWorld is putting on a show with its summer series of glow-in-the-dark events, including the new “Adrenaline” stunt show, bayside concert series and “Electroblast,” a bioluminescent percussion show. There’s even an all-ages dance party at Club Sea Glow, where kids can dance the night away under colorful lights, before ending the night by watching the “Ignite” fireworks show. Through Aug. 14. Times vary. SeaWorld, 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego. Free with park admission. Ticket prices vary. Park admission is free for children under 3. seaworld.com/san-diego/events/ electric-ocean
Visit the children’s garden at San Diego Pride: Dignity, inclusion, compassion, respect, equity and equality. These values are what the San Diego LGBT Community Center celebrates at its annual Pride Festival. Join in the fun at the children’s garden, where there will be plenty of games, food and music for children to enjoy, along with resources for the community. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 16-17. 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park. Free. thecentersd.org
Attend a showing of ‘The Stinky Cheese Man’: Grab your popcorn and catch a showing of this silly but lively play performed by a local youth theater group. In this show, based on the award-winning book of the same name, classic fairy tales are retold with an unconventional twist and an animated musical soundtrack. There is a special showing on July 8 where kids can come dressed in their pajamas, and a showing on July 16 with an ASL-interpreted performance. 7 p.m. Fridays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. July 1-3, July 8-10 and July 15-17. Casa del Prado Theatre, 1650 El Prado No. 208, San Diego. $18 for adults; $16 for kids, seniors and military. juniortheatre.com/shows/ the-stinky-cheese-man-and-other-fairlystupid-tales-2022
Get creative at Kids N Kastles: The Imperial Beach’s Sun & Sea Festival is back with its Kids N Kastles competition, where kids 12 and under can put their sand-castle-building skills to the test in a competition for prizes from local businesses. Each team may have up to five participants and must have one adult chaperone. Farther down the beach, there will also be a professional sand sculpture competition with live entertainment for the family to enjoy. And the best part? It’s all free! 8:30 a.m. July 16. Dunes Park, 790 Seacoast Drive, Imperial Beach. Free. Register at sunandseafestival.com/kids-only-registration.
As the weather heats up and the last schools dismiss class, it feels as if summer in San Diego County has just truly begun. However, the endless days of sunshine also mean endless free time for kids, which raises the question: How can your family make the most of this summer? While the Fourth of July may be the main event of the month for many, San Diego has plenty of fun-filled activities to offer local families in July. From glow-in-the-dark dance parties to secret sea caves to eco-friendly community events, there are countless summer adventures awaiting young people. Here are 19 things to do with kids in July 2022.
Take a wagon ride at Oma’s Family Farm:
Soak up the sun during Recess at Oma’s, a local family farm that provides wagon rides, a petting corral and kid-centered tours around the property. After a day of fun, you can grab a bite to eat at the farm’s coffee shop, OmaGoodness Coffee. Tickets can be purchased online only before your visit. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. July 6-8. Oma’s Family Farm, 14919 El Monte Road, Lakeside. $8; $13 for ages 2-13; free for ages 2 and under. omasfamilyfarm.com/recess-at-omas
Enjoy sunshine and fresh fruit while strawberry picking at Carlsbad Strawberry Co.: There’s nothing like fresh fruit on a hot summer day, and that’s exactly what you can get when you visit Carlsbad Strawberry Co. Kids can frolic through the strawberry fields while filling a bucket with berries. There is also a sunflower maze, photo area and several free games for the family to enjoy. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Carlsbad Strawberry Co., 1050 Cannon Road, Carlsbad. $5 for field admission; $12 for a bucket holding up to 2 pints of strawberries. carlsbadstrawberrycompany.com/strawberry
Explore tide pools at La Jolla Cove and venture into Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave: Embark on a tide-pooling adventure at La Jolla Cove, one of San Diego’s most beautiful tide pool destinations. Plan your trip at low tide to catch a glimpse of crabs, sea anemones, sea stars and more. You might even be able to spot La Jolla’s famous sea lions and seals on the rock formations. Make sure to read about the tide pool ecosystem in advance to ensure that your experience is fun and informative for the kids, while also being safe and respectful to the habitat. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave, 1325 Coast Blvd., La Jolla. $10 for adults; $6 for kids ages 3-17. cavestore.com Get active for a good cause at the Transplant Games 5k Walk/Run: This year, the biannual Transplant Games of America will be hosted in San Diego. The event features transplant recipients and donors who compete in a wide variety of activities to celebrate and spread awareness of their stories. Support organ, eye, tissue and bone marrow transplant recipients and donors at the Transplant Games 5k Walk/Run. Participants of all ages are welcome. 7:30 a.m. July 30. San Diego County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego. $30 registration fee. transplantgamesofamerica.org/5krunwalk
Learn and interact with the story of SpiderMan at ‘Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing’:
Look out! Here comes Spider-Man. The Comic-Con Museum is hosting a special exhibition on the iconic superhero with original artwork, behind-the-scenes history and unique artifacts. This hourlong interactive exhibit is a fun way to learn more about your favorite comic character. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily starting today. Comic-Con Museum, 2131 Pan American Plaza, San Diego. $30 for adults; $18 for kids 4-12; $24 for seniors, military and students 13-17. Buy tickets by searching “Spider-Man” on feverup.com/san-diego.
See cool cars at the El Cajon Classic Cruise Car Show: The El Cajon Classic Cruise Car Show is back with everything from off-road vehicles to race cars on display. Kids can enjoy live music and games while checking out the vast selection of cars. End your day with a meal at a local restaurant lining the streets to support the community’s small businesses.
5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays starting July 6. Exhibition begins on Main Strett and Magnolia Avenue in downtown El Cajon. Free. downtownelcajon.com/cajon-classic-cruise-carshows
Strike gold at Eagle Mining Co.: Eagle Mining Co., the self-proclaimed “mother lode of Southern California,” offers guided tours of its gold mining tunnels, featuring antique machinery, tools and demonstrations of the mining process. Additionally, the mine offers a museum, rock shop and gold panning site where your family members can try their luck at striking gold. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Eagle Mining Co., 2320 C St., Julian. $15 for adults; $8 for kids 5-11; $1 for kids 4 and under. theeaglemining.com
Meet peacocks at Leo Carrillo Ranch:
Hollywood actor Leo Carrillo built his Spanishstyle ranch in the late 1930s, and it still stands today as Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, a preserved piece of San Diego’s past that provides free guided tours to the public. What makes this ranch particularly exciting are the countless peacocks that roam freely, perched on the roof of a building or strolling around the premises. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, 6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Lane, Carlsbad. Free. carrillo-ranch.org
Travel back in time with Old Town living history demonstrations: Every Saturday in San Diego’s vibrant Old Town, you can catch a different living history re-enactment, from fiber arts to blacksmithing to soap-making. The living history exhibits provide a fun and entertaining way for kids to learn more about the city’s rich past. Times vary. Available every Saturday. Old Town, 4002 Wallace St., San Diego. oldtownsandiego.org/historyofoldtown
Embark on a family-friendly hike at Crest Canyon Trail: With sprawling views of the San Dieguito Lagoon, the Crest Canyon hiking trail is a short, family-friendly hike perfect for a summer day. The trail is a mile-long loop that takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Protect local wildlife and make your hike eco-friendly by bringing trash grabbers and a bucket to collect litter along the way. 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Crest Canyon Park, 2250 Del Mar Heights Road, San Diego. alltrails.com/trail/ us/california/crest-canyon-trail-loop
Take a youth improv acting class at Mockingbird Improv: On Wednesdays and Thursdays this summer, Mockingbird Improv is offering youth acting classes focused on collaboration, creativity and building confidence. At the end of the summer class session, there will be a student performance showcasing the kids’ new skills. Mockingbird Improv also puts on several shows every month for the whole family to enjoy. 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursdays through July. Arts District Liberty Station, 2590 Truxtun Road, Studio 200, San Diego. mockingbirdimprov.org/youth
Join the Morning After Fourth of July community clean-up at Mission Beach Park:
Independence Day celebrations can get quite messy. Join the volunteer group I Love a Clean San Diego in cleaning up Mission Beach Park in its annual Morning After Clean-Up for an eco-friendly summer activity. The cleanup is also an opportunity for students to earn community service hours. 9 to 11 a.m. July 5. Mission Beach Park, 3000 Mission Blvd., San Diego. Register at cleansd.org/event/ morning-after-mess-clean-up-2
Take a stroll on the wild side at Sky Falconry:
Join Sky Falconry for the experience of flying a hawk and holding it on your arm (with a protective glove on, of course). Set against the backdrop of Southern California’s mountains, the Hawk Walk provides lessons about birds of prey and guidance from falconry experts for adventurers ages 6 and older. 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. classes offered. Classes available July 1-17. Sky Falconry, 593 Anderson Truck Trail, Alpine. $140 per participant; $70 per observer. skyfalconry.com/classes