Posts by Emily Burrough

The highly-anticipated New Children’s Museum of San Diego finally opened downtown in May 2008 and is well worth the wait. The 50,000 square-foot space is all-new and full of clever and unique activities for kids of all ages.

Upon entering the museum, kids are immediately drawn to the foot-powered Segway-type scooters. On the same level is “Tent City”, a multi-level cloth structure through which children can climb and play house, as well as the Outdoor/Indoor Art Studio with the popular Painted VW Bug and a clay studio. If you plan to let your child paint, make sure you both dress appropriately as you are almost guaranteed to be covered in blue paint by the time you’re finished.

In the basement is the shadow puppet theater where kids can cut out their own shapes and characters, a dress-up and performance area complete with a huge mirror for posing, and Delphine, the ocean-themed video installation that kids like to turn into a shadow puppet show as well.

Teens will appreciate the areas made especially for them on the top floor, including The Costume Project and the Tech Studio. Also on the second floor is the “No Rules Except” exhibit, which my sons call the “pillow-fight room”. This room is completely covered in mattresses and tire-shaped pillows and is fun for toddlers all the way up to teenagers (who doesn’t love to jump on the bed?). This room is my kids’ favorite part of the museum. They love to slide down the leaning mattresses and see how high they can stack the tire pillows before they fall.

Also on the top floor is a climbing wall and another indoor/outdoor studio. This studio has loads of wooden sticks that children can use to build (think Lincoln logs), a ramp for racing handmade cars, and a bubble studio that is sure to keep the little ones busy and happy.

One thing that I really appreciate about the New Children’s Museum is how “green” it is, in both its construction and the materials that they use. If you’re interested in teaching your children about conservation and sustainability, be sure to point out all of the eco-friendly items at the museum, from the recycled concrete stairs to the huge wall of windows that all but eliminate the need for light bulbs inside during the day.

The New Children’s Museum is a bargain. Children over age one and adults are $10/each, but for just $75, your entire family can enjoy free admission for one year.

Even if you don’t have sons with more Legos than Toys R Us like I do, you and your family will enjoy yourselves at Legoland. From the exciting Dragon roller coaster to the extremely mellow Fairy Tale Brook, Legoland is a fun outing for toddlers to tweens, and even for adults.

I started taking my oldest son to Legoland monthly around his 2nd birthday and was pleasantly surprised at how much there is for a little kid to do there. When my kids were toddlers, their favorite rides were the helicopters, the airplanes, the Safari Jeeps, and the Duplo Town train. As they got a little braver and taller, their new favorites were the Jr. Driving Course and the Royal Joust. Around age 5, they started riding the Dragon Coaster, Wave Racers, Bionicle Blaster (think Disneyland’s tea cup ride, only made out of Lego Bionicle pieces) and the Knight’s Tournament.

Most adults will marvel at the intricate Lego models in Miniland. There are reproductions of many major cities, such as New York City, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. The details of the buildings are absolutely amazing, from the Victorians in S.F. to the marching band in front of the Capitol that actually plays music. Take the Coast Cruise (no height requirement) to see the models of Mt. Rushmore, the Sydney Operahouse, and the Taj Mahal. No trip to Legoland is complete without strolling through Miniland and admiring the miniature architecture.

If it’s warm outside, bring your child’s swimsuit and a towel and let them get soaked in the new Pirate Shores area. Water trickles, sprinkles, and dumps out of many different gadgets that the kids can control. There are also water slides and rides in this area, so prepare to get very wet!

When you’re exhausted, but the kids still have energy, head over to either Duplo Town or the Hideaways, depending on your child’s age. At both of these places, you can sit back and relax while your little munchkin runs off the rest of his crazies. Beware: there is no gate at Duplo Town, so keep an eye on your child in case he wants to wander off. When it’s very hot out and you want to sit in the air conditioning, take the kids to the Build and Test area, where they can check out wheels and build their own cars to race against other kids. Next door is a Duplo room where toddlers can play with every type of Duplo ever made.

One of the best things about Legoland (especially compared to Disneyland) is that you can go on an “off” day and not sit in lines for hours. The last few times we’ve gone have been days when it was either a school day or the weather was a bit iffy. It was totally worth it because most of the lines were 10 minutes or less. However, if you go on a school holiday or when the weather is gorgeous, prepare to wait in line. The waits still won’t be as long as at Disneyland, though.

Another bonus at Legoland is that the food is better than most other amusement parks. It has gotten a bit more expensive over the last few years, but your pass gets you a 20% discount. My favorite restaurant is the Garden Restaurant, which serves healthy fare like turkey or tuna sandwiches, salads, and soups. The Fun Town Market Restaurant is also pretty good—you can order Chicken Stir Fry or make your own salad at the large salad bar. Other dining options include a medieval-themed barbecue restaurant, a pizza restaurant, and several hamburger, hot dog, and ice cream stands.

From my six years of going to Legoland, I’ve figured out a few money-saving tricks. First of all, if you have preschool-aged kids, especially Lego-lovin’ boys, I highly recommend buying a Membership Plus annual pass. For about $10/month, you get free parking ($10/car) and admission, plus 20% off dining and 10% off purchases. I always packed lots of snacks and drinks, which you’re allowed to bring into the park, as well as our Legoland cups, which can be refilled for only .99 instead of buying a soft drink for $3. Once inside the park, if you bring a bucket and shovel, you’ll save yourself $5 at the Dino Dig, where kids dig in the sand to uncover dinosaur fossils.

Opening in March is a whole new area of Legoland, Land of Adventure, which is set in 1920s Egypt and will feature the park’s first dark ride, Lost Kingdom Adventure. You can bet that my family will be there!

If you're in San Diego and looking for an inexpensive date spot that won’t make you look like a miser, head on over to the lounge in The Brigantine during their famous happy hours (twice daily on the weekends!). The restaurant side of the Brig can be pretty pricey, but the bar is where it’s at for cheap eats and great atmosphere.

For just a couple of bucks, you and your date can fill up on delectable Brig Original fish tacos with cheese (normally $7, but only $2.25 each during happy hour). Wash those tacos down with either a huge Brig Brew (another happy hour special) or a house margarita (only $3.50 during happy hour). The servers are consistently friendly and prompt and the food is delicious. Another fave of mine is the Coctel del Mar, a tomato-based shrimp, crab, and avocado ceviche that is to die for.

Locations in Poway, Del Mar, Point Loma, La Mesa, Escondido, and Coronado.

Balboa Park, the gem of San Diego, is not only an incredibly beautiful place to stroll through gardens and enjoy lovely architecture and views of the city, it is also a place to take pleasure in entertaining and educational museums. When taking a child to Balboa Park, there are enough activities to fill several days, so pace yourself. Here are some of the must-see and must-do activities in Balboa Park:

Balboa Park is home to a large variety of museums that will appeal to many different interests. Among the most kid-friendly are the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, and the Natural History Museum.

The Model Railroad Museum is like a train-loving boy’s vision of heaven. The whole building is filled with elaborate displays of towns and countrysides with working model trains running through them. The details are impressive, from the teeny-tiny towns complete with stores and houses, to the itty-bitty people, cars, and trees. My kids especially love the train display with the ‘50s theme in the back room, mostly because they can press buttons to make different trains move.

Whether your child is interested in trains or not, he’ll enjoy a ride on the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad, driven by a friendly conductor. The short and sweet ride takes you on a ½ mile loop through 4 acres of the park.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is a popular spot for field trips and playgroups for good reason. This interactive museum features hands-on activities for kids of all ages on topics from space exploration to the creation of sound. There is even a toddler area called Kid City, where younger children can build, create, and dress up. If you have time, check out a huge-screen movie or a planetarium show in the IMAX theater.

The Natural History Museum is another kid favorite, especially when there is a dinosaur exhibit. Consider attending on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. for Nature, Mommy, and Me, when you’ll get a tour of the museum along with story time for your little one.

Be sure to visit the lily pond in front of the botanical gardens. My kids love to run alongside the pond watching the large koi swim. Adults will enjoy the view of the Botanical Building, the most-photographed building in the park. Step inside to show the kids the carnivorous plants eating insects and steal a few moments for yourself to check out the extensive collection of more than 2,100 plants and flowers.

The World Beat Center features African Drumming and Dancing classes for infants to adults, which are popular with playgroups. Nearby is the most popular playground at Balboa Park, Pepper Grove Playground, which has plenty of slides, swing sets, and climbing equipment, as well as picnic tables and shade trees.
Other popular attractions for kids are the Balboa Park Carousel, the Butterfly Garden, the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater, the San Diego Air and Space Museum, the San Diego Automotive Museum, and the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum.

Be sure to take advantage of Free Tuesdays at the Balboa Park museums. For a complete listing of dates, visit http://www.balboapark.org/calendar/detail.php?EventID=370. Note that some free museum admissions are offered only to San Diego residents. See website for details.

If your kids beg you to take them to Chuck E. Cheese, they’ll probably also enjoy My Kids Clubhouse in Poway. As my 7-year old put it, “My Kids Clubhouse is basically Chuck E. Cheese without pizza or video games.” The large room houses climbing tunnels, 3 wavy slides, a small ball pit, a pretend play area, and a toddler area, in addition to a snack bar and a few tables where moms can sit back and enjoy a latte. Besides the tables, there were a handful of rocking chairs (a thoughtful touch since there were a lot of moms with infants). The scene included just about every type of parent—lots of moms with at least one child, more than a couple of dads, a few grandmas, and a playgroup or two.

My oldest son and his friend (both age 7) ran through the tunnels repeatedly until they were drenched in sweat. My middle son (age 5) tired of the tunnels after about 30 minutes and started following around my youngest son (20 months) in the pretend play area. The play area was sparse, in my opinion, consisting of a few wooden play kitchens, a train table, a cash register, a toy box full of costumes, and a couple of bookshelves with toys on them. I expected more—maybe tools, doctor kits, that sort of thing.

We had planned to stay for 2 hours, but after about an hour, my boys were all ready to leave. On the ride home, their reviews of My Kids Clubhouse ranged from “Awesome!” (from my 7-year old) to “Bor-ing!” (from my 5-year old).

If you’ve been a parent in Southern California for long, you know that most indoor play places are insanely busy when the weather is rainy or very hot. My Kids Clubhouse is no exception to this rule. When I took my kids it was a double whammy—a rainy, cold Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—and My Kids Clubhouse was at or near capacity. However, according to two parents who go regularly, it’s rarely that busy.

My Kids Clubhouse is available for birthday parties and offers several different packages and pricing options. However, note that the clubhouse is open to the public during parties, so it could easily get very crowded with kids other than your guests.

Admission is $7 for the first child and $5 for each additional sibling. Infants under 1 year are free with paid admission. Adults are always free. Check out the San Diego Family Magazine for a discount admission coupon and don’t forget to wear socks!

Even if you’ve never dreamed of competing in the Indy 500, you’ll love the exhilaration of racing your own kart around the indoor track at Miramar Speed Circuit. I’m no speed demon out on the roads (how quickly do I really need to get to the grocery store?), but those little karts bring out the Dale Earnhardt in me.

My family has made a tradition of racing at Miramar Speed Circuit for the past few years around Christmastime and everyone enjoys it. We’ve battled relatives from my 70-year old uncle to our then-6-year old son. The competition can be fierce (my husband and brothers are a wee bit aggressive on the track), but the track marshals keep a close eye on the drivers to ensure that no bumping occurs and that everyone stays safe.

Before you can drive, you are given a safety briefing and an explanation of how the karts work. After you pick out a helmet and neck guard, it’s race time! I don’t know much about go-karts (or racecars, for that matter), but these little karts are so freaking fast! You can get up to 40 mph on the straightaways and then zip and skid around the hairpin turns of the technical asphalt track. The karts turn on a dime and are much easier to drive than one might think. After a 10-minute race, each driver is given a lap time report that tells their overall race time and how he or she placed against the other drivers. Let the gloating begin!

Junior karts are available for kids who are under age 12 and at least 48” tall. Drivers of the adult carts must be at least 54” tall. All drivers must wear closed-toe shoes.

Regular admission is $23. Discounted rates are available for members ($60/year) and for groups. Tuesday nights are 2-for-1 race nights and there is a lunch special Monday-Friday.

Right off of the I-15 is a hidden gem where fitness fanatics and nature lovers alike come together—Miramar Lake. Surrounded by a 5-mile paved road is a beautiful and calm reservoir where anyone can go to escape the craziness of modern-day living. Bustling with activity most days, you’ll find everything from kids on training wheels to die-hard cyclists, from fishermen in waders to the Scripps Ranch firefighters getting their daily exercise, from hot moms jogging in fashion workout attire to cute little grannies out for a morning stroll.

Nature lovers will enjoy the views of the lake and the city, as well as the ducks and birds that populate this area. Watch out for the psycho geese, though! While I’ve actually witnessed someone hand-feed a goose at the lake, I’ve also seen these birds attack more than one pedestrian who did nothing more than innocently walk by them on the path. You should be safe tossing breadcrumbs to the ducks, though, a favorite activity of my own kids. You can also rent rowboats Saturday-Tuesday and try your hand at reeling in a trout or a wide-mouth bass.

If you’re at Lake Miramar for exercise, you’ll appreciate the mile markers every ¼ mile, the abundance of port-a-potties along the path, and the clean restrooms and water fountains near the parking lot. If you’d like to venture off of the main path, there are some great trails below and above the paved road. Don’t wear your clean new sneakers on the paths, though. Even if it hasn’t rained recently, the lower path can still be muddy. And just like most places in San Diego, be sure to watch out for rattlesnakes, especially in warmer weather.

While I run at Miramar Lake regularly and have always felt safe, keep in mind that there was an attempted sexual assault there in December 2006, so stay alert if you run, walk, or bike solo. It seems much safer since the dam was re-opened last summer because now there are pedestrians moving around the entire lake all day. Obviously, your best bet is to go when there are plenty of people around.

Even if you’re neither a workout extremist nor a bird watcher, the lake is a great spot for a picnic as there are loads of picnic tables and barbecues. Crack open a beer (canned—no glass allowed), sit back, and enjoy the view!

The phrases “sports bar” and “family-friendly” don’t normally go hand-in-hand, but at D Street Bar and Grill in Encinitas, both adults and kids can enjoy a meal and a fun atmosphere. Adults will appreciate the abundance of flat-screen TV’s showing just about any game they could want to watch and, if you ask your server, he or she will usually change one of the TV’s to a cartoon channel for the kiddos and provide them with headphones so that they can hear their show. This little detail has allowed my husband and I to have long, leisurely dinners and conversations that our three little darlings would not normally let us have while eating out.

As kid-friendly as D Street is, it also has a cool atmosphere and is very popular with both college kids and 30- and 40-something locals, which is confirmed by the large crowds on weekend nights. There are dj’s Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, a large beer and wine selection and a menu that is a step above the standard bar fare of chicken wings and French fries. My personal favorites include the Wicked Chicken Cheese Steak sandwich and the Chicken Parmesan, which is so yummy that it inspired me to start preparing it myself at home. The portions are oversized, so either split an entrée with your date or prepare to take it home for the next day’s lunch.

The kids’ menu is pretty typical: mac & cheese, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, noodles with butter, cheese pizza, but my kids always clean their plates at D Street (and often request to go to dinner there). The prices are decent and the service is reasonably good—some servers are excellent, some are only so-so, but as long as the kids are fed and entertained and my beer glass stays full, I’m content to spend an evening at D Street Bar and Grill.

If your kid loves those giant bouncy castles at birthday parties, he’ll think he’s died and gone to bouncy heaven at Pump It Up. Huge rooms filled with all sorts of inflatables will keep him climbing, jumping, and running until he’s worn out and ready to nap (Alleluia!). The inflatables include obstacle courses, “boxing” rings, huge slides, and the standard bounce houses that will keep kids from 18 months and up entertained for at least a couple of hours. I have to admit, I have a lot of fun there myself, especially while racing my kids through the obstacle course.

This place is extremely popular for birthday parties. In fact, my boys have been invited to more than ten parties there in the last few years. When you have a party at Pump It Up, you get the use of at least one supervised party arena for your group, as well as a private party room where you can eat cake and open gifts. The downside, in my opinion, is that it’s a pretty generic party. Of all of the parties that my family has attended at Pump It Up, it’s almost impossible to remember who the birthday kid was. The upside of a Pump It Up party is that my kids are completely exhausted and sweaty, which usually counteracts the hyperactive effects of all the sugar in the cake and ice cream.

Besides birthday parties, Pump It Up has “Pop-in Playtimes” for preschool and elementary school kids, as well as some evening “Date Nights”. Over the holidays, we sent our two older boys (ages 5 and 7) to an evening playtime and have never seen them so exhausted. That was totally worth the money.

San Diego County locations are in Poway, San Marcos, and Chula Vista.

Being stuck indoors on a rainy day can turn even the sweetest child into a wild-eyed miniature monster, especially when that little munchkin is being raised in San Diego, spoiled rotten by the ability to play outdoors 362 days a year. But on those 3 rainy days that we get here in SoCal (and on the handful of scorching hot ones in August and September), you will thank your lucky stars for a cool, dry, indoor place to entertain the little buggers like Kidsville in Poway.

The industrial park setting isn’t exactly the most welcoming, but inside Kidsville, bright mural-covered walls surround a mini city filled with a large selection of clever stations where kids can play pretend. There’s the theater filled with costumes, the hospital where kids can play doctor (fully clothed, of course!), a pizzeria, fire station, school, veterinarian office, and gas station to keep the little ones busy for at least a couple of hours. Kids can stay active, too, by riding or pushing the wide selection of ride-on toys around the rectangular "track". Moms (and the token dad) can hang out and chat at the center tables where they have a view of the entire place. At Kidsville it is actually possible to sit back and relax while your children play, a huge bonus for most parents. Also in the center is a baby play area for the littluns who don’t venture far from Mom yet.

Kidsville is actually CLEAN, unlike the flu-virus-covered play land at McDonalds. The staff sanitizes the toys daily and it shows.

Be sure to wear socks and pack a snack for your child. Otherwise, he’ll cruise around mooching crackers and juice boxes from other toddlers, like my own son did while visiting.

While Kidsville’s target market seems to be preschoolers, I know an 8-year-old boy who love this place and a 5-year-old girl who finds it boring. My own 1-1/2 year-old and 5-1/2 year-old boys can stay entertained for up to two hours at Kidsville, but my 7-1/2 year-old maxes out after an hour.

The biggest downside I can see is the price of admission. Personally, I think $9.95 (plus $4.95 per additional sibling) is a bit steep considering you’ll likely stay for two hours at most. However, there’s a new $50 punch card that gets you 10 visits. That is much more reasonable to me (especially if you split it with a friend!). Beware that it does have an expiration date, though.

Kidsville also offers themed birthday parties and Saturday night babysitting.