Kids Free San Diego returns in October

Throughout October, dozens of San Diego hotels, restaurants, attractions, museums, tours and transport will offer families big savings.

The 12^th annual “Kids Free San Diego” returns to help parents stretch their dollars further.

There is a host of unique deals for kids, ranging from free admission at local attractions to free meals at restaurants.

San Diego is rated one a top family destinations and in October there is even more reason to visit.

Check out some of the highlights for an affordable family getaway.

Major savings at major attractions
There are big savings this October with admission deals at popular theme parks.

The San Diego Zoo is offering free admission to kids 11 years and younger when accompanied by a paying adult. Guests can interact and play in four innovative nature play areas and visit habitats from around the world. This includes desert dunes, marsh meadows and rainforests.

The same offer is also valid at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a 1,800-acre wildlife sanctuary and home to more than 300 species.

Children, ages 4 to 9, receive free admission to the all-new Sesame Place San Diego with one full-paid adult ticket until the end of October. Kids in costumes can participate in The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular Sept. 16 – Oct. 29. The park will be transformed into a family-friendly Halloween haven as guests enjoy trick-or-treating around the park and Halloween-themed shows.

Belmont Park is offering free admission for guests 12 and under and/or under the height of 48″ when buying 1 Belmont Park Combo Wristband (48″ and taller). The wristband includes all-day access to over 20 different rides and attractions. Guests can also enjoy Belmont Park’s Fall Festival, Sept. 9 – Oct. 31, with amusement park rides, a Pumpkin Pop-Up, live music and seasonal beer-on-tap for the adults.

Hotels roll out the welcome for kids
San Diego hotels, from budget options to luxury, are offering free meals, special experiences and welcome gifts for kids.

Located on the shores of Mission Bay, Bahia Resort Hotel offers families 25% off their stay and kids, ages 12 and under, get a free meal for each paid adult entrée at Dockside 1953. Kids can enjoy free admission aboard the Bahia Belle sightseeing cruise to explore the 4,200-acre aquatic park. Families can also experience a paddleboard or kayak adventure with complimentary rental from Bahia’s on-site partner, Action Sport Rentals.

At family friendly Paradise Point Resort & Spa on Mission Bay, kids ages 12 and under can play, shop or eat for free with a special “island allowance” worth $50. The credit can be applied toward ice cream, a toy from the gift shop, bike rental and more.

The new Kimpton Alma San Diego is offering kids 12 and under a free house-made ice cream sandwich with the purchase of an entree at Leave of Absence family-friendly rooftop restaurant. After a meal, guests can enjoy patio games like Giant Jenga, Connect 4, foosball, and cornhole.

Kids deals at San Diego’s restaurants 
A taste of San Diego’s diverse culinary scene while kids eat free at participating restaurants.

Featuring celebrity chef Akira Back, Lumi is an upscale rooftop experience serving innovative Japanese fare and sushi. For October, from Sunday-Thursday, kids under 12 and under eat free with an adult purchase. Kids Menu choices include sushi rolls, shrimp and sweet potato tempura and chicken katsu.

Located inside the popular Little Italy Food Hall, Samburgers has food-celebrity Sam the Cooking Guy’s fan favorite burgers. Kids 12 and under can enjoy one free kid’s meal with the purchase of one adult meal.

Enjoy a margarita and traditional Mexican food at Casa Guadalajara, while up to three kids receive a free meal from the kids menu per one paid adult entrée.

Kids learn at arts and culture venues 
Kids have endless options to learn while having fun at museums offering free admission.

In North County San Diego, kids can learn about the history of surfboards at the California Surf Museum. The museum features permanent and revolving exhibits, such as Bethany Hamilton’s shark-bitten board. Kids can also explore interactive exhibits and come face to face with exciting creatures, including a rescued Loggerhead Sea Turtle, a Giant Pacific Octopus and Leopard Sharks at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla. Meet the world’s smallest penguins in a brand-new exhibit at Birch Aquarium.

Families can enjoyhours exploring Balboa Park, the largest urban cultural park in North America, home to 18 museums and performing arts venues. Kids receive free admission at participating park museums, including the Japanese Friendship Garden of San Diego, and the Museum of Us.

Downtown’s kid-friendly museums include the Maritime Museum of San Diego, a collection of historic sailing ships, steam-powered boats and deep-diving submarines, and the USS Midway Museum, a historic aircraft carrier that features flight stimulators and real fighter jets. The New Children’s Museum stimulates imagination through engaging encounters with contemporary art.

Free cool ways for kids to explore San Diego
During October, kids can explore San Diego through a variety of unique tours and fun activities for free.

Explore Mission Bay from a kayak with Ocean Connectors. Kids under 12 can see coastal wildlife for free while learning about conservation and marine biology.

One child under 17 years old rides free with a paid adult on a San Diego Whale Watch adventure. Marine biologists share their expertise with passengers about the San Diego marine ecosystem. Each whale watching trip is a two-and-a-half-hour journey, with a chance to spot Blue, Humpback, Minke and Finback Whales.

Kids can discover “America’s Finest City” on a two-hour, fully narrated, historic city tour of San Diego and Coronado aboard a uniquely themed trolley. Old Town Trolley Tours covers approximately 25 miles and over 100 points of interest. Guests can hop on and off at several stops and tour at their own pace.

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