Taking the kids: Three days in San Diego

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You can easily get to and from the zoo and the rest of Balboa Park on the #7 bus from downtown San Diego. Admission to the zoo is $32 for adults and $19.75 for kids age 3 - 11. Admission to the Natural History Museum is $9 for adults and $5 for kids age 3 - 17.

Tip: It would cost $103.50 for a family of four to enter the zoo. Instead, purchase a Dual Membership at $86 or $99, depending on your zip code. This membership gives two adults in the same household free admission plus two free guest passes, free rides on the Skyfari, four discount guest coupons, four two-for-one Zoo Bus Tour coupons and a magazine subscription. In addition, your membership is fully tax-deductible.

Head back to the city and spend the remainder of the afternoon strolling the Embarcadero, a mile-long path along the bay. You can visit the Maritime Museum and see the collection of historic ships, or just look at the beautiful vessels from the path. The most impressive is the Star of India, the world's oldest active ship.

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Also along the Embarcadero path is Seaport Village, a collection of souvenir shops and gift stores. There are many casual, family-friendly restaurants serving burgers, pizza, pasta and Mexican food. Two that stand out as particularly family-friendly are San Diego Burger Company (burgers and chicken nuggets for kids, and ostrich and buffalo burgers for parents) and Asaggio (outdoor seating and great views along with deep-dish and thin-crust pizzas). After dinner, take the kids for ice cream and end your evening with a ride on the Carousel.

Day Two
Spend today at one of San Diego's several theme parks. If the kids didn't get enough wildlife at the zoo yesterday, head to the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. It's 35 miles north of San Diego in Escondido and is most easily accessible by car. You can observe the animals roaming much as they do in their native Asia and Africa. The most popular activity is the Wgasa Bush Line Railway, a 60-minute guided tour included with the cost of your admission. Admission is $28.50 for adults and $17.50 for kids. If you are visiting both the zoo and the park, consider buying a two-park ticket, which is more economical than purchasing separately. Both tickets must be used within five days of one another.

SeaWorld is another possibility for today, sure to be a hit with marine life-loving kids. Besides the major shows put on by Shamu the killer whale and sea lions Clyde and Seymour, kids will also love the hands-on interaction, like petting a dolphin or feeding bat rays. Admission to SeaWorld San Diego is $50.95 for adults and $40.95 for kids.

LEGOLAND is one of Southern California's biggest family draws. Located in Carlsbad, about 30 minutes north of San Diego, there are more than 15,000 LEGO models in the Park created from over 30 million LEGO bricks. Miniland USA is made up of reproductions of the best-known landmarks in major cities - the White House in Washington, D.C., Times Square in New York and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida are just a few of the highlights. The possibilities for interactive play are limitless - kids can build LEGO car and test it on a digitally timed track or go to "driving school," where they can earn a LEGOLAND driver's license. Admission is $46.95 for adults and $38.95 for kids and seniors.