Sunny and Warm Destinations, Just One Short Flight From Seattle

Escape to sandy beaches, hike and bike, and make a short drive to several theme parks. You can really choose your own adventure and vacation pace here.

From Seattle, the flight time is about three hours and there are over 10 non-stop flights a day.

San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is the most visited zoo in the United States — a well-deserved ranking. Prioritize which animals you want to see the most, as it’s impossible to see everything in one visit. My kids always enjoy a ride on the Skyfari Aerial Tram (no larger strollers allowed but we were able to bring our small collapsible one), with great views of Balboa Park. The 30-minute tour bus is another great way to move about the park with littles while learning a lot. Be sure to step into the Wildlife Explorers Basecamp (opened in 2022) where kids can play alongside animals in their habitats and “feel what it’s like to be wild.”

If you have more time, check out the separate San Diego Zoo Safari Park, with various safari-like driving tours as well as walking paths throughout the zoo to see the animals roaming more freely.

Pro tip: On a hot day, pack bathing suits and water shoes to cool off at the splash pad at Explorers Basecamp. They even have a human-sized dryer to walk through for a few dollars.

Beaches and playgrounds

Visit the La Jolla Cove seals at the Children’s Pool Beach, take the Coronado Ferry from downtown San Diego to Coronado Island to visit the iconic Hotel Del Coronado’s beach, fly a kite at Mission Bay Park (bonus — come during the annual Ocean Beach Kite Festival, the oldest running children’s kite festival in the U.S.!), check the tide times for tide pooling at La Jolla tide pools, or play at a fun beach playground like the Maruta Gardner Playground at Bonita Cove Park. Our favorite beach for playing, strolling and biking is the 2-mile stretch between Pacific Beach and Mission Beach.

Pro tip: Start your day like a local at Woody’s for coffee, smoothies and bowls, breakfast burritos (breakfast served until noon), and ocean views.

Legoland

Drive about 35 minutes to Legoland, which has more than 60 rides, shows and attractions designed for adults and children ages 2 and older. (Your child doesn’t have to be into Legos to enjoy this amusement park.) Some of our favorite rides include Driving School, where kids can earn their “driver’s license”; the virtual Emmet’s Flying Adventure; and the Ninjago interactive ride. If you have dinosaur lovers, the new Dino Valley is full of adventure for the whole family!

While ride requirements are sometimes based on height and sometimes age, there are rides for all kids to enjoy. Walking through Miniland USA is a must. More than 32 million Lego pieces form this iconic section of Legoland. Legoland also has a seasonal water park and Sea Life Aquarium to explore if you have more time.

Pro tip: You can usually find a “kids go free” promotion coupon on the packaging of small Lego sets, and inside the Lego Magazine. This coupon is for a complimentary child ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. My Lego-loving kids look forward to their free magazine delivery full of inspiration, puzzles and comics.

Annie’s Canyon Trail

If your kids are up for a hike, Annie’s Canyon Trail is a popular trail in the area (distance varies based on which trailhead you use, but the one described here is 2.3 miles round-trip). With sweeping ocean and lagoon views, a sandstone slot canyon, and the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, this trail differs from what we are used to back home in Seattle. Keep in mind that this trail is doable for kids, but is considered moderate, including some stairs, narrow passages through the slot canyon and ladders. Toddlers may need to be carried up the ladders.

Pro tip: Wear good shoes or hiking boots for this trail, and pack your ten essentials. Park for free on the street by starting at the Solana Hills trailhead.

— Krista Tsai

Last stop: New Orleans, Louisiana