Sesame Place

South Bay

The West Coast’s only "Sesame Street"-themed park, Sesame Place boasts 11 aquatic attractions among its nearly 20 rides. Get ready for watery thrills on such all-ages favorites as Bert’s Topsy Turvy Tunnels, Snuffy’s Spaghetti Slides and Oscar’s Rotten Rafts, as well as Big Bird’s Beach, a 500,000-gallon wave pool surrounded by a sandy beach. (The water rides at Sesame Place are generally open from late March through September; the park operates seven days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day, then offers limited hours.)

La Jolla Sea Caves

La Jolla

The stunning sea bluffs that line the coast near La Jolla Cove contain a series of sea caves that beckon to be explored. One great way to access them is via one of the kayak tours offered by Everyday California, whose expert guides will help you navigate the stretch of caves and fill you in on fascinating sights along the way. For a dry-land option, try descending the 145 steps from Sunny Jim’s Cave Store through a tunnel to the water’s edge, where you can view the heaving sea from inside one of the caves.

Legoland California Water Park

North Coastal

The LEGOLAND Water Park, tucked inside LEGOLAND California Resort, is the perfect place to cool off after a fun few hours exploring the “dry” part of this world-class attraction. Kids from toddlers to tweens will love the more than 20 LEGO water features, including a 45-foot-tall tower with multiple slides and a shallow wading pool, two sandy beach wading areas, a splash zoo and a lazy river. (Note that the water park is open from late May through late October, and only on weekends in May, September and October).

Waterfront Park

Downtown

Water features reopening late 2024

Set along San Diego’s beautiful Embarcadero, Waterfront Park is a 12-acre green expanse that features playgrounds, inviting lawns, sweeping bay views and a spectacular 830-foot-long fountain that serves as a fun splash zone. It’s a relaxing and refreshing place to beat the heat, and the views of the San Diego Maritime Museum’s historic vessels complete this matchless picture.

San Diego SEAL Tours

Downtown

Can’t decide between a land and water adventure? You can revel in both with San Diego SEAL Tours,  the region’s only amphibious sightseeing excursion. Climb aboard the company’s “Hydra Terra” vehicle and enjoy a 90-minute, narrated sea-and-land odyssey that rolls along the Embarcadero, then splashes right into San Diego Bay near Shelter Island. It’s a great way to discover San Diego’s beauty and history from every angle.

La Jolla Tide Pools

La Jolla

With 70 miles of Pacific coastline, San Diego offers all kinds of options for tide-pool exploration. And a great way to start your summer tide-pooling adventures is by getting connected with Birch Aquarium at Scripps, which not only has its own man-made, on-premise tide pools (complete with hands-on animal encounters), but hosts tours of the nearby La Jolla tide pools. From silky-soft anemones to spiny urchins and scuttling crabs, the tide pools teem with fascinating life, and exploring them is a fun way to spend a summer’s day.

Hotel Pools and Water Slides

Everywhere

Your whole family can make a splash all over San Diego with the awesome slides, pools and other watery perks that beckon at the region’s inviting hotels. And be sure not to miss The Twister at the beautifully renovated Town and Country Resort in Mission Valley: Standing four stories tall, it’s the city’s longest hotel water slide, boasting 150 feet of looping fun.