Click for possible route/stop changes on the day of your tour here.
logo-print
Skip to content
open search box Close
Manage booking
loading
Accessibility
Search TICKETS

Family & Kids

Ultimate Guide to San Diego on a Budget

San Diego – southern California’s gem only a stone’s throw from the Mexican border is known for sun, sand, sea and vitamin D access year ‘round. Visitors may come for the beaches but they stay for the fish tacos. Whether you’re hitting the sand at Mission, La Jolla, Ocean or Coronado – in every grain of sand, you’re bound to feel the magic of the city.

More Info

Things To Do in San Diego With Kids

Get MORE out of your summer in San Diego aboard the iconic Old Town Trolley and see the best first!

Looking for the most efficient and entertaining way to visit many of the things to do in San Diego with kids? Look no further because Old Town Trolley Tours offers parents a relaxing way to tour all the best San Diego attractions for kids. Parents don’t have to worry about searching for directions to the Children’s Museum, driving to the San Diego Zoo, or finding parking while traveling from all of San Diego’s best attractions.

No matter what time of the year you visit, family fun abounds in San Diego. The weather is as close to perfect as it can get, the locals are friendly, and the area is bursting with things to do.

Our hop on and hop off trolley tours allow the parents to concentrate on having fun with their kids instead of worrying about logistics. We make the tours in San Diego for kids very entertaining by providing neat facts about all the best places to visit. Your kids will thank you for giving them a fun-filled vacation and you’ll thank Old Town Trolley for taking care of the logistics. Also, kids under age 4 ride totally free!

More Info

Things to Do On Coronado Island

The bay provides a spectacular backdrop to a charming collection of specialty shops, art galleries and restaurants. Originally known as the old Ferry Landing, visitors and locals alike come to enjoy the palm-lined pathways and open-air amusements. Whether you’re hungry for fresh seafood or California cuisine, there’s a variety of fine dining and casual eateries to choose from. Spend some time at the waterfront park to fish off the pier, relax in the grass, or build a sand castle at the beach. Or you can just lounge under a tree and watch as the many different boats travel in and out of the bay.

More Info

SEAL Tours

logo with stars and stripes in background and in the foreground, the words 'United States Coast Guard Approved'Splash into San Diego’s most unique sightseeing adventure! Both tour bus and boat, the San Diego SEAL Tour journeys through San Diego by sea AND land. Our unique “Hydra-Terra” amphibious vehicles are Coast Guard approved, ensuring you a safe, one of a kind experience. Your fully narrated tour will depart from San Diego’s Seaport Village on Harbor Drive or Embarcadero, and will tour the historic streets of San Diego before making its way into San Diego’s Big Bay.

Buy Tickets More Info

Star of India

San Diego’s Star of India is the ‘world’s oldest active sailing ship’. When many were still being created out of wood, this iron ship built in 1863 was a great experiment. Beginning the stages of her life known as Euterpe, this full-rigged ship continued until changes were made almost four decades later. The ship’s sailing began with rough seas. Within two trips to India she endured a cyclone, the death of her first captain, collision and a mutiny. Surviving this difficult beginning, she was turned into a cargo ship and returned to India four more times. In 1871, her ownership turned to London where she began a 25-year run of moving British emigrants to the South Pacific. In that quarter century, she circumnavigated over twenty trips. Her log suggests those trips often found her ‘laboring and rolling in a most distressing manner’, but she was the little iron ship that could. Life for the ship was as difficult as it was for those aboard. Emigrants spent time in cramped quarters, with limited rations and suffering disease and malnutrition. Although some perished during the journey, most saw a successful life in their new home of New Zealand.

More Info
Up

FAQs

We take great pride in providing an itinerary that showcases all the great aspects of each city during our tours. The most popular stops on our San Diego tour include Balboa Park, the Star of India Maritime Museum, the Gaslamp Quarter, the Embarcadero Marina/USS Midway Museum, and the Hotel del Coronado.

Our San Diego tour is 25 miles long and is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from start to finish, but our hop-on, hop-off tour is designed for you to hop off at any stop, explore a San Diego attraction or neighborhood, and hop back on when you are ready to resume your San Diego sightseeing experience.

You may start your Old Town Trolley Tour at any of our convenient stops. Click on Map and Stops to see a list of our stops with information about the attractions and points of interest at each stop.

The San Diego Tour travels through Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town, Balboa Park, Coronado, and downtown.

Our San Diego tours run 363 days per year (364 in leap years). We’re only closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego operates the city’s largest fleet of sightseeing vehicles, and this allows us to pick up and drop off more frequently than any other trolley company. The frequency of the trolleys depends on the time of the year, traffic, and weather conditions.

Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre natural wonderland filled with unforgettable experiences for people of every age. Yes, our San Diego tour goes to Balboa Park.

This charming island is located off the coast of San Diego and is popular for its idyllic ambiance, picturesque scenery, and rich history. If you’re looking for a unique and engaging way to explore Coronado Island, the Old Town Trolley tour is an excellent option. Driving across the bridge is exhilarating, and you’ll get panoramic views of the city from a high vantage point. This tour is an exciting, informative, and entertaining way to see the island’s iconic landmarks, including the famous Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Beach, and the gorgeous mansions overlooking the bay.

San Diego is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States, with great weather, a thriving restaurant scene, and many attractions to visit. However, if you have mobility issues or simply don’t want to do a lot of walking, it can be tricky to find things to do. That’s where the Old Town Trolley tour comes in handy. This guided tour of San Diego’s top landmarks allows you to sit back and relax while learning about the city’s history, culture, and architecture. Whether you’re interested in history or culture, or simply having a good time, this tour will take you to some of the city’s must-see attractions.

San Diego is one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities in California. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, there’s something for everyone, from stunning beaches, world-class museums and cultural landmarks to a bustling nightlife and a welcoming atmosphere. But, for those of you who only have one day to discover it all, is it even possible? The answer is yes, and the quickest and easiest way to do it is by taking the Old Town Trolley Tour.

The Old Town Trolley Tour is a hop-on, hop-off tour that covers all the major landmarks in San Diego. You can catch the trolley at any one of its stops and hop on and off as many times as you like. The journey will take you to some of the most famous places in San Diego, such as Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, and the USS Midway Museum. You’ll also see the world-famous San Diego Zoo, the vibrant Little Italy District, and the charming Old Town. With many stops, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see the most iconic places in the city.

The Whaley House Museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Diego. It’s not only a beautiful Victorian mansion, but it’s also famous for its paranormal activity. With its dark past, the museum probably has more history and intrigue than any other spot in the city.

Day tours at the Whaley House are perfect for families with kids and those who prefer historical tours. During the day, the mansion is well-lit, and you’ll have a chance to admire the beautiful architecture and learn about the Whaley family’s history from knowledgeable guides.

If you’re looking for a more thrilling experience, the evening tours are for you. The Whaley House has a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in America. Beneath this beautiful facade lies a darker side. Visitors report various paranormal experiences at the house. Some see ghostly visions, while others hear footsteps in empty rooms. Will you be lucky enough to witness these paranormal activities?

Whether you choose a day or evening tour, you won’t be disappointed. The day tours offer a more traditional historical experience, while the evening tours are perfect for thrill seekers and those interested in the paranormal.

Balboa Park spans an area of over 1,200 acres, which means it could take a while to see everything. Typically, it would take you at least an entire day to see the main attractions and explore the park. This could be longer or shorter depending on how much time you spend at each attraction and how much walking you want to do. It is possible to visit Balboa Park on the Old Town Trolley Tour, as it includes an overview of the park’s history, significant landmarks, and distinct architectural styles. Therefore, if you only have limited time to visit Balboa Park, you can hop on the Old Town Trolley Tour and learn about the park’s history while getting a glimpse of its beauty.

Back to top