Looking for fun things to do with the kids in North County? We’ve got you covered with our all-new Kids Free Fun Guide featuring ideas for you including amazing events, new exhibitions and the family favorites in North County participating in Kids Free San Diego.
A Month of Family Fun
Kids Free San Diego
October 2023
It’s a kid’s paradise all month long! Kids ages 12 and under receive FREE admission with a paid adult to more than 50 of San Diego County’s favorite museums, historic sites, aquariums, gardens and more. Many are even free for the whole family! See all participating museums and offers here.
Kids also get to eat, stay, and play for free with dozens of deals on hotels, activities, restaurants, and attractions including SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo & Safari Park, LEGOLAND, Sesame Place and Belmont Park. Plan your trip today at SanDiego.org and get ready to explore!
Some restrictions apply and offers vary by participating organization. See offer coupons for specific details on each location before visiting.
Oceanside
California Surf Museum
San Diego kids love catching waves while lying on their bellies at this Oceanside favorite! Bring your kids to the California Surf Museum and also catch the eye-opening fun and informative Science of Surfing exhibit that explores the many surprising connections between science and the advancement of modern surfing. Get your Kids Free coupon here.
Oceanside
Mission San Luis Rey
Help celebrate the 225th anniversary of Oceanside’s historic Mission San Luis Rey. Here, kids will learn the story of our nation’s frontier past and the heritage that helped form California. Explore the grounds of this National Historic Landmark and check out the Museum’s displays of original art and artifacts that bring the Mission Era to life. Get your Kids Free coupon here.
Encinitas
ICA North
The Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego presents experimental art and learning with a mission to question everything. Kids will be fascinated by the works of Taylor Chapin and Danielle Dean at ICA San Diego in Encinitas. Get your Kids Free coupon here.
Encinitas
San Diego Botanic Garden
Head up the coast to Encinitas where you’ll find San Diego Botanic Garden with three areas designed just for kids – the Hamilton Children’s Garden (the largest on the West Coast, home to Toni’s Tree House, mountain stream and bird and butterfly garden), Seeds of Wonder (for early learners, with model trains), and the Junior Quail Trail (an immersive area to play and explore). On Wednesdays through Fridays at 10 a.m. to noon, kids can participate in the SAPLinGs (Science, Art and Play in Garden Spaces) program. October’s theme is carnivorous plants! Get your Kids Free coupon here.
Carlsbad
Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum
Who loves miniatures more than kids! Visit the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum in Carlsbad to see all kinds of fun music boxes, toys, engines and miniature homes. Admission is always free! Get your Kids Free coupon here.
Carlsbad
Museum of Making Music
Families will find hundreds of instruments on display from the last 150 years and experience an immersive panoramic multimedia display with multiple hands-on opportunities at the The Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad. The core exhibitions explore how and why these instruments develop—who makes them, how we gain access to them, what they sound like in the hands of masters, and how they feel in your own hands! Get your Kids Free coupon here.
Escondido
California Center for the Arts Museum
See the new fun and fantasical Positively Animated! exhibition by Nan Coffey at The Museum at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. And don’t miss the Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray exhibition with 50 photographic portraits of the iconic figure. Get your Kids Free coupon here.
Escondido
San Diego Archaeological Center
At the San Diego Archaeological Center kids can learn the story of how people have lived in San Diego County for the past 12,000 years. Journey through the museum on a family-friendly Archaeology Quest. Use your excavation skills to uncover the past. Examine and record your findings in the field lab – just like a real archaeologist! Then continue the fun at home with a pinch pot kit. Get your Kids Free coupon here.
Warner Springs
Warner-Carrillo Ranch House
Take a family road trip to Warner Springs for a visit to the Warner-Carrillo Ranch House. Built in 1857, the property served as the Butterfield Stage Stop and was California’s first regular overland stage connection with St. Louis. With its multilayered history, the adobe ranch house tells the story of the emigrant trail, the overland stage, and the prominent ranching history of the area. Get your Kids Free coupon here.
San Diego County Wide
Halloween Fun Guide
It’s officially “Spooky Season” in San Diego and local museums are ready to help you celebrate! There’s plenty to check out for kids, adults and families. Just view our NEW fun guide for the best of Halloween and Día de los Muertos events throughout San Diego. Find the FUN here!
