San Diego family guide
Things to Do in Coronado with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Coronado on the map
📍 Where Coronado is
Coronado sits in San Diego, Southern California. Nearest major airport: San Diego Intl (~3 mi / 5 km). It's roughly 113 mi (181 km) from Downtown LA — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
Things to do in Coronado
Coronado Beach
Wide, sparkling-sand beach beside the iconic Hotel del Coronado, great for swimming and sandcastles. The Victorian hotel opened in 1888, predates the City of Coronado itself, and is a National Historic Landmark and one of the last surviving wooden beach resorts of its era. Much of the beach's wide sand actually built up from material dredged from the San Diego Bay entrance channel in the 1930s.
Free (paid parking)
Coronado Ferry Landing
Bayfront shops and dining on the site of Coronado's original ferry terminal, where boats have carried passengers across the bay since 1886 — service that nearly vanished after the Coronado Bridge opened in 1969, until developers reimagined the old landing as a marketplace. Reach it today by the same fun harbor ferry route, now a 15-minute ride, with skyline views the whole way.
Free; ferry ~$8 each wayFamily attractions near Coronado
The closest kid-friendly attractions in neighboring towns — with driving distance from Coronado.
Seaport Village
Waterfront shopping and dining village on the Embarcadero, home to a hand-carved 1895 carousel by noted carver Charles I.D. Looff, the same craftsman behind the Santa Monica Pier carousel, that traveled through five cities before landing here in 2004. Fifty-four carved animals and two chariots still turn today alongside the bayfront strolls.
Free to stroll
The Embarcadero
A mile-long waterfront promenade along San Diego Bay, running past Seaport Village, the Maritime Museum, and the Broadway Pier, with the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina anchoring its northern end. Street performers and vendors cluster near Seaport Village, pedicabs run the length of the bayfront, and the view regularly includes yachts docked in the marina alongside Navy ships out on the bay — a legacy of Naval Base San Diego's presence just across the water.
Free to walk; pedicab rides and vendor food extra
USS Midway Museum
Tour a real retired aircraft carrier on the Embarcadero — the USS Midway was the U.S. Navy's longest-serving carrier of the 20th century, commissioned in 1945 and active for nearly 47 years through Vietnam and the Gulf War. Since opening as a museum in 2004, it's become the most-visited ship museum in the world, with flight-deck jets and a flight simulator to explore.
~$34 adult / ~$24 child
The New Children's Museum
This downtown museum, opened in 2008 in a green building designed by architect Rob Wellington Quigley, commissions contemporary artists to build room-sized interactive art installations kids can climb through and explore. Its Artopia studios add hands-on workshops in painting, drawing, and pottery.
~$15 per person
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Historic ships on the Embarcadero including the Star of India, an 1863 iron-hulled tall ship that holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest active sailing ship on Earth, having circled the globe 21 times. Climb through the B-39, a real Cold War-era Soviet submarine that played a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
~$24 adult / ~$14 child
Waterfront Park
Downtown bayfront park with a huge interactive fountain kids splash in and big lawns for play. The 12-acre park opened in 2014 on what used to be surface parking lots around the County Administration Center, a 1938 landmark building constructed on infilled tidelands as part of a decades-old vision for a public downtown waterfront. The interactive fountain flows directly out from the historic building into the open lawn, tying the old architecture to the new public space.
FreeFarmers markets in Coronado
Coronado Certified Farmers' Market
Waterfront market at the Ferry Landing with bay views, fresh produce, flowers, and plants; scenic for a family outing.
Festivals & annual events in Coronado
What Coronado is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Coronado Turkey Trot (13th annual)
A flat, scenic 5K walk/run/trot that benefits research and treatment at Rady Children's Hospital. Tip: registration is through the race site linked on Discover Coronado; start location and times are posted there (coordinates are a general Coronado point).
Paid registration (see site)
Coronado Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting
A parade down Orange Avenue followed by the lighting of a 120-foot Christmas tree with 18,000+ lights at Rotary Plaza. Tip: Friday evening draws crowds of about 17,000, so take the ferry or bus from downtown rather than driving over the bridge.
Free
Coronado Artisans Alley Craft Fair (54th)
The 54th annual holiday craft fair with more than 150 vendors of handmade crafts, plus live performances, listed by Discover Coronado. Tip: it falls the day after the Coronado Holiday Parade, so make a weekend of it; hours and admission are not posted on the visitor listing.
See site
Coronado Valentine's Day 10K, 5K & Fun Run
Runners of all abilities run a 10K, 5K or a 1-mile fun run on Coronado Island; the 1-mile fun run is the one for kids. Tip: register through the link on Discover Coronado and expect street closures on race morning.
Paid registration (see site)
Coronado Flower Show
A two-day outdoor flower and garden show in Spreckels Park run by the Coronado Floral Association. The 2026 show was the 104th.
See site for admission
Coronado Independence Day Parade
An all-day island celebration built around a mid-morning parade down Orange Avenue, plus concerts in Spreckels Park, a Navy parachute demonstration and evening fireworks.
The 77th parade was Jul 4, 2026; the 2027 schedule is not yet posted
Coronado Public Safety Open House
Discover Coronado lists family activities including police station tours, a CalFire helicopter landing and a Jaws of Life car-crash reenactment. Tip: hours are not on the visitor listing, so check with the city; helicopter landings usually draw crowds, so arrive early.
Local restaurants in Coronado
MooTime Creamery
Locally owned '50s-style shop with handcrafted ice cream and waffle cones.
Miguel's Cocina
Family-friendly Coronado favorite known for handmade tortillas and its famous white sauce.
Local shops in Coronado
Five Loaves Two Fish
Main-street Coronado boutique with its own label made from high-quality materials.
Little Locks Kids' Salon & Toy Boutique
Combined kids' hair salon and toy boutique, a Coronado fixture since 2002.
Bay Books
Independent bookstore with kids and YA titles and an on-site coffee shop on Orange Ave.
Fair Trade Decor
Colorful Orange Ave shop of sustainably made gifts sourced from 35+ countries.
Coronado Taste of Oils
Family-run specialty shop pouring fresh olive oils, aged vinegars, pastas, and spices.
Seaside Papery
Stationery shop on Orange Avenue since 2004 with custom and designer paper goods.
Art & Frames of Coronado
Orange Ave gallery and frame shop championing local artists, from seascapes to contemporary work.
Emerald City
More than 37 years of swimwear, clothing, sunglasses, and hats on Orange Avenue.
Seasonal & outdoors near Coronado
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Coronado.
More San Diego family guides
Coronado family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Coronado with kids?
Family favorites in and around Coronado include Coronado Beach and Coronado Ferry Landing. Our guide lists 2 spots, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Coronado?
Yes — free family spots near Coronado include Coronado Beach and Coronado Ferry Landing. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
Where can families eat in Coronado?
Local, family-friendly spots in Coronado include MooTime Creamery and Miguel's Cocina — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Coronado guide cover?
Our Coronado family guide includes 2 things to do, 2 local eats, 8 local shops and 1 farmers market — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Coronado
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Coronado on one map — then book on your favorite site.