San Diego family guide

Things to Do in Del Mar with Kids

Del Mar is a polished little beach town where the racetrack's summer season brings family days and the bluff-top Powerhouse Park overlooks an easy, lifeguarded stretch of sand. Dogs and kids both love the north end's Dog Beach, and the walkable village offers low-key dining steps from the water.

Curated by Simir Shah

Reviewed & updated June 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.

📍 Where Del Mar is

Del Mar sits in San Diego, Southern California. Nearest major airport: San Diego Intl (~16 mi / 26 km). It's roughly 94 mi (152 km) from Downtown LA and 18 mi (29 km) from San Diego — 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.

💡 Local tip: Free and metered parking near the beach is scarce in summer, so come early or use the lot at the fairgrounds.

Things to do in Del Mar

Beaches & Coast

Del Mar Beach & Powerhouse Park

Calm family beach next to a grassy bluff-top park with a playground and ocean views.

Free; metered parking

Animals & Nature

Helen Woodward Animal Center

A nonprofit centre where families can meet adoptable animals for free, plus a humane-education program with live animal ambassadors, hands-on feeding and crafts. The paid encounters book out well ahead, especially in summer — reserve rather than turning up hopeful. It's about ten minutes inland from Del Mar.

Free to visit; encounters and camps priced separately