San Diego family guide
Things to Do in Hillcrest with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated June 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Hillcrest on the map
📍 Where Hillcrest is
Hillcrest sits in San Diego, Southern California. Nearest major airport: San Diego Intl (~2 mi / 3 km). It's roughly 110 mi (176 km) from Downtown LA and 2 mi (4 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 restaurants in Hillcrest
Khyber Pass
Over 30 years serving authentic Afghani cuisine, one of San Diego's premier ethnic restaurants.
Trust
Still considered one of the city's best, with a signature wood-fired kitchen, a locally-sourced menu, and a spacious patio.
Local shops in Hillcrest
Bluestocking Books
A community fixture for about 25 years with an outstanding, wide-ranging curated selection.
Mimi & Red
Independent-minded women's fashion boutique on University Avenue.
Gioia's Room
Vintage styles reworked for today, locally crafted pieces and jewelry, with complimentary alterations.
The Village Hat Shop
A long-running independent specialty hat retailer.
Flashbacks Recycled Fashions
Part of Hillcrest's dense vintage-and-secondhand strip along 5th and University.
Seasonal & outdoors near Hillcrest
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Hillcrest.
More San Diego family guides
Hillcrest family FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where can families eat in Hillcrest?
Local, family-friendly spots in Hillcrest include Khyber Pass and Trust — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Hillcrest guide cover?
Our Hillcrest family guide includes 2 local eats and 5 local shops — all hand-curated, locally owned, and sorted by distance from you.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.