20 Best Summer Programs In San Diego, CA (2022 Updated)

I heard that USD is an excellent private university. They have highly accredited teaching, law, technology, language, environmental and psychology schools, as well as a number of others. I also heard that their physical education school is quite good. USD is one of our nation's top rated colleges in regards to higher education and just to get admitted, you must score fairly high on the SAT ( Taking the ACT can always helps too ) and presenting the admissions evaluation committee with a high school GPA that shows that you were in the top percentile of your graduating class is very beneficial; it also helps to have done some volunteer work and to have been on at least one or two high school committees. All of these combined together should help you gain admission to USD. This college is quite competitive-as are most of our best colleges nowadays. Most of USD's professors are seasoned-the best in our country-and very demanding; graduating in four years means a lot of hard work and can be a wearisome task and often taking a couple of summer session classes or a class or two during Christmas break can help one graduate within this time scale. They do offer scholarships however, these are difficult to get and student loans ( Federal Educational Grants can easily surpass fifty-thousand dollars a year! USD's tuition is at the high end of the scale, especially if you live off of campus ( The City of San Diego is amongst the ten highest priced "cost of living" metropolitan areas in the USA ). There are hundreds of nice condominiums, townhouses and apartments within the surrounding area however, the rental rates for a one to four bedroom unit start at about $900 to $1200 per room ( living together ) per month or about $2200 for a two bedroom townhouse/apartment, to $3500+ for a three to four bedroom ; I'm just giving you a general idea…it's a might expensive to live anywhere in San Diego. USD has many of the most beautifully designed buildings in San Diego; architectural masterpieces. Tourists who come to visit San Diego often include this private university in their sightseeing itinerary, as the photographic opportunities around this campus are simply marvelous; especially on a clear winter day from about early afternoon to sunset. They have a small visitors center, as you drive through their main entrance center and if you get lost, you should stop and ask a couple of students and they may be able to help you? There's a lot to see, including San Diego's famed Tecalote State Park, which lies just below the north side of this university.charles chiles

The campus is pretty. The teachers, at least those who are fluent in English, are mediocre, and those whose English language skills are very poor, are token so this campus can brag about being diverse. The dorms are so noisy that it is impossible to do any work in one's own room or get any sleep before 3 a.m. The people responsible for policing the dorms are too lazy and callously indifferent to do anything, and no matter how many complaints are made, it is a nightmare to live in the dirty, smelly and horribly noisy dorms. The religious classes, which are mandatory, are a total waste of time and not based on any accurate facts or historical accuracy. The head of the Student Health Center is dishonest and harmful, willing to smear any student she takes a hatred to. There are no responsible administrative officers to be found if you have a problem. This is not the place if you care about getting a solid and admirable education.Susan Lea

The University accepted my son to the credential program August 2011. After 2 years and more than $32000 in tuition he is not being allowed to do his student teaching because, in the opinion of some professors, he lacks the skills they require. These professionals (who demand that the credential candidates be able to reach and teach all students no matter what their learning styles or disabilities) should be knowledgeable enough to bring out the best in a young man who has wanted to be a teacher since in the seventh grade he was chosen by his teacher to tutor other students in reading. The professionals who are standing in the way of his dream need to evaluate their own teaching. What did they do to ensure my son's success in their program? What can they teach others when they themselves have failed as teachers?Mark Leonard

I'd like to think that because of Covid, there is a lack of help from this college. I have been trying my very best for the last month to do everything myself without the help from any employees at this college. I have not been contacted regarding how to get enrolled, registered, what classes I need, financial aid, etc. I have been struggling since I have submitted my application to this college. You basically have to figure out everything on your own which isn't hard for me to do because I was walked through the steps from my previous college who actually took the time to help me out. While I understand quite a few things, there are some things that I don't understand and that I have questions about but getting into contact with anyone at this college is very difficult. Even through emails, no one responds. This college lacks the skill for helping their future students. I believe that I have done everything necessary in order to be a student but getting in touch with a counselor is the biggest problem. Making an appointment with a counselor via zoom, is quite a struggle and I have messaged quite a few employees at the college but yet, I still haven't received any responses. I am about to give up and just try somewhere else although this college is very convient for me, it's not worth the struggle and hassle at this point. 😔Mary McDonald

Great atmosphere. Their financial aid office needs help though. I started my fasfa around May and I'm trying to get in for the fall. I sat down with the students that help you with the fasfa form online so I don't do it wrong. I had to wait for them to approve it. They told me to bring my parents IRS info, even though I used the retrieval tool. I had to do a dependent verification form. Turned in copies of those. Then asked for my W-2. Then they asked for another verification form. Just constantly asking me for things I turned in. It sometimes takes them weeks to let you know what's next. So I learned the hard way the previous year that they ask for these forms every semester. They didn't tell me until I was applying for another semester. First year student trying to figure them out. I lived in El Cajon when they were asking for forms making this process extra annoying. Apparently they had to restart the process for the new semester. Don't ask me why but this is the most annoying part of school. I advise making multiple copies of whatever they ask for IRS FORMS, W-2, AND TAX INFO. They'll ask for it next semester and start it months before to avoid lines. I'm grateful there is a financial office though or school would be ROUGH! Thank you. EDIT: THEY MOVED TO A 270PERSONAL

City College is represented by the San Diego transit people, MTS, as City College Trolley Station, a cave, possibly Plato's, remarkable for grime and an expansive range of social behaviors not common in the quiet halls of ivy and higher education. The City College Trolley Station, is, of course, the gateway of San Diego's always expanding skidrow that could be seen as starting here and continuing to 25th and Commercial. San Diego and the real estate community promotes skidrow as being the East Village, but it's not really so much a village as it is a refugee camp. And it is getting bigger every day and will one day engulf all of downtown and possibly as far into the neighborhoods as Hillcrest and North Park. City College Trolley Station is what San Diego is becoming, or is, and what could a college want more than to be so inextricably tired to the dramatic representation of San Diego's future , the (San Diego) City College Trolley Station?Range Cow

The Bishop's School is it's own protected world while still allowing it's students open opportunity to explore all cultures. Like a classic scene out of every feel good movie, every person – be it Faculty, Staff, Parent, Student or Alumni treats each other with respect and reverence. The Bishop's School is clearly one of the most prestigious institutions throughout California, but qualities associated with that designation just begin the details of description. TBS is a priceless journey. I'm honored to be a family member.Danny Newsom

Very expensive and looking back not really sure whether it was worth the money for the effort. To their credit they do pay attention to a lot of extracurricular activities for which I am grateful.Swati Bhat

This is our first year at the school and I'm very impressed. I'm repeated impressed with their true caring for the children, and zeal for creating engaged citizens in the next generation.Jeffrey Lamont Brown

went here for a family day.. and it was AMAZING! we're a family consisting of: 2 adults, 1 teenager, and 1 kid, and all 4 of us had lots of fun. this is coming from someone who's out of town/a tourist! 😁 parking was hard to get.. but we managed to get a good spot! it's all about waiting around and driving in circles. as soon as someone leaves their spot, it's taken instantly, which made finding a spot a struggle. we came around 1 pm and we were able to visit the first 3 floors! we missed the 4th & the floor below 1 but that was on us 😁 as we arrived late-ish. it was actually really fun but also very informative! i was totally geeking out and all of the information and animals that were on display! there were lots of other families there scattered around the place, and it was never super crowded in a room. there were lots of things to look at for all ages! no one felt left out. it may take a lot of walking around to look at everything, but, there are lots of benches and seats around. there's also hand sanitizer stations everywhere so use it!! final review: 100000/10, fun for all ages + the whole family, would definitely love to come back soon :^) Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Not sureSapphire Blur

Absolutely LOVED experience here. My daughter enjoyed every second of it. Museum has 4 stories but best one was 2nd story. So spend most of the time there. Also 50% OFF at 4:00 pm (1 hour before close). Usually it takes 1 1/2 hrs at normal speed. But with 60 min we were able to see everything but had to go bit fast!! Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
$6–10Sacramento Real Estate agent Perepelitsa

The cost for an adult ticket is $26. There are several interesting rooms to explore including a live laboratory. Please don't bang on the glass. Some of the rooms are more journal or reading rooms. These are not bad, but if you are tired they are not that interesting. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Not sure

Price for adult entry
$21–30Esli Morales

We spent the day in Balboa Park and this was our first, and best, stop. So much history in this space! Among the many aircraft, saw the original Apollo 9 capsule, a GPS satellite and a police car from 9-11. Enjoyed the Galileo exhibit located right where you enter (set up perfectly for students!). We ran into a great volunteer guide that gave us a load of information that made the visit more entertaining. The only negative is that this museum does not have AC, and we visited during the very hot and humid week (Sept 8) San Diego (and all southern CA) was experiencing. They did have the large fans going, but it didn’t help too much. However, the museum was so fascinating, we stayed to experience it, hot weather or not. If you visit Balboa Park, make this your first stop. It’s in the back of the park, and there is plenty of parking. There is a free shuttle that will take you in other areas of the park that runs every 15 minutes or so. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Not sure

Price for adult entry
$21–30Angie Vallejo

A fun and enjoyable place to know the history of flying and space traveling. There is a session introducing the starting area of modern science, which started from Copernicus, to Kepler and Galileo. It presents ways in which we know our world with more precise data and repeated experiments. Also, there are many models of various kinds of previous airplanes hanging over your head. It is interesting to watch. The part about space traveling is even better. A lot of information and very friendly staff will answer all questions you may have. They are quite knowledgeable and experienced! Kudos! Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Not sure

Price for adult entry
$16–20Gu Lin

Loved it! My 6 year old son loved it! I'm a native San Diegan who has been going here since I was a kid. It gets better and better. From the original Apollo 9 capsule to gorgeous examples of WW1 and WW2 aircraft, this museum is laid our brilliantly. For all ages, it has great hands on/climb in things for kids including two flight simulators where u can fly one of the blue angels. Conveniently located in Balboa Park and with plenty of parking, it's a must see for anyone! Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
$16–20Justin Shaw

Accessibility: unfortunately there is no close parking for this museum or really anything in Balboa Park. Bring your own wheelchair if you need assistance getting around far distances because that's everything here. Inside this museum, however, they do have a ramp to get up to the museum, and an elevator inside to go to the different levels of the museum. The museum has air conditioning in the summer time. Experience: beautiful museum inside and out. They have some art collections that stay forever and some that just come here temporarily for a month or so. The prices are great for getting in, and you can buy tickets at the door or online. The art is beautiful and the employees are helpful. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$11–15Alexandra

Really not the best museum I have ever visited but it was decent. It had a good size collection and the Buddhist collect was very good. The Picasso section was super small and tight, it was also not very appropriate for children so please don’t bring small children to that section. I really liked the broken glass collection and they had many drawings in roll out cubbies, I really wished they weren’t all stacked on together and were actually out of the cubbies and more on display. The museum also had a lot of work of Spanish artist on display. Not bad but not the greatest, I would rate it a 3.8.Teresa Di Matteo

I can’t believe I haven’t visited this one. A very pleasant experience since it’s a manageable size and got to really appreciate and admire the current impressionist exhibit especially Monet, Picasso and Bonnard to name a few. It’s organized from entry to the actual exhibits. The building facade is very pretty and right next to Prado. The extra 5 dollars for the special exhibit is really worth it. The outside premises is nice to just walk about. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
10–30 min

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$21–30Mhar A

One of my favorite places and hidden gems in San Diego. Staff was friendly and unassuming. We were also pleasantly surprised at the quality of food at the snack bar outside, where you can even grab a beer or canned alcoholic beverage. We just ordered a pretzel and fries, and was expecting what you'd usually get at amusement parks, something dry and microwaved. But we are surprised that the pretzel was toasted and the fries were freshly cooked. Obviously, going to the aquarium requires a bit of luck. Unfortunately, most of the animals were asleep or hiding the first time we walk through. It took us an hour to make a full loop around the entire exhibit, so we decided to take another walk around The loop to make sure we didn't miss anything. Luckily, some of the animals that were hiding are first walkthrough had decided to come out of their hiding places. All in all, our visit lasted about an hour and a half. It did feel a little crowded for those uncomfortable with social distancing, especially considering you can only buy tickets via online time slots on their website. Would suggest wearing a mask or bringing one just in case. In addition, we did see other guests who were disappointed that they could not buy tickets at the gate because they didn't know that ticket sales were online only. FYI, this is for June 2022. Totally recommend for families with younger kids, lovers of all marine animals, couples looking for a fun date idea, or photographers who love capturing nature.TJ Roxas

It was very clean and well-maintained but really there wasn't a ton to see. Several of the displays are just video but there are around 50 different tanks plus there's an area outside that mimics a tide pool with live creatures in it. See my pictures for a good sampling of the available tanks. The giant kelp, the sea horse and the jellyfish tanks were the most impressive. Overall if you're in the area it's a 2 hour stop. Personally would have been happier if they had a stingray or manta ray petting area. Just know there are better aquariums in the area.Dave Glick

This is a wonderful place to visit and experience the sea life on a lower scale. Perfect for little ones. Price is reasonable. 4 star, for their shark exhibit was a huge disappointment. Penguins made the visit worth it. Good selection of food and drinks can be bought outside the entry gates. We had to buy tickets on line and choose our entry time. Once in you are in, you can stay as long as you like, though you won't need to.jen westmoreland

I visited the center with my family two adults and 2 kids that center activity it’s interesting for kids , but it’s only for one time visit but safe for one adult ticket price I think overpriced 25$ adult , 20$ kids for what they have inside in what kind of gadgets for they have inside , sum of the display was closed or it was not working , I’ll recommend better if you wanna go multiple times take , annual pass because it will gonna be more cheaper than take one day ticket for four people , we pay $80 +tax is not worth , plus they have a couple stuff inside where you need to pay extra money which one is not including and the ticket price. And I found one of the toy ship 🚢 was cracked , I reported to that employee and they said they gonna take care which one is good but I’ll check next time if they fix it Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$21–30oleg popa

It’s really old, dirty and outdated. Clearly the kids could hurt themselves on some of these toys. They’re sharp and broken. The only thing that looks new is the VR experience and the cafeteria and the shop. The free ice cream is really good. Everything else is broken or really old it’s falling apart. The kids zone has such old toys you can’t even tell what kind of fruit or vegetable they’re playing with. The little rings that are supposed to roll on their own don’t even have a stick so you can interact with the display. The carpets are filthy and old. Upstairs where the “music” section is a lot of the displays are missing parts. The one good thing is that the customer service is really good but I wouldn’t really visit unless you want to spend money on “something to do”. The dome theatre is kinda coolKarina Peterson

Very nice to take the kids, simple but very useful experiments to teach kids basic science and technology concepts, while having fun and being fully engaged. Kids love it! The exhibits are changing frequently, there is another upstairs floor with even more science. Don't miss out and watch one of the IMAX science/nature movies on the dome planetarium screen. Kids can spend the whole day trying out all the different exhibits. Bring your water and snacks! Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
NoCesar Contreras

This is truly one of the best zoos ever. Very high quality habitats, healthy animals all the way around, and good layout make for an incredibly enjoyable experience. But, it is not perfect, although it's issues are fairly minor. The lines for food are outrageously long, and the food itself is overpriced. While I understand that it's not going to be restaurant quality food, the prices are still a bit high for what you're getting and service is poor at best. But, compared to the swath of good experiences here, the food is a small problem in a great zoo. The only other problem I have is that it will take you 2-3 days to see everything if you go at a reasonable pace. It's so much, the thing kinda suffers from success. Entrance prices can be a bit much as well, but they have to fund this amazing experience somehow. If you can deal with the downsides, this is one of the top zoos I'm the world, and for good reason. This place is an experience as much as it is a zoo.Smooth Criminal_05

Let’s be real- this zoo is just unbeatable. It is a magical experience just to walk through it , let alone to witness the stunning variety of animals and plants. Hands down it is a must-see of San Diego. Definitely download the app and try to do the bus tour early morning or in the evening as I think the animals are more lively. There is always a chance that you won’t get to see some of the animals but you won’t be disappointed with the monkeys, koalas, and the many stunning aviaries. The history of the zoo and its many many animals is also captivating and a gift that keeps giving after you leave. It is definitely doable in one day but another day may have alleviated some of the angst of seeing or not-seeing some of the animals. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
Up to 10 min

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$31+Nicole Todd

This place is great! Plenty of benches and shady spots along the trails. I spoonful advise you bring a water bottle which they will refill with water or buying a free refill soda. Plenty of animals to see. Plenty of things s for kids to interact with. There's a reason this is considered one of the best zoos in the world. Definitely a must visit if visiting San Diego. If local buy the champion membership. Skipping lines, separate entrance, and includes wild animal park as well. Good for 2 people and you get two free passes. So if 4 purple going. It basically pays for itself on first visit. Click"helpful" if you found this helpful please Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
$31+SanDiego Food Czar

I went to this school with soo much excitement, finally a school we’re I could do good and actually be able to learn some discipline. First day I got there and I said goodbye to my mom, I was a tiny bit nervous but much more excited. But then it was almost right as my mom left that the truth about this school set in. This schools African American leaders and Hispanic are top of the line, they expect respect from you but will also respect you. On the other hand for a great majority of the Caucasian adults there are rude and misunderstanding, and won’t listen to a word you say. As for the kids that go there, most are recovering drug addicts, but they just stop for the school year(maybe not even then) just to make it seem like they have quit and moved on. See that’s the thing with this school, your learning how to bend the ropes and get away with stuff in a more controlled environment. There’s drug tests given but they barely watch you and you could very easily fake the test. For $40,000+ you would expect top of the line dorms, bathrooms, food, but tha is simply what you don’t get. The dorms are very disgusting as many cadets would say how the mattresses have had (many things) on them. My first day a spider was crawling on my mattress. The bathrooms are utterly disgusting and I know there’s many kids that go there but with corona you can tell this place is barely sanitized. Before going there I believed the food would be top of the line, something I could be happy to look forward to after a long hard day of work. That’s not the case in the slightest though, the food is borderline microwave food (Mac and cheese made in the microwave is much better). Not to mention from a short time of being there I found multiple hairs in my drinks and food. All in all I had high hopes for this school and left feeling utterly disappointed and disgusted. But at the same time if you are going to send your kid here, just know that your paying all this money, for something that a rehab center would much better suit. I say that because almost everyone there (cadets) is a drug addict or former. I give it a 2 stars because Justin my acting CO was an amazing person, and most of the kids there are very nice people, just maybe haven't all made good choices.Jake Frye (JakePlaysMinecraft)

I graduated from this school after 2 and a half years here. My experience here has been great, lots of ups and downs. I would say that academic wise, the school makes it easier for us to pass our classes but if you really wanted to do well in a class, you had to work for it. Most of the teachers there are hardworking and are always there to help, especially in the science department. Campus life didn't start too well for me. I wasn't used to being in another country with foreign room mates, so I was really quiet and wasn't really talking to people there. I got used to it the next semester, as new kids came in and I became the more experienced one in this school. I quickly made new friends, started getting motivated to get a good leadership position and actually became a Company Commander for Alpha Co. (we won company of the year, 2014) The people who take care of you after school are really great people. They are always there to listen to you if you have any problems, ready to help in any way and constantly keeping an eye on you for our safety. The school does have their downs too. Especially the food, everyone complains about the mess hall food. I don't really complain but it would be nice if they served us better food there. Some kids there also get away with alot of things, especially if their parents are funding the school in anyway other than for the child's tuition. If I could go back and re-do all I went through in Army Navy, I would accept in a heart beat. I already miss this place.Megaanesh Revindran

I originally enrolled my son in their 4 week summer leadership program. My son was not convinced about staying there for 4 weeks so we tried to change it to the 2 week program. As soon as the camp started we decided to keep him in the 4 week program and contacted the academy to make the change. Emails and phone calls were exchanged and everyone seemed to be on the same page. At the end of his second week we were contacted by the academy through email saying that there was some confusion going on and my son was adamant that he was staying only 2 weeks and that was the deal. We spoke with my son's Chief and we agreed that my son could stay two more weeks. He was performing well and had learned some discipline and respect. My son did not want to stay and made some comments to the staff that he would do whatever it takes to get kicked out. The sound of such empty threats was enough to scare and shy away the commander of the academy. They decided to cut short my son's stay and offered him a two week graduation instead. They quit on a 15 year old because they were afraid of liability issues. I was told by the academy to hold on tight and not believe all the bad things that my son was telling me about his experience there. However, the academy chose to believe in his empty threats and dismiss him because he presented a jeopardy to the camp. A big disappointment. I do not recommend this place to any family.Monique Dall'Agnol

What a spectacular downtown visit of childhood and fun for all! We toured and watched for an hour finding new things and hidden "innuendos" throughout! Love trains as a kid and this is a hidden gem 💎 to enjoy for as long as you want! The store is filled with toys, trains or publications to purchase and a complete layout of 2 full rooms to walk around and enjoy the scenery, flashing lights and pure artistry and creativeness at its best! The flashing lights, moving trains and storm from above brings out all alive and wanting to see more! 👀 A blessing to visit on a whim and enjoyment throughout! Kids and adults will appreciate! Great job in "Old San Diego Downtown!" 👏 Enjoy the photos and look closely! 😉 Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
FreeRedBullKC

My kid LOVED it here. Tons of details on the models, and the makers were busy at work while we visited. My one complaint is that it’s not really designed for young toddlers. My son is very tall for a 2 year old and even on the little platforms to climb up he was barely at eye level with the trains. I had to continually hold him up for almost the entire two hours we were there, so it was a bit more tiring of an activity for me than I was expecting! We also loved exploring Balboa Park for the morning before the museum opened. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
$11–15Elisa Coates

My kids loved it! Located in the basement so you take an elevator down from street level. Alot of intricate work displayed. My school age kids enjoyed the scavenger hunt looking for hidden details in each diorama. Our toddler just enjoyed the moving trains and all the vehicles and lights. Takes about an hour to tour about four hallway/rooms. Volunteers are running their trains and working on repairs, ready to answer your question. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
$11–15Empire Sheds and Design Toews

SeaWorld San Diego is a top place to visit when you’re in Southern California. I’ve been several times when I was younger, and we have been going once a month since we got passes back in September. The passes were a great deal price wise, and they don’t require reservations to enter. The biggest draw is the opportunity to create great family memories while learning about sea life, and potentially sparking an interest in our kids. I recommend getting there at least a half an hour early, so you can be a head of the crowds, especially if you want to hit one of the most popular rides. Though choosing to go off season, not the summertime, the park doesn’t see to be overly crowded, and even better on a weekday. We found navigating the park to be a little confusing, so download a map ahead of time, and check out where some of the most popular attractions are (Electric Eel, Journey to Atlantis, Manta). The list the attractions that are closed at the entrances to the parking lot, so check that out as you enter. The shows play a few times each day, so check the website for that, or you can ask an employee. I’m not a fan of the food. It seems like overpriced cafeteria food. We’ve started to leave the park to eat, but that might not be an option for a day visit, where you can easily loose an hour or more. I do appreciate the opportunity to see unique animals, and respect their conservation efforts.John Hatch

Went here a couple years ago without kids and enjoyed their shows, animals, rides and amenities. Fast forward a couple years and now I have two little girls. We went during the Sesame Street event and it was such perfect timing. They had a good amount of rides for the little ones that my husband and I were able to get on also. My girls had such a blast! Their shows are still pretty amazing. But a couple years ago I remember them being a bit more impressive because during the dolphin show, performers were diving way up high and it was just more entertaining. All the animals seem very happy to me. You can tell by the way they interact with their trainers. They seem healthy, active, and stimulated. Although, they can take the time to clean the glass of their tanks. There’s some algae growing on them. There are a lot of rides for children and adults. A lot of food stops and carts. Lots of gift shops. They have more events now than back then. All in all, this place is worth checking out when you’re in the San Diego area! Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$31+MLRoseAnn B

It was okay. We’ve been to the one in Orlando which seems laid out better. The map feature was helpful because the layout of the park is confusing. Also no one hour warning before they shut down. We did all day dining but when park is only open 6.5 hours and it takes 1 hr in some places to get food, it may not be worth it if you can just squeeze in one meal. Would recommend eating a brunch as soon as you get in and again at lunch or late afternoon. Bathrooms are wet everywhere. Like everywhere. Like the toilet vomits water in the stalls. They don’t do paper towels here. I wish they had a shoe wash station upon exiting the park. DO get at least 1 souvenir cup without the topper. Unlimited free refills for your first day. Use it to fill up other bottles/cups. Great deal at $18.99 when a single fountain drink is $4.99 It was still a decent experience. Not as crowded as expected. Great views. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$31+Brittany Pirtle

Spent 13 weeks here in 2000. At that time, accommodations where very cramped, staff would give wake up calls an hour earlier than requested, no laundry service, I had to wash my clothes by hand, but they did supply soap and scrub brushes. Physical training center is huge and is open 24 hours a day. Beware of the managers easily recognized by the olive drab smokey bear and lage gold belt buckles, they were all very short tempered and seemed to not care how comfortable I was, however, did look out for my health checking that I was ok at least once every week we had health and wellness inspections. Transportation by bus readily available every 13th week but only seem to go to other Marine Corps locations.Dr.J Rides

Great room service! Staff was always around, even at 3:00 am! Staff uniforms are always clean and pressed. Though they are rather strict with their house keeping, they don’t charge extra. Food was a bit rushed, make sure you order your soda and ice cream with a side of “oh no you didn’t.” Gym was severely lacking, but the personal trainers made up for this oversight with great experience in their field. Overall, this was a great place to stay! I would highly recommend this to all my family and friends who want to stay in San Diego for an extended period. Hard to get reservations though, plan in advance. Semper FidelisRobert Whillock

not a lengthy stay, worth the money great views lovely sunsets. If your into mountain climbing, long walks, free haircuts, freakishly fast free breakfast/ lunch/ dinner, this resort has lovely views of palm trees. they have these guys called "DRILL INSTRUCTORS' who offer FREE personal fitness classes. 24hr room service make sure you ask the staff to show you the top of the mountain for the best view of this legendary place!francisco Solis

Parker is a great school, it has a huge multi sports field it is under construction and i am sure it will turn out great but best of all is the nike basketball camp which local coaches coach and it is a great experience for your little boy or teenager since that camp us for bots only my sister had a lot of fun in the all girls nike basketball camp in country day schoolJack Tarrab

Besides me, my surrounding neighbors and other areas have to wake up 6 days a week to heavy construction noise. When that's done the games start and the loud speakers sound like they are in my living room. Non Stop noise!Lisa Green (Banana Beans)

I cannot say enough good things about this place! They are a non-for profit so everything you spend from the tickets, food and souvenirs helps the animals. They did a great job with the park set up, tons of land for the animals. It is beautiful and the staff really cares about the animals. Great way to see animals and not feel guilty doing it. While they are in captivity, they have adequate space. On the tram ride the driver said they have had the highest success rate of any park with endangered animals reproducing. They talked about the white rhino being down to 2 females and they have scientists working to "Jurassic Park" it and create a male white rhino. The goal is for 1 of the 2 females to carry the male rhino, if successful. Now that is cool! We met a senior couple there and they said during the week seniors were free. Not sure if this is all the time or just during the month of Feb (2022) or just a special promotion. This is a great place to go for all ages! Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
Up to 10 min

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$31+Mama_ KT_

Such a hidden gem! We really enjoyed our first visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, despite the warm summer temperatures. The heat kept the crowds away. Arrive early to get good parking and then make the trek to the African Tram as your first stop so that you can catch all the animals while it’s still cooler outside. We were lucky enough to catch a cheetah run very unexpectedly! Also delighted to see the 50 year old male gorilla and the tigers make an appearance! Lots of 50th Anniversary specialty menu items and merchandise in the shops. Definitely go to The Watering Hole for a great sit-down meal with the most amazing view! Tiger Trail has an amazing kids play area and also a cool mist area to sit and relax when it gets too hot. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$31+Maria Healey

The park is amazing. It is a great way to somewhat experience a "safari" in the midst of California. My entire family (5 of us) spent a wonderful day at the park. So why 4 stars? 1. It is expensive. The 5 of us spent around a $1,000 with all the rides. The entry tickets are about $60 per head. But what you experience is somewhat limited. 2. Not enough carnivores. If you were thinking you'd be driving by a herd of lions, that's not what this is. Your safari will take you by 4~5 animals – giraffes, rhinos, zebras, and some gazelles. Again, safari is a bit underwhelming. Other than that, we had a fantastic day. The kids felt like they had their fill of animals. Food and drinks were reasonable. And a fantastic family outing.Wook Chung

My son has been a student at School of Rock for 6 years. He started in Grade 7 and is now a high school senior. His last performance – PINK FLOYD – was this past weekend. (His first performance was The Clash London Calling.) He has LOVED every minute at School of Rock. The teachers, director, office staff and owners are amazing, professional, and respectful. His vocal and performance skills are so impressive – the growth we have seen from him is truly remarkable. His self confidence has improved tremendously. He loves music so much that he will continue studying music in college. If your child has expressed any interest in music, I 100 percent recommend School of Rock – San Diego!Kelly Schwartz

My experience with School of Rock has been mostly with private lessons and briefly with Adult Rock band. I have been playing drums for 8 years. Damon has been the perfect drum coach for me at this point. We work on rudiments, on specific songs, on improvisation, showmanship, and we just have fun. He makes me wear ear protection! The reason I rated a 4 and not a 5 is that there is an element of rigidity in how they do things. But overall, it is an awesome place. Especially if you are a parent with a musical child it is fantastic.Kathy Smith

My Boys (9 and 12) love School of Rock at Liberty Station. They are growing their experience, love for music, and team work with their fellow bandmates. The staff is extremely talented and diverse in their skills. They accommodate our changing schedules which can be difficult and the shows they support the kids to create are AMAZING! I have seen my boys' confidence grow in music 10 fold all because of School of Rock. Thanks a bunch to the owner, Jan Bortree, for making it happen!Tess Largent

Have you been teetering back and forth on this page wondering if you should start training and give him a call? Seriously. Do. Not. Wait. I wish I could give Golan 10 stars. I have had multiple conversations with dog trainers who told us our dog Della would need e-collar training or else “she will never get better.” Della is a great girl who was homeless for most of her life before we got her. Golan jokes that she likes to play “cop” at the dog park. A funny joke to him but something that used to stress me TF out. She also had serious issues with being nervous and vocal around children, a trait I had been told previously “will only get worse unless you use e-collar.” We wanted our dog to feel comfortable in any setting so she didn’t feel the need to be so vocal. We also wanted to be confident with our ability to control her in any scenario, something that we couldn’t quite achieve. Golan is without a doubt the best dog trainer I have ever come across. From day one, golan walked in our house, our dog barked once (she used to bark a few times and then hide from any new guests) and then laid down to nap, right in front of Golan’s feet 😯. I knew from that moment on that there was something really special about him. I find myself telling tales of his training days to my friends with their mouths open. “Wait so you took Della to the boardwalk at 4 pm on a Friday in high foot traffic with kids screaming and running everywhere and she was fine?” The answer is: yes. She was more than fine. She rocked it and it was due to Golan’s confidence in her ability. He individualizes your dogs training by assessing and re-assessing what their needs will be. He continually evolves his approach to make sure the training is customized to your dog. My boyfriend and I used to joke about how “Golan can predict the future” after trainings because Golan was able to tell us how she was going to act and how to anticipate our dogs next move. This man taught me how to read what my dog was GOING to do. He completely transformed our dog’s confidence while instilling confidence in us as her owners. To top this all off (as if I need to) he is a man of integrity and takes your dogs training very personally. He’s just such a great person. You can tell from day one that he is invested in your dog’s success. You would be crazy not to call this man to help train your dog. I will for ever be a better dog owner because of him.Megan Evans

I fostered 1o month old Kaia then later adopted her. It's been 10+ years since I trained my last puppy. I'm sure training methods have changed over time and I've gone through many trainers through the years but decided to do some more research for trainers. I really liked that Golan did not use treats or prong collars or other devices as part of his training. We got the 8 session puppy training and I really liked that some of the sessions were at our house but also at parks with lots of dogs and other distractions. I had problems with Kaia pulling on our walks when she saw other dogs so Golan worked with her on not pulling on walks. Golan also worked on recalls, distractions, introductions to other dogs, and other puppy issues. Golan was so good with her, very patient, took time to bond with her to develop trust. Golan is professional, super friendly, always on time and imparted a lot of his knowledge in helping me work with Kaia! Thank you so much Golan! You have the patience of a Saint and we are grateful for all your help! Although her training is still a work in progress, Kaia has improved so much. I highly recommend Golan!Anola Saycocie

We researched various dog trainers, but chose Golan for his experience and knowledge in working with the Belgian Malinois breed. Although our family has always owned dogs this breed is new to us and we knew we needed some extra guidance. Golan took the time to explain dog psychology and behavior in our first session, which was good to know and helped guide us over our 12 sessions. We started working with Golan when our dog, Fin, was 6 months old and he loved Golan from the start. Golan was very professional and took the time to listen to any issues or concerns. He also provided great guidance and solutions. He was even available for us to contact when we had an issue with Fin while on our first road trip with him. We are so grateful we chose Golan and recommend him to anyone looking for help with a high drive breed. We also plan to stay connected with Golan and further our training as Fin grows.Nara Kayne

From start to finish this company were very accommodating, non pushy, friendly & informative. The cost covered mostly EVERYTHING, meaning delicious food, insurance, transfers, staff, places we stayed, equipment we used. The staff are all extremely friendly, professional & all care for there roles/positions a lot, which was refreshing to see! I went on the mexico conservation turtle camp in April 2019 & it is something i will never forget! I got to share the wonderful experience with my two best friends & my 11 year old son, which was very special to me as they could accommodate for children to go! What did we do on the trip? We cleaned the large turtles, baby turtles (cute!) feed the iguanas, cleaned the tanks, painted a wall, moved sand off a beach, planted mangroves, sunbathed on hammocks by the pool & our beach house (heaven!) had a bonfire & gazed at the stars, collected turtle eggs on quad bikes on night patrols & let the hatchling baby turtles into the sea! this is to mention just some of the incredible things we did! It was something i will never forget & touched my heart. I am now a brand ambassador for projects abroad & very proud to be part of a brilliant team, hoping to go on lots of school fairs & talks & to travel more & work along side the team with some ideas to help the save the planet & environment.C & L Broughton

From the moment I contacted Projects Abroad I was well looked after. There was no hard sell, I was simply contacted by representatives who talked through ideas with me. As an older volunteer, my main concern was fitting in with the mostly younger group members, but the local representative, Elvira, reassured me that this would not be a problem and in fact arranged for me to have individual accommodation rather than staying in a shared dormitory. Information prior to the trip was excellent and I was also rung twice by Elvira to make sure I was happy with all the arrangements. The experience on the reserve in the Amazon was fantastic and efforts were made to cater for particular interests; in my case, birds. The staff were extremely knowledgeable and shared this knowledge with us, either in the field or through evening talks. The most important aspect for me of my trip was the sense I had of actually making an impact, however small. I believe that Projects Abroad really does that and would highly recommend them as a volunteering agency.Jane Mathewson

Projects Abroad is an amazing company; I knew that from the second I found their website for my archaeology project. Little did I know, it was even more amazing to work for them! I've been an ambassador for a year now and I absolutely love it, not only do I get to see the country but I also get to encourage school aged children to follow their desires and volunteer abroad. Everyone I've spoken to in careers fairs goes away with a smile on their face, it's an easy company to boast about because of their incredible opportunities but also their customer service standard. I wouldn't want to be an ambassador for anyone else, Projects Abroad is something very special and more people should understand that – come and join us! Our alumni benefits outweigh any umms and errs!Hannah Howley

We are only halfway through our trip to San Diego, but we have already determined our day at San Diego surf school will definitely be our favorite!! From the ease of booking,, and amazing customer service it made for a 12/10 experience. After quickly getting suited up at the easy to find and organized surf shop, we walked down to the beach and spent the morning with surf instructor Reed. She was awesome!! Very cautious, patient, informative, kind & super personable. She took the time to get to know us, help us learn our technique, and make sure we both were safe, and ready to ride each wave before she sent us off!! We loved our day at San Diego surf school and would recommend it to anyone!Gabriella Laudenslager

Always wanted to learn surfing and was looking for classes that can handle a naive like me. San Diego Surf School did an amazing job of teaching me and my friend the basics of surfing. In the 90 min session, we were able to do beginner's level surfing. Our coach Sam did a fantastic job to make the whole experience interesting and memorable. It was fun, and good exercise for the whole body too. It was truly an amazing experience and without a doubt, I will surely go back again to San Diego Surf School for another session. I would highly recommend it to everyone who is at beginner level and want to learn surfing.Yash Rai Verma

This was our first experience with surfing for my 6 year old son and his two cousins (ages 5 & 6). They all loved their lesson with Brennan (sorry if that is misspelled). We would request him again, he was great! It was well organized and I really appreciated how all the instructors were so patient and fun with our young kids. It was a cold day, but their instructors energy and enthusiasm kept the kids motivated to stay in the water and keep trying! We later tried a different Surf School (only because it was closer) and we all agreed that we would rather drive because this one was the best!Analisa Brookshier

Q School is the BEST!!! The staffs and teachers are very helpful. I was in this school for 1 year and now I'm attending my first year in college 🙂 Q school helped me building my English skills as well as applying for a college. Admission staffs are very knowledgeable about TOEFL, IELTS, and college applications. They helped me register for TOEFL, writing my personal statement, and filling out paperwork…almost everything! and this is all FREE for q students!! 😀 If you're looking for a school to learn, make friends, and guide you to the next level…YOU SHOULD COME TO Q SCHOOL <3 Thank Q again for making my dream come true!!Heidi Kim

When I started my journey to pursue fluency in English away from my country, my family, and friends, I didn't imagine that there I would find a second family at Q School. Here at the school, you learn to speak like a native and have the opportunity to take Business Classes to improve your English with specific terms that we use in a corporate environment. If you are looking for quality teaching with great teachers and a school that will make this learning period an unforgettable experience, Q School is definitely the right school for you!Meire Mendes

Before I came to San Diego I was really worried if I could adjust to my new life in San Diego. But I met a bunch of amazing friends in school, and they helped me to spend an unbelievably nice time here. Teachers are really professional and responsible, they will help you to pick up English with patience. And school staffs are good listeners, they always try to help students, get feedback from all students and don't hesitate to reflect feedback. I really appreciate for all staffs and teachers' support!soomin park