Home Care In La Jolla, CA

San Diego is known for sunshine and ocean views, but it’s also home to incredible parks and playgrounds that make it easy for families to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re visiting or local, these spots offer fresh air, scenic settings, and plenty of space to play.

This guide rounds up top family-friendly parks across the county—complete with addresses, links, and helpful details to make planning a breeze. Some are even within walking distance of our favorite kid-friendly hotels!

From beachside playgrounds to shady neighborhood gems, there’s something for everyone—whether you’re pushing a toddler on a swing or letting older kids roam. So grab the snacks, lace up your shoes, and get ready to explore.

Unique Playground Themes & Equipment

These standout parks go beyond the basics with themed play structures, adventure elements, and one-of-a-kind features you won’t find at your average neighborhood playground.

Located near South Mission Beach, Bonita Cove Park features a large playground with a tot lot (the Maruta Gardner Playground, known as the “Pink Park”), access to calm bay waters with lifeguards on duty, fire rings, picnic tables, barbecue grills, and a comfort station with rinse-off showers.

The playground features equipment inspired by nearby Belmont Park, including a pink roller-coaster-shaped slide and carousel-like swings. The design is truly unique and fun for children who want a playground that offers something a little different.

Want to swing? There are baby swings, regular swings, ADA Swings, group swings, and tandem swings. It’s right near Belmont Park and the perfect spot to spend the day outside. This is one of the best playgrounds in San Diego if you want to stay in one place.

This 12-acre park in Chula Vista offers a wide range of amenities, including ball fields, barbecue grills, a basketball court, a dog park, a gymnasium, open green space, picnic areas, play equipment, recycling bins, restrooms, a skateboard park, and soccer fields.

It’s the perfect spot to spend your day since there are so many activities and elements. There’s also a “Walk of Honor,” a brick walkway inscribed with the names of veterans.

Experience a slice of history at Old Poway Park. The best day to come is Saturday because you can ride a vintage steam train and explore historical buildings like the Heritage Museum and Nelson House.

You can also enjoy a charming playground. The park also hosts a weekly farmers market on Saturday, making it a vibrant community hub.

Olympus Park offers interesting features like a turf hill for sliding (bring cardboard), a zipline, a climbing cube, a skate park, and walking trails, making it a family favorite. I love the idea of the tandem swing so you can have fun with your baby or toddler face-to-face! This is an incredible park in the North County area.

This large, modern park in the Carmel Valley area offers an impressive array of activities for all ages and interests. It features distinct playground areas, including a tot lot and challenging climbing structures for older kids, alongside unique elements like an accessible swing and a four-person seesaw.

Adventurous visitors can explore the city’s first free public parkour area, a popular bike pump track, and a skate plaza. The park also includes expansive turf fields, basketball courts, separate dog parks, picnic areas, and a walking loop with fitness stations, making it a comprehensive recreational hub.

?If you’re interested in exploring a park with a distinctive cultural and historical significance, Chicano Park in San Diego’s Barrio Logan neighborhood is a must-visit. This park has incredible outdoor murals to view, many of which were restored in 2011 and 2012.

In addition to its stunning murals, Chicano Park features sculptures, gardens, and the Chicano Park Museum, which doubles as a community center, making it a rich educational experience for visitors.

Get ready for combined playground fun with splash pads or interactive fountains, perfect for cooling off on warm days!

Located in Mission Valley, Civita Park is a 14-acre urban oasis featuring two shaded playgrounds, a community garden, game areas, walking trails, and separate dog parks for large and small dogs. It’s one of the best things to do in San Diego with kids. This expansive park boasts a splash pad with 48 jets, providing a delightful way for kids to cool off during those hot summer San Diego days.

Nestled along the San Diego Bay, Waterfront Park offers expansive grassy areas, modern playground equipment, interactive splash fountains, and stunning harbor views. Known for its interactive splash fountain stretching from the County Administration Center into the park, it creates a large green lawn area. Just note that the Waterfront Park Fountains are closed for repairs but should open sometime around June 2025.

These parks pair kid-friendly play areas with stunning surroundings—think bay breezes, oceanfront views, and skyline backdrops perfect for picnics or watching the sunset.

Perched on Mount Soledad, this 79-acre park offers panoramic views of Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Its rolling grassy hills make it an ideal spot for picnics, hiking, and savoring sunsets. This is a great spot when you just want to relax and enjoy the view. Bring a book and take it slow.

Situated along Mission Bay, Tecolote Shores North boasts a recently updated playground, expansive grassy areas, barbecue grills, and fire rings. The playground is colorful and crafted for accessibility. Bring a bike to cycle through the pathway or do a workout at the nearly 6,000-square-foot fitness area.

Just a short walk or drive down East Mission Bay Drive, Tecolote Shores South offers even more kid-friendly fun—including two 65-foot ziplines (one with a traditional disc seat and another ADA-accessible), shaded sand play areas, and inclusive equipment. It’s a great spot for all ages and abilities, especially if your kids are thrill-seekers.

Together, these two connected parks provide one of the most complete waterfront play experiences in San Diego.

Adjacent to La Jolla Shores Beach, Kellogg Park features a lifeguard-themed playground lined with palm trees, offering a quintessential California beach experience. This beachfront park gets pretty popular during the summertime, so get there early.

A giant mosaic tile map of the La Jolla Underwater Park opened next door to the playground. It showcases the underwater topography and animals that live there so that people above water can appreciate what’s below the surface between La Jolla Cove and La Jolla Shores.

With a lifeguard station and amenities like restrooms and a snack bar, it’s a convenient spot for families to enjoy a full day of sun and surf when they want something different from their average grassy park.

Nestled within Balboa Park, Golden Hill Park offers a peaceful escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. The park features a well-maintained playground, open grassy areas perfect for picnics, and stunning views of downtown San Diego. Its serene environment makes it a favorite among locals seeking a quiet spot to relax and unwind.

These parks are more than places to play—they’re all-in-one destinations with museums, gardens, hiking trails, or public markets just steps from the swings.

Balboa Park spans 1,200 acres and houses numerous museums, trails, gardens, and the renowned San Diego Zoo. Its diverse attractions make it a must-visit destination for families and travelers of all ages. You can spend your whole trip here and still have more to see.

It’s more than your average park, as it’s more like a full-on cultural center in the heart of San Diego. There are also events and concerts throughout the year.

Located on the grounds of the former Naval Training Center, Liberty Station NTC Park seamlessly blends historical charm with modern recreational facilities.

The park features expansive green spaces, playgrounds suitable for various age groups, and a scenic waterfront. Adjacent to the park, you’ll find a vibrant marketplace (Liberty Market) with diverse dining options, making it an ideal spot for a family outing.

Spanning over 8,000 acres, this park offers extensive hiking trails, including the popular Cowles Mountain summit, providing panoramic views of San Diego and Lake Murray Reservoir if you prefer shore fishing. I recommend this expansive park if you want to spend time outdoors, enjoying the warmth that the San Diego sun provides.

These parks serve their local communities well, offering reliable playground facilities often alongside other standard park amenities like sports courts or picnic areas.

Situated in the heart of Coronado, Spreckels Park is known for its beautiful gazebo, well-maintained playground, and the summer concert series. There are benches, picnic tables, restrooms, a playground, and shade for when you don’t want to spend the afternoon in the sun. You can even host your next event with up to 100 people, as long as you get the required permit via application.

This Encinitas park boasts a creek, climbing boulders, play structures, and walking paths. There are two half-court basketball courts and a tennis court if the kids need to burn off some energy. The park is a perfect blend of natural beauty and playful design.

Located in the Torrey Highlands area, this park has modern playground equipment suitable for various age groups, shaded seating areas, a basketball court, a walking trail, and expansive grassy fields perfect for picnics and games. It’s a peaceful retreat away from the city’s hustle and bustle.

Each of these parks offers a unique experience, blending play, nature, and community spirit. From beachside jungle gyms to shaded splash pads and imaginative climbing structures, the best playgrounds in San Diego combine fun, creativity, and beautiful outdoor settings that make it easy for families to spend an entire day playing and exploring.

California cupcake empire Sprinkles Cupcakes permanently closed all locations nationwide on New Year's Eve, which includes its only San Diego location in La Jolla, according to a manager at that location.

Though the California-born company has yet to make an official announcement, Candace Nelson — who founded the company and sold it more than a decade ago — posted to Instagram on Wednesday talking about her surreal emotions at the company's closure.

“A few days ago, I learned that Sprinkles Cupcakes, the company I started in 2005, and then sold to private equity in 2012, will be closing its bakery doors today,” Nelson said in the video.

"This isn't how I thought the story would go," Nelson said. "I thought Sprinkles would keep growing and be around forever. I thought it was gonna be my legacy." She clarified that she has no ownership nor operational involvement in the company.

The brand was founded in 2005 in Beverly Hills and grew to 21 stores across various states and 25 cupcake ATM machines, which the company touts as the first of its kind.

The success of Sprinkles launched Nelson into an admired businesswoman, speaker, mentor and New-York-Times-bestselling author. She sold the chain to the KarpReilly LLC equity firm in 2012.

Julie Radcliff, Assistant General Manager at Sprinkles Cupcakes in La Jolla, told NBC 7 that managers were informed about the closures on Monday at about 4 p.m. Front-of-house employees, bakers and frosters were told they would be out of a job on Tuesday night, a day before closure.

"It's a bummer. Almost 15 years at this location, 20 years in the business," Radcliff said.

The closure seemed altogether unexpected with the company advertising on social media about the opening of a new store in Burlingame, California, as recently as Dec. 16.

The La Jolla location had already sold out completely of cupcakes by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and would be closing as soon as their pre-orders were picked up, according to Radcliff. She added that cupcakes at the Westfield UTC ATM were heavily stocked on Wednesday.

Radcliff described a lot of employees at her store as already having second jobs, but said that it may be harder for older employees such as their frosters to find new jobs.

"Thank you to all the loyal guests who come in every week. We're really sorry we didn't get to see everyone before closing doors. But we got to say goodbye to some regulars today," Radcliff said.

Social media users took to Sprinkles' social media pages on Wednesday to gripe about their swift layoffs.

"Thanks for the one day notice of unemployment and no severance!" said one commenter.

"One day notice of losing my job how will i take care of my 5 kids now" another commenter wrote.

Sprinkles Cupcakes was contacted on Dec. 31 but did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

Oprah called Sprinkles one of her favorites and the Los Angeles Times called it "The progenitor of the haute cupcake craze," according to the company's website.

Lucien is named after Executive Chef Elijah Arizmendi's 2-year-old son.

SAN DIEGO — Chef Elijah Arizmendi has opened Lucien, a new fine dining restaurant on Girard Avenue in La Jolla that blends French and Japanese culinary techniques with California cuisine and locally sourced ingredients.

The restaurant, named after Arizmendi's 2-year-old son, features a stunning design inspired by La Jolla beaches, complete with booth seating designed like little caves.

At 30 years old, Arizmendi brings an impressive resume from some of the country's most prestigious kitchens.

"I've worked for Wolfgang, I've worked for Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, and Guenter Seeger," said Arizmendi.

The menu showcases seasonal, local ingredients prepared with meticulous attention to detail. Dishes include a pork confit tartlet, crispy ocean tilefish with pomegranate sauce, braised baby fennel and spinach, and California box crab with Santa Barbara Uni and citrus served with a mezcal foam.

"My goal is as a chef, to really tell a story of time and place here in Southern California," said Arizmendi.

The chef's journey to culinary success began at age 13 when he started working as a dishwasher in a kitchen.

"I remember my first response was like, 'Oh, my God, they're listening to hip hop!' You know, 'They're listening to music I listen to on my own!'" said Arizmendi, smiling.

He grew up in Sacramento, raised by a single mother until he turned 10, and she remarried.

"She did everything she could to make sure there was food on the table," said Arizmendi. He credits her influence on his creative approach.

"We had a very special relationship. We still do to this day. She showed me, you know, to be myself. And that creative side I definitely get from my mother," said Arizmendi.

His mother's influence extends into the restaurant itself — she hand-crafted the plates used at Lucien and has visited to watch her son work.

Family remains central to Arizmendi's vision for the restaurant. His wife Nicole is expecting another son, and his current 2-year-old son Lucien frequently visits the restaurant. "When people come in, they might see me with a baby in a sling, you know, while I'm plating food and stuff. But it's okay," said Arizmendi.

Arizmendi envisions Lucien as a gathering place.

"I want people to feel like they're coming into my home and they're having, like, a really, really highly executed menu in a fun and kind of approachable atmosphere," said Arizmendi. "Food is the beginning of a lot of relationships and a lot of dialog between people too. It brings people together. That's my favorite part," said Arizmendi.