Home is Where the Navy Sends Us

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✫  4/5 Stars Good place to visit! Website:  Birch Aquarium at Scripps | Home (ucsd.edu) Kid Age: All Ages Time: 2-3 hours     Beautiful little aquarium.  We've been to many an aquarium, and while some exhibits are truly beautiful, others could use some improvement.  I find the price to be on the higher side for what you get.  Definitely consider a membership if you will be going more than once, your most cost-effective option.  There is a small parking lot out front (free) Bathrooms are before you enter as well as a small snack kiosk.      The aquariums to the right of the entrance are truly beautiful and well put together.  This last trip we went in the afternoon and the octopus was wiggling all over its tank, the sea turtle was out and about and most of the fish seemed quite lively.  The Giant kelp tank was definitely the highlight.        The outside touch tank area has many litt...

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars! Great place to visit! Website:  Cabrillo National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) Kid Age Range: All ages, except you'll need to baby wear at the tidepools (no stroller access) Time: 1-3 hours depending on how much time you decide to spend playing in the tide pools, or if you stay to watch the film.       This state monument honoring Cabrillo who was essential in mapping out San Diego Bay.  A small museum dedicated to the story of the 16th century exploration, ship equipment, and stories of the time.  There is a statue and plenty of beautiful views from the tippy top point of point Loma.  Easy stroller access all throughout the small welcome center, museum, and monument.  Easy access to clean public restrooms.  You can take a stroll up the walking path to the lighthouse.  The light house is small and charming, quick to explore.  Note that the lighthouse itself is not stroller friendly...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars great place to visit. Must See! Website:   Plan Your Visit | San Diego Zoo Kid Age Range: All Time: All Day/Multiday experience      Truly the largest Zoo I have ever been to.   Prices and tickets vary, we purchased season passes.  Living in San Diego for this tour means we will have plenty of opportunities to go and seems to make the most sense to us as a family.  We have been to this zoo about 5 times this year, and still have not seen everything they have to offer (it is that big!). Important preparations for those with littles.  Definitely bring a stroller for little feet, unless you plan on riding the bus throughout. (I use a large side by side double stroller; it has fit through and into everywhere in the park so far with only a few tight squeezes) There is ALOT of walking.  There are some hills that are very steep.  I wish they would have the hills marked on their maps, especially the direction of the up/...

  San Diego Zoo     - Plan Your Visit | San Diego Zoo     - Our Review found Here! Safari Park     - San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance | Home page     - Active duty free     -Very large, lots of walking     -Carousel on site Cabrillo National Monument     - Cabrillo National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)     -Our Review found Here! Sunset Cliffs Balboa Park    Japanese friendship garden           -  Japanese Friendship Garden | Balboa Park          -Our Review Here! Harbor Cruise Whale watching on Whistleblower Old Town     - Old Town San Diego SHP (ca.gov)     - tourist shopping     -Our review found Here!   Aerospace museum Gillespie field Annex     -  https://sandiegoairandspace.org/museum/gillespie-field-annex      - Our review found Here! San Di...

Helpful housing links  Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Housing Services Center | Military.com Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Temporary Lodging/Billeting | Military.com Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Navy Lodge | Military.com Navy Housing - CFA Yokosuka Main Base Yokosuka Housing Pros:   - low work commute - easy to come home for lunch - walk to base events - easy access to after school activites, sports team games ect for middle and highschoolers - may not need to purchase a vehicle, can walk/bus/train to everything Cons: - Near work, hard to "leave" work behind - Busy and crowded, city feel - Depending on tower/townhouse location may have to walk long distances to get to the train station or the commissary ect.   - Can get stuck in the American Bubble    Towers Yonban     -2 Bedroom     -middle of base     -playground behind tower Goban Rokuban Sakura Heights (Officer) Bara Heights Ume Heights     -carp...