Home is Where the Navy Sends Us

  4/5 stars Great thing to do! Ages: All Timeframe: All day or just an afternoon Websites: https://visitoceanside.org/blog/tips-for-taking-the-coaster/ Let’s ride the train!  We took a day trip, riding the coaster train from Santa Fe up to Oceanside and back. (1 hour each way) The kids had a blast climbing aboard sitting on the second story, watching the view roll past and simply being on a train.  It was a cloudy day when we went and the views of the beach were not as exciting as I had expected them to be (why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5). There is a good portion of the ride inland, and when you do get near the beach it isn’t actually that close. Still a bit of a distance from the train.  The train has open seating so you find an empty seat and it’s yours. Snag the left side for the ride up and the right side for the ride south for the beach views.   *Note, you will want to get on the train in Santa Fe (downtown San Diego) it is the first stop and you will m...

⭐⭐⭐✰✰  3/5 stars ok place to visit! All ages 1-2 hours Website:  https://sandiegoairandspace.org/museum/gillespie-field-annex      We drove out one Saturday morning to the Air and Space Museum annex. We enjoyed the museum in Balboa and so thought to check this one out as well. I gave it 3 out of 4 stars because it's mostly just a parking lot for old planes. But my kids actually really enjoyed visiting. So don't let the low rating deter you, especially if you're a plane lover. You also can't beat the price $5 per adult kids are free.  It's ok volunteer run, and they all have stories to tell or information about airplanes to share if you ask them.  There is one hangar with some beautiful planes and memorabilia on the walls, then two long outdoor rows of military and private planes parked some you can go right up to and touch, climb inside   I'm the front is a nice bench and about 5 or 6 little tricycle airplanes littles can peddle around in. My 6-ye...

⭐⭐⭐⭐✰  4/5 stars Good place to visit  Ages: 6 and under Time: 2 hours Website:  https://www.pumpkinstation.com/ Today we went on a preschool field trip to the Pumpkin Station. Arrived about 9 am and there was only one or two other families with littles there other than our field trip class. Take note that by 10:30 three other school busses showed up and dropped off field trippers from other preschools and kindergartens and lines formed making it harder for the single families to get to everything. Go early if you can. Also take note that their website says, "giant slides" and "inflatables" but these were not at the Rancho Bernardo location. Maybe some of their other locations have more activities that older kids would enjoy. I did not bring my stroller in because I knew some of the activities would not be stroller friendly (hayride, train ride, pumpkin patch, sunflower cutting) but the main area is flat, and I did see a family there with a stroller.  Just know you w...

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