San Diego family-friendly travel guide

San Diego has a pleasantly warm climate year-round with lots of sunshine, so any time is a good time to visit. If you aim to do a lot of water sports and spend time at the beach, the best time to come is during the warmest months between May and October.

Between the months of June and August, summer in San Diego is warm with average highs of 24 degrees Celsius and average lows of 18 degrees Celsius. It is also peak season, so expect higher prices and bigger crowds.

Between the months of September and November, autumn in San Diego has average highs of 23 degrees Celsius and average lows of 16 degrees Celsius. Spring and fall are the best times to visit San Diego as the city experiences mild weather, less crowds and cheaper prices.

Between the months of December and February, the winter months are slightly cooler with average highs of 19 degrees Celsius and average lows of 10 degrees Celsius. This is San Diego’s low season, yet it is far from cold, and the best chance to spot whales off the coastline.

Between the months of March and May, spring in San Diego has average highs of 20 degrees Celsius and average lows of 13 degrees Celsius. Spring and fall are the best times to visit San Diego as the city experiences mild weather, less crowds and cheaper prices.

Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from the date you intend to return to Australia. For more information you can contact the Embassy of the United States of America in Australia.

The United States administers a strict entry regime that also applies to transit passengers. If you’re visiting the United States for business or pleasure for 90 days or less, you may be eligible to enter without a visa, under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

In all other circumstances, you’ll need to get a visa before you travel. Get advice from an Embassy or Consulate of the United States on visa requirements.

Most visitors from Australia will arrive via Los Angeles International Airport and take a connecting flight to San Diego or hire a car and drive. San Diego International Airport has a good choice of shopping, food and beverage outlets, banks, currency exchange and tourist information.

San Diego International Airport is a 10-minute drive from downtown San Diego. Shuttle services operate 24 hours a day from the airport into town, and buses and coaches are available from the airport to many popular destinations in California and around the country. Plenty of taxis are available outside the arrivals area.

Established taxi companies in San Diego include Orange Cab and Yellow Cab. Taxi stands are located outside most hotels, attractions and shopping centres. Cabs are metered and the fare includes a flag-drop charge.

App-based companies such as Uber and Lyft are also available, often with lower fares.

San Diego has a well organised public transport system. Buses, trolleys and coasters provide convenient transportation throughout San Diego County.

The San Diego Trolley runs every 15 minutes throughout most of the day and 30 minutes in the evening. The North County Coaster runs 69 kilometres along the coast with station stops in downtown San Diego, Old Town, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside.

There are three train stations along San Diego’s coast. You can travel by train all the way to the Mexican border in Tijuana.

San Diego offers an amazing international smorgasbord of wining and dining choices. There are glitzy five-star restaurants, homely diners, ethnic takeaway shops and, of course, plenty of famously greasy American fast food. Seafood is also understandably a staple across most restaurants.

Being close to the border with Mexico, there’s still a great deal of Mexican influence in San Diego and its no surprise that the Mexican food here is fantastic. One of the best places to try it is at one of the Mexican eateries along San Diego Avenue where the cooks churn out an estimated 210,000 fresh tortillas per month.

If your kids are craving some pizza and pasta then Little Italy is (surprise, surprise) where you should head. There are also more than 100 restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter if you want to try something different.

Sandwiches are abundant, overstuffed and delicious. There are a number of sandwich shops and delis in San Diego serving gourmet meats, gooey cheese and fresh veggies in between thick slices of freshly baked bread.

San Diego is a world-class shopping destination selling everything from local souvenirs to Mexican gifts and beachwear. There are huge shopping malls, discount outlet centres and boutique specialty shops displaying the ritziest international brands. Farmers markets are also quite popular around town, so keep your eyes peeled on weekends.

Tipping is customary in the USA. This is because base salaries in the US are very low and hospitality workers rely heavily on their tips to make a living. Even more importantly, the government taxes hospitality workers on a predicted level of tips for the year.

Because we’re not used to tipping in Australia it can be hard to get into the habit but if you are unsure, ask! Most Americans, particularly in touristy areas, don’t mind telling you what the standard practice is.

The following guide outlines normal tipping levels:

• 15% to 20% for table service with food and drink
• A token tip for food or drink where you serve yourself.
• Hotel personnel is $1 to $2 per bag taken to your room (you can opt to carry your own bags).
• Maids: A $2 tip per day is generally left in the room for your room maid.
• Taxicab drivers: Taxi drivers usually receive a tip of $1 to $2.
• Tour guides receive $1 to $2 per person for tours with a lot of people, 10% for more individualised tours.

Light clothes with a light jacket or jumper for evenings are fine most of the year. Warm sweaters may be needed in winter, especially at night. San Diego is an outdoor, beach destination, so don’t forget to bring swimmers, hats and sunscreen.

Californians are usually pretty casual by nature. However, there are a few things one should avoid doing anywhere in the state, such as smoking indoors or anywhere where you don’t see anybody else doing it and bargaining over the price of goods.

Electricity mainly operates on 220 volts. You will need a power adapter for the USA.

No vaccinations are required to enter the US and tap water is treated and safe to drink. Make sure you get travel insurance before you travel as it can be very expensive to seek emergency medical treatment overseas.

America experiences a range of natural disasters that include earthquakes, wildfires, floods, hurricanes and landslides.

Wildfires are particularly common in California.

Built in the 1930s, La Jolla’s Children’s Pool was created to be a family beach space where kids could learn to swim but was quickly overrun by herds of seals and sea lions. Visitors come in droves to see the animals swimming, sleeping, fighting, mating or just generally goofing around, and the concrete platform surrounding the cove allows you to get up close with the camera for some great wildlife shots.

Ocean Beach has one of the most beautiful coastlines in California. For that perfect sunset shot, head out to the Sunset Cliffs and watch them turn golden with the setting sun among the crashing waves. Just be sure to keep an eye on the little ones if you are walking close to the cliff edge.

The Salk Institute is an incredible work of architecture, and while the building itself is not open to the public, the courtyard is during the day. Although it always looks abandoned in Instagram photos, there is actually a constant stream of workers and tourists walking around during the day, so it’s best to get here early if you want to get that stand-alone shot.

Located in Scripps Park in La Jolla, the Dr Seuss Tree is thought to be the inspiration behind the famous story The Lorax, as the writer himself lived much of his life in San Diego. It is the perfect place to have a picnic with the family and sure to be a hit with kids who grew up reading the book.