Outdoor Family Fun Near San Diego

California Wolf Center, located four miles south of Julian off Highway 79; tel. 619-234-WOLF; hours: public tours Sat. at 1:30 p.m.; reservations required. Admission: adults, $10; children 12 and under, $6; www.californiawolfcenter.org.

Mission Trails Regional Park

Situated on 5,800 acres of hills, valleys and open land, Mission Trails Regional Park offers 40 miles of trails to explore. Its location, only eight miles from downtown San Diego, makes the park easily accessible. The highlight is Cowles Mountain—the highest peak in the city at 1,591 feet. On any given day, numerous hikers test their endurance on one of the four well-maintained paths that lead to the top of Cowles. Diego and I tackled the Golfcrest Drive trail. We were able to reach the summit in one hour and 45 minutes, with a couple of rest stops along the way. The 360-degree view was well worth the climb.

Mission Trails Park is also home to Lake Murray. Approximately one mile from Cowles Mountain, the lake is surrounded by a 3.2 mile pedestrian path good for biking, walking, and rollerblading. The lake also offers shore fishing and rental boats. Diego and I relaxed after our hike with a leisurely row on the water. Lakeside picnic tables invite families to enjoy an outdoor lunch and feed the ducks.

Free nature programs for children are available. Kids of all ages will learn how animals see, hear and move. Older kids can participate in a discovery hike or ecology scavenger hunt. Adults and children will enjoy the full moon hike, which teaches visitors night-time safety tips. Call the Visitor Center for details.

• There are many beautiful vistas along the various hiking path in Mission Trails Regional Park.
• Joanne DiBona

Mission Trails Regional Park, One Fr. Junipero Serra Trail; tel. 619-668-3281; hours: daily from sunrise to sunset (longer on days there is an evening event). Admission: free. The nature programs rely on grants; if funds are low, there may be a small fee; www.mtrp.org.  

La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove is located in one of San Diego's most prestigious seaside communities. The small beach is the perfect place for kids to enjoy sand and clear water, and to search for shells and marine life.

I took Gabe to the nearby Children's Pool, a small cove that is home to many harbor seals. Daily, up to 200 of these lovable lugs slumber on the sand and soak up the sun. The seals' beach is off limits to people, but Gabe and I ventured out onto the seawall to get a closer view.

• Seals entertain onlookers at La Jolla’s Seal Rock Marine Preserve.
• Joanne DiBona

Not far from the sunbathing seals is Shell Beach where families can romp in the surf, play in the sand and hunt for unique shells.

North of Shell Beach is La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, a 6,000 acre aquatic reserve that hugs the coast. Gabe and I spent the afternoon at the reserve identifying fish and birds with the help of informative plaques. Afterwards, we had a picnic on the grassy lawns of Scripps Park, which is adjacent to La Jolla Cove. We watched the waves while dining on a delicious lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Public restrooms and showers are available nearby for clean up.

La Jolla Cove, 1100 Coast Boulevard; Children's Pool, 850 Coast Boulevard. Hours: daily, 24 hours a day. Admission: free; www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/cove.shtml.