Home to one of the world’s finest collections of historic sailing vessels, the Maritime Museum lets you actually walk the decks of a genuine 1863 tall ship, a Cold War-era Soviet submarine, and several other restored vessels moored right on the Embarcadero. It’s a favorite for families with kids who love the hands-on, climb-aboard feel — and adjacent Waterfront Park has, by our guests’ account, the largest and nicest playground in San Diego, making it an easy pairing for a half-day outing. The whole area is walkable to Seaport Village and the USS Midway Museum, so it’s easy to build a full downtown waterfront day around this stop. Go in the morning if you want the ships to yourselves before tour groups arrive, and save some energy for the playground afterward — kids rarely want to leave.
