Need to get away from it all but not sure how to squeeze a vacation into the budget? A San Diego “staycation” may be the answer. A staycation—a vacation from a regular job or day-to-day responsibilities, spent in your hometown—is an affordable, easy way to vacation with children.

Ditch the car and check into a hotel in a walkable area such as Coronado, La Jolla Cove or Pacifi c Beach. Stay home this summer and rediscover what you love about San Diego!

Coronado Crossing the expansive bridge to Coronado gives a feeling of escape.

If you saved enough on transportation, splurge on a stay at the Hotel del Coronado (www.hoteldel.com). With its castle-like parapets, lovely landscaping and bustle of visitors, the Del feels magical. This summer, the Del unveils Kidtopia, a colorful facility for guests aged 4-12, and VIBZ, a teen hangout featuring billiards, darts and multi-media entertainment. Kidtopia camps offer such activities as scavenger hunts, sandcastle contests and luaus. The Del’s summer room rates start at $299. Check their Website for Summer Pleasures discount packages.

Play on the public beach kept in pristine condition by the Del, or rest your head at the Glorietta Bay Inn (www .gloriettabayinn.com). Frannie the Clown paints faces, shapes balloons into animals and instructs crafts for guests every Wednesday through August 12. A Radical Reptile Show of lizards, snakes and frogs creeps around every Thursday from July 9–August 6. Standard summer room rates are $185.

Venture into town to explore restaurants and more along Coronado’s main street, Orange Avenue.

“Tartine,” a hidden gem off the standard tourist path, offers pastas, sandwiches and salads, but the real draw is dessert (www .tartinecoronado.com). Try the Pavlova, a chewy cloud of meringue filled with whipped cream and topped with fresh fruit, or give your taste buds reason to celebrate by ordering my favorite, the champagne cheesecake. Two kid-friendly productions, Godspell (a musical) and Leaving Iowa (a comedy), play this summer at Lamb’s Players Theatre (www.lambsplayers.org). Children’s tickets are half the cost of adult tickets, which range from $22–$58.

La Jolla Cove Another walkable staycation location is La Jolla Cove. The Grand Colonial Hotel (www.gclj.com) puts you in the heart of the action, with rooms starting at $269 per night. No trip to the Cove would be complete without spying on the seals lazing on the Children’s Pool beach. To keep the kids content while strolling through the village’s plentiful art galleries and boutiques, promise a stop at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe (www.powellssweetshoppe.com) for a kaleidoscope of candies and ice cream and non-stop “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” screenings.

Staycationers seeking family-friendly Mexican cuisine should mosey on over to Jose’s Courtroom (www.joses.com). Doused with ranchero sauce and cheese, the carne asada burrito is the adult item of choice ($12.50). Kids can munch on rolled tacos and quesadillas from the kid’s menu ($4.50). Want to try something new?

“A lot of locals want to see a different angle of San Diego. They want to get out on the water on a kayak or see leopard sharks on our snorkel tour,” says Shane McCoy, a manager at La Jolla Kayak (www.

Lajollakayak.com). He promises that the sharks are not dangerous. “They are bottom feeders, so they have no sharp teeth.” Kids must be 6+ for kayak adventures and 10+ for snorkeling. Snorkel gear rental is $12 per day. Kayak tours start at $50.

Pacific Beach Pacific Beach can be an exotic getaway during a stay at the Crystal Pier Hotel (www.crystalpier.com). Kids won’t soon Forget being lulled to sleep by the sound of waves in one of 32 cottages perched on a pier over the ocean. Room rates start at $205 during the summer.

Wander into the farmer’s market at the Pacific Beach Promenade, held every Saturday from 8 a.m.–noon. For a healthy treat, snag Rancho Chico’s strawberries for $2.50 per basket. Kim and Darek Harris of Mission Valley stock up on fruits and veggies here most weekends with their 4-year-old daughter, Christina.

A Harris family favorite eatery is World Famous (www.worldfamous. signonsandiego.com) for its tasty seafood with an ocean view. Server Karlie Pakes recommends their most popular item, the potato-wrapped white halibut ($22). To stretch your dollars, go on Tuesdays for $1 shrimp tacos or Wednesdays for $1.50 lobster tacos (bar and patio only).

Pacific Beach’s main draw is the ocean.

To make the most of your beach time, head to Pacific Beach Surf School (www .pacificbeachsurfschool.com). Anyone aged 5+ can learn to surf for $70 for semiprivate lessons. For landlubbers, pedal along the boardwalk on a rentable bicycle for $7 an hour.

For a unique way to explore, older kids (12+) and adults should visit Segway of Pacific Beach (www.segwaypb.com) for Segway rentals, $45 for the first hour and $30 for each additional hour.

Exotic Overnight Adventures San Diego has two unusual overnight adventures for little ones. San Diego Wild Animal Park’s Roar N’ Snore Sleepovers feature animal presentations, crafts and campfires for families with children of all ages—including babies! Prices range from $29-$210 per person, depending on age and package (www.sandiegozoo.org). Sea-lovers can set sail on an imaginary voyage back to the 1870s aboard the historic Star of India sailing ship (www.sdmaritime .com). You and your wee mateys can sleep at sea July 18–19, August 22–23 or September 12–13 at $70 each for non-members.