*A big thank you to our friends at IHG Hotels & Resorts for partnering with us on this post. Their hotels are some of our very favorite places to stay on vacation. Wondering where to stay in San Diego? This is it.

The sunshine, the palm trees, and the perfect weather…San Diego is the perfect getaway and if you’re wondering where the best place to stay in San Diego is…hands down, it’s the InterContinental San Diego.

There are a lot of things I’m sure my husband and I have done wrong as parents, but the ONE thing we’ve done right is the 12-year-old trip. It’s a tradition in our family that every single one of our five children has looked forward to when they are young and has remembered fondly after they are grown.

A 12-year-old trip is one that you take your child the year they turn 12. Why 12 years old? We’ve found that they’re old enough to be easy travelers but still young enough to be a kid. They still have the magic of childhood in their eyes and as sad as it sounds, it’s like that last bon voyage to childhood you have with them.

If you aren’t doing a one-on-one trip with your kids, start now!

And if you’re looking for a GREAT place for a 12-year-old trip, San Diego is it and the InterContinental San Diego is one of our favorite places to stay there. Here are some ideas on what to do there on a 12-year-old trip.

A 12-Year-Old Trip and Where To Stay in San Diego

5 San Diego Musts:

1. Stay at the InterContinental San Diego

One of our favorite places to stay in San Diego is the InterContinental San Diego hotel. It’s only 5 minutes from the airport and is located right on the gorgeous waterfront of Downtown San Diego. It’s nestled in a buzzing urban scene where restaurants and nightlife abound. There are so many great places to go, all within walking distance (the USS Midway is right across the street!), and if you’re looking to get out, it’s a convenient gateway to theme parks and beaches.

IHG Hotels & Resorts are some of our very favorite places to stay around the country. So whether you’re planning a 12-year-old trip, a business excursion, a couples get-a-way, or a girls’ weekend, IHG Hotels and Resorts has a home away from home waiting for you.

Check out their locations and book your next stay with IHG!

We chose the InterContinental San Diego for Anderson’s 12-year-old trip because it is beautiful, super convenient to the airport, restaurants, San Diego Attractions, and because it has a gorgeous view of San Diego. We wanted Anderson to feel special (and my husband and I wanted to treat ourselves at the same time!).

Affordable Elegance

Everything at the InterContinental is lovely–the lobby, the rooms, the balconies. (They have some of the softest, most heavenly beds I’ve ever slept in.) We loved coming “home” after a long day of playing and relaxing by the pool to the most stunning views. And the price was very affordable in my opinion.

The InterContinental San Diego is a magical stay as far as a view of the city is concerned. The glowing lights off the waterfront are mesmerizing and to say that Anderson was wowed was an understatement. He had the time of his life!

The staff at the InterContinental are all super friendly and helpful. Service there is always excellent and if there is anything you need…restaurant recommendations, help with transportation, etc…their staff is on hand and ready to assist.

The Amenities

Of course when you’re taking kids on a trip, you have to have a pool and the InterContinental pool is great. There’s a chance to lap swim in the morning, play during the day, and unwind at night.

There are lots of pool and lounge chairs so you can gather and enjoy your company day or night.

If you want to get in a workout on your trip, the InterContinental San Diego has one of the best hotel gyms I’ve ever seen. Rows of treadmills overlook the beautiful view and everything is pristinely clean.

The fitness room has large windows with equipment facing views. It’s a great way to get a workout in while enjoying the view. With modern and up to date equipment (and plenty of it), it all worked flawlessly, cold water bottles and towels right there…very convenient.

And if you’re big into biking, you’re going to love this…

Like I said, the InterContinental San Diego is a pretty magical place to stay. With a rooftop restaurant that we overheard other guests raving about, and another highly-rated restaurant on site, you’d hardly have a reason to leave. But since we were on a 12-year-old trip, we of course had to do some playing!

So what else do you do with a 12-year-old in San Diego? Here are a few of our favorites.

2. Sea World

This is always a favorite and for good reason: Sea World fun never fails. Learning about Sea Animals, seeing them up close, even touching some of them is so memorable, PLUS the rides are super fun!

Our kids all love it, but it was especially fun to take just one kid so that all the focus was on him. He drank it in! Anderson loved having mom and dad all to himself for the shows, the rides, and all the snacks we spoiled him with.

3. USS Midway

We weren’t originally planning on this, but since the USS Midway was right across the street from the InterContinental San Diego where we were staying, we had to go and Anderson loved it. I couldn’t keep up with him as he ran from one display to another, excited to learn about life aboard this ship.

4. Mormon Battalion Historic Site

We loved how much San Diego history you learn here in a fun, interactive way – even pan for gold at the end!

5. San Diego Zoo Safari Park

If you’ve never been, this is a must. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is set up so that you see animals in a more natural habitat. This park is SO WELL laid out – so peaceful and beautiful to walk around. It’s a big park, so definitely bring your comfy walking shoes. I think my husband and I loved it every bit as much as Anderson did.

He loved getting his character portrait drawn here. (Another perk of a 12-year-old trip that we wouldn’t normally do with our entire family.)

This trip ended up being so good for all of us. It’s why we do 12-year-old trips. A weekend to focus solely on one kid.

Kids love all the extra attention they get from mom and dad and they love calling the shots on where to go and places to eat. But you know, as much as Anderson loved the extra attention, he wanted to share the experience with his siblings and hopes we can go back as a family sometime.

When we do, we’ll stay at the InterContinental San Diego again and do all of the same things, it was that much fun. If you’re looking for where to stay in San Diego, it’s a great hotel!

Book you stay here.

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A 12-Year-Old Trip and Where To Stay in San Diego