Title	A Multigenerational Trip to San Diego Creates Lifelong Memories
Subtitle	No subtitle set
Description	Parents and grandparents help nurture children’s interests on their family vacation.
Alt text	The author (second from left) and her family prepare to leave on a road trip from Fresno to San Diego.
Lazy loading	Enabled
CTA Text	No CTA Text set

A Multigenerational Trip to San Diego Creates Lifelong Memories

The author (second from left) and her family prepare to leave on a road trip from Fresno to San Diego.

Story and photos by Jehava Brown

Jehava is a lifestyle blogger at Onlygirl4boyz, where she shares tips on parenting and travel.

Parents and grandparents help nurture children’s interests on their family vacation.

When I was growing up, my parents always stressed the importance of traveling together and making memories. Continuing this tradition, my husband and I have made a point to plan a family vacation every year since we were married 13 years ago. We always plan one big family vacation with our parents and take one with just our little family. This year we flew to visit my parents in California for the holidays and took a five-hour road trip from Fresno down to San Diego.

My parents encouraged my sister and me to pursue our dreams and aspirations, which helped us both to be successful and passionate entrepreneurs. My husband and I wanted to nurture our three boys’ interests in the same way on this vacation with my parents.

The first day of our trip we hit the road early in the morning, ready to make the most of the long car ride. The kids were excited to play with their toys and games, and the adults wanted to catch up on their reading and enjoy each other’s company. During the drive, I loved watching my parents introduce the car games from my childhood to my boys. We also turned up the music and sang our favorite Christmas and gospel songs at the top of our lungs.

Sion (left) and Jehava Brown spend quality time together on the ride.

Silas and Sion Brown watch a serval at the San Diego Zoo.

Exploring San Diego

We stopped at the Carlsbad Visitor Center, about 35 miles north of San Diego, to learn about the attractions within driving distance of our hotel. I always loved going to visitor centers when I was a girl, and our boys grabbed fliers to look at in the car just like I used to do as a child. In Carlsbad, our children ran around the city beach and gazed at the Pacific Ocean for the first time.

When we arrived in San Diego, we were in awe of its beauty: the palm trees, the white sand, the bustling strips and shopping centers. We explored downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter, an area of restaurants and shops that was decorated for the holidays. We walked by the water as the sun was setting to look at the ships and stopped for a quick dinner at the Cheesecake Factory before heading to bed.

The next morning, we woke up ready to visit the famous San Diego Zoo. Ever since he started walking, our middle son has had a serious love for animals. He spends most of his free time reading “Animal Encyclopedia” and watching educational shows on animal life. Our trip gave us an opportunity to feed his interest and encourage his desire to be a veterinarian.

After some research, he realized that his favorite animal, a wild cat called the serval, was at the San Diego Zoo. The zoo, with its well-constructed habitats and lush landscaping, is the best we’ve ever visited. My son was able to see animals he’d never viewed at other zoos, including black panthers, koalas and a big grizzly bear. When we came around a corner and saw the serval, my son ran over to the enclosure. He rambled off facts as we all listened intently, and we stayed for 20 minutes, so he could savor his time with the big cat.

Silas Brown and his grandfather, Joseph Jones

From left: Josiah, Titus and Sion Brown at Legoland.

A Trip 'Full of Wonder'

The next day at Legoland in Carlsbad, our oldest and youngest sons had a chance to pursue their passion to build things. We saw everything from large dragons to knights to animals made with thousands of Legos. The boys were excited to use their extensive Lego collection at home to recreate some of the buildings, vehicles and structures they admired at the park.

We spent our last day of the trip exploring Carlsbad, relaxing together, telling stories, enjoying the beach and running through the sand. We walked by the shops and ate some great food at Las Olas Mexican restaurant and Daily News Cafe. Between the fish tacos and the croissants as big as my head, I was in heaven.

There is nothing like watching your kids experience places they have dreamed of visiting and encouraging them to pursue their dreams. Our trip to San Diego was full of wonder, passion, excitement and memories of watching my parents teach my children the same lessons they taught me.

Jehava Brown enjoys time with her mom, Yvette Jones, on the beach.

Five National Parks Near Los Angeles

All the destinations are beautiful and within a day’s drive.

Weekend Getaway in Joshua Tree National Park

Chasing the Light in Joshua Tree National Park

College friends reunite in a desert wonderland with a deepened appreciation for each other.

Road Trip Through Northern California

A world traveler reconnects with her California roots.

Friends Reconnect on a Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

Once stricken by grief, a world traveler returns the gift of kindness on a road trip to Big Sur.

Road Trip to See Whales

A whale watcher dedicates nearly four decades to an unanticipated passion.

Searching for Surf and Self Along the West Coast

Riding waves renews joy and restores confidence after a bad mountain fall.

California Trips

Plan your next road trip, weekend getaway or personal challenge.

Modern-Day Prospectors

From San Francisco, Jess and Eddie take a weekend road trip to Happy Camp, California, to learn gold-panning.

The Bee Journey

Beekeeper Sarah Red-Laird drives her bees from Ashland, Oregon, to Brentwood, California, to help pollinate plum trees.

Rescue Relay

Group proves love knows no boundaries.

A Multigenerational Trip to San Diego Creates Lifelong Memories

Parents and grandparents help nurture children’s interests on their family vacation.

Rediscovering California’s Eastern Sierra

Steer your Enterprise rental car on a road trip through California’s eastern Sierra Nevada range, and at the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area you may recognize the rugged scenery featured in many Western films and television shows. Even if you don’t, the scenery is spectacular.