A Field Trip to Old Town

If you are looking for something to do with your kids this summer, how about a visit to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park! I recently took my 2 children there, ages 5 and 7, and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The heart of Old Town recreates the influences of 19th century Mexican and American California. Old Town San Diego Historic Park pays tribute to the cultural influences that make California special. Restored and reconstructed buildings in Old Town State Historic Park are now museums, shops and restaurants that capture the energy of the community between 1821-1872. The central plaza is lined with buildings some dating back to the 1820’s that offer a glimpse of the lifestyles of both ordinary residents and the most wealthy and influential.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park offers guided walks daily at 11 am and 2 pm. These tours reveal Old Town’s story and living history interpreters give faces and voices to the people who shaped the town. We weren’t able to make the tours but picked up a walking map from the Robinson Rose House (Visitor Information Center) and explored and discovered together. We learned about Native Americans, the Kumeyaay, that lived on the San Diego River. We were introduced to a brief history of the Spanish settlement and The Mexican Period and the American Period. My children truly enjoyed seeing all the mud wagons at the Seely Stables Museum. Old Town has done a fabulous job of restoring since 1968. The history of Old Town comes to life through its museums, period demonstrations, entertainment, programs and other activities.

I recommend visiting Old Town San Diego State Historic Park to explore the some of the oldest buildings and historic sites in California. This field trip allows visitors to discover the lives of those who came before them and better understand California’s beginnings.