SoCal with Kids

Ideas, tips, and destinations for FUN with kids in Southern California!

Ideas, tips, and destinations for FUN with kids in Southern California!

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Tips For Visiting California Wolf Center

By: socalwithkids • This site contains affiliate links.

Visiting California Wolf Center - www.socalwithkids.com

Tips For Visiting California Wolf Center

Visiting California Wolf Center - www.socalwithkids.com

If you’ve been thinking about visiting California Wolf Center, this post is for you! Here you’ll find tips for preparing for your visit, what to expect while you’re there, and ideas of what you can do in the area afterwards.

Trail Sign - www.socalwithkids.com

Make Reservations In Advance

Visiting California Wolf Center must be arranged in advance. They offer private tours, public tours, and field trips for school groups. Tours are available select days and times. Make reservations in advance. You cannot enter California Wolf Center without prior reservations.

Path to Wolves - www.socalwithkids.com

What To Pack and Wear

  1. Wear comfortable, closed toe walking shoes. You’ll be walking on dirt to see the wolves.
  2. Climate in the area can change quickly. Pack jackets, sweaters, or pullovers.
  3. If you’re sensitive to the sun, bring hats and sunscreen. There’s little shade, and it can get hot and sunny.
  4. Pack a camera, and binoculars. It’s not every day that you get to have an experience like this. Make sure there’s room on your phone or memory card for pictures and/or videos.
  5. We recommend packing snacks and drinks for before and after the visit.

Dirt Road - www.socalwithkids.com

Prepare For The Drive

Keep up to date with the weather forecast while planning for your trip. The weather in Julian is often different than that down the mountain. It even gets snows!

We recommend getting gas before you begin your trip. Depending upon which route you take, there may not pass many gas stations. Be prepared ahead of time.

Julian Drive - www.socalwithkids.com

Allow yourself plenty of time to drive up the hill. It’s a long, winding road. It’s better to arrive early, than take a chance on being late and missing your scheduled visit.


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Your phone will likely be roaming. If a loved one is expecting you to be in contact with them while you’re up the hill, let them know in advance that you’ll likely be roaming at the Wolf Center.

KQ Ranch Resort - www.socalwithkids.com

Finding Your Destination

Set your GPS to locate KQ Ranch Resort, a campground near California Wolf Center. There’s a small sign for the campground on CA-79, and a large entry sign on KQ Ranch Rd. (pictured above).


Once you arrive near the entrance of the campground, turn right onto the dirt road, which is Kenis/Christansen. This private road is where you’ll park your car and wait for an escort from California Wolf Center. Be respectful while waiting for an escort.

Julian Apple Pie Company - www.socalwithkids.com

Eat Before You Arrive

Eat before you enter the California Wolf Center. It’s wise to have a snack at your car while you wait to enter to be escorted onto the grounds. They’re ok with you bringing a water bottle, and sell bottled water, but there’s no food for sale on-site, and no picnicking, either.

Skulls at California Wolf Center - www.socalwithkids.com

What To Expect While You’re There

While visiting California Wolf Center you’ll be with a guide, who will take you to view the wolves. This guide will give you information about the wolves, and answer questions. One pack of wolves is in a two acre enclosure. Another pack is in a one acre enclosure.

The wolves are behind fences, and free to roam the fenced area as they wish. There’s a good amount of brush for the wolves to seek shelter under, so the more quiet you are, the better chance you’ll have of viewing them.

Mexican Wolf - www.socalwithkids.com

Our particular visit was a school field trip. We had an activity about predators and prey, which included examining skulls, and involved a written activity. After that, our guide took us to view one set of wolves, and then the second. Our field trip was wrapped up back in the meeting room about ten minutes after viewing the wolves.


Your visit may be different, as we’ve heard that some group visits include a different type of educational presentation. Visiting California Wolf Center is not a full day activity. You’ll plenty of time to enjoy other things to do in Julian.

Wolf Watch - www.socalwithkids.com

After the tour is over you’ll have a chance to go to their gift shop. They take cash and major credit cards, and have a huge assortment of wolf-related items. Here you’ll find everything from hats, to necklaces, to books, and even California Wolf Center thumb drives!

CA Wolf Center Gift Shop - www.socalwithkids.com

Once you’re done with the gift shop they’ll make sure everyone heads out. There’s no hanging around checking out the wolves after your tour is over. They have to make sure everyone safely gets their vehicles to the top of the one-way road.

Watching Wolves - www.socalwithkids.com

Consider Whether This Trip Is Suitable For Your Family

Wolves tend to be curious, but shy. Very young children, kids that have a difficult time staying still, and those not able to be quiet may have a more difficult time viewing the wolves.


Wolves are more intrigued by little kids, but startle easily, and are more likely to hide or run away from those that are loud or make sudden moves. Consider this before making reservations for a tour.

Julian, California - www.socalwithkids.com

Visit Historic Downtown Julian Before or After Your Visit

Historic Downtown Julian is just a few miles away, and a great place to visit eat before or after your visit. Place your GPS to Main St., and take some time to walk around this neat town originally known for gold mining, and also known for their apple pie!

Julian Horse Carriage Ride - www.socalwithkids.com

We personally love Julian Apple Pie Company. They have indoor and outdoor seating, and a huge assortment of delicious pies! Our favorite thing to do is buy a whole pie, eat some of it on the back patio, and take the rest home.

Eagle and High Point Mine - www.socalwithkids.com

If you’re into history, gold mining, and geology in general, Eagle & High Point Gold Mine is a great destination. Here you’ll tour a real mine, and have the opportunity to pan for gold. It’s an awesome experience for young and old.

Wolf Print - www.socalwithkids.com

Contact California Wolf Center For Reservations

Remember, you must have advance reservations to visit California Wolf Center. Visit their website, or call them at 760-765-0030 to arrange your tour. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

May 1, 2017 By socalwithkids Filed Under: California Wolf Center Tagged With: california wolf center, field trip, julian, san diego

San Diego International Airport Offers Youth Airfield Tour

By: socalwithkids • This site contains affiliate links.

Airfield Tour For Kids / www.socalwithkids.com

Airfield Tour For Kids / www.socalwithkids.com

San Diego Airport Youth Airfield Tour!

The San Diego International Airport offers a FREE two hour Youth Airfield Tour for kids in grades 2-8! This field trip tops out a maximum of 22 persons per tour. It’s open to school groups, scouts, etc…

The Youth Airfield Tour Meets At The SD Airport Authority Administrative Building

SAN Administration Building / www.socalwithkids.com

The tour begins at the San Diego Airport Authority’s Administrative Building. This building is located at what used to be the original Commuter Terminal. Parking for the tour is available here as well. A designated Airport Authority Guide will meet you out front. The guide will hand out official pre-printed name tags that are required for the tour.

Depending Upon Availability, the Tour May Include A Demonstration From the Harbor Police K-9 Unit

SAN K9 / www.socalwithkids.com

Depending upon availability, the Youth Airfield Tour may include a demonstration by the K-9 bomb-sniffing dogs of the San Diego Harbor Police. This portion of the tour gives great information about airport security, dog training/handling, and the many duties of a Harbor Police officer.

An Air Conditioned VIP Bus Shuttles You Around the Airfield

SAN VIP Bus / www.socalwithkids.com

Each of the persons on the tour board an air conditioned “VIP” bus for the airfield tour. The bus goes through security checks to make sure the guide has authorization to enter the runway.

Your Guide Informs You of Interesting Details About the Airport

Delta Air at SAN Airfield / www.socalwithkids.com

Once on the airfield, planes arrive and depart at a close distance. The guide describes different jobs that people have at the airport. The guide also points out interesting details about planes, the fueling area, etc… He/she will also inform your group of the least tern, a type of small, endangered bird that can be found living on and around the airfield, as well as other areas of San Diego.

You May Be Able To Tour the Airport Fire Station As Well

SAN Fire Truck / www.socalwithkids.com

The tour continues to the airport fire station. Depending upon availability, your group may be able to get out and tour the station. You may be able to tour of both the inside and outside of the station. A firefighter will likely tell your group about the responsibilities of an airport firefighter, and give you the opportunity to go inside one of the engines.

Kids Receive A Very Gracious Gift At the End of the Tour

SAN Goodies / www.socalwithkids.com

After arriving back at the Administration Building the kids are surprised with a backpack filled with neat, fun, and educational goodies from the airport. This is an awesome addition to a wonderful field trip, and VERY nice gift from the airport.

You Must Sign Up In Advance and Pass Security Clearance Prior To the Tour

SAN Airfield Tour / www.socalwithkids.com

If you have the interest in taking the Youth Airfield Tour, you’ll need to sign up in advance, and there will likely be a long wait for an available date. Each person must pass a security check prior to attending, and no one other than those signed up in advance may be present at the tour.

Here’s a link to the Youth Airfield Tour section of the San Diego Airport’s website, where you can read further details about the tour, request more info, and visit assorted links that include games and activities, curriculum, and more.

No upcoming dates available for the Youth Airfield Tour? You might also want to inquire about the other airport tour(s) available by clicking here. (Please Note: We have not taken any tours other than the Youth Airfield Tour, and don’t know if the other tour(s) available include the same amenities as the one we took.)

The Youth Airfield Tour is a great way for kids to learn about many of the different operations at an airport. It was definitely an experience that we each enjoyed, and will always remember. It made for a very fun and interesting field trip. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

September 24, 2016 By socalwithkids Filed Under: San Diego International Airport Youth Airfield Tour Tagged With: airfield tour, educational, field trip, firestation, fun, k9, kids, san, san diego international airport, socalwithkids, youth

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