Got some good recommendations last year when I asked about San Francisco. This year we are headed to San Diego. Headed there for family vacation this summer. Myself, wife, 2 boys ages 6 and 3. Planning on Zoo, Legoland, Sea World, Beach, possibly a Padre game. Any other recommendations?
Right next to the USS Midway is The Star of India. Well worth the visit. http://sdmaritime.org/visit/the-ships/star-of-india/ Have a great trip....
As for food. I know San Diego is not known for ribs, but this place is really good. There is one at Petco Park as well. Their barbecue sauce would give any other restaurant's sauce a run for their money. https://www.philsbbq.net/
I asked for some advice here when we went in early December. It wasn't our first time there, just the most days. Ours was just two adults so different than yours with kids. We flew in and took a cab to our hotel for three days. There was no point paying for hotel parking when there is such excellent public transportation for a pittance. We then rented a car and took a few days to go up coast and inland before returning for two more days in DT SD. We took the ferry over to Coronado Island, walked, took the local bus with our pass and had some of the best fish and chips ever at a small little restaurant. Check Yelp for reviews re Islander. The only thing we would do differently would be to fly to SD, stay for a few days and then rent a car to drive and leave in Vegas or fly there directly. Great city. Part of our inland trip was to Julian. The family might enjoy that.