Hot Wheels at Bonita Cove – The Best Bay Day Hack for Kids

ByAndrea

If you’re looking for a chill, kid-friendly beach spot in San Diego—Bonita Cove is a hidden gem you need to check out. Tucked right next to Mission Beach and Belmont Park, this bay is calm, convenient, and has everything a family could want: grass, sand, shade, a park, bathrooms, and even its own parking lot. 10/10.

Why Bonita Cove is Our Go-To San Diego Bay Spot:

  • Located right next to Belmont Park
  • Dedicated parking lot (no circling for spots!)
  • Grass for picnics or running wild
  • A playground nearby
  • Clean public bathrooms

I took all three of my kids by myself the other day, and we had the best time. It felt manageable, fun, and relaxing… well, as relaxing as a solo mom beach trip can be. 😂

The Hot Wheels Beach Hack You HAVE to Try

Instead of the usual sandcastles and digging holes, we brought our Hot Wheels track and let the kids turn the beach into a mini racetrack. My oldest wanted to build tunnels in the sand to run the tracks through, which sounded great—until we remembered our younger “sand monsters” don’t exactly respect architectural integrity.

So we switched gears.

We laid the track right on the sand and set up a little “pool” at the end for the cars to jump into. That tiny change turned into an hour-long adventure. The kids were launching cars, building ramps, and cheering each other on—it was seriously a huge hit.

How to Do It:

  • Bring a Hot Wheels track with a launcher
  • Dig a small “splash zone” at the end
  • Let the kids build a course right on the sand
  • Use buckets, castle molds, or anything you have for ramps and targets

Why You’ll Love It Too:

Whether you’re a local or visiting San Diego with kids, don’t sleep on Bonita Cove. It’s calm, clean, and the perfect setting for easy beach hacks like this one. Add Hot Wheels to your beach bag and you’re good to go.

This isn’t just a fun beach activity—it’s also a sneaky way to keep kids engaged and playing creatively without screens or constant snack requests. 😄 It’s easy, inexpensive, and works at any kid-friendly bay or beach in San Diego.

Save This Idea for Your Next Beach Trip!