Delight in the whimsy of Dr. Seuss all over San Diego! From the largest collection of Dr. Seuss items in the world to beholding the secret art of Dr. Seuss, we know all the places you’ll go. Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) lived in La Jolla for several decades and signs of his wacky, wonderful work abound throughout town. Your kids may not like green eggs and ham, but they’re guaranteed to love these real-life examples of Dr. Seuss’s zany work. Scroll down for the details.
Located on the University of California San Diego campus, this iconic library was renamed after Dr. Seuss (whose real name is Theodore Seuss Geisel) in 1995. It houses the largest collection of Dr. Seuss items in the world, including manuscripts, drawings and photos. Because the items are so precious, access is strictly limited. But the public can view the collection when the library displays them over the summer.
Additional Fun to Be Done: Visit the nearby campus bookstore to pick up Seuss supplies like pencils and T-shirts.
UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093 858-534-3336 Online: ucsd.edu Hours vary depending on time of year.
Also located on the UC San Diego campus is a bronze statue of Dr. Seuss and arguably his most famous creation, the Cat in the Hat. Created to celebrate 100 years of Dr. Seuss, this life-size statue features Seuss at his desk while a 7.5-foot tall Cat in the Hat looks mischievously over his shoulder.
Additional Fun to Be Done: Your budding art majors are sure to love Niki de St. Phalle’s “Sun God” and Tim Hawkinson’s “Bear” statues also located on campus.
UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA 92093 858-534-2230 Online: ucsd.edu
This art gallery, located in downtown La Jolla, specializes in “The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss,” showcasing 70 years of Seuss’s paintings and sculptures. In addition to the whimsical images children love, there are also more satirical works, including several poking fun at high society. The entire collection is also viewable online, but there’s nothing quite like seeing his artwork in person.
Additional Fun to Be Done: Visit the nearby Cave Store, home of the Sunny Jim Sea Cave, which offers a unique view of La Jolla Cove.
Dr. Seuss could see the red-shingled roof of the landmark Hotel Del from his studio and that got him dreaming. In 1970 he painted “I Dreamed I was a Doorman at the Hotel del Coronado,” a riot of whimsical angles and colors. Why not head over the bridge and see what had Seuss so smitten? Over the years the hotel has hosted numerous movie stars, politicians and artists, but you don’t need to book a room to enjoy a stroll on the property or lunch on the patio.
Additional Fun to Be Done:With direct beach access, make sure you find a comfy spot in the sand at dusk to watch the gorgeous sunsets.
Hotel del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave. Coronado, CA 92118 800-468-3533 Online: hoteldel.com
Sanford Children’s Library
Leah R. Singer
Kids will be in awe of the towering 16-foot tall wall murals depicting classic Dr. Seuss characters at the Sanford Children’s Library. They’ll also delight in seeing a historical first edition of Dr. Seuss stories.
Additional Fun to be Done: Don’t miss having a gander at the vintage collection from L. Frank Baum’s Oz books while you’re there.
