Live theatre, concerts, interactive exhibits and extraordinary historical sites in San Diego County provide one-of-a-kind opportunities to explore, learn and be entertained. San Diego’s cultural crown jewel — Balboa Park — draws visitors from around the globe to its 17 renowned museums. Catch a free concert in the park by the Spreckels Organ Society, dedicated to preserving the world’s largest outdoor musical instrument. Also tour the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Nearby, Old Town San Diego welcomes visitors to 19th-century colonial life. The site is considered the “birthplace” of California. While in Old Town, tour the Mormon Battalion Historic Site and Whaley House. Down by the waterfront, two of the city’s most treasured attractions— the floating Maritime Museum of San Diego and the USS Midway Museum—anchor the bay. In nearby Point Loma, ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station offers open art studios, live performances and annual festivals. North County draws visitors to many educational and cultural centers, including EcoVivarium Living Museum in Escondido, and North County arts and entertainment venues sharing the spotlight include the Museum of Making Music and North Coast Repertory Theatre, staging classic and contemporary plays, musicals and concerts. In East County, visit four museums at one place at the Heritage of the Americas Museum, or take an old-time train ride with the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo.
ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station
2640 Historic Decatur Rd., San Diego • (619) 573-9300 5 map on page 65
Experience something creative at San Diego’s hub for arts and culture. ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station is a unique waterfront destination with nearly 145 galleries, museums, artists, dining, a luxury cinema and a public market. This is a place to create, connect, learn, shop, dine, explore and buy local art. From artists and dancers to boutique shops, a historic golf course, seasonal holiday ice rink, and event venues, ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station thrives with entertainment, annual festivals, and innovative cultural and culinary experiences. Located at the former Naval Training Center in Point Loma, you’ll find historic architecture, vast parks and plentiful free parking. FIRST FRIDAY ARTS DISTRICT, a popular free arts event, takes place every month from 5-9 pm throughout the 100-acre campus. Meet working artists, enjoy dance, theatre and music performances featuring community partners and discover intriguing public art installations. Wander and explore the galleries, museums, artist studios, distinctive shops and dining at historic Liberty Station. ARTSDISTRICTLibertyStation.com
Balboa Park Explorer Pass
1549 El Prado, San Diego • (619) 232-7502 • 1 map on page 63
Visit amazing museums and more with a Balboa Park Explorer Pass! San Diego’s Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the United States – no other place boasts 1,200 acres, 65 miles of hiking trails, more than a dozen museums, fantastic gardens, performing arts venues, and the San Diego Zoo!
The Balboa Park Explorer Pass provides admission to multiple venues, and is up to a 58% savings over purchasing admission separately. Pass options include One-Day, Multi-Day (good for 7 consecutive days), or an Annual Pass that provides admission all year long. Add the San Diego Zoo to the Multi-Day Pass for a truly unforgettable Balboa Park experience! Learn more and purchase your Explorer Pass by visiting explorer.balboapark.org
Birch Aquarium at Scripps 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla • (858) 534-3474 • 9 map on page 65
Dive into the world of sharks, seahorses, and coral reefs at Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific and featuring more than 60 habitats with amazing creatures, the aquarium hosts daily animal-feedings and hands-on educational visitor activities. Not be to be missed are the tide pools where guests can touch local creatures, the two-story Giant Kelp Forest, and a rescued Loggerhead Sea Turtle. Seadragons & Seahorses features one of the largest seadragon habitats in the world! Learn all about these charismatic creatures and get a peek into the work the aquarium’s renowned husbandry team is doing to ensure their survival. Expedition at Sea: R/V Sally Ride Gallery showcases what it’s like to live and work onboard Scripps Oceanography’s newest scientific research vessel. Birch Aquarium also offers seasonal outdoor excursions such as whale watching, tidepooling, scientific pier walks and more. Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. year-round. aquarium.ucsd.edu
Cabrillo National Monument 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr., San Diego • (619) 557-5450 15 map on page 65
About 10 miles west of downtown San Diego lies Cabrillo National Monument—San Diego’s only National Park! Named for Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to set foot on the California coast, this park is both rich in history and unspoiled nature, featuring stunning views of San Diego’s coastline from 400 feet above the ocean. Visitors can tour the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, or hike the two-mile Bayside Trail which offers breathtaking views of the harbor and the city of San Diego. During low tide, search for sea life in some of the best protected tidepools on the West Coast. From the cliffs above, look outwards and scan the horizon for migrating Gray Whales from mid-December through April. The park’s elevated location also has military significance: History buffs will enjoy seeing searchlight bunkers and viewing the Military History Exhibit, which shows the park’s role in World Wars I and II.
Going further back in time, small museums offer a living picture of life in the both the 1500s and 1880s, the time of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and the lighthouse keepers. Want to dive deeper? Go for a guided walk with a Park Ranger and explore the stories and beautiful landscape of this local gem. Visit Cabrillo—San Diego’s Only National Park—today! nps.gov/cabrillo or cnmf.org [Coupon on page 61]
EcoVivarium Living Museum
136 S. Juniper St., Escondido • (760) 975-9690 • 31 map on page 64
Get up close and personal with reptiles, amphibians, and bugs at EcoVivarium Living Museum! Guests of all ages can touch and hold snakes and lizards or even high five a tarantula! Your keeper guided tour of EcoVivarium is fun and educational for the entire family. We’re home to over 200 rescued and donated animals. Thirty to forty Ambassador Animals are featured in the museum each day, so every visit offers new animal encounters! Have the kids join us for Explorer Thursdays where kids ages 5 to 14 spend the day focused on animal care, habitats, STEAM-based explorations, and fun. Plus we offer the coolest birthday parties in town loaded with memories that last a lifetime! EcoVivarium.org
Fleet Science Center 1875 El Prado, San Diego • (619) 238-1233 • 3 map on page 63
Explore 100+ interactive, “do-touch” exhibits and check out fun traveling exhibitions in this inspiring science museum, Dome Theater and planetarium in Balboa Park. Inside the Fleet Science Center, you can construct marble roller coasters in Studio X, touch a swirling tornado, learn how to generate electricity and explore other fun science concepts! Get into your head starting in February with two new traveling exhibitions: Mindbender Mansion and Brain: The World Inside Your Head. Those will close in April to make way for May’s West Coast premiere of the exhibition that explores what to do in case of sharks, pirates or zombies: Worst Case Scenario. It’s the best case scenario for science fun!
The Fleet is also home to the world’s first IMAX® Dome Theater, showing stunning nature and science films in an immersive, wrap-around screen environment. Without leaving your seat, you’ll feel as if you’re on the edge of an erupting volcano or diving underwater to explore a coral reef. The theater also hosts live planetarium shows the first Wednesday of each month. Additionally, the Fleet Science Center offers spring, summer, fall and winter camps for kids in kindergarten through 8th grade, engaging live science talks, unique school learning programs and after-hours events for the 21+ crowd.
The Fleet is open 365 days a year, including holidays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Hours and current exhibitions are subject to change, so please check the website for the latest information. fleetscience.org [Coupon on page 61]
Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
4203 Anderson Ave., San Diego • (858) 693-1723 • 25 map on page 66
See 31 historical aircraft up close at this indoor-outdoor museum dedicated to the history of U.S. Marine Corps aviation. The family-friendly venue displays historical prop-powered planes, fighter jets and helicopters, as well as fascinating military artifacts, all while honoring the pilots who flew them. Many of the museum’s docents are veterans who share their personal experiences with the aircraft. For a limited time, see the exhibit on Military Working Dogs. Check the website for dates of Military Working Dog demonstrations. During “Open Cockpit Days”, hosted during every other summer weekend and on select days throughout the year, kids and adults are invited to climb into fighter jets and a helicopter. “2020 Open Cockpit Days” are: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 23-24; June 6-7; June 20-21; July 4-5; July 18-19; August 1-2; August 15-16; and August 29-30. Additional Open Cockpit Days will be announced on the website.. The museum also hosts “Pilot Talks” featuring retired and active duty military pilots. Check the website for dates and details. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (excluding some federal holidays). Enjoy free admission (donations are appreciated) and free parking. flyingleathernecks.org
Heritage of the Americas Museum • 15 map on page 66
12110 Cuyamaca College Dr. West, El Cajon • (619) 670-5194
Journey through time as you visit four museums in one place: Natural History features specimens from throughout the world. Archaeology is filled with pre-Columbian artifacts from North, Central and South America. The artifacts in Anthropology represent Native American life after 1492. The Art Wing has contemporary western art and a Chinese collection, including a jade burial suit from the Han Dynasty. Stroll through the botanical gardens, containing exotic palm trees on one side and desert plants on the other. HeritageOfTheAmericasMuseum.com [Coupon on page 61]
Japanese Friendship Garden
2215 Pan American Rd. E., San Diego • (619) 232-2721 • G map on page 63
Find peace and enjoy meditation among the ornamental plants, colorful koi pond, and beautiful bonsai display in the expansive Japanese Friendship Garden (JFG) found in Balboa Park. Considered to be a living work of art in Japanese culture, JFG features a meandering path flanked by artfully arranged rocks, shrubbery, and trees that lead to the new expansion hosting a koi pond, waterfall, the Inamori Pavilion, and the oldest bronze bosatsu in the nation. JFG is a popular venue for weddings and corporate events that accommodates both indoor and outdoor facilities. Docent tours are free with paid admission and special exhibits are also a must-see while visiting! niwa.org
Mormon Battalion Historic Site
2510 Juan St, San Diego • (619) 298-3317 • 27 map on page 65
Step into history and experience the journey of the Mormon Battalion. In 1846, as part of the US Army of the West, they completed one of the longest infantry marches in American history — about 2,000 miles — from Iowa to San Diego. The fascinating story of their march, how they built up San Diego, and helped discover gold is the focus of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site in Old Town. It’s FREE, family-friendly, and you can even pan for gold. Come and take the tour! lds.org/locations/san-diego-mormon-battalion-historic-site
Museum of Making Music 5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad • (760) 438-5996 • 1 map on page 64
Take note of this dynamic museum, a tribute to the love of all things music! Located behind the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, this hidden gem is home to hundreds of vintage instruments and specialty exhibits held throughout the year.
Live concerts at the museum feature famous international and national musicians as well as local talent. Visitors can also pick up and play instruments like keyboards, drums and guitars in a vibrant hands-on area. A walk through the museum’s chronologically organized, 100-year history of music takes center stage. Gallery tours can be self-guided or for groups, led by docents. Either way, visitors will leave singing a happy tune! museumofmakingmusic.org
North Coast Repertory Theatre 987 Lomas Santa Fe, Ste. D, Solana Beach • (858) 481-1055 4 map on page 64
Discover immense talent and exceptional productions in an intimate setting at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. The Rep’s 38th season continues with a slate of diverse plays, including the poignant love story “Bloomsday” (Jan. 8-Feb. 2); “The Outsider” (Feb. 19-March 15), a sharp satire of modern American politics and a tribute to democracy; “The Homecoming” (April 8-May 3), a powerful Tony Award-winning drama about an all-male household that is disrupted when a long-absent son returns with his new wife; and “Human Error” (May 27-June 21), about two couples – one liberal, the other conservative – who are forced to meet and establish a relationship with binding implications due to a medical mix-up. Also catch Variety Night shows Mondays and/or Tuesdays ranging from comedy nights to stage readings and musical entertainment. View shows and dates at northcoastrep.org
Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association, Inc. 750 Depot St., Campo • (619) 465-PSRM (Recorded Information Line) 35 map on page 66
Take a leisurely journey on a vintage full-scale train through San Diego’s rugged and scenic East County mountains on weekends. Walking tours of the 40-acre museum are included and feature extensive displays of historic railroad artifacts spanning more than 100 years of Pacific Southwest railway history. Seasonal offerings include the spring Easter Bunny train, Engineer for an Hour during the summer, where YOU become the engineer of a huge diesel locomotive under the supervision of a certified locomotive engineer, the Pumpkin Express to the Pumpkin Patch in the fall, fall caboose rides and the winter North Pole Limited Santa train, an East County tradition. The museum is open year round and offers its Golden State Limited or Valley Flyer train rides during non-seasonal times of year. Opportunities are offered for rides in a locomotive with the engineer (Cab Rides) on all trains but the North Pole Limited event trains. The non-profit museum maintains a second location in La Mesa, California: the 1894 La Mesa train depot in downtown La Mesa with a static freight train display, open Saturday afternoons and for select events. Train schedules vary, and guests are asked to check the web site’s calendar for any changes. psrm.org [Coupon on page 57]
San Diego Air & Space Museum • 22 map on page 63 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego • (619) 234-8291
Get lost in aviation and space exploration at this top-flight museum in the heart of Balboa Park! See a flight-worthy replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, which carried Charles Lindbergh on the world’s first solo trans-Atlantic flight. Experience the real Apollo 9 command module, one of only a handful on display in the world. View aircraft used by barnstormers of the 1920s. Appreciate classic military aircraft from World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Enjoy the only 3D/4D in Balboa Park. Now Open! SPACE: Our Greatest Adventure, a new, interactive gallery exploring mankind’s never-ending quest to reach beyond Earth’s bonds. sandiegoairandspace.org [Coupon on page 61]
San Diego Automotive Museum • 21 map on page 63 2080 Pan American Plaza, San Diego • (619) 231-2886
Pay homage to collectible automobiles and classic motorcycles at this world-class museum in Balboa Park. In addition to temporary exhibits that are changed three times a year, check out their permanent car and motorcycle collection including an extremely rare 1966 Bizzarrini P538, a stunning group of Indian Motorcycles, and presentations on Louis Mattar’s Fabulous Car and actor and automobile/motorcycle racer Steve McQueen. sdautomuseum.org [Coupon on page 61]
San Diego Model Railroad Museum 1649 El Prado #4, San Diego • (619) 696-0199 • 2 map on page 63
Spanning over 27,000 square feet of trains, trestles and tracks, this museum is in the heart of natural beauty framed by the majestic backdrop of Balboa Park. It is a space where imagination is beautifully engineered. Located in the lower level of the Casa De Balboa building, it features six bustling train exhibits. Visitors are taken through real and imaginary railway lines with weathered and modern trains running through them. The newest permanent exhibit is the “Centennial Railway Garden,” an exciting G-scale model version of Balboa Park in 1915. The exhibit is solar powered and the plants are drought tolerant, making this display one of the only green technology exhibits in Balboa Park. The trolley cars that run on the layout are modeled after the Class 1 Street Car, which was created specifically for the 1915 Exposition. The buildings were made using laser cutting and 3-D printing. Both massive and intricate, the layouts are maintained by local model railroads clubs. Everything from mountain scenery to miniature buildings has been handcrafted in the various O, HO and N scale exhibits. Trains come equipped with realistic engine sounds, horns, whistles, and even smoke! The museum also offers school visits and summer camps. Open every day except Mondays. sdmrm.org [Coupon on page 61]
San Diego Museum of Man 1350 El Prado, San Diego • (619) 239-2001 • 13 map on page 63
Unearth a world of adventure at the San Diego Museum of Man, the impressive cultural anthropology museum in beautiful Balboa Park. Visitors can learn about how we live with animals, explore thousands of years of beer history, delve into assumptions about race, and much more. Visitors can also explore the limited-time exhibit, Cannibals: Myth & Reality, for a thought-provoking look at a little-known side of humanity to discover who cannibals really are. The museum’s newest exhibit, PostSecret, weaves together original postcard secrets from Frank Warren’s longtime community arts project, “PostSecret,” and local secrets from San Diegans in an immersive, intimate space. See San Diego from new heights on a tour of the iconic California Tower beginning in January 2020. museumofman.org
Save Our Heritage Organisation 2476 San Diego Ave., San Diego • (619) 297-9327 • 27 map on page 65
Experience firsthand a “place in time” at a historic San Diego home or site, thanks to the region’s leading historic preservation group, Save Our Heritage Organisation, (SOHO). Stewards of multiple historic sites and museums, SOHO invites visitors year round to a perpetual home tour. From the 1850s to the 1900s, from Old Town to Balboa Park to San Diego’s backcountry. Open to the public are the Adobe Chapel Museum and Whaley House Museum, both in Old Town, the Marston House Museum & Gardens in Balboa Park, Santa Ysabel Store and the Feed Store in Santa Ysabel, and the Warner-Carrillo Ranch House in Warner Springs. Tours of these charming repositories of local history are available. SOHOsandiego.org [Coupon on page 61]
Spanish Village Art Center 1770 Village Place, San Diego • (619) 233-9050 • 5 map on page 63
Color your world at this unique historic art center in Balboa Park, where 37 working-artist studios have opened their doors to the public for over 80 years. Visitors are invited to watch glassblowers, potters, painters, sculptors, jewelry-makers and other craftspeople create one-of-a-kind pieces—all for sale. Events include the Potters’ Guild and Art Glass Guild patio sales, both held twice a year. Summer camps for kids and adults along with other classes for all ages are also offered. You can also enjoy flavorful coffee treats from Daniels Coffee on the colorful patio. spanishvillageart.com [Coupon on page 59]
Spreckels Organ Society 1549 El Prado, Ste. 10, San Diego • (619) 702-8138 • 15 map on page 63
Experience musical excellence on the largest open air musical instrument in the world during year-round concerts by the Spreckels Organ Society. No cost admission concerts are held at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park every Sunday at 2:00 p.m., and during the San Diego International Organ Festival every Summer Monday at 7:30 p.m. Seating is outdoors on benches that seat up to 2,500 people. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, seat cushions, shade hats, or sun umbrellas. Music-loving pets and picnics are welcome.
Stroll down the Prado to cap off the day. spreckelsorgan.org
USS Midway Museum 910 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego • (619) 544-9600 • 3 map on page 65
Explore the 4-acre flight deck of the awe-inspiring aircraft carrier USS Midway, a naval aviation museum in downtown San Diego berthed at Navy Pier. San Diego’s most-popular attraction features an extensive collection of restored aircraft, theater, and self-guided audio tours for adults and families narrated by former Midway sailors to more than 60 locations. Open spaces include sleeping quarters, engine room, galley, ship’s jail, post office, machine shops, pilots’ ready rooms, officers’ quarters the captain’s station in the island and the air traffic control tower. Family-oriented activities for all ages include flight simulators, climb-aboard aircraft and cockpits, interactive exhibits, knot tying, message decoding and more. midway.org [Coupon on page 61]
The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park 2115 Park Blvd., San Diego • (619) 239-2300 • 25 map on page 63
Tour this center honoring the men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The museum is located in Balboa Park in the former World War II-era Navy Chapel adjacent to the Veterans Memorial Garden (with its B-24 Bomber) and the San Diego Vietnam Peace memorial, which lists all the San Diegans who were killed or listed as MIA during Vietnam. This beautiful location can also be booked for events. veteranmuseum.org [Coupon on page 61]
