The 50 best museums in San Diego

Let me start by saying I do not like museums. I LOVE this museum. I also love that they hire people and procure volunteers that are veterans so you obtain knowledge from the source. I loved their personal stories, hearing of their experiences overseas and of the carrier. I wish we had more time. The tour said 4 hours to complete. We had four hours. I wish I had four more, but we had a plane to catch. I would advise to download the parking app to pay over phone because I had to extend our time twice. I would say to stop by the Verizon table to pick up the audio tour guide that you tap at every station. Bring a water but if you forget there are vending machines and a diner on the carrier. Stop by the gift shop for memorabilia. Take the tour of the captains quarters, see if you have what it takes to be military intelligence, and tour the upper levels which requires ladder climbing so comfy tie up shoes is wise. Please come and listen to our service men and women that dedicated their lives to protect our country. They have wonderful stories to share. This museum is highly recommended.

Amazing amazing amazing!!! We visited the USS Pampanito years ago in SF and it was awesome! So we were definitely excited to see this one. Love that it gives us a small glimpse into what these guys had and went through because only they know what they saw and what they did during their time there. We walked through almost 90% of the ship but because we had our 3 younger boys we weren't able to finish the top portion. They do have a little quiz for the kids which consists of 6 questions they need to answer along the tour and at the end they get a pilot wings pin which is cute and cool. Definitely a must if you're visiting in the area. Beautiful views and the weather was perfect. During October kids do get in for free so get that deal and also I saw online that that EBT holders can get in for free(up to 4 people), its the Museum for All program so whatever the case go and visit!

I had to rate this wonderful exhibit of military history and power. My Navy daughter, granddaughter, and I, thoroughly enjoyed touring this historic aircraft carrier. From the long flight deck, numerous aircraft, to the interior halls, cabins, war room, and “Top Gun” fame, this historic exhibit should not be missed. The volunteer staff was friendly and knowledgeable, answering all of my questions. We got there a little late, and did our own walking tour, rather than utilizing the audio devices. However, we will probably go back again sometime in the near future. Thank you, US Navy for your service and protection of these United States!

It was very cool to tour this ship. The video at the beginning was top notch! There are so many volunteers eager to give information or share historic facts about the Midway. The audio devices are very helpful. They’ve done such a good job with this floating museum. Veterans get a decent discount!

Visiting the USS Midway Museum in San Diego was one of the most moving and unforgettable experiences I’ve had. The moment you step aboard this massive aircraft carrier, you’re transported into living history — a floating city that once carried thousands of brave men and women who served our nation. Walking through the hangar deck, flight deck, and crew quarters, you don’t just see history — you feel it. Every corner tells a story of courage, innovation, and sacrifice. The volunteers, many of whom are veterans, share firsthand stories that make the ship come alive. Hearing their voices against the sound of the sea makes it emotional and deeply inspiring. Standing on the flight deck, looking out over the ocean, I could almost imagine the roar of jets taking off and the teamwork it took to run a ship like this. It’s more than a museum — it’s a tribute to the spirit of service and unity that defines America. If you’re ever in San Diego, the USS Midway Museum is an absolute must-visit. Come for the history, stay for the inspiration.

Everything about this experience is just amazing. The USS Midway Museum is an incredible experience that brings naval history to life! Walking around this massive aircraft carrier, you really get a sense of what it was like to live and work at sea. The flight deck is a highlight, packed with different aircraft and offering stunning views of the San Diego skyline. You can explore the ship's interior, from the sleeping quarters to the engine room, and imagine the daily routines of the crew. The docents, many of whom served on the Midway, share fascinating stories and insights that make the history even more engaging. Overall, the USS Midway Museum is educational, interactive, and a memorable adventure for anyone interested in naval aviation and maritime history. It’s a must-see if you’re in San Diego!

The USS Midway is like embarking on a floating city. This massive aircraft carrier is a fantastic museum that brings history to life in a way that truly captivates the whole family. It's a must-do for any family visiting San Diego. Hands-On Experience: The highlights for kids (and adults!) are the numerous restored aircraft on the Flight Deck and Hangar Deck that you can actually climb into. Sitting in the cockpit of a real jet or helicopter is an unforgettable photo opportunity and a thrilling experience for aspiring pilots. Meet Real-Life Heroes: One of the mostspecial aspects of the Midway are the volunteer docents—many of whom are veterans, and some even served on the Midway! They wear yellow hats and are stationed throughout the ship, eager to share fascinating, firsthand stories that add a truly personal and educational dimension to the visit. Fantastic Views: From the open-air Flight Deck, you get stunning, panoramic views of the San Diego skyline, the Coronado Bridge, and San Diego Bay. Tips for Families Plan on 3 to 4 hours to fully explore the ship and take advantage of the activities. Wear comfortable shoes as you'll be doing a lot of walking and navigating steep, narrow staircases. (Elevators are available for many parts of the museum, and about 60% of the exhibits are wheelchair accessible).

Visited with 5 adults on a Saturday afternoon during a Pride Parade, and it still was not too crowded. Felt the price of admission (about $25/adult) was worth the value and experience for all you get to see and learn. About 5 floors (including basement) with dedicated areas to different species. Gift shop and restrooms.

Friendly docents, incredible specimens and collections. Great for us - a couple of history lovers - but also for kids! Lots to see and touch and explore! Check out the gift shop for some beautiful sustainable trinkets and souvenirs.

Nice little natural history museum. The museum focuses on taxidermied animals, but it has a few nice dinosaur exhibits. I was impressed by their living reptile exhibits. As of 10/2025, the museum is under construction and tickets are half-priced.

Despite there being construction going on, it was still an excellent place to visit. The exhibits go through a wide range of topics, including some live animal displays, prehistoric period, modern threats to species, and science behind some of this. Very cool stuff. I strongly recommend checking it out.

We enjoy going to the San Diego Natural History Museum as a family! One of the best places to spend a rainy morning in San Diego. We short films are great and we always love visiting their snakes, lizards and ants.

This is the perfect spot for kids and grownups alike! There is so much to see and plenty of hands on exhibits. The docents were friendly and knowledgeable. My favorite part was the Amazement in the Basement. I enjoyed watching them work!

A must-visit! Amazing fossils, engaging exhibits, and tons to explore for all ages. The dinosaur section is a highlight. Perfect mix of education and fun in the heart of Balboa Park.

Fun place to spend a few hours with kids of all ages. Everything here is hands on and interactive. A great way to pique their interest on science! There is an area designated for children under 5 that was nice to let them explore freely. 4 stars because the exhibits were somewhat worn and could use a refresh. Great place overall and great staff!

GREAT place for a few hours. My daughter is four so this is a GREAT place for her due to the Kid City on the first floor. She spent 2 out of the 3 hours here alone. It’s a 5 yr old and younger space and very interactive. I saw an earlier review state that this place is slightly worn but I didn’t think so. Well maintained and I appreciate all the sanitation stations considering everything here you touch!!

We love going to Fleet Science Center! Kid City is a favorite stop for our three year old. Even our teenager still enjoys family visits to the museum.

We attended the Candlelight: Bad Bunny Tribute and had such a good time. We could not stop smiling while in attendance as we were mesmerized by the beautiful sounds and feelings washing over us. If you enjoy music this is a must to attend. I can't wait for my next Candlelight outing.

Hands foot and mouth . My child caught hands foot and mouth after our recent visit on Friday September 26th I called to inform them and they dismissed it with a single word being “okay” as a response . I highly doubt they’ll take the necessary precautions to disinfect. A team needs to be up there to disinfect every hour or so with the amount of kids who come through. Absolutely disgusting way they handled the situation .

I went on Tuesday which is free for San Diego residents to go, so took advantage of that to explore the immersive experience! I absolutley loved the display of science! A little crowded with kids under the age of 10, so beware of that😆

We took our 10 and 11 year old boys here, and there is so much to do! You get 1 IMAX showing with your entry fee. There are so many hands on activities. We particularly enjoyed seeing the Tesla coil being turned on. I would highly recommend to anyone with kids.

Wow! We did the museum tour and added the boat ride for $10. This seriously was the highlight of our trip! The ships available to tour are very cool and the docents were friendly, knowledgeable and were happy to share the depth of their knowledge. Kiki was our tour guide on the boat ride. She is filled with knowledge and stories and spoke the whole ride. She was real and entertaining and her passion for learning, about everything, was clearly evident. Please don't hesitate to go to the Maritime Museum and add the boat trip. Hopefully Kiki will be your tour guide too! Incredible!

I loved the variety of things to see, riding on the boat and information shared about the development of the harbor from the docent. The kids loved the ability to touch and feel the real ropes, to go down below in the Star of India! Was a nice experience that was not outrageously priced! Worth every penny.

Stepping Into the Past: A Journey Through the Maritime Museum of San Diego Visiting the Maritime Museum of San Diego isn’t just a walk along the waterfront—it’s a full-blown voyage into history. From the moment you step aboard the Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship, you’re no longer in the 21st century. You’re in the age of wind and wood, salt and canvas, where every creak of the deck and flutter of the sails whispers stories from the 18th century. ⚓ Immersive and Unforgettable The museum’s collection is astonishing—not just for its scale, but for how intimately you can explore it. You don’t just look at ships; you climb aboard them. You feel the tight quarters of a Russian submarine, marvel at the craftsmanship of Victorian-era steam yachts, and stand at the helm of vessels that once braved oceans long before GPS or radar. It’s a strange, almost surreal feeling—like your modern self is intruding on a world that ran on grit, courage, and celestial navigation. You start imagining what life was like for sailors who spent months at sea, chasing trade winds and dodging storms. And somehow, the Pacific breeze makes it all feel real. 🕰️ Time Travel, San Diego Style The museum doesn’t just preserve history—it animates it. Docents in period dress, hands-on exhibits, and even sailing excursions make the experience feel alive. You’re not just learning; you’re living it. It’s the kind of place that makes you reflect on how far we’ve come, and how much we’ve lost in the rush toward convenience. Whether you're a history buff, a curious wanderer, or someone just looking for a unique afternoon, the Maritime Museum delivers something rare: a portal to the past that’s anchored right in the heart of San Diego.

Very immersible and interactive! My 7 year old loves being able to board ships from old times past and learning the history of each one. There were tour guides along the way as well that were very knowledgeable and helped assist with the education of each vessel. I would also like to note that if you have an EBT card and an ID your ticket would only be $5! It is well worth it regardless. We will definitely be back again.

Fun museum. Good ship selection. Not too busy, easy to navigate. $50-60 for two adults. It is a self navigating tour to see historical ships, and a submarine.

We toured The Berkeley and The Star of India. We spent about an hour looking around. Great history to check out. The ships are beautiful inside, lovely craftsmanship. I really enjoyed the upper area of the Berkeley, it is a large "waiting" room. There are bathrooms on the ships. We purchased tickets in advance, but, you can buy them there. We were there on a Tuesday afternoon (one pm-ish) and it wasn't very busy. We had parked next to the USS Midway earlier in the morning and walked over. We ran out of energy, so we didn't get to all the ships there. Definitely check the ships out.

Had a great time. Was so amazed at this treasure on the waterfront in San Diego. Wished it hadn’t taken me so long to visit. So many different seafaring vessels from different eras to explore as well as the history in the floating museum. Be sure to check out the only periscope view of the San Diego bay. And for any Russel Crowe fans, it was amazing to go aboard the same ship used in the film “Master and Commander” when the British Royal Navy ruled the high seas. After touring the various boats and trying our hand at sailing knots, we also took the San Diego Bay Cruise which was pleasant, though I wish there was more narration. That being said, I can’t wait to come back to do the Naval History Cruise. Definitely will come again. Thank you! (And June was lovely) 😊

Beautiful building in Balboa Park with rotating collections of art. Their paintings include all the art masters you'd expect and some lesser known but great artists. Korean furniture exhibit was on display when we toured (it was excellent) and a room of modern art (not my thing). We spent an enjoyable 2 hours wandering the multiple levels.

The San Diego Museum of Art is a lovely attraction in Balboa Park, especially if you enjoy art and galleries. While it’s not as large or extensive as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or the Met, it still offers a meaningful experience in a more compact setting. I spent about an hour exploring, which felt just right. Admission was $25, and since I visited on a weekday afternoon, I didn’t need to buy tickets in advance—there were no long lines, and the galleries weren’t crowded, which made it easy to enjoy the exhibits peacefully. The collection covers a variety of genres and periods, and I genuinely enjoyed walking through the exhibitions. Overall, it’s definitely worth a stop if you’re in San Diego and looking for a cultural highlight.

The museum is free for military members and their families. Adults are $25. You can download the app to learn more about the various paintings and artifacts. I loved the app and really enjoyed the insights it provided into the displays. A very nice way to spend an afternoon.

I enjoyed this Museum, of the ones I visited, the most. They had some really great works on display, and a wide range of periods/cultures/styles to check out. The Museum was fairly large with two floors of exhibits. Some are dedicated to specific artists, so only their pieces are displayed.

Really nice museum that I wasn't expecting to spend a lot of time in. I always go to museums when I travel and this actually was a free ticket from the hotel I was staying in. I don't think I would have gone otherwise, but was pleasantly surprised. Small enough not to be overwhelming, you could easily walk through and appreciate in under an hour. I was there probably 2 hours and could have stayed longer.

I absolutely love going to art museums wherever I travel! Highly recommend going to balboa park when you're in San Diego. There is so much culture, and it's such a big area.That you can visit and walk around to different museums and spaces. This museum is fairly smaller than others. But you can get through it in one day. The exhibits were magnificent if you're appreciative of art culture. Make sure you look up what exhibits are being displayed if you choose to attend.

Wonderful collection of Spanish and Asian art. Hours are Mon Tues Thurs Fri Sat 10-5pm closed Wend Sun 12-5pm. Located in Balboa Park there are plenty of parking spaces which provide a short walk to the Museum. Easier to visit during weekday. General admission prices for The San Diego Museum of Art are $30 for adults, $20 for seniors (65 and older), and free for youth 17 and under and current students with ID. There are also free admission days available for San Diego County residents and other special programs throughout the year

Good, not great. If you are considering this museum and haven't visited USS Midway, just go to Midway. It is much bigger and better experience. If you have, I would still only come here as a big plane enthusiast. Just walking through without too much attention will take you about 30-minutes, probably not worth your money.

Amazing place full of history. Old to modern. Turned out way better than i thought. Spent almost 3 hrs there. Definitely go back. Fun for tge whole family.

right when you walk in there was a man who was eager to share his knowledge about all the exhibits. super friendly guy. i like how the layout takes you on a journey through the decades and there was so many interactive pieces that are fun for children and even adults. towards the end theres 2 types of simulation games, one on the computer and one in a pod. it cost 10 per person to play for 5 minutes. worth it. i was worried about parking but i came at 11am on a sunday and there were only 3 cars in the huge parking lot, we parked super far in fear of not finding good parking but even then, the walk was nice and the tram is always running. you can buy tickets online or at the counter when you walk in.

The San Diego Air and Space Museum is a cool museum with a wide variety of aircrafts and jets as well as different exhibits. It's decently large and there is plenty to see. Highly recommend if you like aviation and visiting Balboa Park.

The San Diego Air & Space Museum is a great experience in Balboa Park. It’s good for all ages. Genuine aviation enthusiasts will find it a treasure of air and space information with actual icons. Families with kids will find it very entertaining with lots of kid friendly activities. The parking is free. The ticket prices have escalated over time. Plan to spend a minimum of an hour to walk-through. You could spend half a day here. This is one of the treasures of San Diego. Don’t miss spending time here.

If you’re interested in US aviation history, this is a great place to see some of the replicas. I really liked the first 4D movie on the moon and I love the Da Vinci exhibit on flight.

Wonderful collection, a must see for aviation lovers. Flight path of Lindbergh Field is adjacent and provides random excitement.

This is a great place to take the kids. They many activities and obstacles for the children. We enjoyed ourselves. It did get a bit overcrowded but that may have been due to the holiday weekend. The only downside is that the Air Conditioner was not working or they don't have an HVAC system. We went for labor weekend and it was very hot and humid. No A/C or good ventilation really sucks in a 3 story building.

An unforgettable birthday experience at The New Children’s Museum! We had the most wonderful time celebrating our daughter’s birthday here. Everything was truly exceptional from start to finish. Our party coordinator was incredibly professional, kind, and attentive — she stayed in touch throughout the entire process, helped with every detail, and made sure we felt completely cared for and stress-free. The celebration was beautifully organized — every element was thoughtful, warm, and full of joy. The kids were absolutely thrilled! I loved how seamless the experience was: from the initial online reservation and email communication to the final moments of the party, everything was handled with such care and professionalism. We even received a lovely surprise — a beautiful keepsake book for my daughter to remember her special day. The reserved parking space in the garage was a great touch, and I really appreciated the option to add setup, decoration, and cleanup services for a small extra fee — it made the day truly effortless for us. If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. Everything was perfect — joyful, well-organized, and full of heart. Thank you to the entire team for making this day so memorable! 💖🎉

We visited this museum while visiting San Diego and were not disappointed. Like any other children's museum, the exhibits are highly interactive (even for babies). From varying shapes, colors, tactile experience, sounds and levels of agility - there was something for everyone. Each exhibit thoroughly explained details about the artist and its intended purpose/what it is geared to teach. My 8 month old had a great time in every space - even just being around the older kids as they were able to climb more of the structures than her. We fully intend to make this a must-do any time we are in the area. If you have a fellow baby, I highly recommend arriving first thing to enjoy the "big kid" structures before it gets too packed before heading back to the infant-intended spaces. Our favorite exhibit had to be the disco room with the DJ table. The colors, shimmering textures and interactive table really grasped our full attention.

What a fun modern experimental children museum! My 8yo son visited the museum in the summer and we loved all the areas. Very creative place with sensorial activities, little secret nooks, tree house vibe, long slides and a beautiful circus play area that is a bit strange and weird but so beautiful. Special mention to the knitted cocoon to climb. I think the place is perfect for kids under 8yo but we had a lot of fun!

06-14-2025 I was here on Mass Creativity Day (free admission) with my nieces. Because it was a special event, they had fun activities/entertainment and food trucks also. Below are some of the activities in the museum that children can explore: -Wobbleland for children ages 4 and under, limit to 10 ppl at a time, no shoes allowed -Clay Studio, no age limit -Prismopolis where you can explore color and light in your city

Fun time at The New Children’s Museum in downtown San Diego! Lots of fun children’s activities to play, such as slides, mazes, blocks, arts & crafts, and more. Nice little cafe if you need food or a drink. Very friendly and helpful staff. $24 for adults, then around $20 for children unless under 1 which is free. Recommend!

My family went for my sons first birthday. We thought this would be a good museum experience with some interaction. It was the opposite. This place is like a boogie Chuck E. Cheese indoor park. Basically every “exhibit” was a place for play and not a lot of learning. The staff were so robotic and bland. Our stroller was messed with so make sure you watch your stroller people like to go through other people’s things. The elevator is super small which is crazy because people have strollers which take up a lot of space. All in all we will never go there again.

I enjoy stopping by this little museum. Right now they have some interesting artwork from local high school students as well as James Balog. I liked Balog's endangered species works, especially, "Man and Ape" as well as the Panda photo shoot. Follow me for more reviews!

It was closed today, but I’m gonna try again tomorrow because it looks fantastic and I as a photographer myself are excited to see a museum about my own craft! Stay tuned!

As an art lover, I can't believe how entertained I was, the exhibits were Awesome! Super Dope! Must Visit!

Used our explorer pass. Two exhibits. Download the app and bring airbuds for audio tour.

We went here for a homework assignment and brought the kiddos. The museum was great and had a fun activity for the little ones to do while we looked through the photos. Their exhibits were very interesting and we spent about an hour there. Definitely entertaining and the staff was great!

I would give it 4 1/2 stars only because it is so small (it took about 45 min to see it all, at a very slow pace). However, the art inside was excellent, as we were lucky to go while the Widder Collection was on, and got to see work by some of my favorite photographers, like Saul Leiter. Definitely worth your $10 (and it is free if you are a student).

This photography gallery has free admission, but donations are highly recommended. I was amazed by the exhibition of the children's photography. Ther is a great future ahead of them. In addition, more interesting exhibits are on display. The museum also has a bookstore. Highly recommend visiting.

I went here this past Tuesday which was resident free entry into the museum. It is a month of July so it was packed with kids and their parents or going with some type of camp. Although I still had a great experience visiting the museum! There's a lot to see and I really like how they exhibits were structured. And made it feel a lot less busy than it actually was. There's a lot of amazing history, best reference through my photos, highly recommend it if you are visiting Balboa Park to stop by.

Some exhibits were good when it came to the cultural history like the Mayans, local native American and Egyptian displays. Many of the real artifacts were given back to the nation's they were from. The left side of the museum has become far left ideology like the name change from museum of man to museum of us. The cannibal exhibit was interesting in a Ripley's believe it or not style theme and feel. Definitely do the tower tour. Lots of great san diego history taught dating back to about 1915. The tour guide we had was knowledgeable, energetic and so sweet. She made our day.

We were given a tour of the beer area, Egypt, secrets, and pets. Lots of fun and thought provoking things to see. The hapa exhibit was interesting to learn about. Thank you for working with educators!

The museum is unique and interactive with lots of creative exhibits that make you think and reflect. It’s very family-friendly and easy to walk through without feeling crowded. The staff were welcoming and the whole experience was fun and meaningful. Definitely worth a visit!

We went today as the one thing I wanted to do on my daughter's birthday trip. She was not enthused to go to museum but she LOVED it and so did I! It was fascinating and has something for everyone from beer to Mayans to border crossing to Hapa to race. Our favorites were the Race, Hapa, and Post Secret exhibits. The cannibalism exhibit was awesome and I loved the interactive sections. Also the staff were sweet and helpful and let me charge my mobility scooter. Totally recommend!!

The museum had some interesting exhibits, the first upon entering is a display explaining why they changed the name from Museum of Man to Museum of Us. Every exhibit seemed to have two segments, one celebrating ancient civilizations, and cultures, and the other half demonizing European and American civilization. I had expected a bit more "history of humankind" and less "here is an entire wing about race relations in America". Across the street is a much smaller museum about cannibalism, which if you buy a ticket to one they let you go to the other as well. The cannibalism exhibits were interesting, though they again spent a large portion of the museum telling you "Europeans did bad things, and also cannibalism" with only a few small mentions of other groups, several of which they specify were not likely cannibals but labeled as such by Europeans. This part of the museum was a bit more interactive, with a few displays for you to touch, and some "game" displays. For the ~$20 to get into both, I'd say it's worth it to check out the displays if you're already here. Wouldn't go out of my way to check these in particular out though.

This used to be called the museum of man. Very educational exhibits. Free entrance for e.b.t card holders. You also recieve a recipt dot the cannibal exhibit across the street as well as in and out privileges. It was cool to see the Egypt tombs/coffins. The museum of myth and reality cannibals exhibition is a must see.

It was pretty cool. Didn't plan on going here, but was just walking around the park and realized there's a model train museum. Although it's relatively small, it offers a really enjoyable experience. If you're into miniatures like I am, you could easily spend up to an hour admiring the details. Definitely worth a quick visit if you're in the area. Not too expensive to visit.

We had such a fun time here when we took my father-in-law, a lifelong train enthusiast, who was visiting us from another state. I was blown away by how large this place actually is and the detail that went into recreating all of the scenery. The trains weave in and out of tunnels, across bridges, and there are so many fun miniscule details in each of the scenes that make you smile or laugh (pigeons on a rooftop, prairie dogs in a field, a car accident, a wedding ceremony, etc.). They also had a couple of spots that were themed for the upcoming Halloween. Highly recommend for people of all ages!! It's underrated and surprisingly awesome.

Took a short trip to San Diego. We love to visit the Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park and enjoyed spending a least a few hours with the trains and layouts. Spanning over 27,000 square feet of trains, trestles, and tracks, there is natural beauty framed by the majestic backdrop of Balboa Park. The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is a space where imagination is beautifully engineered. It also features both indoor and outdoor exhibits and programming for all ages. The gift shop is right next to the entrance and have some great t shirts and novelty train items. The people working there are happy and always will help you with any questions or must sees (HO Gauge Wooden Bridge) there are stairs leading down to the exhibit and I heard there is wheelchair access also. upstairs is a great coffee bar which is open depending on day.

Walking through the museum feels like stepping into little worlds built with a ton of care. The train layouts stretch across whole rooms, with tiny towns, bridges, and mountain passes that look almost real in miniature. Kids get a kick out of watching the trains roll through tunnels and over tracks, and adults end up lingering too because there is so much detail packed into every scene. It is not the flashiest place in Balboa Park but it has a charm that makes it easy to spend an afternoon here. Some displays show their age, but the effort and passion behind them is clear and that makes the visit worthwhile. It is a good stop if you are into trains, history, or just want something a little different from the bigger attractions in the park.

Super cute for children and model railroad enthusiasts. Don’t miss the drive in speaker post and looney tunes area. We used the explorer pass. Otherwise $20 for adults, $12 for Seniors, children free. June 2025.

A hidden gem in Balboa Park! The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is full of detailed, impressive layouts. Great for all ages—fun, nostalgic, and surprisingly relaxing. A must-see for train lovers.

We were surprised at the details of these model trains. This was one of the best museums in the park. The displays were amazing.

Beautiful museum and the Artifact restaurant is fantastic. We visited today for our anniversary and it was such a pleasant experience thanks to one of the docents by the name of Nancy C. My daughter was asleep in her stroller and after talking to me a bit about the exhibit, she very kindly offered to watch over her so I could explore, as my stroller had a squeaky wheel and I didn’t want to disturb other patrons. She was friendly, knowledgeable and a lovely person to speak to. Oftentimes, it’s people like her that turn a good experience in to a great one. I highly recommend. Beautiful pieces, beautiful people.

LOVED. Armadillo exhibit downstairs was amazing, cute and diverse materials. Furniture exhibit upstairs wasnt my thing. Outdoor patio upstairs. Very beautiful library upstairs as well! Definitely look through! Can only check out for art research. I came in between exhibit set upstairs so that was all. Cool gift shop, really interesting items and books sold. Restaurant downstairs as well!

This is a fascinating museum. We have visited twice, and both times been amazed at exhibits. Paper art from Japan was pretty astounding, but in particular paper "lace" with amazing detail. The museum's restaurant was equally fabulous, with meals from many cultures. The board room features a long wood table and chairs that reflect the artistry of woodworking. This place is a visual treat and should not be missed if strolling Balboa Park. Wheelchair access was quite straightforward as well.

Great exhibits. Love coming here and enjoying all the great institutions that provide all these great exhibits.

It’s soooo beautiful in this museum. The exhibits are really well presented. It evokes such a beautiful feeling and educates you at the same time. Local kids that are artist have a section in one of the exhibits and it’s beautiful to see. What they have here is a real testament to the culture and local community. I was so impressed and moved be many of the exhibits. You’ll be happy you visited

I've been visiting San Diego museums all week and I have to say that this one was one of my favorites. They have a beautiful collection of hand crafted pieces that are full of fine details. What I appreciated most is how I enjoyed pretty much everything they had on display. A lot of museums I've been to were dull or only had a few cool things to look at. The curators here have great taste and I was fascinated by the variety of art this museum had offer. Downstairs had Japanese signs that are supposed to be a visual representation of the service offered (a tobacco shop sign was a giant pipe). The room next to that had some Indonesian shadow puppets on display and the amount of detail on each piece was mind-blowing. Upstairs had some nice saddles and jewelry pieces. The most stunning piece was this giant wall covered in super detailed tiles made of metal. This museum is enjoyably quiet and full of beautiful art. Definitely worth a visit.

I was invited to a private event in the building after hours. OMG... where have I been? The space is beautiful, the art and displays are.robust colorful, and wonderful. I toured every event space falling in love with the theater and the terrace! Go, enjoy this hidden gem. And if you are seeking a location for a party or large event CALL SUE!!

Great staff!! Very knowledgeable. Tour guide was really good! He made it very fun. I went at 10am on a Saturday and no wait at all. When I went up the stairs I felt off, couldn't explain it, but it bothered me quite a bit. I even went back that same day and asked how they make people feel that way and of course they said they don't but that it's a common issue. Im not really someone who is an all-out believer in ghosts, although I'm not closed off to it either. I was intrigued. So, Tuesday night, i went back for the 9pm tour. The "off" feeling was so strong from outside the house that I decided not to go inside again and not do the night tour and just left, let them keep the $$ i had paid in advance. Nope. Not for me. You couldn't have paid me to go in there. I'll never forget that weird experience!

We toured the Whaley House Museum, often called one of the most haunted houses in America. While we didn’t personally get any spooky vibes, we truly enjoyed it from a historical perspective. The house itself is beautiful, with a collection of artifacts that are both educational and entertaining. The guides were fantastic—fully in character, knowledgeable, kind, and well-spoken. Their storytelling brought the history of the house to life. The surrounding town is also charming and worth exploring, adding to the overall experience. Even if you’re not into ghost stories, this is still a must-see and must-do for history lovers.

Really cool place to visit if your in to historic haunted places. Staff is helpful and informative. Did the late evening tour. Really fun. All in the middle of nice Old Downtown San Diego.

We took the night tour. The tour guide, Ghouly Julie, was amazing. We went during the Día de los Muertos festival and it was very busy. The staff did a great job with announcements to all the tourists leading up to the begin time. I would recommend getting tickets ahead of time if you plan on going while other events are taking place in Old Town. And get there way ahead of time to allow for finding parking.

Very interesting history with this historic house to check out. Comes with a short guided tour and then you have free time to explore. There's an old cemetery within a 5 min walk to see afterwards. Then we walked right over to the Old Town to shop and eat Mexican food. Fun times!

If you are into the supernatural or history this is a must. I myself did not experience anything weird (not that I know of) but have friends and have heard stories of people who have. Our orientation guide was very informative and gave us a good understanding of the history of the house. It was a little pricey (in my opinion) at $15 per person, so if you are short on time or scared of ghosts, you’ll probably be fine skipping this one.

As a local, I never do touristy things, but this was pretty interesting. Living on the water, I forgot it's nice to go inland every once in awhile to walk around with the tourists. A well rehearsed tour with some good stories. Felt slightly rushed, would have loved to linger and learn more.

This is a small 1 floor museum with an admission price of $17.50 per adult. I did not buy a ticket in advance but on a Wednesday morning there weren’t many people there. I spent about 45 mins here including shopping around the gift shop. They also have a library of books about cars if that interests you! They’ve got some great cars here , new and old but it was a quick scan. They do, however, have two cars that you can actually sit in and one employee was kind enough to take my photo for me. They are in the middle of construction so hopefully in the coming months there will be more cars there. I enjoyed myself but it was short lived. I was able to buy my nephews some vintage hot wheels cars at the gift shop and a pin. There’s a free parking lot right next to the building. This is great place for people of all ages and certainly for car lovers. Check this place out for yourself but manage your expectations.

It is a nice smaller Automotive Museum. I thought it would be bigger at first with more cars, but it seems like they swap out a majority of the cars every few months or have a different theme every few months as well. I was lucky enough to go when the collection was Ferraris which was a cool sight to see. I do wish it was a large automotive museum with more cars to see though.

Quirky yet cool. Loved to see some really good classics - there are a few good cars to see. From the red bull car to the 308/358/430/488 Ferraris the Jaguar XJ220, an alfa romeo and a few more to see. Some good ole motorcycles to round things off

super clean and easy to walk around. The staff is friendly and helpful, and there’s a nice mix of old and new cars to check out. Everything’s well set up, and there are clean bathrooms, which is always a plus. Just a chill, fun stop for anyone who likes cars. Parking was easy even though it seemed busy.We bought tickets online but you don’t have to.

The San Diego automotive museum is A very impressive and well-maintained museum, the vehicles are in excellent condition, some of them look like they just left the factory. I really enjoyed the tour, it was interesting and pleasant to tour the museum. Thank you

As a car guy, I loved every bit of the exhi...bit! Super friendly lady at the reception, very quiet and peaceful. One of my favourite museums so far!! You guys are great!!

Ferrari exhibit takes up centre area but loads to see, and good choice of cars and bikes to see. If you like engines, well they got them too

This is a small but mighty museum. The musician in your family will love this place. The volunteers are knowledgeable and show pride in the museum. They will tell you everything or let you wander on your own. We had the best of both. The instruments and equipment are well taken care of. The hands-on displays were fun, and the lounge! I highly recommend you take your musician there.

I had to come and check it out for myself. It is a nice well worth drive to come to check this place out. I thought it was gonna be a quick visit, but it turned out to be a three hour visit when you have a lot to do and see and learn if you're into music and you get lost, you will have a great time here the gift shop has a lot to offer and I was able to play violin anywhere in the facility just to listen to my acoustics.

It's an interesting place to visit and learn about the music industry. There are several playgrounds where you can play/practice your music. I wish they had the section of speakers and headphones/earbuds.

Very well maintained and structured, fun place for all ages and very friendly people / atmosphere. I would have gotten a membership if I was closer. Greg made the experience more enjoyable with his excellent guidance.

Small museum, but packed with fun and interesting things to see and do! Definitely worth the trip if you're into music. I'm a synth nerd and learned a lot of new info at the ARP exhibit. The whole thing is really well put together. We spent 1.5 hours here and went to every exhibit and watched most of the videos on the info screens. I'd say give it 1 hour minimum, 2 hours max. Very cool place. We were there on a Friday late morning and nearly had it to ourselves. Highly recommended!

The Museum of Making Music was an incredible experience—one of the best museum visits I’ve ever had. It blends history with hands-on interaction in a way that makes it both fun and memorable. I’ve played a few instruments before, but I’ve always dreamed of trying a theremin, and I finally got the chance here. What makes this place stand out is that nothing feels off-limits—you’re encouraged to explore and actually play the instruments. It’s the perfect spot to get inspired, whether you’ve always wanted to try music or you’re already a musician. Don’t get me wrong there are displays you cannot touch. I definitely recommend adding it to your San Diego visit. It’s right next to Legoland, which makes it an easy stop if you’re already in the area.

We had a blast!!! I brought my mom and kids here, and we had so much fun learning and interacting with the amazing instruments. The staff was great, and it is clear that they genuinely care about the museum and the history it holds. We will be back. Highly remind making a trip to this wonderful learning center.

I had a fantastic time visiting the museum with my boyfriend and his sister. The artwork was captivating, and the scenic setting made it even more special. It was the perfect spot to relax and enjoy quality time together after brunch. We all had a great time exploring the art and soaking in the beautiful surroundings. Highly recommend it for anyone who loves contemporary art! Below are a few 50mm film photos I captured during our visit:

This has been on my list of things to see for a while. So glad we finally made it. The building is massive with three floors of exhibits. Very tall ceilings and open space make it airy and the art is not crowded. The floors are numbered oddly since they go under street level...not sure if we even saw the second floor! There are restrooms tucked away down long hallways.. we needed to ask where they were. Elevators available if you don't do stairs. Gorgeous views of L Jolla!

This was my first visit. I live in San Diego, so admission was $20. Children are free. You can check the admission fee at the reception desk. The exterior is small, but the interior is spacious and has a variety of contemporary art works on display, which I enjoyed. There is also a courtyard, and the view of La Jolla is truly beautiful. The best part is that even if you go outside, you can come back in before the entrance closes. Parking is street parking only.

As an avid museum goer, this was a solid museum. There’s a lot of abstract or minimalistic here which isn’t really my favorite but all the artwork here was pretty cool! I came on a Thursday, general admission is typically $25 but one Thursday out of the month admission is FREE! There are 3 floors in the wide concrete building. It’s very accessible for all kinds of people. They have a vast array of artist on display including a WARHOL! They also have a fantastic view of the water near their sculpture garden. They also have an amazing gift shop. I saw some books I’d love to buy along with some pins from the Basiquat and Harring collection. I spent about an hour and a half here and loved and every moment of it.

This was a great gallery. They had a lot of really cool pieces. When I visited, the feature exhibit was of works by Alex Katz. I hadn't heard of him but he had some good works. The rotating permanent collection was good too.

The Museum of Contemporary in San Diego boasts an undeniably stunning location. Perched with panoramic ocean views, it's a feast for the eyes even before you step inside. The on-site restaurant is a definite highlight, offering a delightful dining experience with equally impressive vistas. If you're looking for a picturesque spot to enjoy a meal, this is it. However, the museum itself left much to be desired. While the setting is breathtaking, the art collection felt underwhelming. The variety and uniqueness of the displayed pieces were lacking, and I found myself searching for something to truly capture my attention. Furthermore, the museum felt surprisingly empty during my visit, with numerous vacant spaces, contributing to a somewhat hollow atmosphere. While the location and restaurant are strong draws, the art itself failed to deliver. Ultimately, I cannot recommend this museum as a must-see for tourists or a place I would personally revisit. If you're seeking a scenic dining experience, by all means, check out the restaurant/cafe. But for a fulfilling contemporary art experience, I would suggest exploring other cultural offerings in San Diego.

Food and ambiance were great! Lovely afternoon lunch on the terrace, quiet and serene. Service was attentive and helpful. Food, fresh and flavorful. The ocean view can’t be beat! Highly recommend!

We went specifically for the Doctor Who exhibit. If you’re a fan, it’s worth it. Lots of props and costumes, audio and video and some interactive elements. When we were there, one of the levels was closed so there was only the main exhibit and a few things to see on the bottom floor. Given that, it was very expensive overall. Would have liked more gift shop options. Unless you’re highly interested in a specific exhibit or you catch a promotion, this may be skip. They offered a scavenger hunt for the kids with a prize. Our prize was a small poster. Scavenger hunt was either written clues or a photo version.

It's fun, but $30 for adults is way too high of a price. It's a relatively small museum with a handful of exhibits and a gift shop. The Doctor Who exhibit was good and I took my time walking through that (it took up an entire level) but the other exhibits were very small. It took me less than 1.5 hours to walk through, which I've heard from other people. If adult admission was $20 I would have rated it higher, but $30 is too much for how small of a museum it is.

The only thing worth the wait was the Dr. Who exhibit which is on loan from the BBC for a year. I'm not sure what the overpriced tickets are funding cause it's clearly not the layout or set up from the exhibits. It feels like they don't treat the stuff with respect ans kinda just throw it up with disorganization and printed out placards.

Walked in here after a visit to the air and space museum. If you're going here, do check with display is featured. That will save you a disappointment if you're not a big fan of what's featured. Try the scavenger hunt to make it more fun. During my visit a Doctor Who exhibit was featured, which was very impressive, but I'm not a particular fan. The top floor featured some luchador history, and the bottom floor featured fan made costumes from Comic-Con. Really wished that part of the museum was bigger. Great gift shop.

If you love Doctor Who, Mexican wrestling, tokidoki, & Luann (yes, that Luann), then this is the place for you! At least right now. However, if you love superheros, then stay away ❌️❌️❌️ . . . The fact that the 3 floors of this Comic-Con "museum" doesn't currently have a single comic book on display, and they make no effort whatsoever to inform you of that, should legally constitute as fraud, & entitle any visitor to a full refund of their entrance fee upon request. Just sayin' 😎

I went to the museum on Tuesday for free residents day. I'm a huge Tokidoki fan so I had to go checkout the exhibit. It was amazing. I highly recommend to go on the free day. It's $30 admission which I think is pricey as it's not that big of a museum.

Great museum if you are into Dr. Who. The museum staff is friendly. The rotating displays on the bottom floors may be a better fit for someone into early US animation, but it wasn’t for me.

Great time at this wonderful little aquarium. If you have EBT, the $3 admission was a perfect opportunity to see everything this aquarium has to offer. The employees were kind and knowledgeable.

A great place to take young kids. This is one of the nicest aquariums I have been to. There is a lot to see and interact with and takes about 1-2 hours to go through it all. The penguin exhibit is very nicely done and it's fun to watch them swim around. Parking can be difficult on the weekends so it's best to come early in the day. There's also a discount if you buy tickets online ahead of time.

The Birch Aquarium is absolutely perfect for toddlers! We took our little one recently, and it couldn’t have been a better experience. Everything is so well designed for young kids, from the colorful exhibits and interactive touch tanks to the open spaces where they can safely explore and learn. The staff is incredibly kind and patient, always taking time to explain things and make sure the kids are having fun. The outdoor tide pool area was a huge hit. Our toddler loved watching the fish and sea stars up close, and the ocean view from up there is just beautiful. It’s the perfect mix of fun, education, and family-friendly atmosphere. We’ll definitely be coming back soon. It’s one of the best places in San Diego for curious little ones!

A great way to spend an afternoon with the family. Nice aquarium, it's not really big but they have great indoor activities for young children. Great views. Interesting exhibits and educational value for all ages.

This place is amazing! Beautiful colors of fish and sea life and tanks to touch some of them. The outside back patio has lounging chairs to enjoy the beautiful ocean views. The souvenir shop has a great variety of quality souvenirs.

Sweet little aquarium that holds a lot of knowledge, unique sea creatures, and fun for the kiddos in a relatively small package. Lots of interactive sections for the little, s wonderful penguin experience, and a can’t miss octopus makes this a great place to visit. Free parking lot for 3 hours as well. Small cafe just outside the entrance and a lovely gift shop round out the experience.

I went to the virtual aquarium for shark summer days and I was so happy to see so many children learning about the ocean and loving on the sea creatures, places like this are so important for our future, the staff maintains the aquarium in pristine condition and the animals look healthy, there’s a lot of informative signs and places to stop and admire the encounters, I spent a lot of time watching the turtle, and wondering about the kelp encounter, it is spot on. I was also thankful for the tide pools with lots of urchins and sea stars and shark eggs. This is a must for the summer or when you just wanna take the kids to do something with both of you can be equally admiring the encounters.

Nice visit here. Be sure to watch the Balboa history video. They can turn on the closed captioning, upon request. Nice collection of art and displays of San Diego's history, particularly the Balboa Park. A few areas for kids that they would enjoy. No admission charge but appreciate a cash donation. Worth a visit!

Very well maintained and equipped history centre. It is inside the Balboa Park and every hour there is a documentary film playing giving information about how Balboa park was formed. Very impressive.

It is free to enter. We enjoyed the show it was so informative.

Amazing, educational, beautiful and definitely worth checking out. Found out so many things about the making and building of Balboa park and the city of san diego itself. Every last person who works here and or volunteers here were absolutely off the charts. Extremely helpful and courteous. There is so much to check out here. Just make sure you plan ahead of time because its alot to check out and take in.

First, I really appreciate the staff and the volunteers who have created an incredible museum. Thank you! I came here a few years ago and it was basically the history of San Diego from the White American perspective. That's been condensed and moved to the back corner of the museum and the rest is devoted to BIPOC exhibits. While I appreciate this change, I think maybe it's swung too far in the other direction and just seems to really have jumped on the "woke" bandwagon. It might be worth trying to present a somewhat less politicized history.

One room focuses on history on an architect, one room on San Diego history, one room on Jewish history, another on the San Diego Zoo and finally a small alcove on Black history. All in all, everything is well laid out. You can start on the left as you enter and walk through everything except the zoo and the alcove. They are easy to get to though as you continue.

Really fun, I love walking through the time events the Hands-On ones Superfund to guess the smells and the sounds they even have an LGBT area

The Timken Museum of Art was my first stop in San Diego. It was a nice little gallery. Some of the works were more religious, while others were more typical Renaissance works. Admission is free, so you should definitely visit.

The Timken Museum of Art is a hidden gem in Balboa Park. It’s small but filled with beautiful classic artworks and peaceful atmosphere. The staff are friendly, and admission is free, which makes it even better. Perfect place to enjoy art and quiet time away from the crowds.

The Timken Museum of Art highlights San Diego's culture. This gem of an art Museum is located in Balboa Park, a perfect setting for an art museum. The Timken is free and ideal for school field trips. For our field trip, the docent shared both the history and technique of art, which draws you into the world of art. Our docent shared that painters expressed their subtle humor in their paintings. In many of the portraits, the subject were not smiling. How come? They suffered dental issues. The Timken has many paintings that cover a wide range of styles: still life, portrait, and land scape. If you are looking to enjoy San Diego culture, then step through the doors of the Timken Museum of Art.

This is a Free Admission small museum in the park. I came on a Wednesday afternoon and it wasn’t crowded. It has two sections with a couple of painting from different time periods and different countries. I bought an enamel pin from the gift shop for $7(including a round up donation to the museum). There’s a number of benches in case you just want to escape the heat and sit in a nice quiet area. There is music playing lowly but overall it’s pretty quiet. It’s not super kid friendly since it’s a small museum for art lovers you’ll enjoy the quick escape from the heat and bustle of Balboa park. Definitely check it out and support your local museums!

A free art museum in the heart of San Diego! I love exploring Baroque, Renaissance, Rococo, Neoclassical, and Romantic art, along with classical sculpture, and the Timken is the perfect quiet escape for that. It’s small but packed with works that transport you to another time. The atmosphere, even on weekends, is always so peaceful. See some photos I took on film:

Small-sized art museum. Mainly filled with Renaissance paintings. They are alright, not many but a good few, but Europe would have a larger collection and better pieces. I don't have any idea where else in San Diego you could find more of these classical art, so, if you want a taste of it, while being in Balboa Park, feel free to drop by, free entry. Most of the paintings are collections from the Putnam Foundation, I have not looked into them, just putting it out there if someone has anything against them.

Small, intimate museum but filled with absolute treasures! The live, background piano music is a really nice addition. The ladies at the desk were charming and helpful. It was a beautiful experience.

This is 100% a world class zoo. They make use of the space extremely well. There's plenty of walking to do, but they make it a wonderful experience. I was thoroughly impressed with the amount of conservation and research that they do as well. I learned all about it on the fantastic double decker bus tour, which I highly recommend. This was an experience that is second to none.

Very Fun place to go with family and friends Lots of awesome animals compared to other zoo’s. Location is great and heavy parking lot so theres never issues finding a spot! Lots of room even when packed. I have been several times where the park seems full but you never have issues seeing animals across the park due to the high volume. Animals seem to have really nice enclosures and don’t seem unhappy which is relieving for a zoo. Prices range from about $65 for children and adults are usually around $75. For a whole day pass this usually is pretty good price Military get in this location for free and can go anytime.

The San Diego Zoo is a must see on a San Diego visit! I would say it’s an all day event if you plan to see the entire zoo. I was there from 9am to 5pm! Make sure to bring your comfortable walking shoes! I would recommend taking their bus tour from the start and sitting on the to deck on the right side. You’ll see more of the attractions during the drive than the left. The bus tour is a great starting point and allows you to see a lot of the zoo and animals from a high POV! From there I recommend choosing your important must see animals and go from there! The air cable car is in the middle of the zoo and stops at the polar bear attraction so plan accordingly. Some people like to take it down at the end of their visit because you’ll end up at the entrance but there is more of a line. They do allow water bottles and food. Highly recommend drinking water as it does get hot!

The kids love the zoo and so did WE. Of course these days I feel like you have to go in October because kids under 11 are free with paid adult. We were really excited about the Pandas and that was a complete bust! You can barely see them! The highlight was the horny baboon that pleasured himself right in front of us! Explain that to the kids what he is doing! Overall it was fun and you definitely get your steps in waking the park.

I visited the zoo over four years ago and noticed significant improvements and new sections have been added since my last visit. The upgrades have enhanced the overall experience, making it much better than before. One of the highlights was the convenience of valet parking. I particularly enjoyed the reptile section, which was quite impressive. However, I did have to wait nearly 30 minutes to access the Panda section, which was less than ideal, but it was worth it for my kids.

Had the best experience visiting the SD ZOO, definitely not a 1 day experience, so many beautiful animals to see. So beautiful walking thru all the green forest/bamboo. Loved the tour bus & flying thru the sky... Staff was super friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Able to bring in own drinks & food. Which is super helpful when bringing kids.

An absolutely amazing experience! 🐯🌿 The San Diego Zoo completely blew me away hands down one of the best zoos I’ve ever been to. The layout is beautiful and super easy to navigate, the animals are clearly well cared for, and the whole place feels like a mix between an adventure park and a nature sanctuary. The staff were just just sooooo friendly, knowledgeable and amazing i never seen employees that care so much for their job and love it so much like the people in this zoo, the exhibits were clean and immersive, and there’s something new to see around every corner from playful pandas to majestic tigers and adorable koalas 🐼🦒. You can tell the zoo really prioritizes conservation and education, not just entertainment. Also, the Skyfari aerial tram was such a cool touch seeing the zoo from above was unreal! 🚡 Highly recommend spending a full day here if you can. It’s 100% worth it whether you’re with friends, family, or even solo. A true San Diego must-visit. 🌞❤️

I have been coming here for years and now I visit from out of state. Trails, gardens, museums, sculpture garden, botanical building and just so much more! Great place to see art and history as well. Coffee shops and patios to enjoy. I was fortunate to listen to the massive organ as it was Friday, the day someone plays. A lot to enjoy for free and there are others places there that require admission. We'll worth a visit!

Absolutely beautiful. It’s full of gardens, museums, and stunning architecture. Perfect for walking, relaxing, or taking photos. The atmosphere is peaceful yet lively, and there’s always something interesting going on. It’s totally worth visiting this iconic San Diego spot.

One of the best city parks ever! It’s large, well maintained, and in a pretty central location. Has tons of interesting places to explore, from the impressive architecture to the many museums and gardens. Lively, very aesthetic place and it’s easy to spend a whole day exploring this park!

Balboa Park is a true San Diego treasure, and every visit confirms why it's a world-class destination. It’s more than just a park; it's a breathtaking escape that combines stunning architecture, lush gardens, and phenomenal museums into one unforgettable experience. You could easily spend an entire day—or an entire week—and still not see everything. We spent our day strolling along the Prado, captivated by the ornate Spanish Colonial architecture that transports you back in time. The gardens are a sensory delight, from the serene Japanese Friendship Garden to the vibrant blooms in the Rose Garden. The Botanical Building is a must-see, with its towering wood lath structure and beautiful koi pond. The best part? So much of this beauty is completely free to enjoy. For museum lovers, the options are endless. We visited the San Diego Museum of Art and were thoroughly impressed with the collection, but you could just as easily lose yourself in the Fleet Science Center or the Museum of Us. The options mean there's something for every interest and every age. Now, for those complaining about parking: 😡stop being lazy and get there early like everyone else. We arrived around 9 a.m. and found a great spot in the free Inspiration Point lot with no hassle. If you're not an early riser, there's a free tram service that will get you where you need to go. The park is massive, and a little planning goes a long way. Don't let your own poor planning diminish this incredible experience for others with a one star review😡😤. In short, Balboa Park is an absolute gem. The atmosphere is vibrant and inspiring, the grounds are immaculate, and the variety of things to do is unmatched. This is a five star experience from start to finish, and we can’t wait to go back.

Full of cultural and ecological beauty. You can nurture your mind in their museums, your eyes in the Rose Garden and arboreal scenery, your ears and spirit in their theathers and venues. Fully recommend to spend a day to relax or book one of their many events.

Balboa Park will leave you in awe. With several museums, garden and San Diego Zoo to visit, you will never run out of things to do. It’s a great place to bring the whole family. I how educational and historical this park is. I would highly recommend this beautiful park to anyone visiting the San Diego area.

The environment is diverse, welcoming and secure. It can be busy but its worth the experience. There was ample parking regardless of the crowds. Me and my daughter visited the natural history museum, admission price was reasonable and the atmosphere was good. The exhibits were interesting. I would visit again.

Beautiful! Filled with colors, art, and plenty of things to keep you interested. Very photogenic! Loved browsing all the talented artists' displays, enjoyed some drinks from the coffee truck, and took lots of photos. Free activity - spent about 30-45 minutes walking through on a Saturday during Pride Parade, and it wasn't too overcrowded.

This place is a must visit! The Spanish Village Art Center is a vibrant spot in the middle of downtown San Diego that houses an eclectic mix of art studios, shops, and unique trinkets. It’s easily identifiable from its multi-colored stones, and colorful shops scattered about. There is also a cute coffee cart at the back of the village, which has a nice variety of unique drinks to choose from. I got the lavender chai, which I definitely recommend! It was fun to just walk around and explore each store; you can easily spend a whole afternoon there. You can take the cutest pictures there too. Definitely check this place out!!

Always a must. Here every other week, nine months a year from Burlingame, South Park. Love the art, the coffee, cool breezy vibes, and kitchy coo coo; local art and amenities. I get paintings, pens, mugs, framed art, table art, jewlery art, and prints galore. Very relaxing, parking is pretty good and the environs are just wonderful. RJ

The park is absolutely beautiful; however, weekend traffic can be overwhelming. We spent an hour searching for a parking spot, so be prepared for this if you plan to visit on the weekend. Once we arrived, we loved the park—its architecture, flowers, and restaurants are stunning.

Visiting the Spanish Village Art Center was a great experience! If you want to see a mix of cultural history and beautiful art, this is definitely the place to go. It’s a unique spot full of charm and creativity, and I highly recommend it to everyone. Absolutely worth the visit!

I’m so glad we decided to check this out in San Diego. I absolutely love this art plaza. There were an endless amount of art pieces displayed and to buy at a very reasonable price. There’s also a bit of food, drinks, and snack options, and all the people who work there seem to be happily at service. It’s great to visit this plaza at the Balboa Park, but I would say it’s maybe a ‘one and done’ type of visit unless you love art. I would also like to note that there’s tables, chairs and a decent amount of seating area if you were just wanting to stay and relax.

This sis my Favourite Place in Balboa !!! The coffee stand in the back all of the art walks and fun trinkets!! I made a totem with my friends it was so fun and a great way to learn about local artists !!!

Parking is a little tight. Place is in the center of a Escondido across from grape day park. It's does have snacks for purchase but no food court like the museum in Downtown San Diego since this one is a little smaller. There is a play area for babies were I could entertain my 6 months old while looking at my 4 year old. It has AC inside. There's an outdoor area, I suggest you have your child wear sandals because mine got water on her shoes while watering the plants. Went on a Saturday at noon and it wasn't that busy even though there was an even at grape Day park. Found parking no problem but it started to pick up by 1pm.

A perfectly sized museum and center for kids to learn and have hands-on fun activities. This museum is divided into two areas: indoor and outdoor. The indoor area has sections and setups to do pretend grocery shopping, understand some physics principles around fluid dynamics and gravity, learn about money (financial center), pretend kitchen area, pretend laundry area, learn about common bugs and insects, etc. There is also an enclosed and safe play area for toddlers (2 and younger). The outdoor area also has a variety of activity sections. They have sand boxes to let kids do some fossil finding, flowing water to do some gold mining / search, plant sections explaining various veggies, compost center to play around with worms, gardening section, obstacle course , pollination center and an enclosure with a pet turtle. They also run sessions where kids can make their own fossils. Overall a great place to spend time with little kids and educating them on some of the common activities and things around us. To top it all off, the staff is super nice and the place has ample free parking. Definitely a place to visit.

My sister and I took our sons this afternoon, and it was so much fun! Our kids are 13 months and 22 months for reference. There was tons of activities, an area for just kiddos under 2 yrs old. A great outdoor space with many different sensory experiences. There was a bubbles experiment, awesome water table, fish tank. Tons of things to do there. Friendly staff. Highly recommend!

We love this place. Great for little kids. They have a lot packed into a small area, nice that it is very contained (your kids can't escape far). Gated area for babies as well. Nice outdoor space & water table. They also have daily "schedule" activities/crafts kids can participate in.

My daughter is a toddler, and she loves to come here to play. It is a great place for children to explore, play, and experiment with different settings, including water play, garden area, air, lights, and creative building. Well worth the trip.

Great location. Kids had the best time!

Visiting from out of town and came across the Children's Discovery Museum and so glad we did. Took my 21 month old daughter and we had the best time. The tidal pool little kid area was so nice to break away from the bigger kids and play, plus the real fish aquarium was a lot of fun to watch and see. We enjoyed the life size Lite Bright, the huge water table, and so many more kids stations. All the staff was incredibly kind and welcoming and showed us around. Would definitely recommend to locals as well as those visiting San Diego and surrounding areas.

We happened upon this after having lunch in Little Italy. Entrance is free, although donations are always welcomed and appreciated. This is an interesting little museum, showcasing the history of SD's fire engines and equipment. They have a full kitchen and meeting space available for specific venues.

The amount of amazing historic content in the firehouse museum is deceiving from the outside. There is so much to see in here, you can literally take hours and still have more to see. It was also nice to show my 9 year old how things used to be first hand. Also the 9/11 memorials and pieces from the site was beautiful to see.

Fabulous trucks and engines. Many scale size models, education room for children. Sept 11th memorial. Very nice woman who gave us information. We bought t shirts, plus made a donation.

Amazing museum with a lot of items and information. The volunteers are good story tellers and will give you a lot more information. Recommended for all ages!

The attendant on duty was extremely friendly and very helpful in answering my questions. Items ranged from the oldest fire truck to mementos from 9/11. Every turn of the corner had something new to see. Old fire extinguishers, assignment boards, fire axes, call boxes, boots and other assorted items makes this a must see location for those who enjoy fire fighting and history. BTW the dry powder seems to describe the one used on the theatre fire in Chicago back in the 1800s which is one of the worst theater tragedies in history. This fire led to the overhaul of laws concerning construction materials, emergency exits, room capacities and such.

One of my favorite Fire Museums to go to. The staff are off duty Firefighters. So their knowledge is excellent. The place is still getting worked on, but it looks nice. I love that they preserved it for history. Highly recommended to visit.

This museum is free for Children. Adult ticket $3. It has all the collections of Fire Engines like from the 1900s. Wonderful experience. It also has a Children's play area that consists of small fire truck toys , coloring books , etc.

More of a “interesting historical house “ than a museum, it is still worth a visit if you are interested in learning more about the history of San Diego. Staffed by very nice people and you have a choice of an info sheet focused on the history or the paranormal. I can’t imagine this would take anyone more than 30 minutes to fully explore.

It's a small museum but worth visiting. They provide self-guided pamphlet to read as you go through the rooms. However, you'll get the most out of it talking with the museum docent. On a Friday afternoon in October, they didn't have many coming in, so I was able to ask questions. The docent was very knowledgeable about the house and the surrounding Gaslamp District, whether it's historical or spooky hauntings. Also ask about Bum, the dog mascot. The gift shop is also tiny in the same room as admission is purchased. The courtyard outside is huge and seems like a nice area to rest of you've been walking around the Gaslamp all day.

Visited here 07/21. I wish I could give this place more than five stars. I love historical homes that feel like a time capsule. And at $8 for admission (which they could easily charge double) you can't go wrong. Tours are self-guided with a flyer that gives you info on each of the rooms with furniture that date throughout the history the home was in use. I would love to do a guided tour next time I'm in San Diego or a haunted tour. They have a lovely little gift shop before you leave.

The Gaslamp Museum has an exciting exhibition, "A Splendid Decennium: Victorian to Vanguard." This special fashion exhibit will be on view until April 27, 2024. Textile artist Marty Ornish is a critically acclaimed designer who has won numerous awards, along with being featured in many museums and exhibitions throughout U.S. and Europe. In addition, Sandee Wilhoit, is an exceptional San Diegan historian, writer, and lead tour guide for the Gaslamp Museum. Sandee is a "Walking, Talking Encyclopedia" of San Diego. This fashion exhibit was very eclectic and inspiring. It was definitely a must-see showstopper. Finally, the entire staff of the Gaslamp Museum is so SWEET!

TERRIBLE. Absolutely HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE FROM BEGINNING TO END. Our Ghost Hunting group got the runaround for a week from Kelsey about a certain date we wanted booked for their paranormal investigation tour. I called and tried to reach her and got someone else who would give her a message, but then it would never get returned because she went on vacation and when I called, she was still on vacation for another week… Then I talked to the manager Raina who couldn’t offer any discount for any inconvenience because we are “still getting the full experience” (just not with customer service apparently) and then booked us a month to two months out from our desired date!!…,. THEN TO TOP IT ALL OFF, we called the day off to confirm and Katie was trying to take off half an hour from our 2 hour time limit!!!!! Katie was nice tho during our tour and very sweet for what we went through. CHERRY ON TOP: Not a lot of ghost activity and when we did the spirits only wanted to talk to the WOMEN. We have been on quieter a few ghost hunting trips and this by far was the worst paranormal experience we ever had.. Bunch of dumb women running this. Get it together. 🙄😐 🤦🏻 I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE!!

Nice heritage home well preserved. Interesting displays and collections. A nice chill place to visit as part of a walk through downtown.

Great little self guided tour!

Took the walking tour today, and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of historical buildings within The Gaslamp. Our tour guide, Amie Lee Garapich, was an excellent host, and shared both historical details and personal memories from growing up in the area. Highly recommend the tour!

The 20-30 min tour is worth it. This is an amazing example of the historical preservation of Chinese culture in San Diego. Although SD is mostly known for their Spanish influence. The Chinese history here is remarkable! And well cared for by these curators and volunteers.

Interesting artifacts and readings. Small main museum with a patio garden and there is another part of the museum directly across the street. Lots of pictures and descriptive stories associated with each picture. Displays were both miniature cases and actual sized items. It was interesting to note that the main museum used to be the first church for the Chinese community and was preserved as this museum. With a 3-yr child, we enjoyed the museums for about 1 hour.

Had this place on my to go list while my son was visiting as he loves anything Asian. Bonus for having a military discount on the admission fee. As other reviewers commented, the staff are extremely helpful and will give you a tour explaining the history and the exhibits. We even got to hold a pair of foot binding shoes from their collection. It's not a large building, and with the tour, it probably took us an hour to see everything. The museum also has an exhibit hall across the street that seems to stay locked. Staff escorts guests over and unlocks the door as needed. Dragon boat races are currently featured, though it's reading about and seeing video of a race rather than seeing the various boats themselves. I don't know why I expected more, but I was underwhelmed, though that's more of a reflection on me rather than the museum. If you're in the area check it out.

I love learning about local history and my ancestral history so visiting this museum was a chance to do both. It's very small but worth a visit. The collection is lovingly curated, the building itself has history, the stories of local Chinese San Diegans are preserved here, and so is the memory of the Chinatown that once existed here. As such, my favorite items were the diorama models depicting scenes from early Chinese San Diego. The museum is a grassroots effort and it's obvious from some aspects including the size and presentation—I saw some typos on signage, some of the signage had faded lettering or font that was too small to read, and there's room to improve the physical arrangement of objects in the museum. There's a small garden at the back of the museum but I think it could also be improved with some landscaping and redesign. As is, it appeared both underutilized and haphazard to me, and I was kinda disappointed as I expected a more Zen-inducing meditation garden vibe. The staff were nice, but no one explained anything to me and I'm not sure if that's because I didn't explicitly ask? It was a little disappointing because I would have liked the professional insight, but I still enjoyed the exhibits and I wish I can come back to town someday in time to catch a walking tour!

Great little museum. Fascinating artifacts. Educational dioramas of Chinese people in early San Diego. Very knowledgeable museum personnel. Check their calendar for special programs and events

Admission is $8 and there’s a moderate amount of stuff to see, all pretty interesting. The staff are also very eager to chat. There was an exhibit on the Chinese pioneers in San Diego, broad Chinese dynastic history, and a limited time exhibit featuring snuff bottles. The first puts a great context to the whole museum and the third was just amazing to see.

Very historic. Not adviseable for people with difficulty walking up stairs outside or inside. Exhibits are minimal. Touchscreen videos are informative but no seart to watch to and absorb information. Beautiful grounds. Nice place to come for special occasion pictures. The surrounding area and park are quite nice and scenic. Glad i visited and will come back to paint and draw!

Beautiful location, can oversee the city. Beautiful church turned into a museum, probably not the easiest to get to but definitely worth the limb. Unfortunately was closed when I went, but the grounds are gorgeous!

Glad it's donation based. The inside takes all of ten minutes to see everything. Seems like they could do better to visually represent what life used to look like from the tower. The music box button on the stairs doesn't work and the deer display is hard for larger people to walk past. But the grounds are beautiful! Could be a nice place for a picnic. Some homeless in the hillside above though.

I stopped on a whim just to check it out. There was much more to see here than I was imagining! Paying to walk the hounds/museum is definitely worth the cost.

Historical place to visit in San Diego. This is a perfect place to sit and relax in the morning. There is no charge to visit the place but you can leave a donation. The view is spectacular from this place.

Small but important historic site. Nice grounds but some litter and occasional campers. Great biking challenge, 360 city views.

I love walking here, so many little trails and nature with great views

Nice small space situated inside the rear of the Santa Fe Depot. Admission is only $10 and free under 25. Currently you can go across the street to their annex and get FREE tickets (not sure why or how long but it is directly kitty corner to the south). Docent was extremely helpful. Stop by Stone brewing just a block to north after!!

Really small place, we got lucky because we happened to go on a free day so that's really all that made it worth it. I think it also depends on what exhibits are there when you go to make it worth while. I'm assuming a lot of the bad ratings went out of their way to go here but I was already in the area. You can go on their website to see what exhibits are up and more likely than not you can go through the Instagram tag and see recent photos. It's nice place if it was always free.

Super super small museum. It’s actually only exhibition. Two very small salons with two artists artworks were open only. Not sure if they have more salons and they were closed or they don’t have any more salon at all.

Fascinating. The giant sphere alone will fascinate you. You must have an appreciation for art no matter what the medium is or somehow see what the ARTIST envisions. So do not go my recommendations, BUT do go with an open mind.

The museum is free for now but will cost money by next month I believe. The exhibits are great and if you have a love of art stop by and enjoy.

Wow! Small but mighty! Beautiful, powerful artwork. I went with my 24 year old niece and we both enjoyed it.

I have a love/hate relationship with contemporary art. Some of it looks like a 5 year old could replicate it, some looks like the 'artist' is trying to fool the general public into believing that bits of wood standing up is an art installation. But then there is the genuinely talented artists too. It's very subjective. This gallery is located right next to the Sante Fe Train Station downtown which is a cool location. The building itself is art. It's well lit and well displayed.

My son enjoys the camps here during summer and fall breaks! Very attentive staff run them with an excellent eye for blending learning, interactivity, and entertainment. He's excited to go back next time, and they're absolutely worth the drive out there.

Great little museum. I've driven by 100s of times but never stopped. My brother was in town, so we checked it out. Only took an hour to look at everything, well worth the stop.

Cute and simple little place with some good history on the San Diego area as well as archaeology. I found the collection of artifacts and details about the various theories on how North and South America became populated very interesting and easy to follow. If you take the time to read everything and watch the videos (which are on YouTube), you could probably take up to 60 minutes enjoying the place. Average person might be 30 minutes or less. Make sure you check the hours before you come! Entrance is donation-based. They ask for a min of $5 by cash or Venmo

Excellent experience exploring the past 12,000 years of local history. Thank you to Adam (Senior Archaeologist) and staffs very knowledgeable and welcoming❣️

The San Diego Archaeological Center is small so you can see everything in about 15 minutes or take about an hour to read everything on every display. I was the only person in the Center for most of the time I was there. I thought the Center was interesting and I learned a few things. On the other hand, I think most kids would be bored there – no whales or dinosaurs, just thousand-year-old pottery, donut stones, arrowheads, and 125-year-old bottles. The Center asks for a $5 donation.

We had a really fun day exploring the area for San Pasqual Battle day. It's a lot smaller than I thought. An hour, maybe two will suffice. We really enjoyed all of it though and will be returning.

Incredible place to visit with super friendly staff. They have a large assortment of books for purchase, interactive exhibits for kids and multimedia displays. I was thrilled to find this Center and plan to attend some of the events they hold. It truly opened my mind to San Diego’s history.

This museum is a hidden gem of police history. SAM and SKIP, retired police officers augmented the vast equipment, uniforms, and information in the museum. We saw the historical parade of uniforms for men and women as well as arms throughout the history of the police department. We viewed equipment like handcuffs, guns, the Tommy gun, and more. We liked the motorcycles, bulletproof vests, and old photos. The gift shop holds hats, mugs, cups, and apparel from the San Diego Police and from other places, even foreign countries. We found 2 pre-owned t-shirts for $5 each, one from Los Angeles Bomb Squad and San Diego SWAT Team. The most memorable part of the museum is the tribute to fallen officers with photos, dates, and stories. Accessible entry with slight ramp. Accessible venue with adequate space, Accessible restroom with 2 grab bars and 5ft x 5ft space. Accessible van parking in free lot next to curb cut and ramp entry.

I went there and parked, when I arrive at the door it said we had to ring the bell to let people inside know that someone is outside so I ring the bell a few times and wait a couple minutes and then I do the same thing and then I try to see behind the doors and where lights open, at that moment I just got enough when to my bike, and after a couple minutes a lady passed behind me and didn't say hello or something, and she just left in her car the only one in the parking lot, It gives me the idea they don't want to receive people anymore. What a shame. And all of this during business hours. 😏

It's very disappointing to arrive at the museum on Friday, May 9th at 2:40 p.m., especially after traveling from Carlsbad, only to find it closed. The posted business hours indicated a 4:00 p.m. closing time on Fridays. According to Google the closing time is 3:00 p.m. on fridays. We also attempted to call but received no answer, and the doors were locked.

The volunteers of this museum have done a great job obtaining artifacts and support from the community and former LEOs. Unfortunately these types of museums are being replaced with TV screens instead of the actual memorabilia. This is definitely a great stop for the family.

A hidden gem on the road just past SDSU. Every wall is covered in police memorabilia and there are some gruesome as well as fascinating stories in each object. Some highlights include the jail cell, badges from the 1870s to today, and the dispatch system that was used through to the 1990s. We are grateful to have such a great San Diego Police Department and this is a worthy tribute. (Hopefully, it will move to the downtown area eventually.) If museums are your bag, do not miss the San Diego Police Museum!

This is an absolute TREASURE of a museum! Parents (particularly parents of homeschooling families) you REALLY should bring the kidlets here to have a real appreciation of what our Boys n Girls in Blue have done to safeguard our community. Lots of items of historical, geographical and literary interest! They have videos, interactive stuff. EZ, FREE parking, tucked into a family friendly neighborhood in the general College district, its quite easy to get to. Not crowded at all! Bring the whole family- especially if you have any relatives, grandparents, cousins, etc who served. Its a REAL FIND!

These guys are doing a wonderful job in keeping the lives and history alive. Please support your local museums, swing by and see the rich history at the San Diego Police Museum!

Well they post on the Facebook 4/14/18 there is no fee, when I get there with my kids they are asking $3 for student, $5 for adult and free for military to enter and I show the guy the ad dont say nothing about paying and e look at with mean face and said "Oh well we have to make money some way this is a non profit organizaction" I left because the way he spoke with me I do have military ID and I can pay to no problem but is attitude was really poor. For me this is about principles and you guys show that you don't have none. Is a shame you guys act like that what a shame... Que verguensa especialmente por ser women's museun.

Museum does not exist yet. No longer in Liberty Station and not set up yet in their corner in Balboa Park

Important exhibit celebrating 100 years of women's right to vote. Very informative overview. Only negative criticism is that they had nothing of significance in the gift shop that was geared toward young girls. If you're not celebrating and teaching the importance of women's contributions to society and culture to young girls you have no future.

Super nice museum, free, definitely worth visiting if you’re strolling along the ex-barracks at Liberty Station. It’s very small (only one room), but full of information and very inspiring. The attached gift shop is a jewel in and of itself, and the lady who works there is a wonderful woman who deserves 10/10 for excellent manners and outstanding customer service. We loved it and definitely recommend it!

Always new itinerant expositions about the women and their rapport in art, science or civil rights in peace and war times. Inspiring place a must visit with girlfriends

Stopped by the museum on First Friday at the recommendation of a volunteer I met at another event. Very impressed by the tile and mosaic exhibit currently at the museum. Absolutely gorgeous! And free wine and snacks for First Friday? It's a go! Also, a fun little gift shop. I purchased some tweezers that look like fashion plates!

The place is functions off volunteers from local women founders to create a space that will inspire the young and relive for the old. The exhibits are well orchestrated and the gift shop is so cute (although over priced for a good cause). There's only 4 women's museum's in the country and the fact that this is the largest says we have so much to learn and that needs to be funded!

We took a tour of the space. They host local and popular artists. The space is rented out for private parties. There is a small store that has some shirts, bags, jewelry, etc. Parking is available on the street in you are lucky. There are a couple. Or you can park across the street in the parking lot.

This review is in reference to the children’s park right next-door just doesn’t seem to have a official name to it. But it is a fantastic spot. It has amazing places to relax under the shade with a Astroturf quality grass to nice concrete benches that are 100% shaded and several play structures for a variety of ages from 2 to 12. Honestly, I expected the part to be in worse shape than it is, there are a few items that are broken and taped off as you will see in the pictures but overall at 4:00 on a Monday in July it is terrific!

This place is gorgeous and soooo moving, came here a couple weeks ago and the murals combined w the most protests had me in tears, lovely place.

I was born and raised in San Diego and this is indeed a landmark location for all residents who know Balboa Park. This place is historic in cultural education and memories making with community events. I love this place and highly recommend a visit on for any visitor. There are many event and open visit hours. Just stop by. The whole family is welcome.

It was interesting to see what goes on here! Stopped by briefly and saw the history of natives that have traveled to San Diego. T the is a nice little g garden around the back as will!

It’s located within Balboa Park- check it out if you can VIVA LA RAZA 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽

It appears that on the day I went, it was uneventful and almost empty. I recommend checking out the place on the day of events instead of a casual visit to Balboa Park's museums. That being said, the art on the walls was beautiful.

This is a great place with very friendly service, fantastic food (we had a couple of patties that are similar to empanadas and the ethnobotany salad), and lots to see (and learn)!

Makeda has the most amazing love for her patrons and the space she has built here with a nonprofit and a vegan Cafe. They have their own mountain water and garden that is used to source the freshest ingredients!!

The most peaceful place! My home away from home when I need to escape the day to day for a break. Everyone is extremely nice, friendly, and great communication overall! I always leave satisfied and content, whether it be the flavorful food or just the warm feel of community and connection every time I visit.

My first time stopping by the One World Beat Cafe in person, I've had them delivered via doordash dozens of times since moving here and it's always been flavorful and delicious. Plenty of street parking and I scored a spot in the small lot at the cultural center just above the cafe. The staff was working nonstop and continuously checking in with the other diners and myself. The menu options are limited, but carefully crafted to showcase different flavor palates. I was sad they were out of my favorite Ethnobotany salad, but my fault for coming so late in the day. It's clear the entire team puts love into the experience, image, and food. Very happy with my choice to stop by late afternoon wish I had stopped by more often when I lived in the area. Thanks again!!!

This place was nice. We wanted to try the vegan food but the wait took us off. Tried the chili dog and that was tasty. People were friendly and were nice. Good vibes and gives details about African history.

Makeda, Khalida and Ron really work hard to make this place a beautiful spot for Black Culture. Beautiful vibes hopping live events, AND GREAT FOOD.

The WorldBeat Cultural Center is a wonder. It was the best part of my visit to San Diego--I was impressed with the embrace San Diego would give to a African and Indigenous-centered establishment and was uber impressed with Makeda's extreme warmth and friendliness. My food was excellent (be sure to try the patties--I wish I had one right now!), I took a dance class and also visited the extensive gardens. My only wish is that I could have come there more, as I was invited and welcomed to do. I had to visit other sites--most impressive was Chicano Park--and so didn't get to enjoy the fullness with Miss Makeda and friends. I will be back and I would say don't hesitate to go if you are considering it...there's something for everyone and if nothing else the place is a visual delight. 🙏🏾

This is a review based on a recent, highly disappointing visit to SeaWorld San Diego. Having been excited to return after four years, I found the park has severely lost its charm. The most frustrating issue is the value proposition: they still charge a premium price of $130+ for a single-day ticket, yet a significant number of rides were non-operational. To make matters worse, the park now employs various cheap and manipulative tactics to extract more money. They fail to disclose upfront that many of the major rides require an additional $6 fee per person to ride, a charge you can only bypass by buying an expensive annual pass. Furthermore, their advertised "bonus ticket" offer is a complete fraud. They print on the website that a single-day ticket grants you a bonus ticket valid throughout the year. However, upon trying to claim it, they immediately hide behind fine print, claiming it's at their discretion when the ticket is issued within the year. They even resort to actively tracking guests—if you visit with a friend the very next day, they know you've already been and will suddenly issue the bonus ticket, making it impossible to use for the very next visit you planned. This deceptive behavior feels like a complete betrayal of the customer. Finally, a major warning for families: if your child is under 42 inches tall, it honestly doesn't make sense to go. The vast majority of the rides have a 42-inch height minimum, meaning you will pay full price for a child who can't enjoy most of the attractions. Between the broken rides, the deceptive pricing schemes, and the outright fraudulent bonus ticket policy, SeaWorld San Diego is no longer worth the visit.

It's a beautiful place. Not overhyped. Most rides and attractions were operating. Relatively clean park. It is overpriced but ok if you get an annual pass and can return over and over again for a year for that price ($99-230 I think). Customer service is really not top notch when it comes to dealing with the benefits and perks for Platinum and annual card holders. Get your systems in order or choose either online or face to face only for printing cards. Food is overpriced but good. Maybe have roaming staff that helps people find their way. Get rid of those vendors that charge $5-35 per game. Clean the kiddie pard and baby coral a bit. Okay sorry for the over analysis. I love Sea World. I may spend more time than I should there and really am stating every problem I could think of. It's such a fun place and staff are really happy to be there. The animals and sea creatures seem calm and playful.

This park had very friendly staff, it was clean and well maintained. The rides were fun and I enjoyed the orca and dolphin shows. It received 3⭐️for the following reasons: 1) The park was open until 7:00pm but there were quite a few attractions s that closed at 5:00 or 6:00 and at least one - the Jellyfiah - were supposed to close at 6:00 but they closed it at 5:30. There really needs to be some notification on the website when you buy tickets (not I. The fine print if it’s there at all). And it also wouldn’t be hard to put it on the app. 2) The food was exorbitantly expensive for what you received. The chicken sandwich, for example, was $18 plus tax and was a bun, chicken patty, and two pickle slices. It can with a side of fries but we’re definitely not a ‘large’ fry. Paying amusement park prices for food is expected but at least make the food worth the price. Overall I would go back but I would definitely verify the actual park hours and bring your own food if it’s allowed.

This place is amazing, the park is clean and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Only addition that would have been awesome to see on at the park is designated areas for service dogs to relieve themselves at. Like a small little tiny classy area with a small fence and gate where you can let your service dog relive themself like they have at Disney and Knott's Berry farm. Other than that the park is amazing.

I was curious about Seaworld because I wanted to see the orcas. Seaworld has stopped its breeding program and the remaining orcas will be its last. I went on a Friday and the place wasn’t too crowded or busy. If you plan to come here, I would recommend visiting the attractions and checking their showtimes and plan around their shows. They don’t have a physical map and their app is a little hard to navigate with to figure out where you are in the park. They have water tanks where you are able to touch the sea creatures like the spotted shark and manta rays. They also had booths where you could purchase feeding trays for $10 to feed the creatures but they were all closed during my visit. Seaworld is quite small compared to the SD zoo and I didn’t realize but it is an amusement park with rides. You aren’t allowed to bring bags to the rides so you’ll have to rent a locker to store them or have someone hold onto it. Can’t comment on the rides since I didn’t go on any of them but being an extra change of clothes in case you get wet. The orca show lasts about 20 minutes where you’ll be able to see orcas do tricks and splash you. I would recommend getting there about 20 minutes beforehand if you want to sit in the center. They have rows labeled as “wet zone” so avoid if you don’t want to get wet. If you want a more personalized experience, I would recommend the “close up encounters” but it is quite expensive. They can range from $100-$500. We paid for a beluga whale experience that lasted about 15 minutes, where meet the whales and they allow you to touch the animals and chat with trainers. It was a nice experience especially since I wasn’t able to see them in their tanks. Overall, I would skip Seaworld if you are only here for the animals.

Took my son here for his birthday and we had a really good time! It can be expensive but options such as the all day dining make it worthwhile! There was no long lines and the staff was very friendly. We went around the Halloween season and there was a lot of activities to do and the kids were able to dress up in their Halloween costumes and go trick or treating at certain stations! Overall, an experience I think every child should experience at least once!

SeaWorld San Diego is a world-renowned marine theme park located along Mission Bay, offering a unique blend of oceanic adventure, animal encounters, and thrilling attractions. Since its opening in 1964, the park has become a favorite destination for families and marine life enthusiasts, featuring captivating shows with dolphins, sea lions, and orcas, as well as up-close exhibits with sharks, penguins, and sea turtles. Beyond its animal exhibits, SeaWorld also offers exciting roller coasters, interactive aquariums, and educational programs that inspire conservation and respect for marine ecosystems. With its combination of entertainment, education, and stunning coastal scenery, SeaWorld San Diego provides visitors with an unforgettable experience celebrating the wonders of the ocean.

A nice state park filled with history. I had a pleasant experience walking around and seeing the historic houses and museums. The Fiesta de Reyes area had nice variety of food and shops. Parking is free, and there is no entrance fee.

Old Town is a great place to visit. It’s like a living museum with fantastic Mexican food all around. I’m not sure what could be better?! It’s walkable and family friendly. There’s a trolley stop next to it along with decent parking. Some of the buildings are open with static displays showing the history of San Diego. There are Park Rangers and an information office in case you have any questions.

Pretty average tourist area with some nice history plaques near each building and agood information center. Lots of touristy trinkets to purchase at tourist prices. Very easy walk through the whole town. Employees are dressed in historically correct clothing in many of the shops. Plenty of food available at several vendors on the property.

This State Historic Park is one of the few in the California State Park system with free admission—and free parking, too. Visitors can explore historic buildings filled with period furnishings, enjoy authentic Mexican restaurants, and browse dozens of colorful souvenir shops.

Loved this place. It is a must visit for any tourist. Its huge and spreads out for many blocks with restaurants and shops. Live music and even a broken down old museum like place (doesn't have much though).

Nice place for photo. That is historic site of California. Must be there yo exploring with many interesting things. Specially a lot of mexican food restaurants and coffee shop around there.

Overall a great experience to learn more about the history of Old Town and what made this place significant. The 'placitas' are really great with artisan crafts and mercados through out. Staff were amicable and helpful for answering questions. The utility box art was a great touch as it took a bland metal box and converted to a relevant piece.

This is always a fantastic experience for kids, but the adults enjoyed it just as much. Ideally, go take the bus tour first thing when you get there. It gives you a good overview of the park, and you'll beat the crowds the rest of the day. The avian show was very entertaining and we of course learned a lot of fascinating info on the various birds and other bonus animals they brought out.

Brilliant park, expansive highly suggest getting the open air shuttle through the safari plains, getting close enough to see animals wandering or resting and great photo opportunities. Only complaint is “zoo radio” near the food which is too loud and not in keeping with a nature outdoor experience. Loved the tiger exhibit sounds! Can’t wait to see the new elephant exhibit later this year!

First time in SD and going to the safari was the first thing I did. Overall, it was a solid experience. I went solo, which gave me the freedom to explore at my own pace and really take my time. The park features a wide range of animals from different regions around the world, which made for a pretty good visit. I was looking forward to the cheetah run, but unfortunately, it was closed during my visit. One of the staff members mentioned they’ve stopped doing it daily since the cheetah is getting older. The safari ride was definitely the highlight of the day. I waited nearly 90 minutes, and the ride itself lasted about 25–30 minutes. I got to see some interesting animals, but wish it was longer and much more diverse. Another standout was the tiger exhibit. I spent quite a bit of time there just admiring the sheer beauty and majesty of the animal. Walking through the entire park took me around six hours at a relaxed pace. If you're going with kids or a group, it’ll likely take longer, so I’d recommend setting aside the whole day for the visit.

San Diego Safari Park: A Worthwhile Adventure with a Wild Twist The Safari Park is a refreshing extension of the San Diego Zoo experience, with a strong focus on African wildlife and open-range habitats. One of the highlights is the African Tram Safari, which takes you through a sprawling African Valley where multiple species roam freely. It’s a peaceful, scenic ride that offers a unique perspective compared to traditional zoo enclosures. The park itself is expansive, so be prepared for a good amount of walking. Thankfully, the journey is worth it—especially if you take time to explore favorites like the Nairobi Trail, the California Condor exhibit, the elephants, and the lions. These areas are thoughtfully designed and offer great viewing opportunities. There are plenty of gift shops and snack stands scattered throughout the park, along with several dining options to refuel during your visit. Parking is $20, and while there’s ample space, arriving later in the day means a longer walk from your car to the entrance. Overall, the Safari Park offers a solid experience and a different vibe than the main zoo. However, ticket prices can be steep, so we recommend checking Costco, AAA, or Groupon for discounted rates. It’s a decent value if you plan ahead—and a great way to spend a day immersed in nature.

San Diego Safari Park is an unforgettable experience and absolutely worth visiting! The park is massive, with incredibly spacious and beautifully maintained grounds — it’s truly impossible to see everything in just one day. Every part of the park feels open and natural, offering animals plenty of room to roam freely. One of the absolute highlights for me was the hot air balloon ride — soaring above the entire park and taking in breathtaking views was magical and gave a whole new perspective on the animals and layout. It’s not every day you get to float above giraffes and rhinos! The staff were friendly and informative, and the whole park is very clean and well-organized. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and plan ahead — there’s a lot of walking and so much to see. This place is perfect for families, couples, or even solo travelers. Highly recommend for anyone visiting the San Diego area. You’ll want to come back again and again!

Cute family friendly activity in San Diego! I recommend going early if you’re looking to get parking close by the entrance, checking out their website for ticket discounts and make sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothes, you will walk a lot! We went around the park and saw the majority of the areas, altogether we walked 5 miles for the day. If you’re on a budget, make sure to pack food and snacks, food and drinks at this place are ridiculously expensive.

We had such a great experience today at the San Diego Safari Park! I want to give a special shout-out to Hailey and Clayton from the photo booth / photo print area. They were both incredibly friendly, patient, and genuinely helpful. They didn’t just take the standard photos — they actually came over to suggest better spots, better angles, and helped us capture something more meaningful. You could tell they really care about what they do. When it came time to choose and print the photos, they were just as kind and supportive, making the whole process super smooth. Because of them, we didn’t just leave with photos — we left with really special memories. Thank you both so much! 😊

I went there for a company hiking event. Many of the people had not been to the monument in the past so we explored the museum, the vistas, the lighthouse, and all the trails we could. We didn’t get to hear any of the doses talk about the history, but we read a lot of the information inside the museum. The weather was perfect. It was in the low 70s and there was a good cloud cover for most of the time. The parking lot is very large and can accommodate any size vehicle. The area at the monument is very large also and can accommodate a good number of people. There’s accessible parking and good way finding signage to get to each of the destinations. Our favorite part was all the trail system that we did a trail run on. Being able to see the Bayside and the beach side of the point was a really special thing. The new trail that was installed that went down to the tide. Pools was really well laid out and was not that difficult. I encourage you to bring water and snacks to enjoy on the trail and then a lunch to enjoy after your time in the parking lot or on one of the many benches along the trailsor in the park area. Make sure to take advantage of all the different areas within the park.

Incredible national park! Been here a few times even though I am not a local/Californian. Such variety to offer: great history, tidepools, great gift shop, junior ranger, lighthouse, and views of the city. Always great weather, with a nice breeze. Park film informational as well. You can often times see naval ships leaving nearby navy base as well. You will not be disappointed. Also of note is the nearby Rosecrans national cemetery. Amazing stuff there as well. The NP does require a fee, parking is plentiful, and bathrooms are great.

this was the first trail i walked in the state of california so the experience was amazing! the trail was long and one stretch of downhill/uphill walking so good shoes and water are a necessity! The view is unmatched and each step brings a new angle of the natural beauty!

Great location to soak in the pacific views and ocean breeze. You will need to go through a military installation to get here. Park rangers were super friendly and helpful. The ticket to get in is valid for 7 days. Walk in with a bike was $10.

This place is beautiful!!! We couldn't find the tide pools even though we were in the tide pool area so maybe high tide idk? But the views are amazing , the people were super nice, the visitor shop is also super cute!! Alot of history here, and beautiful hiking trails. A must see! If you have a military ID and or your America The Beautiful pass it's free :)

Absolutely stunning views of San Diego, the harbor and even Mexico. Watched jets take off. Friendly park rangers too. Unfortunately, during summer, the only times the tidal pool has a low enough tide is the extremely early low tide (4:30 am on this Aug day) and the park is closed at that time. The midday low tide was covering the tide pool by a few inches. If we came in October, we would definitely be able to see at midday. From La Jolla it was a 45 minute drive (11miles)and we paid $20 to get in.

Went on a Sunday around noon, overcast day, and little breezy. The view from there is amazing. Even though there was no sunshine, the color of the ocean looked so beautiful. Excellent spot to see the city, and if you like airplanes, you can have a good time just watching them take off and landing. I didn't have the rim me but I wish I could have hiked on the trails. Definitely will do in another visit.

We loved the tour and ended up learning a lot about the Mormon Battalion that we hadn't known before. The sisters were so informative and fun during the free tour. The other people around the site were outgoing and fun to talk to as well. We would reccomend this place to anyone. At the end you get to "pan for gold" and take home a souvenir piece.

One of the most interactive museum tours I have been! The best part? Its free! Super interactive for kids and adults who like the history. They also gave out free bibles to spread their faith, with no pressure whatsoever and its a pure explorative and understanding their culture. Overall the most memorable part of Old Town!

This was a fun and educational memorial. The tour was very interesting and entertaining. Almost like an interactive skit or play. It’s about 35 minutes for the tour and is well worth it.

The Mormon Battalion Historic Site is a great, completely free experience in Old Town San Diego. There’s even free parking in the back, which is a nice bonus. The tour is kid-friendly, engaging, and led by missionaries who do a wonderful job sharing the history in a fun and interactive way. The experience ends with the kids getting to pan for “gold,” which was definitely a highlight! The missionaries are there simply to guide the tour—it didn’t feel preachy at all, and I never felt any pressure to learn more about their church. Overall, it’s a fun, educational stop that’s perfect for families and anyone interested in a bit of California history. Highly recommend!

This place is amazing! Very interactive and fun living history! So cool to see and hear about the amazing stories

Most incredible interactive historical experience I've ever been to. Was my kids favorite experience they can think of forever. So incredibly fun. Tour experience takes 45 minutes. Using Family Search we discovered my wife was related to one of the film characters Zamora Palmer.

this was a very fun and interactive experience. each room is decorated and the hosts were very friendly, definitely check out if you come. at the end of the experience there was a free picture and gold digging. everything is free

I had an absolutely phenomenal experience at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park today, and it was the perfect weathered day to soak in the beauty of nature! On this stunning Saturday, August 2, 2025, with clear skies and a gentle breeze at 12:28 PM PDT, the garden was a serene paradise. The vibrant pink blossoms of the towering tree created a breathtaking canopy, perfectly framing my peaceful moment sitting on the rocks. The koi pond, alive with colorful fish, and the cascading waterfall added a tranquil soundtrack to the lush greenery and meticulously arranged stones. The traditional wooden pavilion, with its elegant lanterns and wooden ceiling, offered a cool retreat with a view of the bonsai trees and vibrant foliage. Every detail, from the carefully pruned pines to the harmonious landscape, was a masterpiece. This hidden gem is a must-visit for anyone seeking nature’s beauty at its finest!

The Japanese Friendship Garden was such a peaceful and beautiful experience! It’s so well maintained, and you can tell a lot of care goes into every detail from the carefully trimmed trees to the koi ponds and bridges. Walking through the garden felt calm and refreshing, with so many photo-worthy spots and quiet areas to just sit and enjoy the view. The layout was easy to explore, and every turn revealed something new a waterfall, a stone path, or a blooming tree. It’s not too big, but it’s designed perfectly for a relaxing stroll. The staff and volunteers were friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere was just so serene. If you’re looking for a quiet escape, a beautiful backdrop for photos, or just a chance to slow down and enjoy nature, I’d definitely recommend visiting the Japanese Friendship Garden. It’s one of those places that makes you want to stay a little longer every time you go.

Beautiful garden! Peaceful and serene. Good walk and photo opportunities. Gorgeous Koi pond and beautiful Koi fish. I wish their gift shop had more to offer and that the museum part had more to see and learn about. The overall experience was peaceful and beautiful. Good couple or adult activity.

During my friend’s visit, we explored the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum in San Diego, and it was an unforgettable experience. The garden feels like a little piece of Japan — peaceful, lush, and beautifully designed. The atmosphere is so calming, with quiet paths, greenery, and a true sense of harmony that makes you forget you’re in the middle of the city. It’s the perfect place to recharge, enjoy nature, and immerse yourself in a serene cultural setting. I loved it and definitely plan to return. Highly recommend this hidden gem to anyone visiting San Diego.

Aster a quick place to grab a bite its okay. But on a tight budget its too expensive. For the two of us, my friend paid $42.00 for 2 tuna sandwiches and 2 ice teas. The sandwiches were great. Oh my gosh they were packed with tuna. The ice tea had no flavor at all. I would suggest taking your own drink and snacks or lunch if youre cash budget us tight. If youre okay with spending that kind of money then order something other than the tea. They do have a variety. And the tuna salad sandwiches were great tasting too. Have fun ! The pictures are from across the street at the rose garden.

The Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park is a cool nature park to check out. It was a little larger than I anticipated, but didn't have as many cool thing to see as I thought. It is very peaceful and there are a few ponds with Koi fish. The collection of 20+ year old bonsai trees were the coolest thing to see.

Beautiful and peaceful place to walk around. The garden is well-maintained with lovely koi ponds and traditional Japanese architecture. Perfect spot to relax and take photos!