Top #9 Museums & Must See Historical Sites for Families Visiting San Diego
(This trip was hosted by San Diego Tourism Authority where we were given complimentary entry to various museums and historical sites in San Diego to facilitate this post. The views and opinions expressed are entirely my own. Read my full disclosure here.)
Recently my family enjoyed a week long visit to San Diego California.
I had not been there for several years (like since I was a child) neither had my husband. Before our family visit, we did a little research to decide on what we wanted to do during our stay. We knew we wanted to visit the San Diego Zoo and Sea World (since our children are crazy about animals and marine life.) But we were not sure what we wanted to do with our kids for the rest of our visit when we weren't enjoying down time at the Best Western Mission Bay where we stayed for this visit (check out our hotel review here).
We were scheduled to spend a whole week in San Diego and we really wanted to use our trip as a way to Introduce our children to all San Diego had to offer families. Imagine our surprise and joy to discover that in addition to gorgeous beaches and fun attractions San Diego has TONS of Awesome Museums! I have to tell you I absolutely I love museums. A good museum can fire the imagination and inspire children and adults to want to learn more. If you are planning to visit in October, San Diego is celebrating kids free October which apply to many of the museums and attractions. Learn more here.
If you want a full list of all the great Museums and Historical Sites that San Diego has to offer then head on over to their official Tourism site. For those looking for great Discount Tickets to many of the attractions in San Diego as well as other great Southern California Attractions Check out Get Away Today.
Alright, so we didn't make it out to every site and museum during our last visit (even though our visit lasted 7 days). Not by a long shot there are just sooo many. However, we sure did make it to a LOT of them. Here is our list of our favorites: (not necessarily in any particular order). To make it more convenient I have listed our favorite Museums and Historical Sites in groups of where you find them in San Diego. This was it will be easier for you to plan your upcoming family vacation. OK, let's get started!
Down Town San Diego:
Down town, San Diego has multiple parts. Most notable are the Harbor and Sea Port Village, and Gaslamp Quarter (a historical section with beautifully restored 19th and 20th-century Victorian houses). When planning our visit to San Diego, I knew I didn't want to spend a lot of time down town since I have little children. However, there were 2 museums we particularly wanted to see so we made a day of it and in addition to visiting both the USS Midway and New Children's Museum we drove around the city sightseeing from the convenience of our car (since it was quite hot on the day we chose to visit down town.)
1.The New Children's Museum
If you are looking for a more modern museum with interactive imaginative play activities for kids of all ages then you might want to check the New Children's Museum in Down Town San Diego out on your next visit. We spent the first part of our visit checking out and playing with each of their rooms and activities. Then the second half was pretty much spent with the kids running around, climbing and playing in the Wonder Sound room. It was fun watching my children laugh with new found friends as they climbed the ropes and explores the various rooms that were part of this exhibit.
My 5-year-old particularly liked this museum. We had to practically drag him away when it was time to go. There was so much to see and do, it really is a great place for hands on learning, creativity, and fun for kids of all ages!
** As a heads up while most museums charge 3 and up this museums does charge for kids 1 and older. However, they do have hands on areas and activities for all ages to enjoy (including your really small ones.
2.The USS Midway
I was particularly excited to visit this museum. And not just because this Museum is a real life once in use Aircraft Carrier! (though there is a coolness factor there) My Grandfather served on an Aircraft Carrier like the USS Midway. I grew up listening to his stories of life on the carrier while serving in the Navy during WWII. As I walked through the living areas of the carrier I could almost hear my grandfather's voice in my head recounting stories that my children will never have the chance to hear first hand. It was almost bitter sweet.
My children loved seeing air crafts that the great carrier once housed. They even had some that we were able to climb inside. Let me tell you that was soo much fun. Though I totally have more respect for aviators and all the switches and buttons and monitors they have to keep track of and use to fly these amazing machines. They do offer audio tours on the USS Midway, however, since we had small kids with us we opted to just show ourselves around. (which wasn't hard since they had handy signs everywhere.)
**While it is possible to take a stroller on board the USS Midway, there are certain areas that are not stroller accessible. When going to those areas you will have to leave your stroller off to the side then either carry our child or walk with them holding their hand.
Balboa Park:
Before visiting San Diego I had never even heard of Balboa Park. Why is it? Well is a beautifully created social center in San Diego which includes beautiful gardens, a ton of different museums, at least one restaurant, fountains, a fun kids Park, cultural centers and even the San Diego Zoo on one edge. We spent multiple days just exploring Balboa Park and still did see everything.
**You can get special passes to visit multiple museums in a day for a discount so if you are wanting to check out more than just one I highly recommend inquiring about that.
3.Natural History Museum
I have been to quite a few Natural History Museums and I have to say that this is one of my Favorites. First of all the San Diego, Natural History Museum is HUGE. We spent several hours exploring with our young children due to how much there was to see and do, and not once did any of my kids get bored!
I loved how throughout the museum there were hands on things for my children to do to help keep them engaged while learning about all the natural wonders of the world around us. Kids learn more when they are engaged and having fun which is exactly what this museum achieves.
In addition to the main exhibits, we also checked out their Ultimate Dinosaurs experience in their basement. Can I say this was sooooo Cool! We probably spent an hour just going through it. they even had a fun stamp passport for kids as they go through to make sure they see everything. My older two particularly loved this aspect.
4.Air and Space Museum
My daughter is obsessed with everything dealing with science and space. My sons are obsessed with anything that has an engine. So, of course, I had to take my kids to the Air and Space Museum while visiting San Diego. I had never been, but my husband had when he was a kid and still had fond memories. From the moment we first arrived and got to check out the Appolo 9 Command modules and flight suits I knew that I would love it as much as my kids.
We started by exploring the planes used during WWI & WWII. My husband pointed out to our kids how they liked to paint symbols on the bottoms of the wings to show those on the ground what country the plane belonged to. Then the kids went through identifying each plane. Of course, my husband and kids had to stop and get a picture next to Snoopy and his arch enemy the Red Baron.
After exploring more planes from history we stopped at the children's play area (AKA the Kid's Aviation Action Hangar) for a bit. They really have a fantastic children's area that includes a moon bounce pad, magnetic gears, flight simulators and more. Right next to the children's area they had a fun movie theater where they showed fun short 4d movies that were fun for the whole families!
Next, we explore more aircraft from throughout the age at the end we enjoyed looking through their small space flight. There was soo much to see and do while exploring this amazing museum. The kids loved it when they got to climbed up or into aircraft like the helicopter near the kid's section.
5.Museum of Man
The Museum of Man is a fun museum that explores cultures from around the world. They have a few exhibits that cost on their own to go through like the Canable exhibit (which I hear is quite good) We chose to just go through the main part of the museum which included at the time exhibits on Monsters (a fun kids exhibit), Mayans, Egypt, Races, and steps through time as well as some other smaller exhibits.
My children particularly enjoyed the Exhibit on Monsters and the kids' hands on Adventure Kids in Egypt area. They loved learning all about stories of monsters from around the world, making magnetic monsters on a large metal wall and pretending they were archeologists in ancient Egypt. Next time we go my daughter really wants to check out the Canabal Exhibits though.
6.Miniature Railroad Museum
Ever since I was a little kid I have always been fascinated with model trains. My husband is the same way. Which is why we were both excited when we saw that there was a Miniature Railroad Museum in San Diego we just had to go check it out.
Ok, this museum was everything we thought it would be. There were sections with different elaborate model train set ups. Apparently, there are different model train clubs that each oversee different sections. Each one had different kinds of model trains with these amazing set ups and cool miniature buildings and people scaled to size.
The day we went was the same day that Barnum and Baily's circus performed it's last so in one of the sections there was a perfect mini replica of the circus train running. The train operator was sweet enough to give each of my kids an official clown in the circus' honor. My kids love the noses, the trains, and even watching a new train scene and track being built.
7.Fleet Science Center
The Fleet Science Center was a great hit for all my kids. They had a lot of fun hands on science exhibits for all ages from little kids to adults. Science covers sooo many topics and it seemed like the Fleet Science Center tried to showcase as many of them as they could. My 5-year-old and 3-year-old sons would have spent the whole time at the lego tables just inside the entrance if I had let them, but they are glad I got them to move on and explore more since there were some other really fun areas for little kids. They particularly loved the hands on activities in the toddler area.
Meanwhile, my husband and 7-year-old daughter had a blast checking out all the cool science areas set up to teach older kids. They said there was even a mystery exhibit where you get to become a deactivate like Sherlock Holmes utilizing clues to solve the crime.
This was another museum that even after spending hours exploring we still had to practically drag them away when it was time to go.
San Diego Old Town
Unfortunately, we didn't spend as much time exploring the old town as we would have liked because the day we went we had already spent several days at Balboa Park and the kids were tired, but we did enjoy driving around it a bit and enjoyed stopping at the Mormon Batallion Historical Center before having a picknick dinner nearby. I hope to spend more time exploring Old Town and their many buildings, shops and mini museums next visit.
8.Mormon Batallion Historical Center
Did you know that the Mormon's have strong ties to San Diego? I know, normally when you think of the Mormon Church you think of Salt Lake City. However, due to the US war with Mexico, a large group of Mormon Pioneers were asked to form a Mormon battalion to fight with the US army. Their story is unique and for many in that battalion, it ended in San Diego. My children enjoyed this fun interactive museum and learning about such a brave group of people who lived so long ago. At the end of the Museum tour my kids had a lot of fun panning for gold and pumping water.
**The Mormon Batallion Historical Center is one of the FREE museums/historical sites in San Diego and the kids really enjoy it.
The Ocean
Like I said San Diego is a large City with soo much to see and do. For when you want a break from the main City attractions, try heading north to Mission Bay area to enjoy the parks and Beaches. Also in the northern part of San Diego, you can find the Birch Aquarium at Scripps at the University of California San Diego overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
9.Birch Aquarium at
We went to the Birch Aquarium on our last day in San Diego and it was a big hit with our whole family! They have a great selection of fun sea creatures to see and adore. In addition to their sea life exhibits, they also have a Sea Life Photography section, marine science section, a fun interactive outside area, a playground and a restaurant! Literally, you could spend a whole day there!
My children especially loved seeing the many sea horses (they had a variety of different colors and sizes ) the jelly fishes, the fishes they recognized from one of their favorite movies Finding Nemo and the lion fish.
We a enjoyed our visit to San Diego, California that we can't wait to visit again. When we do, we most definitely will be visiting these awesome museums and historical sites as well as some of the ones we didn't manage to get to this last visit... We just might have to spend 2 weeks this next visit to do all this. (I don't think my kids will mind!
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