Whether you appreciate art, are interested in space, or love nature, San Diego has a museum to excite every family member. And right now is the best time to visit both old favorites and new attractions you have yet to explore. For the month of February your family can get half-priced admission at more than forty museums all over San Diego.
All you have to do is pick up your Museum Month discount pass at the library or when you stay at a Hilton you can enjoy fifty-percent off the cost of admission. The pass is free and covers you and up to four guests of any age. Check out the San Diego Museum Council for more information on where to pick up your pass and a full list of participating museums
San Diego Air and Space Museum
Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Air and Space Museum is one of the largest aviation museums in the nation and contains the third-largest collection of archives and library. It’s an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, housing a collection of historic aircrafts and spacecrafts from all over the world, including a flight-worthy replica of Charles Lindbergh’s “Spirit of St. Louis,” the actual Apollo 9 Command Module, and the only real GPS satellite on display in the world.
We love exploring the museum but with toddlers we especially love have they cater to kids. They have the Kid’s Aviation Action Hanger which is a special play area with plenty of hands on attractions for kids of all ages. Our boys were immediately drawn to the flight simulators, plus one has a real widn tunnel atmosphere, they all liked jumping on the simulated moon surface and there were plenty of opportunities to learn through experience.
For an additional charge, we’d encourage you to check out the Little Engineers Preschool Program. This is a four-week hands-on STEM enrichment program. The classes are structured by teachers for kids aged 3 to 5 and then you break out as parent/child and complete a handful of stations reinforcing the topic. Our four-year-old boys are in the middle of the “Our Favorite Planet” series. From natural disasters to weather patterns and rock formations, they are learning all about this planet we call home. Let’s just say the volcanos and magnets have been big hits so far! Looking ahead to March you can sign your child up for “Architects and Artists” as they will be discovering the elements of art in architecture and engineering through shape, color, texture, and form.
Birch Aquarium is the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of CaliforniaSan Diego.
Located in La Jolla overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the aquarium has activities and programs for kids to adults. They have exhibits, feedings and shows, and even Toddler Time. The also have events throughout the year and we visited at the kick off to Whale Fest. Winter is the best time to see Gray Whales off the San Diego coast, and while we didn’t spot any on the rainy afternoon, we did learn about them from the scientists on hand, we played games to better understand, and they even had whale-inspired crafts and coloring.
It’s so fun to see all the fish! From the feeding of the sharks, to the giant sea turtle, to seahorses and of course the kelp, the tanks and areas to view all the creatures of the ocean is great. Our favorite as a family had to be the tide pools. The are located outside with a gorgeous view of the La Jolla Cove and Pacific Ocean. We used the binoculars to try to spot whales but instead found a lobster in the tide pool. It is the perfect spot to stop for a picnic lunch too. You can bring in your own or purchase food on-site too.
The San Diego Botanic Garden sits on 37 lush acres in Encinitas and has more than five-thousand plant species. Each year thousands of people from around the world come to enjoy the scenic trails and inspiring vistas of this nationally recognized botanic garden.
The San Diego Botanic Garden is designated as one of the “Top 10 North American Gardens Worth Traveling For” by the American Gardens Association. It has four miles of trails that wind through its 29 uniquely themed gardens — among them a tropical rain forest, a bamboo garden, and regional desert landscapes. Together with two acclaimed children’s gardens and the Dickinson Family Education Conservatory, it’s a hub for horticulture, conservation, education, and events. And thanks to the foresight of its founders, the Garden will continue to play a vital role in the growth and development of San Diego for years to come.
Often times, we think that museums are just for adults or older children. But that is definitely not the case with The Natural History Museum. From hidden gems to learning how we rely on water, the exhibits have so many great hands-on interactive exhibits to engage visitors of all ages. One of our favorites to explore is Fossil Mysteries. From dinosaurs to a sea cow, you can check out the fossils from the prehistoric era to the unfolding of prehistory of Southern California.
One of the recent additions to the museum is a hit with our family. It is called The Backyard. It is geared for children 0-5 and is an enclosed area where children can check out the natural world through play. They can climb a giant lady bug, see how different shapes and colors reflect on a light table and even check out insects up close. We love it because we can grab a cup of coffee and sit on the cushioned area and watch our kiddos as they play.
We were given complimentary admission and experiences to Birch Aquarium, The Natural History Museum, San Diego Air & Space Museum, and Botanical Garden. All of our thoughts and opinions are our own.
