Exposing kids to museums is a great way to inspire curiosity about art, history, science, different cultures, and the world around them, and foster a lifelong love of learning and discovery. Cost can often prevent many families from taking full advantage of all the incredible cultural institutions in San Diego. This is why we love October! Throughout the entire month, Kids Free San Diego offers FREE admission for kids 12 and under to more than 60 museums, aquariums/zoos, gardens, historic sites, state parks, and other cultural attractions.
We’re highlighting some of our personal favorite museums and activities that are perfect for families.
New Children’s Museum
This museum is a must for San Diego families. It has exhibits like Teatro Piñata, a stage where kids can create their own play or play with shadow puppets, and Whammock, which is made up of 40 miles of braided nylon. Whammock is an interactive, three-dimensional textile environment of colorful crocheted hexagons, open pockets, and hanging pendulums.
One of our favorite things to do at the New Children’s Museum is to create! Our kids love the paint studio, where they can paint a large sculpture and the clay studio, where they can create with their hands. Their favorite is the Innovators’ Lab, which has lots of art materials for open-ended creation.
Birch Aquarium
Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Birch Aquarium features more than 60 habitats of fish and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and beyond.
Our kids love diving into the world of sharks, seahorses, and coral reefs. It features amazing creatures, including a rescued Loggerhead Sea Turtle, a Giant Pacific Octopus, Leopard Sharks, and Moon Jellies. From observing the kelp forest to getting up close to some of the sea life and even touching them in the tide pools, this is one of our favorite San Diego museums.
LEGOLAND®
The love for LEGO® runs deep in our family and we love LEGOLAND®, where we can ride, climb, splash and build across nine LEGO® themed lands! Kids are free through December 25 at LEGOLAND®
Kids free also includes LEGOLAND® California’s annual Brick-or-Treat Halloween celebration. This is one of our families favorite fall traditions. The Halloween festivities run on Saturdays and Sundays through October, with the final day on November 1. Kids of all ages are invited to participate in the fun, and for a limited time, kids can attend the theme park for free with paid adult tickets (restrictions apply — see LEGOLAND® California site for details).
Fleet Science Center
Located near the fountain in Balboa Park, the Fleet Science Center boasts over 100 exhibits and a giant screen film adventure that displays the wonders of planet Earth and beyond. This museum opened to the public in 1973, and was named the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center after an American aviator who was commissioned by President Woodrow Wilson. This museum is rich in history and has something fun for all ages!
Japanese Friendship Garden
The Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum in Balboa Park is a work of art, representing the friendship between San Diego and Yokohama. The lush 12 acres of land are home to a cherry tree grove, a large azalea, a camellia garden, and more. If you’re looking for a more laid-back outing with your kids, this is just the spot for your family!
Museum of Contemporary Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art is a wonderful chance to expose your kiddos to different perspectives and artwork that tells the stories of people from different backgrounds and ideals. Located in La Jolla, this museum is home to over 4,700 works representing a variety of genres, such as painting, sculpture, photography, and more. Also, each second Sunday of the month are Free Play Days, with free admission, tours and hands-on-art activities. We have enjoyed these workshops on several occasions.
San Diego Botanic Garden
The San Diego Botanic Garden is a 37-acre urban oasis with four miles of trails that wind through its 29 uniquely themed gardens, among them a tropical rainforest, bamboo garden, and regional desert landscapes. One of our favorite things to do is to hike the trail and then climb to the top of the tower and take in the view. You can see the ocean on a clear day as well as lots of the surrounding area. The SD Botanic Garden is also home to Hamilton Children’s Garden, which is the West Coast’s largest children’s garden. It includes Toni’s Treehouse, mud kitchen and splashing stream. Plus every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10AM – noon there are nature-based themed activities.
Model Railroad Museum
The Model Railroad Museum is a miniature wonderland! There are beautiful train route re-creations, model trains, and even STEAM programs for kids. This museum encourages critical thinking and creativity, and is a great spot if you want to keep your kids’ minds active over the weekend. Whether your kiddos love trains or you just want to keep their creativity at work, this is a must-see museum at Balboa Park.
San Diego Air & Space
If your kids love airplanes and spaceships, they’ll love the San Diego Air & Space Museum. The interactive museum is home to artifacts from the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong, and other important aviators and astronauts. For an extra cost, you can even ride the two-seat MaxFlight simulator and experience a realistic aerial combat. There’s something for everyone at this museum, and enough artifacts and exhibits to keep the whole family entertained.
USS Midway
The USS Midway is a must-see spot both for San Diego locals and families traveling from out of state. This iconic tourist spot is debatably one of the best museums our city has to offer. The aircraft carrier is immersive, with exhibits from the hangar to below deck. Beyond the fun of exploring the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, the USS Midway is also a great place for kids to learn about what life was like for someone in the Navy when the ship was commissioned in the ’40s. We enjoy bringing friends and family here when they visit.
Free admission is available to these museums for up to two kids (ages 12 and under) for every adult ticket purchased. To participate, you will need to download a Kids Free coupon for each venue you would like to visit at sandiegomuseumcouncil.org. Then, simply present it at the participating museum’s admissions desk to receive your free child admissions. Note: Restrictions may apply at some museums, so guests are encouraged to check the website for more information before visiting.
