This is always a fun time. If your expecting a quiet museum trip, this is not your museum. It is…read morealways filled with kids and loud. However it's really meant to be that way, very interactive and fun. There are currently 4 levels. LL, 1, 2, and 3. 4 is currently under construction. LL is fossils. 1 floor is gift shop and kids rooms. 2nd floor is dinosaur and local animal habitat. 3rd floor is gems and library. There is enough stuff in here to keep you busy for a couple hours. Lots of San Diego native stuff and facts about where we live. I will say to me it's a little small and everytime something is closed. But still fun to go, I would just aim for a free day if your a local or if your a visitor it's worth to learn about San Diego and natural history.

Just visited this week. Probably our fourth visit in five years as our son is a big fan of Natural…read moreScience Museums. As of this writing, they're currently under construction raising the roof (no fourth floor access) and renovating the first floor. Currently, access to the building is on the second floor. They are part of the ASTC Travel Passport Program, so if you have an out of town membership to a participating program, you can get free admission here. My favorite part of the museum is a 7.5 minute "film" by a small Airstream RV. It shows the silhouette of two kids in a tent and the adventure covers all the animals they might run into out in the desert. Other things I found interesting were: The fossilized leg and hip bones of an Ankylosaurus that was found locally in Carlsbad. Different preserved animal specimens like a full anaconda skin, a whale vertabrae, a spotted skunk, and a thorny oyster. They're currently working on a fossilized Bison skull and neck Assorted skeletons and models of larger animals. A small section on minerals A giant pendulum I would consider this a medium sized museum where most families would spend around 1.5-2 hours there.

It had been a minute since I was here last. There were some new exhibits I thoroughly enjoyed:…read more Cafes and Cabarets: the spectacular Art of Toulouse-Lautrec known for his beguiling portraits of Paris nightlife and immortalizing the cabaret culture of Belle Époque Paris. Chanell Stone: Undulation of a Rupture during a journey through the Mississippi Delta. Black and white photographs invite reflection on the Mississippi River as both a natural force and a historical passageway. The museum created an atmosphere of this exhibit with a deeply emotional connection and experience. Graciela Iturbide, arguably Latin America's best-known living photographer from Mexico. This exhibition surveys her most iconic photographs, primarily captured in Mexico, but also worldwide. Also, Dutch Paintings on loan from Boston Museum of Fine Arts. I came during the Great Exchange and it was free if you have membership with a participating museum. It's also free for San Diego residents on the third Tuesday of the month. Two things that surprised me: The first being half of upstairs was closed to prepare for new exhibits. Secondly, several Gallery Attendants behaved very strangely and were definitely not friendly or welcoming. There were two different exhibits where I was viewing the museum app on my phone and witnessed the attendants walking around in circles quickly. It was distracting and odd. I got the impression they didn't want me to linger but I ignored them and they finally stopped. I asked a question to another attendant and he seemed annoyed like I was disturbing him. The friendly women security guards were absolutely wonderful! Lastly, free parking was available for several hours as long as you previously registered with the city. Check out the map online for the different locations.

For the many that have never been to the many art myseums there are some of the best artists that…read morehave shown the true elegance what the art field has ofdered. San Dirgo Myseum of art show cases the art work from Eutope to the ealy years of the 1800s to the earliest of the 1600s. For the artistz that catch your eye to the statues that you can see what the artist sees when the statue work is done. Of the many pieces that have such great power to them the art work of picaso and the works of Degaul the Museum of Art has so msny great works when the Holidays of Christmas came the art works of Devinci showing the works of the many pieces showing the Jesus of Nazareth. Going to the Museum you xen feel the art but dont touch tgere are statues you can touch the sculptures captures the true art but what the artist is thinking . From the art work of the outside the larger sculptures and the metal creations there are many that you xan see near the Tymkim that is one of the many free museums that you can go to at Balboa Park. The masterpieces of the European and the American Artists showing the art work and how artists the pieces they did. With the San Diego Museum is one of the great places you can go and study the art work from around the world for the works of the grand masters they have such great history. The colors of the museum from the marble floors the hardwoods that you would find in the museum rooms the San Diego Museum of Art is the greatest place for students the erucation and artists have so much to show. As a Yelp Elite Reviewer over the meny years the San Diego Museum of Art the the art shows its one place showing the masters on the weeks I would come and see rwstorations take place. The San Diego Museum of Art for the students to the older the world of art offers so much.

Amazing museum! I learned a lot and really got to take time to read a lot of history…read more I love reading about DeVinci and his pursuit of aviation. I love reading about the space shuttle program. Great place for all aerospace enthusiasts.

Whenever we visit a new city, we always try to check three things off our list: visit a museum, do…read moresomething on the water (if applicable) & catch a sports game. The San Diego Air & Space Museum was our museum pick for this trip & it was a fun, educational morning! My husband is a retired Army veteran & enjoys planes, aviation history & anything military-related, so this museum was right up his alley. We could have spent hours exploring all of the exhibits, aircraft, artifacts & historical displays. One of the highlights of our visit was meeting a super outgoing docent shortly after we walked in. Somehow, he kept magically popping up throughout the museum during our visit, sharing fascinating tidbits & fun facts about whatever exhibit we happened to be looking at. You could tell he genuinely loved being there & his enthusiasm made the entire experience even more engaging & personal. (My apologies for not remembering his name. He was an Air Force B-52 pilot & bonded with hubby over their shared military service.) Another really cool aspect of the museum is its location directly in the flight path of the airport. Planes were flying overhead every couple of minutes, which honestly added so much atmosphere to the visit. Hearing & seeing aircraft constantly overhead while walking through the exhibits made the whole experience feel extra immersive. The vintage Pacific Southwest Airlines stewardess uniforms on display were awesome! The museum does a great job balancing serious aviation history with quirky, interesting pieces of airline culture & design history. This was definitely a worthwhile visit - whether you are an aviation buff or just looking for an interesting & interactive museum experience. We both had a great time!

We had such a fun day at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego!…read more Location: Right in Balboa Park, which is already such a beautiful area to walk around with tons of things to see and do. There's also a really pretty water fountain right in front that the kids loved running around and playing near--it made the whole experience feel extra special and "vacationy." Prices: Adults are $24.99 and kids are $19.99, and kids 2 and under are free! Honestly, totally worth it for how much there is to do--so many hands-on exhibits that kept the kids entertained the whole time. Ball Pool: Hands down the BEST part for the kids! They could have stayed there forever--super fun, interactive, and just pure joy watching them play. Parking: Parking was $16 for all day. We were able to park right in front, which was super convenient. It can get busy, but it worked out great for us. Pay at the kiosk!! They are super strict with parking so beware! Dome Theater: This was definitely the highlight! The dome theater is AMAZING--such an immersive experience that both kids and adults will enjoy. It really feels like you're inside the movie. Don't skip this! Kid City: The only downside was that Kid City was closed when we visited, which was a bit of a bummer since we were really looking forward to it. But even without it, there was still plenty to explore and enjoy. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely recommend bringing kids here. It's educational, interactive, and just plain fun. We'll definitely be back--hopefully next time Kid City is open!

The Fleet Science Center is a nice science museum with a handful of exhibits that spindle children…read morewould enjoy. We were attending a Girl Scout sleepover, and the Fleet staff was horrid to us. The man in charge was not amicable in any way and was continously rude to us throughout the night and following morning. They gave us a set schedule and constantly deviated from it - to the point that they told my 4th graders if they didn't stop eating breakfast they would be barred from attending the movie that was included in our paid program. He was attempting to be intimidating and one of my girls was extremely uncomfortable. For context, breakfast was scheduled for 8am and the movie scheduled for 845am per our written schedule. The man was forcing us to the theater or to miss the movie - at 824am. We had been so mistreated from arrival through the night that when a morning shift employee offered to open the door and help me carry something, I became overwhelmed with appreciation and thanked him for being kind. I let him know he was the first employee to show us any kindness and that we appreciated him. The experience we have had has left us completely floored, and we do not plan to return to a business that chooses to employ such a rude, non-inclusive, unprofessional staff with zero customer service skills.

One of my favorite museums I've been to in SoCal. The two…read moremost outstanding exhibits in my opinion are the one regarding border crossing in Arizona and the one about secrets. Both exhibits stand out in different ways-- The border crossing exhibit sheds light on how many lives were lost in one small area in Arizona while the secret exhibit is interactive and elicits all sorts of emotions from the reader. Definitely recommend this museum and will be returning within the year as tickets are good for a year

Made it to Museum of Us in Balboa Park... and honestly? The main museum itself was just okay to me…read more A few interesting exhibits, some cool architecture, but nothing that really grabbed me at first. Then I walked into the second half -- the Cannibals: Myth & Reality exhibit -- and suddenly the admission fee became worth it. It wasn't some cheap shock-value horror setup either. It was surprisingly historical, psychological, and thought-provoking. The exhibit dives into how cultures throughout history have been accused of cannibalism, how colonial powers often weaponized those accusations, and how survival situations pushed ordinary people into impossible decisions. A few things that stood out: * Stories about shipwreck survivors and stranded explorers forced into life-or-death choices * Historical use of human remains in old European medicine (yes... actual medical "remedies") * Interactive exhibits that make you question where humanity draws moral lines * Pop culture comparisons from movies and folklore versus actual documented history * The fact that the exhibit stays mostly educational and "gore-free," which somehow made it even creepier The craziest part? You leave realizing how much of history is shaped by fear, propaganda, survival, and perspective. Also, the building itself has a wild history. The museum dates back to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and sits in one of the most iconic buildings in Balboa Park. (Wikipedia) So overall: Main museum = anticlimactic. Cannibalism exhibit = unexpectedly fascinating and absolutely the highlight of the visit.

What a gem in National City! Christopher gave us a fabulous tour of the farm animals and was so…read morekind to let our little toddler feed the goats and admire all the creatures that live here. She loved hearing the chickens and turkeys and watching the goats, emu, pig and lamb. A highlight was picking some delicious tomatoes right off the vine. We are grateful for the experience and welcoming volunteers. If you visit, be sure to bring a cash donation to help this special place continue to run.

Cute place ! A hidden little gem ! Had no idea this place even existed !…read more Went here for a children's Bday party ! They had a cute little set up and even had a jumper ! I'm assuming you have to rent one your self ! I did see a few animals , not as many as I had hoped for ! But I did enjoy checking out the fruit trees ! The trees are beautifully maintained . The bathrooms are in the back decently kept and good size !!

I learned so much about the local history. This is a great place for local artists to show their…read morework!

Small, but charming and informative civic museum discussing the history of the town and the valley…read more Helpful and friendly staff. Easy parking.

Small free area with lot of plants to look at. Multiple entrances and exits so you don't have to…read morecrowd in one area. It looks like a green house from a distance but the whole building has air gaps to allow breeze.

What do you mean no lilies in the lily pond?…read more Zero. Also, pay parking is awful. I can forgive the no lilies, but the parking situation - abhorrent.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego is honestly one of the most impressive history museums I've…read morevisited because the artifacts are the museum. You aren't just looking at history -- you're surrounded by ships that actually survived it. The Star of India, launched in 1863, survived mutiny, violent storms, collisions at sea, and decades carrying immigrants across dangerous oceans. Some sailors believed the ship was cursed after captains died during early voyages, yet somehow she survived long enough to become the oldest active sailing ship in the world. HMS Surprise shows the brutal reality of naval warfare during the Age of Sail. Ships like this once carried enough cannon firepower to destroy enemy vessels while sailors lived packed below deck surrounded by gunpowder, disease, and fear of battle. The Berkeley steam ferry even helped evacuate survivors during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake while much of the city burned. One of the most fascinating exhibits is the Soviet B-39 submarine from the Cold War. The inside is unbelievably cramped and gives you a real sense of what life was like beneath the ocean during one of the most dangerous periods in modern history. The USS Dolphin may have been my favorite. This experimental deep-diving U.S. Navy submarine helped test advanced underwater technology and launched the deepest-fired torpedo in naval history. The museum also includes the San Salvador, recreating the ship that explored California's coastline in 1542 -- long before America existed as a country. What makes this place incredible is the timeline it creates: 1500s exploration... 1800s global sailing... steam-powered industry... world wars... Cold War submarines... All sitting together in one harbor. This place doesn't just teach maritime history -- it shows how ships shaped exploration, immigration, trade, warfare, and entire empires.

What an absolute gem. The Maritime Museum is a collection of floating ships available to tour…read more We enjoyed the add-on ($10) 45 minute, docent-led, bay tour on the Pilot. We learned so much. The Museum is well-organized with plenty of memorabilia and artifacts to enjoy. There are several boats to explore. There's also plenty of seating along the boats, to just enjoy the scenery. The Maritime Museum is a must!

Wonderful collection of local rescued animals! Park and take the shuttle bus to the center.read more

My friend who needs a wheelchair to get around arrived and their shuttle could not accommodate…read moreher!! Nowhere on the website does it say that they do not accommodate nor does it say that we should call before coming to make sure she would be able to enjoy the center. It's so disappointing that at this day in age, Living Coast did not think about individuals like my friend. Thanks you for your reply. Perhaps the information you relayed on my post can be added to the website? Also, what is your on-site address? My friend was dropped off by MTS access and following the adress provided on your website.