Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in La Jolla

"Art lovers looking for a dose of culture should head to the San Diego Museum of Art. Its distinctive facade is a copy of the 17th-century University of Salamanca, in the so-called plateresque style, with finely-chiseled terra-cotta work. Busts of Spanish painters adorn the entrance, and their artworks are among the many eclectic exhibits displayed here."

"Known for its Spanish baroque and Renaissance paintings, including works by El Greco, Goya, Rubens, and van Ruisdael, San Diego's most…"

"The Children’s Museum is an environmentally sustainable building that provides a dynamic, playful public space and community center for children and families – a place to experience exciting art exhibitions, hands-on studio projects, performances, birthday parties, in-depth classes, camps and educational programs. Across the street from the new building is a beautiful park, extending the museum visit outdoors with space for running, climbing, family picnics and a view of the trains and trolleys going by."

"The New Children's Museum re-opened in 2008 with a motto of think, play and create, which is exactly what kids do here. What is different about The New Children's Museum is that they specifically commission works of art with tactile features that appeal to kids rather than re-create existing art to suit a younger generation. There's hands-on art and exhibits to hold the attention of toddlers up through teen years."

"This interactive children’s museum offers interactive art meant for kids. Installations are designed by artists, so tykes can learn principles of movement and physics while simultaneously being exposed to art and working out the ants in their pants. Exhibits change every 18 months or so, so there's always something new."

"The Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) is one of a few private institutions dedicated to showcasing photography, film, and video. They also offer various workshops for photography enthusiasts (and I love stopping into the gift shop on my way out). Admission is free but based on a pay as you wish philosophy because one of their goals is to make their exhibitions accessible to all."

"The Museum of Photographic Arts has a long history, as it first opened in 1983. It’s well known for being one of the first museums in the United States to exclusively exhibit photographic images. With such a rich history, you won’t be disappointed by what you see."

"MOPA, one of the few museums devoted solely to photography, features works by both the famous and not so famous."

"This museum presents exhibits of folk art from around the world, including Indonesia and New Guinea (multicolored masks, dolls, fertility symbols and shadow puppets) and Japan (decorative bottles, bowls and jars). Children will delight in the displays of international toys and antique carousels. Don't forget to visit the Collectors' Gallery/Museum Store for a wide selection of modern and antique arts and crafts."

"Established in 1978, Mingei International Museum is a non-profit public institution that was established in 1978. Located in Balboa Park, the museum houses a variety of art forms from cultures all around the world, both past, and present. It includes nearly 20,000 artistic objects and artifacts from over 140 countries and focuses on folk art, craft, and design."

"The Mingei International museum in San Diego is a not-for-profit public art museum that collects, conserves, and manifests folk art, designs, and crafts. It is situated in the House of Charm, Balboa Park in San Diego, California. The word Mingei means 'Art of the people'."

"Even if you’re broke, the Timken Museum of Art is always free, and if you have a Bank of America card, the San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Photogenic Arts are free on certain days. If you love art, check out the Spanish village. These are historic buildings turned art galleries and stores which have a lot of their work for sale. Even just walking through this area is a fun experience."

"In 2011, Joshua Pavlick decided to turn a part of his home into an art exhibition space. And while that sounds like a wild idea, it’s paid off big time for Pavlick, local artists, and the community as a whole. Helmuth Projects was designed with the idea of helping lesser-known artists display their work to the masses."

"The region's largest fine arts museum attracts more than 250,000 visitors a year to its diverse cultural exhibits. The museum's collection is astoundingly comprehensive, with artwork ranging in date from 5,000 BC to the present. The San Diego Museum of Art is most famous for its South Asian paintings from the Edwin Binney 3rd collection."

"A post shared by Patti Boo✈️Travel🌿Nature (@resistthemundane). When it comes to any art lover’s itinerary, the San Diego Museum of Art is generally somewhere near the top of the list. Located in Balboa Park (along with 16 other museums), the San Diego Museum of Art is best known for its large collection of paintings."

"This museum has a few different exhibits rotating throughout the year and they make plenty of appearances on instagram. These exhibits have already left, but see the ones they have now here."

"Sugar and Scribe is a quaint bakeshop located in the heart of downtown La Jolla. Voted the best bakery by San Diego Magazine and La Jolla Village News the bakery serves freshly made bread, pastries, cupcakes, cookies, and cakes. All of their pastries and bread are made in-house daily and they use all seasonal and local ingredients."

"Breakfast, lunch and takeout baked goods make up the menu at Sugar and Scribe, which is extremely popular during breakfast and lunch hours. It’s worth a visit even just to peruse the various baked goods made fresh every day."

"Finally, over in Hillcrest, check out Uncle Biff's Killer Cookies, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 738 reviews on Yelp. You can find the bakery at 650 University Ave. (between Sixth and Seventh avenues). This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor."

"Not that the classic thin brownie and vanilla ice cream sandwich isn’t great, but sometimes you just need to mix it up. Check out The Baked Bear, an ice cream sandwich shop where you can customize your base (cookies, brownies or donuts), your ice cream flavor and your toppings."

"If you’ve got a sweet tooth and like to Instagram your desserts, try Baked Bear!. They have the best ice cream sandwiches in town. These freshly baked cookies topped with delicious craft ice cream will leave you and your followers drooling."

"It’s a dark, nondescript bar in Banker’s Hill that looks like a spot your grandpa would frequent in the middle of the day. What sets this place apart though, are the huge burgers. They have a ton of options, but the California Burgito is our go-to."

"Dank chicken sandwich and the garlic on the fries really slaps!. Definitely laid back but high quality customer service. This is a go-to spot fo..."

"Spike Africa's is named after legendary schooner captain once known as the "President of the Pacific Ocean". Serving fresh seafood amid nostalgic detail, the focus is really about the food though premium drinks are offered at modest price points. Craft beers and signature drinks pair well with fresh fish (choose a side and a sauce)."

"The interior is spacious and welcoming with contemporary and fun decor. The seafood is fresh boasting direct from the boat to the restaurant and the food is delicious. Gas Lamp offers both Mediterranean and American cuisine and it’s a great place to get steak and lobster or other house specialties from the menu."

"One of the best seafood menus in town and a local-favorite happy hour make the Gaslamp Fish House a stop spot for cheap eats in San Diego. This is a top spot for dinner after a str..."

"With shades of orange, red, and avocado, even the hues of the walls at Market are enough to inspire hunger. Follow this introduction up by rendezvousing with the super-fresh sushi menu.[Learn more]"