Free Museums in Cardiff State Beach

"Explore the longest-serving aircraft carrier in United States history at this legendary museum. You'll experience life at sea without ever leaving the Navy Pier port as you discover over 60 exhibits and 27 restored aircraft. The museum brings the past to life with a self-guided audio tour narrated by USS Midway sailors."

"Stroll up the Embarcadero and visit the Maritime Museum of San Diego and USS Midway Museum. After gazing at ships both antique and modern, walk north to Little Italy, where you can sample more local beers at Bottlecraft before dining at one of the neighborhood’s fantastic restaurants, such as Herb & Wood."

"We recommend the Family Drop-In Day recommended for families with kids ages 6-12. As the focus changes, check the calendar for what interests you. On these days, kids usually make a craft that reflects the current theme, play games or explore art via a treasure hunt."

"One of the best museums in San Diego to visit in 2019 is, without a doubt, the San Diego Museum of Art. Founded in 1926, this museum is located in Balboa Park. It has the reputation of being the oldest and largest art museum in the region."

"Its front doors are located in a gigantic, cathedral-style facade that took a full two years to build, and they can be seen from every direction if you’re in the neighborhood."

"This one, you guessed it, is the epicenter of best activities for kids in San Diego. Balboa Park in Gaslamp Quarter has 17 museums that alone will keep the whole family busy for a whole day, at least. Activities like Sketch Aquarium and Reconnecting to Home have age restrictions."

"Another Balboa park museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, is a world-class site with an extensive collection of films, photographs, and videos. The museum was opened in 1983 and is one of the three museums which are specifically dedicated to the collection and preservation of photography in the United States. It is home to spacious galleries and state-of-the-art 228 seat theatre exhibiting work from some of the world-renowned photographers and cinematographers, including work by Yosuke Yamahata, the entire Nagasaki Journey: The Photographs of Yosuke Yamahata and an extensive collection from filmmaker Lou Stoumen’s estate."

"© Craig Lovell / Eagle Visions Photography / Alamy Stock Photo. With a collection of more than 7,000 photographs by 850 photographers, including Margaret Bourke-White, Alfred Stieglitz and Ruth Bernhard, the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) devotes itself entirely to the collection and preservation of photography, film and video, including its aesthetic movements and technological advancements. In particular, MOPA’s collection features a large selection of mid-20th-century Soviet Russian photography, social documentary photography and photojournalism."

"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."

"The Fleet Science Center has over one hundred hands-on exhibits for curious kids and their parents. Kid City was designed for children up to five years of age and features a block corner for budding architects, the Little Learner’s Lab and its Young Explorer computer stations, a Fire Truck exhibit that teaches street safety, and the colorful and exciting Ball Wall that demonstrates the properties of physics. Older kids will gravitate to the Studio X maker space where they can participate in regularly scheduled workshops or create something on their own using the studio’s tools and materials."

"The Fleet Science Center is a fun and educational museum for visitors of all ages. Kids will love the hands-on experience of exploring atoms and molecules in the Nano exhibit, and those under 5 can ride a fire truck in Kid City. In 1973, the museum opened the first IMAX dome theater in the world, and to this day, the IMAX continues to dazzle audiences with immersive adventures through space, rainforests, and oceans."

"The Fleet Science Center, also known as “The Fleet,” is a science museum and planetarium located in the popular Balboa Park in San Diego. With over 100 interactive exhibits with something for all ages, a visit to The Fleet will give your kids a better understanding of science and how it impacts the world around us. Spend your time exploring space, electricity, water, and virtual reality, or play around in Kid City."

"It's easy to spend an hour in this heartfelt museum of surf artifacts, from a timeline of surfing history to surf-themed art and a radical collection of boards, including the one chomped by a shark when it ate the arm of surfer Bethany Hamilton. Special exhibits change frequently along different themes (eg Women of Surfing and Surfers of the Vietnam War)."

"This cultural hub was designed by Charles Moore and opened in 1994. It includes a contemporary art museum, a 1,500-seat concert hall, a 400-seat theater, artists’ spaces, dance studios, and a conference and event space. There are free community events hosted at the Center frequently, like the WOW First Wednesdays performances and Jazz Jam Sessions, so be sure to check out the calendar to see what will be happening during your visit."

"Located on a 12-acre campus near the city Hall, the California Centre for the arts was opened in 1994. The Centre was inspired by Spanish colonial heritage and designed by Charles Moore. The Centre has a seating capacity of 1500 guests and houses a concert hall, a museum exhibiting contemporary art, a beautifully designed theatre with capacity of 400 people, a few art studios, some dance studios, as well as a conference centre."

"Performers and musicians from all over the world come to the center each year. From September through June, the Center of the Arts hosts a free concert every first Wednesday of the month. The concerts are a great way to expose kids to different genres of music."

"The San Diego Asian Pacific Historic District, San Diego’s historic Chinatown, is an eight-block district adjacent to and in part overlapping with the Gaslamp Quarter Historic District. The San Diego Chinatown is bounded by Market Street on the north, 2nd Ave. on the west, 6th ave. on the east and J st. on the south. 22 structures are considered historically contributing."

"The Chinese Historical Museum displays Chinese-American art, culture and history. Housed in a restored mission-style building, exhibits include miniature models, historic photographs and rare artifacts related to the heritage of San Diego’s Chinese community. *Small donation requested."

"The First San Diego Courthouse, rebuilt in 1992, was originally the town hall. Constructed by the Mormon Battalion, the first brick building in San Diego became the courthouse when the city was incorporated in 1850. It also served as a school, church and polling place."

"San Diego Archaeological Center is dedicated to preserving and showcasing regional archaeological artifacts that tell the story of San Diego County’s past. The main exhibits feature tools and pottery dating back 10,000 years, and there are several interactive exhibits just for kids."

"Owned and operated by Sicilian chef Vincenzo Lo Verso, Osteria Panevino is located in the historic Gaslamp District. The breakfast menu offers egg dishes, waffles, pancakes, and a unique breakfast pizza, while soups, salads, sandwiches, and a selection of entrees are available for lunch. Dinner brings even more options, including appetizers, risotto, pizza, and pasta with gluten-free alternatives."

"Osteria Panevino is the oldest Italian restaurant in San Diego’s Gaslamp district and offers authentic Tuscan food themes – including fresh bread, pasta, and desserts. Relish the delectable ossobuco, stuffed Portobello caprese sandwich, or the spinach and cheese ravioli. They also serve an award-winning collection of domestic and Italian wines."

"Sent my burger back 3 times, finally got a decent bun that wasn't burnt, yes!. It took 4 tries to get the bun not burned!"

"Ocean BeachLighthouse Ice Cream, an OB favorite for more than 30 years, is famous for its hot waffle and pancake ice cream sandwiches and sundaes. They’ve got a full complement of Cascade Glacier and Double Rainbowpremium and ultra-premium flavors, non-dairy and sugar-free options, soft serve and 30 different toppings. Bonus points for displaying their daily flavors on the storefront window so you can make up your mind while you’re still in the (socially distanced) line.How to:Limited seating is available on a first-come basis."

"Famous for their hot waffle ice cream sandwich, this cash-only Ocean Beach may be small but it packs a punch. You can choose between a plain, chocolate, or fruit waffle and pair it with one of the classics such as praline or go the extra mile and order cotton candy. If you aren’t in the mood for a sandwich, you can order your ice cream in a cup, cone, or a waffle cone bowl."

"If Rudford's had chrome instead of stucco, it would be a genuine diner, because it has the bay windows and mid-century signage. In any case, it's a landmark (and just down the street from the Chicken Pie Shop). Basic comfort fare here, which gets mixed reviews."

"Equally popular with the early bird special crowd and after-bar party goers; both sets agree that the biscuits and gravy and chicken fried steak at this 24-hour diner are first rate."

"Hillcrest’s Voyou Wine Bar recently re-opened as La Bonne Table after a lovely makeover. Where Voyou aimed for a modern look, the new place looks to evoke a kind of French country ..."

"Proprietor Bertrand Hug's French restaurant is the kind of place, even in the days of more casual dining, that you still want to get dressed up for. A favorite with visiting Hollywood stars and world-renowned chefs, it offers unabashed elegance, irresistible gourmet dishes, intimate rooms with warmly-lit fireplaces, exquisite hand-woven tapestries, and starched white linens. The menu's delicacies change with the seasons and can include short ribs with heirloom carrots, morels and polenta; and scallops with sprouting cauliflower, kohlrabi and Champagne beurre blanc."

"Whether you’re on a casual date night out or celebrating a milestone anniversary, Mille Fleurs offers elegant and casual dining. The daily changing menu offers surprises every time you visit, as do the surroundings. Dining in the main room, the courtyard patio or the fountain room will change the atmosphere to suit the occasion."

"This Rancho Santa Fe favorite features elegant, intimate dining perfect for special occasions and celebrations. The French-Californian cuisine, highly regarded wine list, and piano bar should make whoever you brought with you swoon."

"The creative French-American bistro serving goat meatballs and braised short ribs draws a dedicated following to this casually elegant neighbourhood spot in North Park. The reasonable prices, including select bottles of wine offered at half-price on Wednesdays, and warm service helps to make it worth the trek from further afield. The Smoking Goat has an upscale farmhouse vibe with exposed-brick walls and a seasonal menu."

"Smoking Goat is a true neighborhood restaurant that's attracting quite a crowd for its upscale mash-up of California and French cuisine with a local organic and sustainable sensibility. With an elegantly rustic interior featuring exposed brick in a farmhouse setting, the Smoking Goat feels authentic and welcoming. One bite of the duck fat truffle fries and you know you've come to the right place."

"Everything from the scallops, octopus, and steak were so delicious, but the real surprise was how amazing the swordfish was."