Best Museums in Mission Beach

"The USS Midway was the longest-serving naval aircraft carrier of the 20th century and played a part in both the Cold War and Vietnam War. Now a floating museum, the USS Midway is moored at downtown San Diego along the Embarcadero and attracts more than a million visitors each year. On the flight deck, you’ll find 26 aircraft ranging from fighter jets to helicopters, and more vintage aircraft on the hangar deck."

"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."

"The USS Midway Museum is a historical naval aircraft carrier museum in downtown San Diego, California, at Navy Pier. You can experience the adventure and glory of the USS Midway offering great activities and fun for the entire family aboard. The museum encompasses the aircraft carrier midway."

"San Diego Museum of Art is known for its collection of renowned Spanish and Italian masters, collections of Indian paintings, 19th- and 20th-century American sculptures and paintings, and new and changing exhibits from across the globe. Famous names include El Greco, Diego Velázquez, and Francisco Goya. The museum restaurant, Panama 66, is one of our favorite places to eat in Balboa Park."

"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."

"Considered one of the great small museums in the world, the Timken houses a wonderful collection of European old master paintings, American paintings, and Russian icons. Artists represented include Rembrandt, Rubens, Fragonard, Bierstadt, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, John Singleton Copley, and Eastman Johnson. Admission is always free."

"The Children’s Museum 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 trolley going by."

"This museum is concerned with developing children’s creativity and imagination. It originally opened in 1983, and it has been one of the favorite places of the youngest visitors in San Diego ever since. The vision of this museum is to engage children in developing numerous skills through contemporary art."

"The New Children’s Museum is an interactive art museum that strives to deliver tactile interaction with its visitors. Children and adults alike will enjoy a more hands-on museum of art. So be ready to think, play and create your way through this enchanting art museum."

"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."

"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."

"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 is home to Southern California’s only IMAX® Dome Theater and 100+ hands-on science exhibits for all ages. Watch immersive giant-screen films and amazing planetarium shows in the Eugene Heikoff and Marilyn Jacobs Heikoff Dome Theatre and experience seven galleries of fun, interactive exhibits at this popular San Diego attraction."

"The Fleet Science Center is an interactive museum that highlights how we are connected through science. All ages tend to love the over 100 interactive exhibits that simplify and allow you to test various theories you may have learned at school. Kids under the age of 5 spend quite a bit of time in Kid City."

"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 Wells Fargo Museum, located inside the Colorado House, features one of the company’s original 1867 Concord stagecoaches. The recreated and historically-furnished former hotel also houses actual historic telegraph machines and a variety of other memorabilia related to the banking and transportation company. Photo Courtesy of Historic Old Town Community Foundation"

"Therefore, it’s possible to walk into this museum to learn about California’s mission history (the museum sits on the first European settlement site in California) for free. If you did enjoy your visit and feel compelled to donated upon exit, this is possible. (Location: Presidio Park / Old Town)"

"Within Old Town don’t miss Casa de Estudillo, which is one of the few original buildings (many are reproductions), Whaley House and Museum, which is believed to be haunted and Junípero Serra Museum, literally the place where California began. You can get more information here."

"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."

"956 Broadway Cir, San Diego, CA(619) 231-6771Reserve a Table at Dobson’s Here$$$ | Historic | Reservations Recommended. Dobson’s Bar and Restaurant is an institution. Right in the heart of downtown, next to Horton Plaza, Dobson’s has been open since the early 80s."

"One of the most historic dining spots in San Diego, Dobson's is a prime spot downtown for some cheap local eats. Around the corner from the famous Balboa Theater, this colorful and..."

"My family and I stayed in the gaslamp district recently and were dissappointed with the many tourist trap restaurant settings..."

"For fine wine and classic bites, The WineSellar & Brasserie is the place to go in San Diego. Peruse The WineSellar's shelves for a gem of a bottle or two and try a few sips from a ..."

"Intimate and classic, this French-inspired eatery highlights seasonal ingredients in a contemporary setting. Recognized as a leading authority on fine wine, the founder of the Wine..."

"Consistently ranked among OpenTable’s Top 10 local restaurants, The Brasserie is also one of the most famous restaurants in San Diego. Established in 1988, The WineSellar and Brass"

"This North Park shop serves creative donuts from Cheesecake Custard Charred Blueberry Lemon, Chocolate Custard Honey Peanut Butter Bacon, Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cake, and Raspberry Lavender. Nomad even has an entire menu section dedicated to exotic vegan options with flavors such as Habanero Peach Guava, Coffee Maple, Ube Taro Coconut, Key Lime Prickly Pear, and Coconut Passionfruit. For you sticklers on the classics you’ll still be able to find the good ol’ flavors like old fashioned vanilla bean, maple, or chocolate glazed."

"Start the day with donuts and coffee from Nomad Donuts, which will fuel you without leaving you too full for a day of action. Catch a morning surf lessons from Surfari Surf School at north Mission Beach, and enjoy some prime people-watching on the Pacific Beach Boardwalk while you catch your breath. You’ll have worked up quite an appetite, so sate it the way a local surfer would—with fish tacos from Oscars Mexican Seafood."

"If you ate one plain, you'd still be able to tell there's something special about them. The bagels are the same way."

"Taking top prize for favorite donut shop, Mary’s in Santee wins the admiration of the most EDSD members for over 30 years of serving delectable donuts. Group member Christopher Henderson declared, “I’d sell a kidney for a fresh, hot, sweet and savory Maple Bacon Bar from Mary’s Donuts. The balance of the chopped smoky bacon to the rich maple glaze is unparalleled."