Best Museums in Mount Soledad

"The USS Midway aircraft carrier, which served from 1945-1992, offers a fascinating glimpse into life aboard a giant ship. Self-guided audio tours are included with admission and are narrated by former Midway sailors. Docents, some of whom served on the ship while it was active, are on board every day to answer questions and can occasionally be persuaded to relate a funny or interesting story or two."

"Kids enjoy pretending they are pirates on the high seas while touring unique sailing vessels at the floating Maritime Museum. Steam-powered boats, sailing ships, and submarines make up the museum’s fleet of nine boats. Families can even spend a night aboard the Star of India, the world’s oldest active ship, during a special Family Overnight Adventure in the summer."

"Now operating as a museum located in downtown San Diego, the USS Midway used to be an aircraft carrier in the 1900s. It was the United States’ longest-serving naval aircraft carrier, having served from 1945 to 1992, and has seen over 200,000 sailors aboard during its time."

"An almost overwhelming medley of Spanish Renaissance and Baroque painting awaits at this museum in Balboa Park. El Greco, Murillo, Goya and Zurbarán are all here, together with Italian and Dutch Masters like Veronese, Canaletto, van Dyck, Rubens and Frans Hals. In the last few years, the museum was donated a raft of paintings from the Symbolist, Expressionist and New Objectivity movements, by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Robert Delaunay, Otto Dix and Alexej von Jawlensky."

"Balboa Park is home to several San Diegan museums, and the Museum of Art is another magnificence you can visit here. With hosting over half a million visitors every year, this oldest and largest art museum in the region is noted as one of the best museums in San Diego. It has been in operations from the year 1926, exhibiting the most comprehensive art collection anywhere in San Diego."

"Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Museum of Art is a must-see attraction when visiting the city. The exterior itself is a masterpiece, with an ornamented doorway consisting of life-sized sculptures of Spanish painters and heraldry. Inside you’ll find Spanish and Italian old masters, Asian paintings and sculptures, and a range of touring exhibits."

"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."

"This unique museum collaborates with contemporary artists to create one-of-a-kind art installations. The exhibits include playhouses, clubhouses, and climbable towers. Kids can interact with the exhibits and engage in active play as they would at home."

"A new model of children’s museum whose mission is to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking in children and families through inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art."

"© 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 showcases over 9 thousand images. These visual masterpieces range from the 19th century up until the current day. The museum offers a diverse view into different cultural events, historical moments and addresses social issues throughout its galleries."

"An independent institution devoted to photography, film, and video. Founded in 1983, MOPA consistently addresses cultural, historical, and social issues through its visual learning programs."

"We had a great time visiting the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park and actually ended up going twice while we were in San Diego. (Our reciprocal membership made this possible.) It wasn’t the largest Science Center we have been in, but it had a great collection of hands on activities for the kids – including a Lego section. Our favorite part was the Tinker Lab where the kids eyes lit up when they saw tons of cardboard and other fun materials they could use to build whatever they wanted."

"Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, California 92101Timings: 7pm - 10pmTickets: USD 14.95 - USD 19.95. Nothing compliments nightlife in San Diego like stargazing at Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park, which hosts 2 planetarium shows on the first Wednesday of each month. One of Fleet’s astronomers narrates the program and both programs in a day feature different hour-long topics like black holes, neutron stars, tidal forces, planets, gravitational waves and often the Milky Way galaxy."

"The Science Center is an interactive educational playground for the kids. These are the kind of places we look for to check off a few of our homeschooling boxes. The girls learned more about the water cycle, energy and motion, and different knots."

"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."

"Take a trip out to Coronado Island right off the coast of San Diego and learn about the fascinating and rich history of this unique resort town and active Navy Base. You'll get to explore lots of topics, including art, architecture, history, preservation, and more Getting in: Coronado Museum of History & Art tickets are included on the Go San Diego Card All-Inclusive Pass."

"It is a not-for-profit organization with permanent and transitory exhibitions of local art & history and vast archives. It is a landmark Historical Association building that lies right in the center of the city. Also, there is a Museum Store that offers antique items for sale and a Museum Café in the Museum building."

"The Coronado Historical Museum’s collection includes art and ephemera from Coronado’s unique history. Check out a 22-minute video of Coronado that is shown every hour. *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."

"I use to like this buffet but it has gone downhill recently. There is another choice in Pacific Beach that is way better."

"Partake in the traditional Churrasco without boarding a plane to Brazil. Skewers of meat are slow-roasted over a mesquite flame after being marinated in simple seasonings. The meat waiter will slice it freshly off the skewer until you throw in the towel."