Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Sunset Cliffs

"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."

"Italian Renaissance, Dutch, Spanish and baroque pieces are exhibited, as well as contemporary paintings and sculptures. Works by Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir, Pisarro, van Gogh and Dufy are rotated in display on the ground floor. Shop, sculpture garden and cafe with outdoor seating."

"This award-winning children’s museum encourages children to think, play, and create with over 50,000 square feet of child-centered art installations, studios, and interactive spaces. From free play to guided workshops, this modern museum has a wide range of activities and events for creative kids. Young visitors are free to interact with working artists, design something in the Innovators LAB under the guidance local professionals, or explore the museum’s indoor and outdoor spaces with their families."

"The New Children’s Museum is an interactive arts-based museum that commissions contemporary artists to create pieces with tactile, physical, and participatory elements to introduce kids to art and create an opportunity for them to observe, play, and create. Getting in: New Children's Museum tickets are included on the Go San Diego Card All-Inclusive Pass."

"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."

"See the world through the lens of a trained eye at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA), home to over 9,000 images from the 19th century to today. The MOPA is dedicated to collecting, conserving, and exhibiting the entire spectrum of the photographic medium. The museum’s diverse exhibits explore cultural, historical, and social issues through photography."

"The Museum of Photographic Arts was founded in 1974 and opened in 1983. It is one of three museums in the US dedicated to the collection and preservation of photography. The museum’s mission is to inspire, educate, and engage the broadest possible audience through the presentation, collection, and preservation of photography, film, and video."

"Art is a powerful voice for people and helps us connect and express ourselves beyond language barriers. The Mingei International Museum showcases the “art of the people” across time and cultures. The exhibits are constantly changing to highlight new historical, contemporary folk art, crafts, and design and discover the finest examples of creative expression from underappreciated artists."

"Art speaks powerfully of the similarities and distinctions of individuals and cultures at this international museum for the "art of the people" (mingei). The museum has an 18,000-piece collection representing 140 countries around the world. Constantly changing exhibits enhanced by lectures, films, demonstrations, and other events make this a dynamic place for artistic enlightenment."

"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."

"San Diego Art Institute is a not-for-profit institution in San Diego, California, that is an experimental bi-national modern art center. It is situated in the historic building House of Charm in Balboa Park, El Prado. SDAI is the only contemporary culture association in Balboa Park that supports the creation of innovative art by providing exclusive space for artistic competencies of Southern California and Northern Baja to fraternize, exhibit, and bloom."

"When founded in 1941, the San Diego Art Institute was called the San Diego Business Men’s Art Club, only permitting male members. By the 1950s, women were allowed in and the name had been changed. The cultural institution now showcases experimental art from a diverse array of artists from the Southern California/Baja Norte region."

"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."

"This brewery specializing in San Diego-style lagers and ales has great service, great food, and of course, great beer. The taproom is large (there’s even balcony seating) and unlike many San Diego breweries, the decor feels upscale, not industrial. Maybe because of that — and because of the welcoming atmosphere — the mix of people tends to be eclectic."

"What’s unique about Ballast Point Brewing is that they’re always creating a twist on classic brews. Founded by two college roommates in 1992, what initially started out as a keg dream for better beer turned into an award winning brewery. Try their California Amber Ale or the Sculpin IPA. These are a few of the brews that have received medals for their incredible flavors."

"Best for: beer loversLocation: 9045 Carroll Way, San Diego, CA 92121Menu. Did you know there are almost 200 craft breweries in San Diego?. The craft beer scene has exploded in the city and many breweries have incorporated restaurants as well."

"If you’re looking for a causal beer spot in Little Italy, look no further than Ballast Point Brewery. Their outdoor patio is the perfect place to watch the airplanes overhead come in for landing."

"The Outback will make guests feel like they are in Australia. Guests can watch adorable koala bears, Tasmanian devils, and laughing kookaburra. Guests can also enjoy the Australian Wonders garden which includes eucalyptus trees, Queensland lacebark trees, and other “botanical wonders from Down Under”."

"The Outback represents some of Australia’s most well known creatures!. You’ll find the Tasmanian Devil, Kookaburra, koala, and camel here."

"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."

"Horton Plaza, not to be confused with its adjacent namesake Horton Plaza Park, is a five-level outdoor shopping mall located in downtown San Diego known for its bright colors, architectural tricks, and odd spatial rhythms. It stands on 6.5 city blocks adjacent to the city`s historic Gaslamp Quarter."

"Horton Plaza's construction in the mid-1980s jump-started the Gaslamp renaissance. Its multi-level, somewhat confusing whimsical architecture is a must-see for any San Diego visitor. Nordstrom, Macy's and a wide array of shops and eateries make this the noontime stop for downtown workers."

"324 Horton Plaza San Diego, CA 92101 619-239-8180 Monday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM  Sunday: Closed 2 stores Major Retailers: Macy’s, specialty shops, Regal theaters, Lyceum Theatre"