Best History Museum in La Jolla

"Like no place else in the country, Balboa Park offers a magnificent combination of art, architecture, history and agriculture in one expansive park. Spanning approximately 1,200 acres, Balboa Park was once known as City Park and was founded more than 125 years ago. Today, the park is home to 15 museums, theaters, marvelous gardens, restaurants, shopping and the world-famous San Diego Zoo."

"Balboa Park is incredibly overdone, unless you are going to venture out some little bit. You will love spending your time walking around it's less popular locations. There are attractive gardens and lawns surrounding the park."

"Study humankind at the San Diego Museum of Man, marvel at aeronautic engineering in the San Diego Air and Space Museum, then catch your breath in the Botanical Building. Head up to North Park for happy hour at Polite Provisions; its beautiful cocktail lounge may hook you up with some small plates if you’re hungry. Save the appetite, though—North Park’s Restaurant Row is nearby."

"The San Diego Museum of Man is a cultural and physical anthropology museum. It was established to collect, preserve, interpret and communicate evidence of human development and creativity to advance understanding and respect for all cultures. The mission is to basically teach people about people."

"The Natural History Museum, the Museum of Man and the Museum of Art are three of the other most popular museums. (And, no, I’ve not missed San Diego Zoo – see my thoughts on the zoo and Sea World below)."

"The William Heath Davis Historic House Museum is the Gaslamp district’s oldest surviving structure, a saltbox style home shipped around Cape Horn and assembled in San Diego in 1850. The museum has been home to many fascinating people, including pre-civil war soldiers, a German Spy and Alonzo Horton, founder of San Diego. Each room represents a historic period of the home and is filled with fascinating and amusing stories about the former inhabitants."

"Built by William Heath Davis in 1850, many fascinating people, including Alonzo Horton, have called the William Heath Davis House 'home.' You'll get to tour the home, and its decorated rooms - each representing different eras in the life of the house and its various former (and rumored ghostly current) inhabitants. Getting in: William Heath Davis House tickets are included on the Go San Diego Card All-Inclusive Pass."

"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 Whaley House, rumored as one of the most haunted houses in America. In fact, Michigan houses a museum about the historic home. San Diego, however, offers tours for the beautiful two-story mansion."

"Coronado’s rich and complex history is a fascinating subject even for those that don’t consider themselves history buffs. The Historic Walking Tour sponsored by the Coronado Historical Association is a great change of pace and something your whole family will enjoy. Stroll through historic Coronado while a knowledgeable guide spills all the details behind the architecture and adventure that makes Coronado so unique."

"Coronado Historical Society, an easy walk from Hotel del Coronado, connects people with the city’s interesting past through museum exhibits, historic photos, and walking tours. The latter I also recommend as one of the things to do in Coronado for tourists. (Location: Coronado)"

"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 San Diego Union Museum enables visitors to see where the San Diego Union, the first newspaper in the city, got its start. Visitors can tour the recreated editor’s office and the original print room to see how they looked in 1868. The prefabricated wooden building was manufactured on the East Coast, shipped to California and reassembled in 1851."

"The museum showcases the region’s unique, colorful, and diverse history exhibiting artifacts, costumes, textiles, art, and photographs detailing life and development of the local area."

"On various Tuesdays each month, the museums in Balboa Park offer free general admission to residents of the County of San Diego and active military (and their dependents). Please check the calendar as things are subject to change, but this is the schedule at the time of this writing:"

"Located in the historic Old Navy Chapel, the museum preserves and honors the memory of men and women of the Armed Forces, Coast Guard, and Wartime Merchant Marine. The collection contains artifacts, documents, photographs, memorabilia, and artwork from the Civil War to the present."

"The Museo de las Californias chronicles the history of Baja California from prehistoric times to the present. The exhibit kicks off with replica cave paintings, then covers important historical milestones, illustrated in many cases by realistic dioramas and scale models, including replicas of a 16th-century ship, several missions and even a freestone chapel."

"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 Seeley Stable Museum is a reproduction of the Yuma to San Diego stage stop. It displays a wide collection of 19th-century transportation vehicles and equipment as well as other rare artifacts."

"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 Whaley House, rumored as one of the most haunted houses in America. In fact, Michigan houses a museum about the historic home. San Diego, however, offers tours for the beautiful two-story mansion."

"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."

"The Cravory specializes in amazingly sweet and unique cookies. They have two shops in San Diego, one in Point Loma and the other in Carlsbad but they also sell at local farmer’s markets. Just some of their cookie flavors include “Pancakes and Bacon,” “Rosemary Balsamic” and “Chocolate Truffle.” Get some to-go for the perfect take-home dessert and enjoy with your date along with some warm, liquored-up coffee or a White Russian for a sweet night cap."

"Your fam will love digging in to The Cravory's April cookie flavors from circus animal and caramel churro to chocolate velvet and oatmeal chocolate chip. Customize your order with a mix and match box for pick-up. Even more, try the Take and Bake chocolate chip cookies to make fresh at home."

"Point Loma Blvd., Suite M (between Sports Arena Boulevard and Groton Street), is another top choice. Yelpers give the bakery and catering spot, which offers cookies and other desserts, 4.5 stars out of 1,173 reviews."

"When you’re craving nostalgia along with your butter pecan, head down to this beloved National City ice cream parlor. Their website proudly proclaims they make ice cream in the same outdated, inefficient manner they did when they opened in the 1940s: in freezers. They have a wide variety of chocolate flavors, sherbets, sorbets, coffee flavors, fresh and fruity flavors and creative creations."

"Founded in 1948, Neiderfrank’s still uses their original 10-gallon batch freezer to turn out their classic butterRum pecan and more unique flavors like Kahlua krunch. While their main location is located in National City, you can find their ice cream all around San Diego including The Daily Scoop and Big Kahuna’s."

"National City’s answer to the old school ice cream parlor is Niederfrank’s, San Diego’s oldest ice cream manufacturer. Established in 1948, the shop still serves up small batch ice cream. Go here for avocado, macadamia nut toffee, cinnamon and Kahlua krunch."