Best Museums in Torrey Pines State Beach

"This 971-foot-long floating museum is the best way to learn about and honor San Diego's significant naval community. The decommissioned aircraft carrier is one of the most popular attractions in San Diego. Visitors can get a taste of navy life by visiting the plane-packed flight deck, sprawling hangar bay, mess hall, and berthing."

"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."

"The USS Midway Museum, located on the Embarcadero’s Navy Pier, offers visitors a chance to explore, from stem to stern, one of the longest-serving aircraft carriers in the U.S."

"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."

"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."

"With 17 museums at Balboa Park, it’s easy to miss this fun spot for children in the heart of San Diego’s downtown Gaslamp Quarter. Some areas of The New Children’s Museum are age-specific, like Sketch Aquarium for ages 2+ and Reconnecting to Home for ages 6+. Meanwhile, other spaces engage children across age groups."

"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."

"The Museum of Photographic Arts is a museum and visual learning center, situated in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. It is an independent institution that collects, protects, and presents photography, films, and video graphics art. MOPA presents a broad range of rotating exhibitions from the solo photographer as well as group shows around the globe, across the year."

"The Museum of Photographic Arts, also known as (MOPA) is also located in Balboa Park. Founded in 1974, this museum represents one of the three museums in the US whose main focus is only the preservation and collection of photography. The main mission of this museum is to educate and inspire its visitors."

"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 Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is home to five galleries with interactive exhibits. The motion simulator ride is a favorite as is About Face, in which you capture your image on freeze-frame video. The museum also includes a planetarium and dome IMAX theater."

"Fleet Science Center is a Science Museum in San Diego, California. It is situated in the Balboa park at the eastern end of the El Prado Drive walkway. It was established in 1973."

"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."

"The California Center for the Arts, Escondido is an ideal spot to attend a concert or show, as well as free community events. A cultural evening of the arts is just around the corner from our resort!"

"Since it was founded more than nine decades ago, the Gemological Institute of America has been one of the world’s most prominent authorities on all things relating to diamonds, gems, precious stones, and pearls. The GIA’s headquarters is located on Armada Drive in Carlsbad. It features a popular museum chock-full of interesting exhibits and incredible works of craftsmanship."

"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 971-foot-long floating museum is the best way to learn about and honor San Diego's significant naval community. The decommissioned aircraft carrier is one of the most popular attractions in San Diego. Visitors can get a taste of navy life by visiting the plane-packed flight deck, sprawling hangar bay, mess hall, and berthing."

"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."

"The USS Midway Museum, located on the Embarcadero’s Navy Pier, offers visitors a chance to explore, from stem to stern, one of the longest-serving aircraft carriers in the U.S."

"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."

"Trendsetters and tastemakers have flocked to Miso Harney Sushi since the day it opened without slowing down. The ultra-cool vibe inside is set off by the rich red walls and marble counter tops.[Learn more]"

"Harney Sushi’s funky, experimental vibe puts it at the top of any list of best sushi in San Deigo. The creative, exciting menu features some riffs on classic favorites and new takes on what sushi can be."

"Sushi might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a family restaurant. However, if you were to ask my daughter and her friends what their favorite spot is right now they would say Kura. It’s a gamified revolving sushi restaurant where the more plates you empty, the happier the “ninja” is."

"What to know: Prior to the pandemic, wait times were very long for Kura. Now, lines are very short if any as they have a large outdoor dining area!. Also, spaces between tables actually allow for a 6 foot distance between parties."

"There is an extra fee to enter the Japanese Friendship Garden, which is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama. There’s an upper and lower strolling path where you can see koi pond, landscaped gardens and a Zen garden viewing deck. It’s a very tranquil space."

"Feel the beauty of the waterfalls and greenery as you stroll the pathways of the Japanese Friendship Garden. Skip right past the entrance fee the third Tuesday of every month. As well, explore the Japanese rock garden and take in the current indoor display."

"The elegant Japanese Friendship Garden is also worth a visit. Grab lunch at The Prado, located within Balboa Park., and try to get a table on the outdoor terrace."