San Diego, CA

 

New Children's Museum San Diego

DESCRIPTION: a striking and creative new 50,000 square feet museum that reaches three-stories high and includes a dramatic atrium, 17-foot concrete entrance bridge, angled “saw tooth” roof structure, and a glass-enclosed elevator shaft that functions as a heating/cooling tower; multiple galleries provide spaces for hands-on experimentation, two birthday party rooms, a 250-seat theater and an indoor/outdoor café are additional features; compared to the old facility, the museum  a  triangle-shaped on-site park designed for children includes three shade-covered play spaces, for both day and evening activities; most impressive, the new structure utilizes green-friendly architectural and infra-structural practices and is one of the first “green” museums in California, has improved handicapped access, and many family-friendly features; Gizmo Garage is designed by former teachers to features exciting toys and gifts that help kids think, play, create and take home the Museum experience

ADMISSION: Adults and Children $10, age 65+ and Military with ID $5; children under age 1 enter free; Target Free Second Sunday 10a–4p

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Tue & Fri-Sat 10a–4p, Thu 10a–6p, Sun 12p–4p

ADDRESS: 200 West Island Avenue  MAP

PHONE: 619-233-8792

WEBSITE: http://www.thinkplaycreate.org

Birch Aquarium at Scripps
DESCRIPTION: This relatively public treasure hosted by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography emphasizes learning for children, adults and teachers; it sparkles with  that are eye-popping, informative conservation exhibitsand that scary, if we don't address Global Warming; award-winning aquarium staff lead numerous efforts and family activity programs as well; visitors will enjoy its giant Coral & Kelp Reefs, Tide Pool, Pier Walk, seahorses, sharks exhibits, explorers gallery and best of all, its dive shows in a 70,000 gallon aquarium

ADMISSION: $11 adults, $8 seniors & college students, $7.50 ages 3-17, ages 2 and under free

DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-5p

ADDRESS: 2300 Expedition Way  MAP

PHONE: 858-534-FISH

WEBSITE: http://www.aquarium.ucsd.edu

San Diego Zoo
DESCRIPTION: Located on 100 acres near downtown San Diego, the zoo has championed many save-from-extinction campaigns for a variety of animals; it offers a guided tour bus that traverses 75% of the park and an overhead gondola lift called Skyfari, providing an exciting aerial view of the zoo; the sunny maritime climate is well suited to many plants and animals that give the zoo a distinctive look & feel, yet is quite wellcoming to an extensive collection of birds, reptiles, and mammals, and a fantastic arboretum; as part of its gardening effort, the zoo raises 40 varieties of bamboo for the pandas on long-term loan from China, and it maintains 18 varieties of eucalyptus trees to feed its koalas; you may have heard about their great work with the California Condors; you can easily spend a day here; from downtown take 12th Ave north, you see signs for zoo parking; also notable for being among the first zoos to install near-natural animal habitats; worth the admission price to arguably, see the best zoo in America; events both day and night are legendary at this zoo, including African Extravaganza in the summer months

ADMISSION: $34 adults, $24 ages 3-11, ages 2 and under free

DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-5p

ADDRESS: 2920 Zoo Drive   MAP

PHONE: 619-231-1515

WEBSITE: http://www.sandiegozoo.org

Fleet Science Center & Planetarium
DESCRIPTION: The Perception exhibits are first-rate, even if you think this will only appeal to the kids – surprise, you’ll get hooked on the many interactive exhibits too; tons of fun for all; the IMAX dome theatre is a nice treat, especially if you wait in line 15 minutes before it starts to a an upper middle seat; separate admission fees for the museum and IMAX; for best viewing, come late to enjoy the planetarium

ADMISSION: $10

DAYS & HOURS: daily 9:30a-6p

ADDRESS: 1875 El Prado in Balboa Park  MAP

PHONE: 619-238-1233

WEBSITE: http://www.rhfleet.org

Museum of Natural History
DESCRIPTION: Kids will love watching the giant pendulum time exhibit and the dinosaurs; also has an informative exhibit explaining and demonstrating how Western wildfires spread quickly

ADMISSION: adult $13, age 62+, military ages 3-17, students with ID $8, ages 3-12 $7, age 2 and under free

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sun 10a-4:30p

ADDRESS: 1788 El Prado in Balboa Park  MAP

PHONE: 619-232-3821

WEBSITE: http://www.sdnhm.org

San Diego Air & Space Museum
DESCRIPTION: Photographs of the Tuskegee Airmen in training and on war bond posters, and scale models of the planes they flew in Europe; when in stock you can purchase Tuskegee Airmen airplane models in the gift shop

ADMISSION: $24 ages 12+, $22 ages 3-11, military $15, ages 2 and under free

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sun 10a-4:30p

ADDRESS: 2001 Pan American Plaza in Balboa Park  MAP

PHONE: 619-234-8291

WEBSITE: http://www.aerospacemuseum.org

 

Escondido, CA

San Diego Wild Animal Park
DESCRIPTION: Many people consider this to be their favorite zoo that isn’t a zoo; by placing priority on the animals’ well being, the wild animal park goes the extra mile to allow them to live in dignity; narrated trams encircle regions of the park from safe distances enabling you to see pandas, elephants, rhinos, wildebeests, reptiles, lions and birds of prey in habitat that replicates their natural African and Asian environments; it is the closest thing you’ll see to a real African safari -- remarkable and unforgettable; this animal park also helped rescue the Condor from certain extinction

ADMISSION: $34 adults, $24 ages 3-11, ages 2 and under free; you should also consider a 2-day pass for this very large park

DAYS & HOURS: 9a–5p; summer hours are longer

ADDRESS: 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road  MAP

PHONE: 760-747-8702

WEBSITE: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wap