5 of the Best Museums for Kids in San Diego
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Are you looking for advice on the best museums for kids in San Diego? This family friendly vacation destination has so many fantastic museums for kids!
I went on my first vacation to San Diego 9 years ago with my one-year-old son and have visited numerous times since. Just recently, we visited San Diego with our four boys, including that one-year-old who is now ten!
From my experiences visiting San Diego through the years and recently with four kids aged 2 through 10, I have a good idea of the best museums for this age group.
My top five museums to visit in San Diego include the USS Midway, Fleet Science Center, Old Town San Diego, San Diego Natural History Museum, and San Diego Model Railroad Museum.
All of these museums I have either experienced myself or have been recommended to visit.
USS Midway
The USS Midway is my favorite and the most unique of the museums in San Diego. You will definitely want to put the USS Midway on your San Diego itinerary.
This museum is fascinating, and no matter what age they are, your kids will likely love the USS Midway.
So, why do I recommend this museum? First of all, kids and adults can have their own self-guided audio tour. The USS Midway has a special kids’ version of the audio tour.
Secondly, there is just so much to see at the USS Midway. Kids will love seeing all of the aircraft plus different sleeping quarters, cafeteria, on-board hospital, radar technology, and much more.
The USS Midway also has the Junior Pilot Program for kids, which is so fun!
You will need to visit the visitors’ booth by the entrance to pick up the activity sheet.
Then they will go around and find all of the answers.
After the kids complete the sheet and tour, they can return it to the visitor booth and then receive their Junior Pilot Wings in a small ceremony.
The kids will also love getting the opportunity to get in some of the aircraft as well as checking out the amazing views from the top deck.
Fleet Science Center
If you are looking for a museum perfect for the kids–Fleet Science Center is exactly that!
Located in the gorgeous Balboa Park, the Fleet Science Center is perfect for all ages.
My two-year-old and four-year-old love Kid City, which is a special area for the science center’s youngest visitors.
It is a great spot for some imaginative play with some science concepts infused. It is a small city with a fire station, grocery store, factory, and more!
My older boys loved the ball pool! Yes, there is actually an enormous pool filled with balls. Even my husband and I jumped in to experience it.
After visiting the Fleet Science Center, I suggest walking around Balboa Park to enjoy all of the gorgeous architecture of this area!
Old Town San Diego
Old Town San Diego has a number of historical museums and sites you can visit for absolutely free!
It is a fantastic place to walk around and learn about San Diego’s early history.
Parking at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is free too.
We also love browsing through many of the shops in Old Town as well as grabbing dinner there. Our favorite place to eat in Old Town is on the patio of Barra Barra.
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San Diego Natural History Museum
This is another great museum located in the stunning Balboa Park. In fact, the San Diego Natural History Museum is super close to the Fleet Science Center.
Some favorite parts of the San Diego Natural History Museum include the dinosaur and fossils exhibit, AI the Allosaurus, the Backyard play area, the Megalodon shark, and watching the swinging of the Foucault Pendulum.
Expert Tip
I always like to remind others (as well as myself) not to pack too much into one day, especially with younger kids. Balboa Park has SO many amazing museums that it might be tempting to want to fit a bunch of them into one day. Pick one or maybe two that you think your family will enjoy the most and just stick to those.
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
This museum is also located in Balboa Park.
We visited this museum years ago when my oldest two boys were 2 and 4 years old. I would have enjoyed visiting it again during our most recent San Diego vacation, but we just did not have time.
If you have kids that love trains, this is the museum for them! A great aspect of the Model Railroad Museum is that children 12 and under are free with paid adult admission.
This makes the Model Railroad Museum super affordable for families!
If you have the time, I suggest checking it out!
A Couple of More Great Museums for Kids in San Diego
Next time we visit San Diego, I have a few more museums on my list to visit with the kids.
I would love to check out the Museum of Us as well as the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Both of these museums are located in Balboa Park.
Finally, I also have my eye on the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Usually, when we visit the San Diego harbor front we do the USS Midway.
While visiting the Maritime Museum of San Diego, I am looking forward to going aboard the Star of India, which is the world’s oldest active sailing ship.
Pretty cool! I think the kids would really love this too!
Good to Know Information and Tips for Visiting San Diego’s Best Museums for Kids
- Many of these museums are located in Balboa Park. Parking is free in Balboa Park. Make sure to check museum hours on the website as certain days some museums are closed.
- Plan a family San Diego vacation in the month of October when San Diego has Kids Go Free October. This is a great way to save money while checking out some of San Diego’s best museums.
- Combine your visit to these museums with a meal. At the USS Midway, you can eat aboard at Cafe 41. While at the Balboa Park Museums, enjoy a meal at Craveology which is right next to the Fleet Science Center. Finally, during your visit to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park museums, enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants in Old Town.
San Diego has so many fantastic museums for kids and families. Choose a few to visit during your family vacation and then put the others on your bucket list for when you come back again.
Leave a comment and let me know which museum was your favorite.
Plus, download my complimentary travel itinerary planner to use for planning your trip to San Diego or other California destinations.
May you love your adventure. KW
