Category: Museums

The highly-anticipated New Children’s Museum of San Diego finally opened downtown in May 2008 and is well worth the wait. The 50,000 square-foot space is all-new and full of clever and unique activities for kids of all ages.

Upon entering the museum, kids are immediately drawn to the foot-powered Segway-type scooters. On the same level is “Tent City”, a multi-level cloth structure through which children can climb and play house, as well as the Outdoor/Indoor Art Studio with the popular Painted VW Bug and a clay studio. If you plan to let your child paint, make sure you both dress appropriately as you are almost guaranteed to be covered in blue paint by the time you’re finished.

In the basement is the shadow puppet theater where kids can cut out their own shapes and characters, a dress-up and performance area complete with a huge mirror for posing, and Delphine, the ocean-themed video installation that kids like to turn into a shadow puppet show as well.

Teens will appreciate the areas made especially for them on the top floor, including The Costume Project and the Tech Studio. Also on the second floor is the “No Rules Except” exhibit, which my sons call the “pillow-fight room”. This room is completely covered in mattresses and tire-shaped pillows and is fun for toddlers all the way up to teenagers (who doesn’t love to jump on the bed?). This room is my kids’ favorite part of the museum. They love to slide down the leaning mattresses and see how high they can stack the tire pillows before they fall.

Also on the top floor is a climbing wall and another indoor/outdoor studio. This studio has loads of wooden sticks that children can use to build (think Lincoln logs), a ramp for racing handmade cars, and a bubble studio that is sure to keep the little ones busy and happy.

One thing that I really appreciate about the New Children’s Museum is how “green” it is, in both its construction and the materials that they use. If you’re interested in teaching your children about conservation and sustainability, be sure to point out all of the eco-friendly items at the museum, from the recycled concrete stairs to the huge wall of windows that all but eliminate the need for light bulbs inside during the day.

The New Children’s Museum is a bargain. Children over age one and adults are $10/each, but for just $75, your entire family can enjoy free admission for one year.

Balboa Park, the gem of San Diego, is not only an incredibly beautiful place to stroll through gardens and enjoy lovely architecture and views of the city, it is also a place to take pleasure in entertaining and educational museums. When taking a child to Balboa Park, there are enough activities to fill several days, so pace yourself. Here are some of the must-see and must-do activities in Balboa Park:

Balboa Park is home to a large variety of museums that will appeal to many different interests. Among the most kid-friendly are the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, and the Natural History Museum.

The Model Railroad Museum is like a train-loving boy’s vision of heaven. The whole building is filled with elaborate displays of towns and countrysides with working model trains running through them. The details are impressive, from the teeny-tiny towns complete with stores and houses, to the itty-bitty people, cars, and trees. My kids especially love the train display with the ‘50s theme in the back room, mostly because they can press buttons to make different trains move.

Whether your child is interested in trains or not, he’ll enjoy a ride on the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad, driven by a friendly conductor. The short and sweet ride takes you on a ½ mile loop through 4 acres of the park.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is a popular spot for field trips and playgroups for good reason. This interactive museum features hands-on activities for kids of all ages on topics from space exploration to the creation of sound. There is even a toddler area called Kid City, where younger children can build, create, and dress up. If you have time, check out a huge-screen movie or a planetarium show in the IMAX theater.

The Natural History Museum is another kid favorite, especially when there is a dinosaur exhibit. Consider attending on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. for Nature, Mommy, and Me, when you’ll get a tour of the museum along with story time for your little one.

Be sure to visit the lily pond in front of the botanical gardens. My kids love to run alongside the pond watching the large koi swim. Adults will enjoy the view of the Botanical Building, the most-photographed building in the park. Step inside to show the kids the carnivorous plants eating insects and steal a few moments for yourself to check out the extensive collection of more than 2,100 plants and flowers.

The World Beat Center features African Drumming and Dancing classes for infants to adults, which are popular with playgroups. Nearby is the most popular playground at Balboa Park, Pepper Grove Playground, which has plenty of slides, swing sets, and climbing equipment, as well as picnic tables and shade trees.
Other popular attractions for kids are the Balboa Park Carousel, the Butterfly Garden, the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater, the San Diego Air and Space Museum, the San Diego Automotive Museum, and the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum.

Be sure to take advantage of Free Tuesdays at the Balboa Park museums. For a complete listing of dates, visit http://www.balboapark.org/calendar/detail.php?EventID=370. Note that some free museum admissions are offered only to San Diego residents. See website for details.

Natives of San Diego are quite familiar with the Whaley House, nestled within the heart of Old Town.

Upon first glance, the Whaley House looks like a beautiful picture of mid-nineteenth century architecture - nothing out of the ordinary about it.

The quaint exterior however hides a sinister secret from those who haven't done their research on the house.

The Whaley House is purported to be haunted.

Whether the house might be haunted or not is up for debate, but the numerous paranormal events at the Whaley House that have been documented since the 1960's might make even a skeptic wonder.

Whatever the case may be, the Whaley House is a must-see attraction if you plan to visit San Diego. With a museum and guided group tours, you and your family can see what life must have been like for people who lived during the 19th-century.

Make sure to complete your trip with a visit to the gift shop and pick up a memento to take home!