Things to Do in San Diego

The San Diego Museum of Art is at the center of Balboa Park. Inside the ornamented building, you'll find an extensive art collection that spans more than 7,000 years, from great works by European masters, such as El Greco and Francisco Goya, to an array of South Asian paintings, sculpture, and American and Latin American art.

The museum offers cultural and educational programs for the whole family. Its collections and exhibitions showcase artwork and artifacts from around the world and include works by artists such as, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dali, Claude Monet, Georgia O'Keeffe, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, and more. The temporary exhibits are always changing, so there's always something new to see.

The museum also hosts workshops, art cafes, art after hours, and special events. Docent tours are offered most days. For those looking to save money, entry is included in a discounted multi-attraction pass.

 

There are several ways to reach the San Diego Museum of Art, located in Balboa Park. Ride the Route 120, Route 7, or Rapid 215 bus routes, or hop on the free tram that loops through the park. If you're driving, follow Laurel Street until it ends at the Plaza de Panama, adjacent to the museum.

The art museum is open every day, except Wednesday, and there isn't really a bad time to visit. If possible, avoid visiting on the third Tuesday of every month when the museum offers free admission for San Diego residents as these days tend to be busy. The museum is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

The San Diego Museum of Art is located in the heart of Balboa Park, just steps from museums and attractions, such as the Fleet Science Center, San Diego Museum of Man, and Spanish Village Art Center. Other park highlights include the California Tower, the Old Globe Theatre, the Japanese Friendship Garden, and the San Diego Zoo.

Located within the same grounds and operated by the same people as LEGOLAND, the SEA LIFE Aquarium is a part of a long line of aquariums open to tourists in the San Diego area.  However, this aquarium, which is found in Carlsbad, California, has a bit of a twist making it very different than all the other sea exhibitions in the region. The SEA LIFE aquarium blends the LEGO theme with the underwater world exhibitions.

Geared towards children and education in a fun way, the SEA LIFE exhibition contains play zones, quiz trails and a number of interactive enclosures. The biggest attraction here is a giant pacific octopus. Guests to the aquarium can actually watch the highly intelligent animal solve puzzles, play with different toys and learn about how these great animals eat and survive in the wild. Other popular animals at the aquarium include clown fish, reef sharks, cownose rays, and seahorse. There is also an interactive rock pool where you can see, and even touch, star fish.

Built in 1850, the William Heath Davis House is the oldest house in San Diego's Historic Gaslamp Quarter. It was owned by, you guessed it William Heath Davis, but he didn't build it in San Diego. The pre-fabricated house was shipped to town from Portland, Maine by boat via Cape Horn.

It was Davis' dream to build a city near San Diego Bay. New Town as it was called, included a wharf, store, park and several houses, but there was no potable water. When Davis lost his fortune he gave up on the city that would later become the Gaslamp District. The William Heath Davis House is also the home to the nonprofit Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation.