Make the most of your stay at a San Diego vacation house by discovering the city's diverse culture through museums, visual and performing arts, and gardens. With so much to explore by your vacation house you may decide to extend your.
Must See Museums
Boasting more than 30 museums, it's difficult to know where to begin. Our recommendation is Historic Balboa Park. Considered the cultural heart of San Diego and often referred to as the Smithsonian of the West, it's home to 15 museums. Original construction was intended for temporary use during the 1915-1916 Panama-California Exposition. The buildings now encompass the culture and history of this popular area.
- Air and Space Museum offers a glimpse into man's insatiable desire to fly. Included in the collection of aircraft is a working replica of Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis and the Apollo 9 Command Module spacecraft. Open daily from 10am to 4:30pm.
- Hall of Champions is the largest multi-sport museum in the United States, exhibiting memorabilia that reflects the area's sporting legacies. Located at 2131 Pan American Plaza, hours are daily from 10am to 4:30pm.
- Museum of Man is a cultural and physical anthropology museum that lets visitors explore exhibits of Maya, ancient Egypt, San Diego's Kumeyaay Indians, human evolution and changing exhibits. Located at 1350 El Prado, open daily from 10am to 4:30pm.
- Natural History Museum was founded in 1874 and is one of the oldest scientific institutions in southern California, offering local exhibits to promote evolution and diversity in southern and Baja California regions. Located at 1788 El Prado, open daily from 10am to 5pm.
Visual and Performing Arts
- Mingei International Museum is dedicated to the art of people (Mingei) from all cultures, featuring changing exhibits of both historical and contemporary folk art. Located on the Plaza de Panama, hours are Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.
- Timken Museum of Art houses an extraordinary collection of works by the masters including Rembrandt, Rubens and John Singleton Copley. Located at 1500 El Prado, hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4:30pm, Sunday 1:30 to 4:30pm. Admission is free.
- Take in a performance at the Old Globe Theatre at Balboa Park. Founded in 1935, Old Globe boasts three unique venues producing 15 plays and musicals annually. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday, check their website for details.
- City Ballet offers classical and contemporary performances at Spreckels Theatre, downtown San Diego's premiere venue. Visit their website for details.
- La Jolla Playhouse was founded by Hollywood greats Gregory Peck, Mel Ferrer and Dorothy McGuire in 1947. Now boasting three venues, the Playhouse offers an eclectic variety of performances. The Playhouse is located at 2910 La Jolla Village Drive off I-5 north, just a short drive from your vacation house.
Gardens of Balboa Park
Walk under the wisteria gracefully draped from an arbor in the two-acre Japanese Friendship Garden, or stop and smell 2,500 roses at Inez Grant Parker Memorial Garden. A cactus garden developed in 1935 for the California Pacific Exposition contains some of the largest cacti and succulents in the park, and the Botanical Building is a must see destination during your visit.
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