CURIOUS, INSPIRED. LEAVE

OCEANSIDE MUSEUM OF ART

Regional and international artists showcased in exhibits ranging from landscape painting to furniture, neon sculpture, art quilts and architectural glass. It’s a North County gem.  704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, 760.435.3720. Map S22

SAN DIEGO AIR & SPACE

MUSEUM The family-friendly venue is a wonderland for kids of all ages—showcasing spacecraft, jets, historical aircraft, science exhibits and more inside the domed, cylinder-shaped former Ford Building.  2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, 619.234.8291 Map P17

S.D. ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER Learn the story of how people have lived in San Diego County for the past 10,000 years at this dynamic curation facility and museum. The fun includes educational programming about local archaeology, rock art, “zoo-archaeology,” and even the prehistoric Otay Mesa landscape.  16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, 760.291.0370 Map C4

SAN DIEGO HISTORY

CENTER Peruse a range of exhibitions and memorabilia that chronicle San Diego’s storied and diverse history. The museum also features an extensive research library—home to several million documents and photographs from the city’s past, including portraits of famed San Diegans such as the late Dr. Seuss.  1649 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.232.6203 Map O17

SAN DIEGO MODEL RAILROAD MUSEUM Discover a treasure trove of all things locomotive. Learn about the heritage and history of American railroading by way of educational displays and exhibits, scale models of railroads across California, toy trains and more.  1649 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.696.0199 Map O17

SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART It’s home to more than 20,000 works dating back to 3000 B.C. The collection includes Italian Renaissance and Spanish Baroque-era works, 19th–20th-century American and European paintings and sculptures, and a vast Asian collection. Plus, dozens of new, rotating exhibits on view throughout the year.  1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.232.7931 Map O17