Best Museums & Educational Spots for Kids

Explore the best best museums & educational spots for kids options for kids and families in Encinitas

Birch Aquarium

Birch Aquarium

Up-close marine life & hands-on exhibits. Interactive tide pools & exhibitions for all things under the sea in an oceanside building.

Visit
JunĂ­pero Serra Museum

JunĂ­pero Serra Museum

Spanish Mission-style building on a hill. A Spanish Revival-style structure built to showcase the collection of the San Diego History Center.

Visit
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Open-air living-history museum. Open-air museum about local life in the 1800s, with adobe buildings & interpretive performances.

Visit
Marston House

Marston House

Tours of a historic Craftsman cottage. This 1905 house exemplifies the Arts & Crafts movement, plus features period furniture & pottery.

Visit
Balboa Park

Balboa Park

Multi-attraction park covers 1,200 acres. Sprawling outdoor destination is home to the city's renowned zoo, museums, gardens & more.

Visit
The San Diego Museum of Art

The San Diego Museum of Art

Renowned collections & an outdoor eatery. Venerable art museum with acclaimed works, plus a courtyard bar/bistro with sculpture garden views.

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Museum of Us

Museum of Us

Anthropology displays in historic digs. Museum in an ornate 1915 building featuring eclectic anthropology exhibits & a panoramic tower.

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Timken Museum of Art

Timken Museum of Art

Intimate, curated 5-room gallery. This 5-room museum is a host to European paintings, bronze sculptures & 17th-century tapestries.

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San Diego Natural History Museum

San Diego Natural History Museum

Big, comprehensive science museum. Large natural history museum with rotating displays on animals, dinosaurs & earth science.

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Mingei International Museum

Mingei International Museum

Exhibits on folk art, craft & design. Museum located in a historic building showcases folk art, craft & design from all over the globe.

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San Diego Model Railroad Museum

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

Scale models of California railroads. Kid-friendly museum featuring many working scale models of California rail lines & landscapes.

Visit
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum

Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum

Bonsai trees, koi ponds & garden tours. Balboa Park's Japanese gardens have koi ponds, bonsai trees, garden tours & more.

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Fleet Science Center

Fleet Science Center

Hands-on exhibits & an IMAX theater. Educational center with hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, an IMAX theater & interactive displays.

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Maritime Museum of San Diego

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Destination for restored antique ships. Waterfront venue showcasing many types of restored vintage ships & historical exhibits.

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San Diego Air & Space Museum

San Diego Air & Space Museum

Aviation history exhibits & a gift shop. Popular place with historical aircraft/spacecraft & interactive exhibits, plus a gift shop & grill.

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San Diego Firehouse Museum

San Diego Firehouse Museum

Vintage engines, alarms & gear. Antique fire engines, alarms, hats & hydrant molds are displayed in the city's oldest firehouse.

Visit
USS Midway Museum

USS Midway Museum

Historic aircraft carrier with exhibits. Life-at-sea exhibits, restored planes & flight simulators aboard this legendary aircraft carrier.

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The New Children’s Museum

The New Children’s Museum

Hands-on artwork & creative play spaces. From creative classes to climbable sculptures, contemporary art for kids, in a bright, modern space.

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Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center

Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center

Visit this great place for kids and families!

Visit
Pennypickle's Workshop

Pennypickle's Workshop

Hands-on children's museum & gift shop. Family-friendly venue with an on-site gift shop offers interactive exhibits for kids of all ages.

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Temecula Valley Museum

Temecula Valley Museum

Regional history & author memorabilia. Historic museum featuring city artifacts & a permanent exhibit on author Erle Stanley Gardner.

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Pretend City Children's Museum

Pretend City Children's Museum

Imaginary town & exhibits for kids. Set up as a pretend city, this kids' museum has a post office, cafe, farm & other interactive areas.

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