Location: Downtown
Top Things to do in Downtown
6 Museums in Downtown That You Shouldn't Miss
San Diego embodies laid-back California culture, complete with a Boardwalk, surfing communities, and outstanding Mexican food. Breathe in the fresh ocean air at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, then gobble down a fresh fish taco at a La Jolla seafood joint. The naval aircrafts at the USS Midway Museum will have you standing at attention. A free Sunday concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion is the perfect way to unwind after a Saturday night bar-hop in the thumping Gaslamp Quarter.
Restaurants in San Diego
1. USS Midway Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24,873 reviews
Located in downtown San Diego, the USS Midway (Museum) was America’s longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century. Today, the interactive museum is an unforgettable adventure for the entire family as guests walk in the footsteps of the 225,000 young men who served on Midway. Visitors explore a floating city at sea, the amazing flight deck and its 29 restored aircraft, flight simulators, and are inspired in the Battle of Midway Theater, included with admission. Admission also includes a self-guided audio tour narrated by Midway sailors in English, Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese, French and German. Visiting Midway is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in San Diego, known around the world as "Navy Town, USA."
Reviewed By NewfiePupLover - Des Moines, United States
We visited the USS Midway on our way to the airport when heading out of San Diego from our Spring Break trip, and I'm glad that we did. Our young kids (8, 8 & 6) enjoyed the airplanes on display and walking through the various decks of the ships, including the internal warfare room, map rooms, etc. The individual audio tour packs (like an iPod) were excellent and allowed each person to listen and learn about all aspects of the ship, the aircraft, personal stories from soldiers who worked on the ship, war stories, etc. There is a great gift shop on the ship, and there is also food available as well as water & soda machines placed throughout the ship. I would highly recommend this site for anyone interested in history, but really for just about anyone of any age. It was a great experience. We were on the ship for about 2 hours, although if you had the time you could spend an entire day looking around and interacting with all of the staff/volunteers and exhibits.
2. The Firehouse Museum
3. San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 41 reviews
Discover the best kept secret in downtown San Diego. The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing Chinese and Chinese American art, culture and history. Exhibits include a hand-carved bed that belonged to a Chinese warlord, a 1500-year-old limestone Buddha head, a tranquil Asian garden and koi pond, intricate miniature models of old Chinatown buildings, and there are always new exhibits in our new extension building.
Reviewed By GlobalGypsy_13 - San Diego, United States
This small museum on a downtown corner tells the story of the Chinese in San Diego through objects & a courtyard garden with sculptures and a koi pond; at 9 a.m. on Saturdays all are welcome to a free Tai Chi/Qi Gong class.. There's also an active monthly lecture program at a nearby building and a special exhibit in the annex across the street. The fun dragon show just closed (Jan. 2020) and next up is Chinese children paintings. Admission includes all 3 venues. There's a small gift counter in the annex and metered street parking. For a memorable cultural experience head to the Gaslamp area in downtown San Diego.
4. Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 76 reviews
The Gaslamp Museum is open for self-guided tours and audio tours Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4:30pm. Housed in the Davis-Horton House, the museum educates guests about the rich history of both the Gaslamp Quarter and San Diego. Explore the 1850s salt-box style home and the rotating exhibit in the basement gallery. Walking Tours of the Gaslamp Quarter are also offered. Historical and Architectural Walking Tours are Thursdays at 1pm and Saturdays at 11am. Ghosts of the Gaslamp Walking Tours are held Fridays at 5pm. Paranormal Investigations are held in the Davis-Horton House on a monthly basis.
Reviewed By BetteWV - Charleston, United States
Stopped in with an hour or two to spare. Delightfully set up museum featuring history of San Diego. Audio self guided tour offered and i highly recommend it. Was done well and I spent an enjoyable hour exploring San Diego in the late 1800s. I don’t recommend it for small children as many items are fragile and cannot be touched.
5. The New Children's Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 190 reviews
The New Children's Museum is a new model of children's museum whose mission is to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking in children and families through inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art.
Reviewed By scottpB134TX
My grandson loved the art focus as well as the opportunity to climb and get out energy. Rates much higher than most children's museums.
6. Museum of Contemporary Art - Downtown
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 33 reviews
With two locations, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is the region's foremost forum devoted to the exploration and presentation of the art of our time, presenting works across all media created since 1950. MCASD provides an unprecedented variety of exhibition spaces and experiences for the community, showcasing a dynamic schedule of exhibitions and public programs. At MCASD in Downtown, experience contemporary art in a historic setting - the Jacobs Building, formerly the Santa Fe Depot baggage building - and view site-specific installations by artists Jenny Holzer and Richard Serra. Located in the heart of San Diego, MCASD Downtown offers the perfect urban wedding setting for the modern couple. Choose from uniquely crafted spaces featuring new media art and design in either our Jacobs Building or adjacent Copley Building. From large social gatherings surrounded by exquisite architecture in our Figi Family Concourse & Farrell Gallery to upscale cocktail and dinner parties on our Woods Family Terrace overlooking San Diego, our Downtown location is the ideal venue for any occasion. History Established in 1941. Founded in 1941, MCASD has evolved into an organization of international renown. The Museum serves the region as a vital cultural and civic asset, with contemporary art and living artists at its core. In 1993, following a series of gallery locations in downtown San Diego, MCASD opened a permanent location in America Plaza at 1001 Kettner Boulevard. In a building by architect Helmut Jahn, the Museum's interiors were designed by the artists-architect team of Robert Irwin, Richard Fleischner, and David Raphael Singer. In January 2007, MCASD expanded the downtown location with the opening of two Richard Gluckman-designed buildings across the street from the 1001 Kettner location, and major commissioned site-specific works by Jenny Holzer and Richard Serra. The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Building (formerly the Santa Fe Depot baggage building built in 1915) features light-filled galleries and large spaces suitable for the presentation of large-scale installations and site-specific works.
