What a fantastic gem! We've visited a few times since they reopened under a new management team…read morewith new docents. They're all volunteer, so they're only open on Saturdays. When you come in, you're greeted by a docent who gives you the option of a guided or self guided tour. There is a printed tour guide with a ton of information that tells you about all the rooms and buildings. The docents can answer questions (there is a ton of bizarre stuff there!) Our favorite visit was at Halloween weekend, where we went on tours of the museum by candle light. It was creepy yet fun!

I love this place, the new management has cleaned the place up beautifully. My kids were able play…read moreon type writters, dial old rotary phones and had a great time in the school house.

What an incredible experience! It was so amazing to see so many reptiles and be able to actually…read morehold them and interact with them in their habitats. We wouldn't have had such an amazing time without our amazing tour guide. Rachel did such a great job teaching our kids the right ways to interact with the animals and you can tell that she really loves what she does. She was really patient with our kids and made this an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend! *full warning, the outside of the building looks a little sketchy at first because it's an old building, but don't let that deter you*

Some heros and heroines wear capes and possess superpowers...and some are simply kind hearted…read morevolunteer regular people trying to make a difference. I recently donated my 50 gallon fish tank and stand to this nonprofit. They care for abandoned and injured reptiles such as snakes, lizards, dragons, turtles, tortoises, and more. I got to meet some friendly reptilian creatures, and even hold and pet them. With very limited resources and small army of volunteers, EcoVivarium does it's best to make it difference in this cruel world. Rachel and Donald were both very friendly and knowledgeable. Make a donation, take a $25 tour, hire them for a birthday party or educational school visit, and perhaps see if there are any friendly reptiles available for adoption before you buy from Petco or Petsmart.

This place is AMAZING! So much for our toddler to do and learn, and both the indoor and outdoor…read morespaces are absolutely magical. Mixing a little science and creativity, the CMD kept our little guy engaged and entertained all afternoon. Also, as a CSUSM alumni, seeing some of their students teaching and working with the kids was really valuable as well. Looking forward to the next trip!

Been to a lot of children's museum and one of my favorite things about this one is they offer time…read moreslots for crafting. My daughter got to make a planter pot for a flower. It is on the cozy smaller size but the play activities are all nicely spaced out. I went here on a weekday and it wasn't too packed. The children museum provides indoor and outdoor play options. They have a small section for kids under two where they get to crawl, climb and play with balls. *shoes off* For indoor they have the magna-tiles table, chalk board, reading area, pretend grocery store and ranger lookout, For outdoor they have a big water table; soft foam building blocks, a garden and a dirt excavation section. They do have a handwashing station outside so I appreciate that after the messy play. I also love the art installation, it's big colorful bugs and insects. Would recommend you checking it out.

There are 7 total ships, including the Star of India, and a submarine. You can purchase your ticket…read moreat any of the main booths/boat entrances, then show your receipt to visit the others on the same day. The flexibility of a self-guided tour was great. One ship was away on a sail in the afternoon this past Saturday, but there was more than enough to explore on the various vessels during our visit. Plenty to see and experience on each of the boats. We stepped onto the swift boat where staff educated us about its machine gun. And we walked through and checked out the different sections of the USS Dolphin submarine too. The HMS Surprise was a lovely ship with plenty of references to its use in films. The Star of India was like a museum all on its own, so many areas to explore and a ton of history to learn. The Californian was pretty basic, not very different from many other ships we've visited in the past. Steam Ferry Berkeley was the largest, with displays showcasing scientific instruments, model boats, artwork, the riverboats in Vietnam, the engine room, a torpedo caught by a fisherman, and a special exhibit featuring the "histories of the black pacific". There's a gift shop on site as well. Altogether, the variety of ships at the Maritime Museum made for an interesting adventure, a bit touristy, but worth the cost if you're into history or simply like boats.

Ok so I will split this into two reviews:…read more 1: the ships and actual adventure 2: the reservation process and customer service 1: booked a trip for the Spanish replica ship adventure the San Salvador and really loved it. The ticket also got you access to the other ships to walk around which was cool. But the coolest part was that San Salvador was sailed like they would have sailed it waaay back when. We got to see real rigging masts sails steering all being done by a crew and it was a totally amazing experience and such a perfect day. Bonus: we saw dolphins and it was a perfect day. Drawback: the gentlemen speaking throughout didn't talk into his mic often so missed a lot but oh well - who's really going for history?! such a good time!!. 2. I had a good with my tickets and called and tried to talk to folks in person and could never get someone. The tickets were cancelled but not refunded which was a bummer and staff in the kiosk even said they phone lines were messed up. A bummer. :(

Great place. So much artifacts pact in this place. And activities that keep kids engaged.read more

Fun place for a quick drop-in. The host was very nice and the grounds peaceful…read more If you find yourself heading east past the Wild Animal Park, stop off if they are open! It's free. Or give a few bucks. These folks are doing a good service to the citizens of San Diego!

Great little museum well run by very dedicated volunteers that are also super welcoming to locals…read moreand tourists visiting the winery. It used to be located inside the same premises, but in a small barrack and now occupies the place of 2 former boutiques together. The museum is impeccable clean and neat, and you can read and observe pictures of the history of this great neighborhood village type called Rancho Bernardo. From the Kumeyay native Americans to the Spaniards, Mexicans and different conquests until what is today, the visitor can know it all. Many cultures have populated this area in the past couple of centuries, so RB is more than the sleepy village next to Lake Hodges that curiously belongs to San Diego instead of be on its own, as Poway or other similar country looking places. Free entrance, lots of parking at the entrance of the winery, you can get even a poster depicting some photos of the before and after of certain landmarks and also you can buy some postcards and help this museum thrive. Well done!

This has got to be the world's tiniest museum. It's so cute! Just one room off to the side of the…read moreRancho Bernardo shopping area. The displays are set up very well and the photography is excellent. But what makes the visit is the guy working there who gave us probably the most comprehensive regional history lesson I've ever gotten. I can't remember his name -- I want to say Ralph? -- but he was a lot of fun. It's free to come in and poke around, but you can leave a donation if you'd like.

This place is very cool. The older I get, the more I have come to appreciate the Escondido History…read moreCenter. Their web site is full of really cool information and photographs, and when you come here in person, you will see more of that, and feel immersed in the history around you. There is an old train, a Victorian house, a blacksmith shop, and more. Some of the places have a docent, while others are self-guided. I really hope we are able to keep these places open to remember history. Please donate and support places like this, so we don't forget history!

Very nice little museum for anybody. They open sarurdays 1-4 pm. The ladies are super friendly . Is…read morenext to the park so you can take the kids to play too.

Fascinating information, excellent, helpful staff. Incredibly unique setting and approach for…read moreinspiring, original cultural movies.

You HAVE to see the immersive creation story exhibit!…read more My friend and I drove up from San Diego specifically to visit this center after seeing is listed on a webpage for San Diego museums - and it did not disappoint! The artifacts and museum content is wonderfully curated by the Kumeyaay community and conveys the rich history of the area and resilience of the community. The gift store has an expansive library including a dictionary of the Kumeyaay language. The staff was so kind as well. If you want to learn more about Southern California's history, flora and fauna from its original caretakers, this is worth the trip.