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.

Would you like to learn about incredible reptiles up close and support a good cause? The…read moreEcoVivarium is the perfect place! For $25 you can get a behind the scenes tour that introduces you to a variety of turtles, snakes, and lizards that call the EcoVivarium home. They also have birthday party visits, host events, and as I learned from my friend Trish, can help teachers get set up with a reptile in the classroom. My first conversation with Susan at the EcoVivarium was heartfelt, as I was calling to see if they might be interested in the donation of our decommissioned aquarium. The setup was only four years old and housed our previous beloved 26 year old fish named Puff that had recently passed away. Susan was kind, expressed her condolences and shared that they would appreciate our donation. Chun P and I met Rachel and Donald on a Sunday and after we brought our items in from the car were treated to meeting some terrific reptiles. Many of the inhabitants at the EcoVivarium have sad stories, some had suffered abuse, some were abandoned, and others were victims of trafficking that were confiscated and brought in by the department of fish and game. Susan has created a safe space and her staff and volunteers give their all to make sure they live a better life. I'm looking forward to visiting again soon and supporting this worthy endeavor!

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.

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.

We hosted our daughter's 3rd birthday party at the Children's Museum of Discovery this past…read moreweekend, and it was such a fantastic experience from start to finish. A huge shoutout to Michele, our party planner, who was incredibly communicative, organized, and thoughtful throughout the entire process. She made everything feel easy and seamless, and truly helped create such a special, memorable day for my daughter and her friends. The setup and decor were beautiful, and everything was ready to go when we arrived, which made a big difference when hosting a group of excited kids! The space itself is amazing, with so many engaging, hands-on activities for a wide range of ages (definitely up to around 10). The kids were entertained the entire time. Even better, so many of the parents were raving about the experience and how much their kids loved it, which says a lot. Highly recommend hosting a party here if you're looking for something fun, interactive, and well-organized. We had the best time!

The Maritime Museum of San Diego is honestly one of the most impressive history museums I've…read morevisited because the artifacts are the museum. You aren't just looking at history -- you're surrounded by ships that actually survived it. The Star of India, launched in 1863, survived mutiny, violent storms, collisions at sea, and decades carrying immigrants across dangerous oceans. Some sailors believed the ship was cursed after captains died during early voyages, yet somehow she survived long enough to become the oldest active sailing ship in the world. HMS Surprise shows the brutal reality of naval warfare during the Age of Sail. Ships like this once carried enough cannon firepower to destroy enemy vessels while sailors lived packed below deck surrounded by gunpowder, disease, and fear of battle. The Berkeley steam ferry even helped evacuate survivors during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake while much of the city burned. One of the most fascinating exhibits is the Soviet B-39 submarine from the Cold War. The inside is unbelievably cramped and gives you a real sense of what life was like beneath the ocean during one of the most dangerous periods in modern history. The USS Dolphin may have been my favorite. This experimental deep-diving U.S. Navy submarine helped test advanced underwater technology and launched the deepest-fired torpedo in naval history. The museum also includes the San Salvador, recreating the ship that explored California's coastline in 1542 -- long before America existed as a country. What makes this place incredible is the timeline it creates: 1500s exploration... 1800s global sailing... steam-powered industry... world wars... Cold War submarines... All sitting together in one harbor. This place doesn't just teach maritime history -- it shows how ships shaped exploration, immigration, trade, warfare, and entire empires.

What an absolute gem. The Maritime Museum is a collection of floating ships available to tour…read more We enjoyed the add-on ($10) 45 minute, docent-led, bay tour on the Pilot. We learned so much. The Museum is well-organized with plenty of memorabilia and artifacts to enjoy. There are several boats to explore. There's also plenty of seating along the boats, to just enjoy the scenery. The Maritime Museum is a must!

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!

This place is cool, amazing and informative. 9/18/12 was free museum day and by the time we arrived…read more30min after opening they had already had several patrons visit... there was a few still walking around inside. They were taking down zip codes to see where everyone was coming from, a couple walked in right after us from Santa Rosa. We started with the kids learning treasure hunt. The questions line up with the numbers on the exhibit and the answers are within the reading. While the place is small we were there for about 1.5 hours reading and doing the activities along with the treasure hunt. They have an excavation section for kids (like a play/learning area) and an employee came over and starting showing munchkin the cool things you can find on the rocks, shells and even your fingers. That was super cool and interactive. After we were finished we ventured to the small gift shop inside towards the front and munchkin was able to get some obsidian, opal, thunder eggs rocks, iron pyrite, tourmaline, geode, Drury quartz, wonderstone, topaz, lavic jasper for his rock collection. Then he was informed of the free book section and we ventured over there and he grabbed a few national geographic books to take home and read. All-in-all a great learning experience and great friendly staff! A great choice for us on Musuem Day! Would recommend as it is very kid friendly! This place is literally right next to San Diego Wild Animal Park!

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.

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.

Pro tip - Don't do what I did & walk all the way here from Barona Resort & Casino. Especially on a…read morenearly 100 degree afternoon. Barona Museum is a free attraction on the Barona reservation that focuses on the presentation & perpetuation of the native Kumeyaay-Diegueno culture. During a weekend stay at the resort, my inquisitive nature led me on a walk to the museum, by way of Barona Mission first. Stepping inside, I was greeted by ancient artifacts dating back to as early as 10,000 years ago. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barona-cultural-center-and-museum-lakeside?select=V-bXqrn-ncXW-NLvZMPpjA https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barona-cultural-center-and-museum-lakeside?select=hozcaVrakZd5i25V3S0htQ One of the temporary exhibits was Sports : The Competitive Spirit of Barona, showcasing memorabilia from notable Native American athletes throughout history. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barona-cultural-center-and-museum-lakeside?select=WBE4Ec19H3gLoBxe5PoGtA https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barona-cultural-center-and-museum-lakeside?select=J5a_2HKmysL9oedwa6-MTw https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barona-cultural-center-and-museum-lakeside?select=DpoGkYWcSW3l0fyAMceFOg Another exhibit was Barona Veterans Wall of Honor. Recognition is deservedly given to more than 50 tribal & community members, especially those who received high honors for bravery in battle. Amongst them are 6 Purple Heart recipients. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barona-cultural-center-and-museum-lakeside?select=RLduY7T5LI2I-EvrIX0B6Q Of course, can't have a museum w/o nifty gifties at the gift shop. Merchandise for sale included various stonework, apparel & plush toys of native, and not so native, wildlife. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barona-cultural-center-and-museum-lakeside?select=OnlCSVzXcrojXyD1vPGW6w https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barona-cultural-center-and-museum-lakeside?select=C-V502sLsblRvL3PflkOaQ https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barona-cultural-center-and-museum-lakeside?select=4Vj37YRBdmaA97A9Z2yFbA I enjoyed going back in time & diving into the rich history of the native Kumeyaay-Diegueno people, during my brief visit to the Barona Museum. I gathered a greater appreciation of those who came before & was fascinated with all the intricacies from the artifacts which have been pristinely kept intact throughout the years. A definite must if in the area. Highly recommend!