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Advertising JUNE 19, 2023

San Diego Magazine Advertising Specs Sheet

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San Diego Magazine Advertising Specs Sheet

Print Ads

Newsletters

Dedicated Newsletter Blast

  • Creative: 600 to 650 pixels wide and any height under 1200 pixels. JPG preferred.
  • Subject Line: 8-10 words
  • Alt Text: 5-7 words. (This appears under the subject line in your inbox)
  • URL

Newsletter Sponsored Content

  • Title
  • Advertorial Copy (30 words max)
  • Square Image (140 x 140; we will resize if needed)
  • URL

Newsletter Island Ad

  • Creative: 300×250. JPG preferred
  • URL

Run of Site Banner Ads

  • Sizes: 300×600, 300×250, 320×50, 728×90, 970×90, 970×250.
    • JPG preferred. Third party tags accepted.
  • URL

Lightbox

  • Creative: 550×550 and 300×300 (mobile size)
  • URL

Digital, Web

Sponsored Article

  • Headline and subhead:
    • Headline case for Title and sentence case for Subhead
    • Headline should be 50-60 characters max
  • Advertorial copy: (600 words max)
  • Referring embedded no-follow links
  • Images:
    • 1 to 6 high-resolution photos, preferably with no text or logos
    • Main image should be horizontal and at least 1,500 pixels wide
  • Optional: Video Inclusion (under 5 minutes). MP4, FLV or YouTube or Vimeo link. Must not contain 3rd party ads. May be hosted from SDM YouTube channel upon request

Example: 5 Ways to Support Our Local San Diego Restaurants

Adhesion Expandable Banner Ads

  • 1280 x 140: Include call-to-action (CTA) for users to click the ad open
  • 1280 x 400: Include CTA
  • Video: Under 30 seconds with YouTube or Vimeo link provided. Must not contain 3rd party ads. May be hosted from SDM‘s YouTube channel upon request

Example: CLICK HERE


SOCIAL

Instagram Stories – Advertorial Multi-Slide

  • High-res image options (5+ preferred)
  • Key messaging points for our team to write copy
  • Click-through link
  • Account(s) to tag

Instagram Stories – Advertorial Single Slide

  • High-res image options (3+ preferred)
  • Key messaging points for our team to write copy
  • Click-through link
  • Account(s) to tag

Instagram Story Specs (If client is providing finished files)

  • Size: 1080×1920
  • Click-through link
  • Account(s) to tag

Instagram Giveaway – Advertorial

  • High-res image options (5+ preferred), to be cropped to 1080×1350
  • Key messaging points for our team to write copy
  • Prize details: amount/value, stipulations, blackout dates, etc.
  • Click-through link
  • Account(s) to tag

Instagram In-Feed Post

  • High-res image options (5+ preferred, ideally vertically oriented)
  • Key messaging points for our team to write copy
  • Click-through link
  • Account(s) to tag

Facebook Boosted Post

  • High-res image options (3+ preferred, ideally horizontally oriented)
  • Key messaging points for our team to write copy
  • Click-through link
  • Account(s) to tag

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Hatch JUNE 18, 2021

3 Local Entrepreneurs Won a Startup Pitch Competition

The winners received more than $15,000 altogether for their businesses

3 Local Entrepreneurs Won a Startup Pitch Competition

The founders of 11 small businesses competed in Union Bank’s fourth startup pitch competition on May 27, and three were awarded a total of more than $15,000 in funding. All the entrepreneurs are recent graduates of a business accelerator program hosted by Connect All @ the Jacobs Center, which is dedicated to minority-owned companies. Contestants completed a four-month training program, and then had just five minutes to pitch their ideas in a video presentation to a panel of judges. (Full disclosure: I participated as a judge in this year’s program.)

The first-place winner was First Gen Scholars, a startup founded by Jonathan Burgos. First Gen Scholars’ mission is to help high school students who are the first person in their family to attend college—they not only assist with the college application process, but provide mentorship until the students graduate. Burgos won the $7,500 prize, and he also won this year’s Audience Choice award, which was decided by public vote through the Jacobs Center’s YouTube channel. 

“Jonathan Burgosdid an outstanding job showcasing the importance of First Gen Scholars and highlighting the market opportunity and the long-term vision for the company,” said Bruno Rodriguez, Union Bank branch manager for the El Cajon Valley location and a judge on the panel. “Union Bank is proud to support the future of business in San Diego through this competition.”

The second-place winner was Charbon Plus, founded by Lucien Eloundou, which produces skincare products for Black and brown skin. The unique ingredients for the charcoal mask are sourced from Cameroon. Eloundou won a prize of $5,000 to expand the line.

Taking third place this year was Hexagon Laser, a design and manufacturing company founded by Oscar Corral that specializes in artwork using laser engraving on wood. The company has created coasters and tap handles for local craft breweries such as Novo Brazil, and it also has a line of wall art and home decor. Corral won a prize of $2,500. 

Other companies that participated in this year’s pitch competition included Hola Swim, Girlie Garage, and Tabby Manor.

Connect All is a partnership between the city of San Diego, the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, and Connect with San Diego Venture Group.

Jonathan Burgos, Oscar Corral, and Lucien Eloundou won the fourth Union Bank Start-Up Pitching Competition. 

Digital Specs DECEMBER 12, 2019

Digital Advertising Specifications

Below you will find specifications for the many advertising opportunities that sandiegomagazine.com offers. Navigate: General Requirements | Standard Online Ad Units | Sponsored Content | Sponsored Content – Enewsletters | Newsletters | Rich Media | clickTAG Instructions | IAB Guidelines | Instagram GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Accepted file formats: GIF, JPEG, SWF (Rich Media) & Third Party […]

Below you will find specifications for the many advertising opportunities that sandiegomagazine.com offers.


Navigate: General Requirements | Standard Online Ad Units | Sponsored Content | Sponsored Content – Enewsletters | Newsletters | Rich Media | clickTAG Instructions | IAB Guidelines | Instagram


GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Accepted file formats: GIF, JPEG, SWF (Rich Media) & Third Party Served ads.
  • Ads in Sandiegomagazine.com e-mail newsletters cannot use Flash or rich media.
  • All ads with a white or light background must include a 1×1 pixel border.
  • San Diego Magazine uses Double Click for Publishers as our ad network. Rich Media and Flash Ads (SWF) require the use of “clickTAG” in place of URLs. For guidelines on how to add this, click here

STANDARD ONLINE AD UNITS (aka Banners)

  • Advertorial Max word count: 600
  • Referring embedded links: unlimited
  • Photo Format: JPG or PNG
  • File Size: For advertorial, please submit hi-res JPGs, for logos, .eps preferred
  • Photo Quantity: 1 minimum 6 max
  • Main Photo Size: 785×523 pixels
  • **San Diego Magazine will resize any images to fit upon request.
  • Video Format: MP4, FLV or YouTube or Vimeo link. Video must not contain 3rd party advertisements. Video may also be hosted from San Diego Magazine YouTube channel upon request
  • Max length 5 minutes
  • All content is subject to review and approval
  • Advertorial Max word count: 30
  • Referring embedded links: 2
  • Photo Format: JPG or PNG Max size 200×200 pixels
  • Thumbnail and Logo Size**: Please submit hi-res JPGs for images and logos, (for logos .eps preferred)
  • **San Diego Magazine will resize any images to fit upon request.
  • All content is subject to review and approval

Carousel Placement

Module Placement

Sponsored Advertorial

Sponsored Content – Enewsletter

NEWSLETTER SPONSORSHIPS, ADS, & DEDICATED BLASTS

RICH MEDIA AD SPECIFICATIONS

Sizes, Submitted Creative and Third-Party

  • All Standard online sizes apply.
  • Third-party Javascript or iFrame tags are welcomed, must be Google Ad Manager compliant.
  • SWF/Rich Media ads must be supplied with a static back-up (JPG or GIF).

ClickTAG Instructions for Flash

  • All Flash (SWF) Files must use clickTAG, AND NO EMBEDDED URLS.

The clickTAG action script is designed for use with ActionScript 2.0. Please ensure that your Flash file is set to ActionScript 2.0, a static .JPG image of the Flash Ad must also accompany the .SWF file, the .FLA file must be Flash CS3 compatible or higher. Whereever your click Actions are embedded in the file, you’ll need to add the following script:

INSTAGRAM

  • Vertical photos for “Stories” 1080px by 1350px
  • Photos for “Timeline” 1080px by 1080px
  • include all relevant hashtags and handles

Expandables (push-down)

  • 970×90 collapsed – 970×90 expanded 970×415 – JPEG, static image.
  • Video max length 30 seconds
  • Video file either MP4 or YouTube link.
  • Collapsed image must have an “expand” call to action/button
  • Expanded image must have “X” or a “close” call to action in the top right corner.

Internet Advertising Board (IAB) Guidelines

The following specs apply to expandable rich media ads. Please consult your account executive for expansion direction as well as the full IAB Guidelines for more information before production.

For full IAB Guidelines, click here to download the Excel Spreadsheet or visit IAB Online.

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Hatch JUNE 9, 2016

The Best Events at San Diego Startup Week 2016

From beer tech to the next big idea, here's something to do for everyone June 13-17

The Best Events at San Diego Startup Week 2016

This year’s Startup Week is jam-packed with events, spread out over 5 days and 10 different tracks. We have rounded up the best talks, panels, and parties for beer lovers, designers, tech geeks, and aspiring entrepreneurs.

For Beer Lovers

The Tech Behind the Beer

June 13, 4:30 p.m., 101 West Broadway Ste 800

Can you run a successful craft brewery in 2016 without solid tech integration? Find out what technology can do for San Diego beer at this Monday afternoon session.

Perfect Your Palate

June 16, 4:45 p.m., 550 West B Street 4th Floor

Are you new to beer, or just want to refine your taste? TapHunter’s panel of brew experts are here to help! This session is guaranteed to have you thirsting for a cold pint afterwards.

#CraftBeer: Building a Fan Base Through Social Media

June 15, 3:30 p.m., 101 West Broadway Ste 800

Many successful San Diego breweries are already utilizing social media to create brand buzz and drive sales. Here they’ll be sharing all their secrets.

For Designers

Love It or Kill It: A proven 4-step process to know if you’re creating a monster or building an empire

June 13, 9:30 a.m., 101 West Broadway Ste 800

There’s a fine line between genius and madness. This interactive session will help you identify that line.

From Idea to App with User-Centered Design Techniques

June 13, 1:30 p.m., 1 Columbia Place CR 300

There’s not an app for it yet? Learn how to turn your idea into a functioning app with Zipdev Co-Founder Mike Lenny.

Design Forward: A Designer<>Entrepreneur Mixer

June 16, 5:00 p.m., Broadway Pier Pavilion

Put on your networking pants and connect with some of San Diego’s most brilliant design and entrepreneur minds.

For Tech Geeks

TJ: Tequila, Tacos and Tech

June 13, 10:45 a.m., 707 Broadway Conference Room B1

Indulge in the three Ts during this panel focused on entrepreneurial opportunities across the border.

3D Printing: What´s all the Fuss about

June 13, 3:15 p.m., SD Library Innovation Center

It’s the future! Learn what 3D printing is really about, in terms you don’t need a PhD to understand.

Multi-Use Technology Symposium

June 15, 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., San Diego Central Library

This all-day event is focused on defense and cyber security, and includes a panel titled “Be the Next Tony Stark.”

For Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Hello, (Startup) World!

June 13, 9:30 a.m., 1 Columbia Place 24th Floor Room B

Come out sounding like a seasoned player in the startup game after this fun talk with Derric Hayne, CEO of SplashOPM.

Getting Started Guide – The Idea

June 13, 10:45 a.m., 1 Columbia Place 24th Floor Room B

Ideas are crucial for anyone looking to get into entrepreneurship, but not all ideas are good ideas. The Lean Brand author Jeremiah Gardner can help you identify the bad ones early.

Shit Startup Founders Don’t Talk About

June 15, 4:45 p.m., EvoNexus

If the title wasn’t enough to get you intrigued, this session will include honest conversation on “the good, bad and ugly” with some top San Diego startup founders.

San Diego Startup Week is June 13-17. View the full schedule of events here.

The Best Events at San Diego Startup Week 2016

San Diego Startup Week is June 13-17

Studio S JUNE 8, 2026

Seven Restaurants, One Rising Star

Yes, Chef! winner Emily Brubaker leads the robust culinary program at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

Seven Restaurants, One Rising Star

For Executive Chef Emily Brubaker, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa feels like home. She grew up just a mile-and-a-half away from the 400-acre property and fondly recalls walking the golf course perimeter as a kid. Though her ambitions led her away from San Diego for nearly two decades in which she honed her craft in some of the highest of high-profile Las Vegas restaurants—including triple Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand—they ultimately brought her back to North County.

Courtesy of Omni La Costa

Today, the classically French-trained chef, who’s fresh off a victory on NBC’s Yes, Chef!, judged by Martha Stewart and José Andrés, oversees Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s seven distinct dining concepts. Her goal is to elevate the resort’s culinary program with her creative, hyperlocal ingredient-driven approach while maintaining the Spanish- inspired flavors and fresh California coastal cuisine that are the bedrock of its culinary identity.

“The San Diego food scene is really growing, and in North County alone, it’s really exploded in the last five years,” Brubaker says. “There are Michelin stars, beautiful tasting menus, craft bakers, and all this food—when I was growing up in La Costa, it was fish tacos. Now there are really cool things popping up, and I’m so happy to be here to see where it’s going to go.”

Brubaker gives chefs de cuisine at each individual restaurant autonomy, however, her influence is evident across the resort.

For example, lobby restaurant Bar Traza serves as Omni La Costa’s culinary centerpiece and features bold Spanish flavors in a lively, social atmosphere. Brubaker overhauled the menu to be more consistent and centered on casual bites with that signature vibe. Think smoky paprika, vibrant citrus, and Spanish meats and cheeses.

At VUE, the focus is on seasonal offerings, California coastal cuisine, and Baja-inspired dishes. She and Chef de Cuisine Cameron Dixon change the menu biannually, which heading into summer, will highlight farm-fresh produce and hyperlocal ingredients—the resort even has its own herb garden and honeybee hives.

Courtesy of Omni La Costa

Poolside dining options are leaning into the country’s 250th this summer with a selection of classic American dishes with an Omni La Costa twist. And Bob’s Steak & Chop House (Brubaker is a trained butcher) offers a classic steakhouse experience with elevated service.

The chef and company also plan menus for special events at the resort where her creativity can really shine. For an upcoming National Ski Association dinner, the banquet hall will be transformed into an Alpine-themed winter wonderland complete with a snow machine, savory sausages, and melty, decadent raclette. A recent dinner was built around the Carlsbad Flower Fields and each course was matched to a color of ranunculus (Did you know pink dragonfruit are grown in North County? You do now.).

“It’s my zen to be in the kitchen playing with food,” Brubaker says.

Omni La Costa’s culinary program is a key part of the resort experience. And with Brubaker’s leadership, it’s becoming a draw for visitors and locals alike.

“These aren’t just hotel restaurants, these are restaurants that you should go to. They’re destinations, and I’m really hoping for the future that’s where we’re going,” Brubaker says.

Courtesy of Omni La Costa

Brubaker is also channeling her experience on Yes, Chef! into the culture at Omni La Costa—more emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, empowering her staff to share constructive critiques, and embracing different perspectives. Alongside her leadership role, Brubaker has become an advocate for mental health in the hospitality industry, serving as chief ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Apex Culinary Program, where she mentors and develops future talent.

For more on Omni La Costa Resort & Spa and its dining program, please visit omnihotels.com/hotels/san-diego-la-costa.

Partner Content
Hatch APRIL 25, 2016

The World Record That Could Save Lives

Dr. Stephen Kingsmore's team is the first to achieve a genetic diagnosis in just 26 hours

The World Record That Could Save Lives

The first effort to sequence our genome, the Human Genome Project, took 13 years—an amazing feat, though not immediately relevant for patients. But now researchers from San Diego and Kansas City have made that leap, achieving genetic diagnoses in 26 hours—a new Guinness World Record.

This is a big deal. Many children born with genetic conditions wait years for answers. Infants with acute conditions can die before being diagnosed. Sequencing a sick kid’s genome—finding the genetic variants hidden in DNA’s four billion bases and quickly determining the significance of those variants—could provide crucial diagnostic information and drive life-saving treatments.

On April 25, National DNA Day, Stephen Kingsmore, president and CEO of the Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine, along with collaborators from Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and San Diego-based Illumina and Edico Genome, celebrated their world record at Rady Children’s Hospital. But the achievement means far more than international bragging rights.

“Diagnosing acutely ill babies is a race against the clock, which is why it’s so essential for physicians to have access to technology that will provide answers faster and help set the course of treatment,” said Kingsmore a few days before the ceremony.

The project, which was conducted by Kingsmore at Children’s Mercy, bested the team’s previous record of 50 hours. To shave off those crucial hours, the group used an Illumina sequencing machine optimized to move faster (kind of like putting a Tesla in insane mode). From there, the gene reads were put through Edico’s DRAGEN platform, which is designed to analyze genomic data.

The whole process took 26 hours from blood sample to initial diagnosis, results that could have a big impact on sick infants. In the original study, 65 percent of the diagnoses improved care.

But this was only one study on a handful of kids. The next step for Kingsmore and colleagues is to scale up the process so that every hospital NICU can take advantage of fast sequencing.

“I look forward to collaborating with both parties (Illumina and Edico) to implement this approach at Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine and ultimately neonatal and pediatric intensive care units across the country,” said Kingsmore.

The World Record That Could Save Lives

Stephen Kingsmore is the president and CEO of the Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine

Hatch APRIL 5, 2016

Things Will Be Great When You’re Downtown

A new data-mining project can help downtowns stay vibrant, and TwitchCon is moving to San Diego

Things Will Be Great When You’re Downtown

Follow the Money

A new report in The Atlantic CityLab by well-known urban studies guru Richard Florida puts San Diego at 7th on the list of Metro areas with the largest venture capital investment, ahead of Seattle. Topping the list are the obvious places such as San Francisco, San Jose, New York, and Boston. For San Diego, a town that is always lamenting the lack of venture funding, this may help dispel that thinking.

Move Over ComicCon, There Is a New “Game” in Town

Amazon-owned Twitch has just announced it is moving its annual gaming convention, TwitchCon, from the Marscone Center in San Francisco to more spacious digs at the San Diego Convention Center.

Twitch is the world’s leading social video platform and community for gamers. It boasts 100 million community members and 1.7+ million broadcasters per month, catering to the entire video game industry.

Last year’s convention—the inaugural event—brought 20,000 people to San Francisco. With an added day and the positive buzz surrounding the event and the move, they are expecting to top that number this year.

The event takes place September 30-October 2 and you can find the details here. Game on.

Hear Why One Startup CEO Moved His Business From SF to SD

Andrew Gazdecki, CEO and founder of Bizness Apps, penned this piece for TechCrunch about why he moved his San Francisco based mobile app builder business to San Diego. He makes a pretty good case. (Read a Q&A with Gazdecki here.)

Downtown, Things Will Be Great When You’re Downtown…

A new data-mining project out of the University of Trento in Italy might help shed some light on how to ensure a vibrant city. In her 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, urban sociologist Jane Jacobs identifies four conditions that are essential for a vibrant city. Overall she argues a physically diverse city will flourish. Specifically, she says cities need the following four characteristics. First, the city must serve more than two functions so it attracts people with different purposes at different times of the day. Second, she recommends small city blocks that give people a chance to interact with each other. Third, the buildings must also be diverse with old and new to attract diverse economic groups. Last, it’s all density—of people and buildings. Until now there has been no cost effective way to test these ideas.

The new research has used technology to create a faster, easier way to analyze a city. By using OpenStreetMap, census data, land use data, and Foursquare data, researchers were able to prove that Jacobs actually knew what she was talking about. For downtowns striving to stay vibrant centers, like San Diego, this new research could help identify areas for improvement. I would love to see some of our local open data minds (I’m looking at you, Ben Katz) take this on.

Pivots and Opportunities

  • Reflexion Health, a digital health solution for physical therapy, has a new CEO. Replacing Spencer Hutchins who left in December is Dr. Joe Smith. Smith is moving to the streets of downtown from the Mesa, where he has been leading the health cost savings charge as the chief medical and science officer at West Health for the last several years. He recently stepped in as interim CEO at Reflexion and now has made it official. (Disclosure: this is my client.)

  • Tech Coast Angels is recruiting analysts for their Spring Volunteer Analyst Training Program. Applications are due Thursday, April 14.

Be There or Be…

Things Will Be Great When You’re Downtown

Amazon-owned Twitch is moving its annual gaming convention, TwitchCon, to the San Diego Convention Center | Photo by f11photo / Shutterstock.com

Partner Content JUNE 5, 2026

Beautiful Balboa Park: Nine Ways to See the City’s Crown Jewel in a New Light

San Diego Magazine's 2026 Guide to Balboa Park.

Beautiful Balboa Park: Nine Ways to See the City’s Crown Jewel in a New Light

Balboa Park is San Diego’s cultural heart.

The iconic 1,200-acre preserve’s history dates back more than 150 years, evolving from a scrub-filled plot atop a mesa overlooking what’s now Downtown to an urban oasis—the largest of its kind in the country—filled with an array of museums, attractions, gardens, trails, restaurants, and more. Balboa Park is an epic playground where San Diegans and visitors alike can experience the great outdoors just as easily as they can enjoy a world-class performance or explore groundbreaking discoveries.

Tucked away in the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture are 18 diverse museums that allow visitors to spend the day learning about, well, anything. A great place to start is the San Diego History Center. Located in the Casa del Balboa building, the museum tells the story of the city’s past, present, and future through photographs and art, clothing and textiles, and interviews with people who witnessed history-making events firsthand. The San Diego Natural History Museum takes visitors even farther back with interactive exhibitions that show what the region was like up to 75 million years ago. 

Blast off on a simulated trip to space at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, then check out artifacts from aviation legends, including the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Buzz Aldrin. Discover new perspectives revolutionizing the science world, learn about an often overlooked but overutilized utility, and exercise your creativity at the Fleet Science Center.  

Calling all theater-lovers, Balboa Park has something for you, too. The San Diego Junior Theatre will present their musical take on beloved children’s book A Bad Case of the Stripes from June 26 through July 12. And laugh, cry, and marvel in awe as the pros of The Old Globe perform Kim’s Convenience, the award-winning comedy that inspired the popular series, from May 15 to June 14. 

There’s nowhere else in Balboa Park quite like WorldBeat Cultural Center. The institution celebrates African diaspora and indigenous cultures around the world using art, music, dance, and education. The building, a renovated water tower covered in colorful murals, houses a performing arts center, museum, gift shop, cafe, and outdoor classroom.

If you’d like a side of nature with your culture, Balboa Park has you covered there, too. Stroll through the gardens of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, a monument to the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, Japan. Inspired by traditional Japanese design dating back centuries, the 10-acre respite features a living exhibition that showcases plants native to both cities. 

If there seems like a lot going on in Balboa Park, it’s because there is. Let the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership be your guide. The organization is the umbrella for 24 of the park’s institutions and offers an Explorer Pass that allows visitors to access multiple museums for one affordable price. The hardest part is picking where to start.

16 Museums, One Pass

Save on admission to San Diego’s top museums with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass. Explore 16 museums of art, science, history and culture across Balboa Park — all with one affordable pass. Choose the option that fits your pace: the Limited Pass (one day for up to four museums), the Parkwide Pass (seven consecutive days of access to all 16 museums) or the Annual Pass (365 days of unlimited exploring).

Looking for an experience-driven gift? Let the museum lover in your life enjoy their favorite museums all year with a Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass gift voucher.

BuyMyExplorer.com | Phone: 619-232-7502, Press 2 for Explorer 

Fleet Science Center

Bigger experiments, brighter ideas, and boundless curiosity await at the newly reimagined Fleet Science Center. This summer, the Fleet debuts Element 8 Cafe, an expanded theater queuing and concessions space, two new gallery spaces, and, for the first time, a free entrance gallery exploring science in and around San Diego. The transformation marks a new chapter for the Fleet, keeping it a vital, innovative, and accessible science hub for the region. Visitors are invited to explore the experience this summer and connect with the power of science like never before.

Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: FleetScience.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Phone: 619-238-1233

Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum

An accredited cultural gem, the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum brings traditional Japanese garden design to life with koi ponds, curving walkways and layers of greenery. Guests explore bonsai trees, streams and peaceful nooks while taking part in exhibits, educational programs and festivals that illuminate Japanese culture. Situated in the heart of Balboa Park, the garden doubles as a meditative retreat and a dynamic gathering place, welcoming visitors to slow their pace and connect more deeply.

Address: 2215 Pan American Road E, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: Niwa.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; last admission at 6 p.m.
Phone: 619-232-2721

The Old Globe

A San Diego summer favorite, The Old Globe invites audiences to experience a beloved local tradition in its outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. 

This summer, the 2026 Shakespeare Festival presents two thrilling tales of power, passion and romance. Measure for Measure, running June 14 through July 12, 2026, is a riveting story of justice and hypocrisy that asks who holds power, who is punished and what it truly means to be virtuous. Much Ado About Nothing, playing Aug. 2–30, 2026, is a classic rom-com packed with schemes, sparks and laughter as opposites attract. Audiences can enjoy both shows for $44.

Address: 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: TheOldGlobe.org
Hours: Box office open Tuesday–Sunday, 1 p.m. to final curtain
Phone: Box office, 619-234-5623

San Diego Air & Space Museum

Aviation and space exploration come to life at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. See an airworthy replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, a Gee Bee racer and historic aircraft from World War I, World War II and the Korean and Vietnam eras. Get up close to the Apollo 9 command module — one of only 11 of its kind in the world — along with Mercury and Gemini capsules, Mission Control and space shuttle simulators, and a selfie spot beside a lunar lander on the moon. Running through 2026, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brings oddities from around the world to Balboa Park.

Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: SanDiegoAirAndSpace.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 619-234-8291

San Diego History Center

History belongs to everyone. At the San Diego History Center, two experiences bring that history to life this summer: America at 250 and the Center for Women’s History. America at 250 traces San Diego’s place in 250 years of U.S. history, while summer programs invite children to learn and explore. The Center for Women’s History amplifies the voices of women whose leadership and creativity have shaped our region.

By understanding our past, we build a more vibrant and inclusive community together. These vital educational experiences are only possible through generous community support. Discover your roots, spark meaningful dialogue, and help keep San Diego’s stories alive for future generations.

Address: 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: SanDiegoHistory.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday
Phone: 619-232-6203

San Diego Junior Theatre

Junior Theatre is San Diego’s longest-running youth theatre program, empowering students ages 4 to 18 to explore storytelling, performance, and collaboration in a supportive environment. Through classes, camps, and productions, young artists build confidence, creativity, and lifelong skills onstage and off. Each season features a wide range of opportunities, from introductory experiences to advanced training in acting and musical theatre. 

Looking for a summer adventure? Junior Theatre’s Summer Camps deliver dynamic programs for grades K–12, including musical theater intensives, acting academies and immersive JT Studio experiences. It’s a place where imagination truly takes center stage.

Address: 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: JuniorTheatre.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 619-239-1311

San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)

This summer, The Nat is talking trash—literally. Their newest exhibition, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, features larger‑than‑life marine sculptures made of ocean debris collected from beaches. It invites visitors to explore the impact of plastic pollution and discover ways to take action.

But the experience doesn’t stop at the gallery doors. Friday nights, the exhibition transforms into an ocean-themed “dive bar” during Nat at Night. Select Sundays bring something brand new: a rooftop brunch with sweeping Balboa Park views. Add two new giant-screen films and five floors of nature to explore, and The Nat is shaping up to be one of the season’s must-visit destinations.

Address: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: SDNat.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays in summer
Phone: 619-232-3821

WorldBeat Cultural Center

The WorldBeat Cultural Center is a nonprofit multidisciplinary cultural organization dedicated to promoting, presenting and preserving Indigenous cultures worldwide through music, art, dance, education, sustainability and community programs. WorldBeat elevates multicultural artists, expands opportunities for cultural enrichment and fosters deeper understanding across traditions. WorldBeat offers a holistic cultural experience that inspires pride, unity, connection and belonging for all ages.

Address: 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101
Website: WorldBeatCenter.org
Hours: Classes: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 6–9 p.m. Exhibits and café: Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Phone: 619-230-1190


Event Calendar

Throughout 2026: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!

Step into a world of the weird and wonderful at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. Explore hundreds of bizarre artifacts, interactive displays and unbelievable stories that celebrate the curious and the extraordinary.

San Diego Air & Space Museum | 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101

Throughout 2026: San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods

Presented in partnership with the San Diego Museum of African American Fine Arts, San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods uses augmented reality, oral histories, and archival materials to explore communities and residents displaced by redlining, freeway construction, and other discriminatory policies.

San Diego History Center | 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101

June –Aug: The 2026 Shakespeare Festival

Spend a summer night at The Old Globe. The Lowell Davies Festival Theatre stages Measure for Measure (June 14–July 12) and Much Ado About Nothing (Aug. 2–30), offering two unforgettable Shakespeare productions for just $44.

The Old Globe | 1363 Old Globe Way,
San Diego, CA 92101

June 8–Aug. 7: Theatre Summer Camps

Summer camps at Junior Theatre spark creativity for grades K–12 with hands-on training, musical theatre intensives, acting academies, and JT Studio experiences.

San Diego Junior Theatre | 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92101  

June 14, July 12, Aug 9: Brunch at The Nat


A museum visit turns into a Sunday Funday with the addition of rooftop brunch, featuring mimosas, bloody Marys, and brunch bites from Wolfish by Wolf in the Woods (June 14, August 9) and Hash House a Go Go (July 12). 

San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

June 21: Harriet Tubman Freedom Bird Walk

Celebrate Juneteenth weekend with guided birding, storytelling, soul food, native planting and an African peace drum circle.

WorldBeat Cultural Center | 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101

Aug 7-8: Toro Nagashi Festival

Nagashi at the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum by floating a lantern to honor loved ones who have passed. Stroll merchant booths, enjoy cultural performances in the Inamori Pavilion, and sample food vendors plus a beer and sake garden in the lower garden.

Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum | 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101


Explore arts, science, history, and culture in the Balboa Park Cultural District with one convenient, affordable Pass. The Balboa Park Explorer Pass is your ticket to up to 16 museums and endless fun! Purchase your pass at BuyMyExplorer.com.

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1230 Columbia Street, Suite 800,

San Diego, CA