Barbershop / Mister Brown’s If your man rolls his eyes every time you ask him to get a haircut, then this is the answer to your prayers. The old-fashioned barbershop-cum-men’s social club is a place where he can get a hot shave, play pool, and watch sports with the boys. The shop offers a variety […]
If your man rolls his eyes every time you ask him to get a haircut, then this is the answer to your prayers. The old-fashioned barbershop-cum-men’s social club is a place where he can get a hot shave, play pool, and watch sports with the boys. The shop offers a variety of trims and cuts, plus top-quality take-home products. He’ll leave groomed and gorgeous, and perhaps, a little more willing to schedule a follow-up. 3064 University Avenue, North Park
Pedicure Spot / Stay Polished
This nail boutique lured us in with its comfy baroque-style chairs and hygienic tubs of water (nary a questionable massage chair in sight), then won us over with its great color selection (you can use gel-like polishes for no extra charge), friendly technicians, cute purple-and-white décor, and pedicure that lasted for a full month after the appointment. 5733 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla
The recently revamped spa menu at the posh L’Auberge Del Mar offers ocean-themed services like the Sea Breeze Facial and the Seaweed Scrub, which will leave your skin super-soft and moisturized. Go for the relaxation; stay for a lite lunch on the deck. Or make a day of it, and take a scenic walk through downtown Del Mar. 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
Beauty-Boutique Mashup / Jeslin Salon & Boutique
We like the look of this place, from the shabby-chic décor to the bright floor-to-ceiling windows. With more than 11 years of experience, owner Jessica Mena specializes in a variety of hair services. Before or after your appointment, browse the boutique that features local jewelry designers and budget-friendly tops. 1357 Rosecrans Street, Point Loma
Beauty Boot Camp / K-Sport Beauty Bootcamp
Katherine Annie Finch is a pro when it comes to beauty. The former Estée Lauder exec recently launched Katherine Cosmetics. Here, she combines her love of makeup with a full day of fitness and nutrition at the luxe Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa. Sign us up! katherinecosmetics.com
Euro Facial / Valmont Facial at Ocean Pearl Spa
This treatment makes you look younger and more rested. Ocean Pearl Spa at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort is one of the few spas on the West Coast to offer Valmont, a luxe Swiss skincare line designed to combat the effects of aging. The Vitality of the Glaciers service includes a collagen mask and very relaxing neck and shoulder massage ($215 for 60 minutes). Ready, set, rewind the years! 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad
San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Party featured the top restaurants and breweries in the city. Guests sipped and sampled their way through the evening enjoying live music, DJs and entertainment. Check out the evening’s highlights and don’t miss next year’s Best of San Diego Party in August 2015. Video production by Chris Calderon […]
San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Party featured the top restaurants and breweries in the city. Guests sipped and sampled their way through the evening enjoying live music, DJs and entertainment. Check out the evening’s highlights and don’t miss next year’s Best of San Diego Party in August 2015.
San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Party featured the top restaurants and breweries in the city. Guests sipped and sampled their way through the evening enjoying live music, DJs and entertainment. Check out the evening’s highlights and don’t miss next year’s Best of San Diego Party in August 2015. Video production by Chris Calderon […]
San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Party featured the top restaurants and breweries in the city. Guests sipped and sampled their way through the evening enjoying live music, DJs and entertainment. Check out the evening’s highlights and don’t miss next year’s Best of San Diego Party in August 2015.
Barbershop / Mister Brown’s If your man rolls his eyes every time you ask him to get a haircut, then this is the answer to your prayers. The old-fashioned barbershop-cum-men’s social club is a place where he can get a hot shave, play pool, and watch sports with the boys. The shop offers a variety […]
Barbershop / Mister Brown’s
If your man rolls his eyes every time you ask him to get a haircut, then this is the answer to your prayers. The old-fashioned barbershop-cum-men’s social club is a place where he can get a hot shave, play pool, and watch sports with the boys. The shop offers a variety of trims and cuts, plus top-quality take-home products. He’ll leave groomed and gorgeous, and perhaps, a little more willing to schedule a follow-up. 3064 University Avenue, North Park
Pedicure Spot / Stay Polished
This nail boutique lured us in with its comfy baroque-style chairs and hygienic tubs of water (nary a questionable massage chair in sight), then won us over with its great color selection (you can use gel-like polishes for no extra charge), friendly technicians, cute purple-and-white décor, and pedicure that lasted for a full month after the appointment. 5733 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla
Spa Menu / Spa L’Auberge
The recently revamped spa menu at the posh L’Auberge Del Mar offers ocean-themed services like the Sea Breeze Facial and the Seaweed Scrub, which will leave your skin super-soft and moisturized. Go for the relaxation; stay for a lite lunch on the deck. Or make a day of it, and take a scenic walk through downtown Del Mar. 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
Beauty-Boutique Mashup / Jeslin Salon & Boutique
We like the look of this place, from the shabby-chic décor to the bright floor-to-ceiling windows. With more than 11 years of experience, owner Jessica Mena specializes in a variety of hair services. Before or after your appointment, browse the boutique that features local jewelry designers and budget-friendly tops. 1357 Rosecrans Street, Point Loma
Beauty Boot Camp / K-Sport Beauty Bootcamp
Katherine Annie Finch is a pro when it comes to beauty. The former Estée Lauder exec recently launched Katherine Cosmetics. Here, she combines her love of makeup with a full day of fitness and nutrition at the luxe Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa. Sign us up! katherinecosmetics.com
Euro Facial / Valmont Facial at Ocean Pearl Spa
This treatment makes you look younger and more rested. Ocean Pearl Spa at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort is one of the few spas on the West Coast to offer Valmont, a luxe Swiss skincare line designed to combat the effects of aging. The Vitality of the Glaciers service includes a collagen mask and very relaxing neck and shoulder massage ($215 for 60 minutes). Ready, set, rewind the years! 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad
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.
Yoga and Beer / Green Flash Hoppy Yoga People are religious about beer and people are religious about yoga. Why not pair them together? Every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to noon, before the Green Flash brewery opens, you can downward dog in the tasting room. For $15, you get one class and a free pint […]
Yoga and Beer / Green Flash Hoppy Yoga
People are religious about beer and people are religious about yoga. Why not pair them together? Every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to noon, before the Green Flash brewery opens, you can downward dog in the tasting room. For $15, you get one class and a free pint afterwards. Try the Citra Session IPA, out this month. 6550 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Mira Mesa
Zumba Teacher / Jaylin Allen, Bootique Fitness
Instructor Jaylin Allen is a perky, funky, talented ball of energy. She’s also a master of every dance style thrown into her 60-minute Zumba classes, making for stellar entertainment in addition to great cardio. The playlist is super current, students are torching calories, and she never stops smiling. No wonder Jaylin has such a loyal following. Saturdays at 9 a.m., Sundays at 10 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Dance Place at Liberty Station, 2650 Truxtun Road, Point Loma, bootiquefitness.com
Community Gym / Physical Culture 101
Owners Michael Kugler and Tommy Moring are all about serving the community. They’ve created a friendly exercise venue where staring at a TV is not an option. Equipment lines the perimeter, with open space in the middle for events like paleo dinners, seminars, and workshops specific to snowboarders or surfers. 1144 North Coast Highway 101, Leucadia
Girl-Power Fitness / Girls on the Run
Anyone who has ever finished a 5K knows the endorphin-driven self-esteem boost that comes from a good run. That’s the idea behind Girls on the Run San Diego, a nonprofit org that empowers middle school girls through fitness: a 10-week afterschool running program that culminates in a twice-yearly, tutu-friendly 5K. gotrsd.org
Spinning / The Rush Indoor Cycling Studio
This spin studio puts an emphasis on quality instruction and the latest technology, with Keiser M3+ bikes that monitor your heart rate and themed classes like “Summer Jams Ride” and “Throwback Thursdays” (preview the music on Spotify; request songs on Facebook). Costumes encouraged. Class: $20. 5628 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla; 11130 East Ocean Air Drive, Carmel Valley
Juice Bar / Fully Loaded Micro Juicery
Opened last fall in Leucadia, this spot offers 18-oz. bottles of cold-pressed, certifiably organic juices mixed with hard-to-find superfoods like blue algae and moringa. We’re excited about the juice cleanse menu and the almond milks made in-house. Bottles start at $10. 466 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Class Variety / Fortis Fitness
So many of us piece together fitness memberships, with cycling at one studio, yoga at another, and Barre classes at yet another. With yoga, hot yoga, TRX, cycling, Zumba, barre, and more all under one roof, Fortis offers everything but excuses. 2712 Gateway Road, Carlsbad
One-Stop Shop / Mantra Yoga Studio & Juice Bar
This ultra-clean, modern facility is the first of its kind in San Diego, as it’s part heated yoga studio, part juice bar. Juices and boosters packed with superfoods like kale, beets, coconut water, and acai serve as the perfect post-sweat refresher. Bottoms up! 5617 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad
Trampoline Workout / SkyRobics
If you want to get moving, but cringe at the thought of a treadmill or dumbbell, take a SkyRobics class at Sky Zone San Diego. You’ll literally bounce off the walls in the hour-long trampoline workout, which combines calisthenics, core exercises, and strength training; burns up to 1,000 calories per class; and makes you feel like a kid again. 851 Showroom Place, Chula Vista
Outlaw Yogi / NamaSteve
Last year, Steve Hubbard (aka “NamaSteve”) took the city to court for trying to shut down the free yoga class he teaches weekend mornings on a stretch of grass overlooking the ocean at the end of Law Street in Pacific Beach. We are happy to report the code forbidding more than 49 people to gather in a public park was ruled unconstitutional, and you can still find upward of 200 people doing downward dogs on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. namasteveyoga.com
Boot Camp / Gut Check Fitness
Elliptical, schmelliptical—try a beachfront boot camp that was voted “Hardest Workout” by Competitor Magazine. Although the interval-style session designed by “World’s Fittest Man” Joe Decker is challenging, high-fives abound. With scenic venues in North and South San Diego and the motto “The Earth is Your Gym,” this workout puts the gym (and your gut) in check. 2707 Third Avenue, Bankers Hill
5K for Beginners / Carlsbad 5000
We love the Carlsbad 5000 because it’s scenic and the course is flat (hence the designation “World’s Fastest 5K”). Beginners and parents pushing strollers partake in the same event as elite athletes, and it’s not another color or costumed run. This year, 24-year-old Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia beat 39-year-old multiple Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat, clocking in at 13:13. Lagat, who came in at 13:22, beat the American 5K road record (see? fast). There are also kiddie events like the two-year-olds’ Diaper Dash. Next race is March 29, 2015. carlsbad.competitor.com
Yoga and Beer / Green Flash Hoppy Yoga People are religious about beer and people are religious about yoga. Why not pair them together? Every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to noon, before the Green Flash brewery opens, you can downward dog in the tasting room. For $15, you get one class and a free pint […]
Yoga and Beer / Green Flash Hoppy Yoga
People are religious about beer and people are religious about yoga. Why not pair them together? Every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to noon, before the Green Flash brewery opens, you can downward dog in the tasting room. For $15, you get one class and a free pint afterwards. Try the Citra Session IPA, out this month. 6550 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Mira Mesa
Zumba Teacher / Jaylin Allen, Bootique Fitness
Instructor Jaylin Allen is a perky, funky, talented ball of energy. She’s also a master of every dance style thrown into her 60-minute Zumba classes, making for stellar entertainment in addition to great cardio. The playlist is super current, students are torching calories, and she never stops smiling. No wonder Jaylin has such a loyal following. Saturdays at 9 a.m., Sundays at 10 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Dance Place at Liberty Station, 2650 Truxtun Road, Point Loma, bootiquefitness.com
Community Gym / Physical Culture 101
Owners Michael Kugler and Tommy Moring are all about serving the community. They’ve created a friendly exercise venue where staring at a TV is not an option. Equipment lines the perimeter, with open space in the middle for events like paleo dinners, seminars, and workshops specific to snowboarders or surfers. 1144 North Coast Highway 101, Leucadia
Girl-Power Fitness / Girls on the Run
Anyone who has ever finished a 5K knows the endorphin-driven self-esteem boost that comes from a good run. That’s the idea behind Girls on the Run San Diego, a nonprofit org that empowers middle school girls through fitness: a 10-week afterschool running program that culminates in a twice-yearly, tutu-friendly 5K. gotrsd.org
Spinning / The Rush Indoor Cycling Studio
This spin studio puts an emphasis on quality instruction and the latest technology, with Keiser M3+ bikes that monitor your heart rate and themed classes like “Summer Jams Ride” and “Throwback Thursdays” (preview the music on Spotify; request songs on Facebook). Costumes encouraged. Class: $20. 5628 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla; 11130 East Ocean Air Drive, Carmel Valley
Juice Bar / Fully Loaded Micro Juicery
Opened last fall in Leucadia, this spot offers 18-oz. bottles of cold-pressed, certifiably organic juices mixed with hard-to-find superfoods like blue algae and moringa. We’re excited about the juice cleanse menu and the almond milks made in-house. Bottles start at $10. 466 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Class Variety / Fortis Fitness
So many of us piece together fitness memberships, with cycling at one studio, yoga at another, and Barre classes at yet another. With yoga, hot yoga, TRX, cycling, Zumba, barre, and more all under one roof, Fortis offers everything but excuses. 2712 Gateway Road, Carlsbad
One-Stop Shop / Mantra Yoga Studio & Juice Bar
This ultra-clean, modern facility is the first of its kind in San Diego, as it’s part heated yoga studio, part juice bar. Juices and boosters packed with superfoods like kale, beets, coconut water, and acai serve as the perfect post-sweat refresher. Bottoms up! 5617 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad
Trampoline Workout / SkyRobics
If you want to get moving, but cringe at the thought of a treadmill or dumbbell, take a SkyRobics class at Sky Zone San Diego. You’ll literally bounce off the walls in the hour-long trampoline workout, which combines calisthenics, core exercises, and strength training; burns up to 1,000 calories per class; and makes you feel like a kid again. 851 Showroom Place, Chula Vista
Outlaw Yogi / NamaSteve
Last year, Steve Hubbard (aka “NamaSteve”) took the city to court for trying to shut down the free yoga class he teaches weekend mornings on a stretch of grass overlooking the ocean at the end of Law Street in Pacific Beach. We are happy to report the code forbidding more than 49 people to gather in a public park was ruled unconstitutional, and you can still find upward of 200 people doing downward dogs on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. namasteveyoga.com
Boot Camp / Gut Check Fitness
Elliptical, schmelliptical—try a beachfront boot camp that was voted “Hardest Workout” by Competitor Magazine. Although the interval-style session designed by “World’s Fittest Man” Joe Decker is challenging, high-fives abound. With scenic venues in North and South San Diego and the motto “The Earth is Your Gym,” this workout puts the gym (and your gut) in check. 2707 Third Avenue, Bankers Hill
5K for Beginners / Carlsbad 5000
We love the Carlsbad 5000 because it’s scenic and the course is flat (hence the designation “World’s Fastest 5K”). Beginners and parents pushing strollers partake in the same event as elite athletes, and it’s not another color or costumed run. This year, 24-year-old Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia beat 39-year-old multiple Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat, clocking in at 13:13. Lagat, who came in at 13:22, beat the American 5K road record (see? fast). There are also kiddie events like the two-year-olds’ Diaper Dash. Next race is March 29, 2015. carlsbad.competitor.com
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 theBalboa 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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
