ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

ASCRS News
A preview of the 2023 ASCRS Annual Meeting host city

Balboa Park

1549 El Prado
www.balboapark.org

Take a walk around the 1,200-acre Balboa Park, originally called City Park, and explore some of the museums, as well as the San Diego Zoo (see Tours in San Diego, California, for more information) and the other exhibits it’s home to. The park is open 24 hours a day, and the Visitors Center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Birch Aquarium

2300 Expedition Way
La Jolla, California
aquarium.ucsd.edu

Located in La Jolla at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography with the University of California, San Diego, the Birch Aquarium overlooks the Pacific Ocean and has more than 60 habitats of fishes and invertebrates from all over the world. It’s open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Adult tickets are $24.95.

Old Town San Diego

Take a trip to this historical area of San Diego, which is considered the “birthplace” of California. Here you’ll find interesting shops and eateries in a neighborhood designed like historic San Diego. Old Town is easily accessible from downtown San Diego.

Fleet Science Center

1875 El Prado
www.rhfleet.org

Explore some of the many exhibits the science center has to offer. It has permanent and rotating exhibits and an IMAX theater. The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $24.95 for adults.

San Diego Air & Space Museum

2001 Pan American Plaza
www.sandiegoairandspace.org

This museum is open 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and offers exhibits and simulators that focus on air and space history and technology. The museum also has several other sites, including the Gillespie Field Annex and the Low Speed Wind Tunnel. Tickets are $23 for adults. 

San Diego Museum of Art

1450 El Prado
www.sdmart.org

Open during the week except for Wednesday, the San Diego Museum of Art features collections from around the world, as well as photography exhibits. Admission is $20 for adults.

San Diego Natural History Museum

1788 El Prado
www.sdnhm.org

This museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed Wednesdays), with adult admission for $22. The museum also features a Giant Screen Theater with a number of different movies.

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/shoreline/sunset

This area was dedicated in 1983 and covers 68 acres. It stretches along the Pacific Ocean and is popular for surfing, ocean viewing, and sunset viewing.

USS Midway Museum

910 North Harbor Drive
www.midway.org

Visit this museum on board an aircraft carrier. The USS Midway is one of the country’s longest-serving aircraft carriers, and the museum has dozens of exhibits and a number of restored aircrafts. It’s open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last admission at 4:00 p.m.), and tickets are $26 for adults.

Other attractions nearby

There are various other attractions not far from San Diego. Coronado is just a short drive across the Coronado Bridge, where the popular Hotel del Coronado is located. For those looking for a family activity, LEGOLAND California is just under an hour from San Diego in Carlsbad, California. In under 30 minutes, you can reach La Jolla, a popular spot to see seals and sea lions on the beach and rocks. Torrey Pines State Reserve is a short drive out of the city and is popular for hiking. Belmont Park, the historic amusement park that originally opened in 1925, is located in Mission Bay.