California Center for the Arts, Escondido
In addition to its popular performance theater, CCAE houses a noteworthy Museum on its Escondido campus that presents four to six contemporary art exhibitions each year. During Museum Month, you can check out Surface, Substance, Structure: Selections from California Fibers, which opened to the public on January 15. Using threads, textiles, fabrics, or other materials, the artists of California Fibers create artworks that are at once instantly recognizable and extraordinarily contemporary. Exploring the relationship between the artist and their medium, the exhibition examines how concept drives artistic creation.
San Diego Archaeological Center
Another lesser-known museum waiting to be discovered is the San Diego Archaeological Center in Escondido, where visitors can learn how the people of San Diego County have lived for the past 12,000 years. In addition to its role as a museum, the Center serves as an education and research facility and is the only local organization dedicated to the collection, study, curation and exhibition of San Diego County’s archaeological artifacts. Visitors can “dig into” this fascinating field with the Museum’s Archaeology 101 exhibit, learning the basics through hands-on activities for children and adults. On February 17 (6:30 PM), you join the Museum for a Living Room Lecture on the Prehistory of Baja California. (The Museum offers pay-what-you-wish admission, with a suggested minimum of $5 per person.)
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
This fun, interactive museum in Escondido is a favorite with North County families. During Museum Month, kids will love exploring the new exhibit, Our Town: Healthcare Heroes, which honors the healthcare workers who have done so much for us over the last year. They can practice life skills by being a patient, doctor, EMT or receptionist; learn about the body by completing a life-sized bone and organ puzzle; examine patients with real medical tools and diagnose and treat their ailments; and tinker with special arts and crafts to learn how to keep their minds and bodies healthy. On February 23 (10:00 AM – 11: 45 AM), families can take part in Fun Animal Friday, an educational program filled with crafts, story time and a meet-and-greet with special animal guests. (Note: Museum Month passes may only be used once at this museum and exclude special events. Cannot be combined with other offers.)
Enjoy a road trip to San Diego’s backcountry to see this hidden gem. Built in 1857, the Warner-Carrillo Ranch House in Warner Springs served as the Butterfield Stage Stop and was California’s first regular overland stage connection with St. Louis. With its multilayered history, the adobe ranch house tells the story of the emigrant trail, the overland stage, and the prominent ranching history of the area. This is one of several local historical properties operated by Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO), including the Marston House & Gardens in Balboa Park and Santa Ysabel Store and the Feed Store – Antiques & Such.
