Staying in San Diego with the family this Spring Break and looking for FUN things to do?
We’ve got you covered! Here’s a list of ideas and family friendly events sure to keep everyone entertained.
It is Cherry Blossom Season and many cherry blossoms have already opened at the Japanese Friendship Garden in beautiful Balboa Park.
Japanese Friendship Garden is hosting its most popular annual event, the Cherry Blossom Festival
Unlimited photo opportunities are a highlight during the return of cherry blossoms to San Diego. The Japanese Friendship Garden Cherry Blossom Festival runs March 11th-13th. Purchase your tickets today and experience the Japanese custom of “hanami” – appreciating the beauty of cherry blossoms – with performances, vendors, sake, cherry blossoms, and more. We suggest you arrive early to avoid the lines. VIP tickets are available and allow access to the VIP entrance located at the Bamboo Gate.
Register for San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum Little Explorers Spring Camp 2022
Spend school holidays (April 11-15) exploring with San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum! Each day of camp includes access to Museum exhibits, hands-on exploration with trained education staff, and an opportunity to make new friends.
Embark on a journey with fellow campers for a week of outdoor exploration and use of your naturalist skills while learning about blooming flowers, buzzing pollinators, and everything in between.
Go online here to book your spot!
Questions about Discovery Camps at San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum? Please email DiscoveryCamp@sdcdm.org
Spring Day Camps at Living Coast Discovery Center!
Spring Break is here and the Living Coast Discovery Center has super fun, super educational Day Camps for kids (4-12) and Bio Days for teens (13-18)! New this Spring — Tiny but Mighty— NEW for Pre-K through Kinder! Some of the tiniest creatures have the most amazing Superhero abilities! From beetles with super strength to geckos that scale walls, we will explore the mighty creatures of our new SuperWild Seasonal Exhibit through games, crafts, and of course, hands on animal encounters! Check out the Spring Day Camps here!
Spring Camps at the Fleet Science Center
In the Spring Adventure Camps at the Fleet, kids in grades 1–3 enjoy a variety of fun and educational experiences that explore the world around us. Campers will can access the exhibit galleries, including Going Places, and engage in hands–on activities. Registration now open here!
At the Fleet Science Center, kids get to have hands-on experiences in an environment that is positive, fun, and safe. The in-person camps provide a space where students can learn alongside other students. Full-day camps are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from March 28 to April 1.
If you have any additional questions, contact the Education Coordinator at the Fleet Science Center. To learn more about our program polices and FAQs regarding programs, please click here.
ICA Spring Camps at 2 Locations (Encinitas and San Diego)
Spring Camp ICA features a variety of classes taught by accomplished local artists who are excited to share their expertise with young people. Class themes and techniques at the Institute of Contemporary Art vary widely, from painting to ceramics. Check out the opportunities here!
2022 MOPA Spring Camps
Looking for kid-friendly FUN during Spring Break? Check out the Spring Camps at the Museum of Photographic Arts during the week of March 28 – April 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Explore a variety of photographic skills and creative techniques with these hands-on, exploratory camps designed for kids ages 8-13. Learn more at: bit.ly/MOPA_SpringCamps.
Summer Camp Registrations Now Open at Balboa Park!
Half-Day Camps
San Diego Air & Space Museum
2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101
education@sdasm.org • https://sandiegoairandspace.org//education/summer-camps/summer-camps
Join the San Diego Air & Space Museum for safe, hands-on STEM summer camps! Half-day sessions are available June 20th – August 19th for students grades 1-12, with small class sizes, individual materials, and tons of fun.
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
education@sdmrm.org • https://www.sdmrm.org/summer-camps
This summer the SDMRM offers an in-person camp for TK – 8th Grade. Our ever-popular model railroad camp introduces beginner modelers to the basics of creating a mock model railroad. Older campers will create a working model railroad. Campers paint, plaster, lay track and construct a mini-town, complete with buildings, trees, trains, and people! All SDMRM camps are immersive, hands-on, and led by enthusiastic education professionals. Camp COVID-19 protocols will align with museum safety requirements and all requirements from California Department of Public Health. Sessions are available June 20th – August 5th.
Full-Day Camps
Fleet Science Center
1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 238-1233 x806 • https://www.fleetscience.org/events/summer-camps
Our science-themed summer camps provide exciting experiments, intriguing investigations and fantastic fun. (Oh—and don’t tell the kids, but they’ll be learning a lot, too!) We have something for all ages, grades 1-8, with both in-person and virtual camp options. Sessions are available June 20th – August 19th
San Diego Air & Space Museum
2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101
education@sdasm.org • https://sandiegoairandspace.org//education/summer-camps/summer-camps
Join the San Diego Air & Space Museum for safe, hands-on STEM summer camps! Full-day sessions are available June 20th – August 19th for students grades 1-12, with small class sizes, individual materials, and tons of fun.
House of Czech and Slovak Republics
2170 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101
sandiegoartcamp@gmail.com • https://www.sandiegoartcamp.com/
From July 11 – 15, 2022, July 18 – 22, 2022, and July 25 – 29, 2022 (Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm), 1st through 6th grade campers will be exposed to a wide variety of exposed to a wide variety of different art forms including photography, digital media, ceramics, painting / drawing, music / dance, and Balboa Park museums visits.
Virtual Camps
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
education@sdmrm.org • https://www.sdmrm.org/summer-camps
This summer the SDMRM offers a virtual camp for TK – 8th Grade. The ever-popular model train railroad camp introduces younger campers to the basics of creating a model railroad. Older campers will create a working model railroad. Campers will paint, plaster, lay track and construct a mini-town, complete with buildings, trees, trains, and people. The virtual camps will be held at the following times:
June 20 – 22, 8 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. PST
July 6 – 8, 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. PST
July 18 – 20, 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. PST
For more information please visit our website.
- Summer Camp registration is now open at the Museum of Photographic Arts.
Register for MOPA’s summer and/or spring camps at https://mopa.org/educate/summer-camps. - Summer Camp registration is OPEN at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum!
We are excited to offer both in-person and virtual camps, all led by our amazing educators. Visit https://www.sdmrm.org/summer-camps for all the information & registration forms!
Summer Camps at Birch Aquarium!
Birch Aquarium is thrilled to offer in-person summer camps for children ages 5-13! Explore underwater worlds and meet ocean creatures in our fun and safe week-long camps — whether you’re looking for an on-site or off-site experience, we have what you need with half-day and full-day options. Campers can play games, create fun crafts, engage in science activities, surf, snorkel, and of course, get up close to marine animals! Register Now here!
Tuesday Guided Tours at the Maritime Museum of San Diego
You’ll love exploring the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s floating compilation of adventure and history this Spring! Admission to the “Maritime Museum of San Diego” grants you access to one of the world’s finest collections of historic sea vessels. Once on board our museum ships, you not only get to explore their ships and submarine, the museum displays permanent and temporary exhibits on art, maritime history, commerce and exploration. Historic bay cruises run daily and can be added on to the price of admission for an extra nominal fee. There is no better way to spend the day than on the bay!
Tuesday Guided Tours at the Maritime Museum of San Diego is your opportunity to learn of the ships’ in-depth stories from trained knowledgeable historians, and enjoy the waterfront sights of San Diego Bay while meeting other people with like interests in maritime heritage and history. Get your tickets and learn more here!
According to Raymond Ashley, Ph.D., K.C.I., President/CEO of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, “the docent and volunteer community share a wealth of knowledge, and a passion and pride with visitors. Maritime Museum guest comments reinforce the tremendous value and influence their knowledge and friendliness have on creating an unforgettable and educational visitor experience for all ages.” Choose from two 2 hour tours, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. or 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Get ready to move and groove at the first ever Music & Movement Family Day at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum!
The San Diego Model Railroad Museum will welcome Songbirds Music to the Pacific Beach Room for an afternoon of fun celebrating the importance of music and the arts on Sunday, March 20, 2022. There will also be crafts and coloring pages around the museum to enjoy when not enraptured by our model railroad exhibits. This event is from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and is designed for families with children between 1 and 8, but all are welcome! Get your tickets here!
Adventure to the Cabrillo National Monument Tidepools!
The tidepools, or known as the Rocky Intertidal Zone, offers amazing views of the Pacific ocean and the opportunity to discover the native plants and species that live in this unique habitat.
During the winter and spring on the days before and after a full or new moon, the water pulls back and we get to look at the life that is invisible to us most of the time. For more information about the tidepools, visit Cabrillo National Monument website.
The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum California is the perfect day trip this Spring.
The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, located in Campo, California, is open weekends and visitors can stroll through the collections of railroad equipment, view steam locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars, and cabooses. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Click here for more details.
The museum offers train rides on most weekends. The Golden State train excursion takes a 12-mile round-trip journey on the old San Diego & Arizona Railway track. A Diesel-electric locomotive pulls vintage passenger cars. The train lumbers along with the track past ranches and the scenic backcountry of Southern California. This is not a high-speed train ride; it’s a pleasant slow-moving ride trip back in time.
San Diego Archaeological Center’s Annual BBQ is Back!
Join the San Diego Archaeological Center on April 30 from noon to 3 p.m. for an afternoon of food, fun, and music in support of the Center. Proceeds from the BBQ provide funding for school field trips and programs, lectures, workshops, museum exhibits, curation, and more. Find all the details here! The Center is looking for individual and corporate sponsorships to support the BBQ as well as in-kind contributions to the Silent Auction. BBQ Sponsorship opportunities here.
- Enjoy BBQ fare courtesy of H Brothers, beer, and live music.
- Take a selfie in our photo booth
- Test your aim with at our atlatl throw and bow-and-arrow stations.
- Meet with cultural resource management (CRM), government, and academic archaeologists to learn about working in the field of archaeology.
- The Center will also present the Golden Trowel Award for excellence in archaeology.
SOHO’s Terrace Talks resume in March 2022 with the theme Historic Preservation
Spring is the perfect time to visit the 8,500 square foot Marston House with its extensive grounds and outbuildings providing a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of one of San Diego’s most prominent and progressive families. Trained and knowledgeable docents lead the 45-minute guided tour.
On Wednesday, March 16 at 6 p.m. is SOHO’s first panel discussion via Zoom this year: “How Historic Preservation Intersects with Affordable Housing in San Diego.” Join SOHO and its three expert panelists as they explore the ways older buildings, historic preservation, and affordable housing connect and strengthen our local communities. Attendance is free, with donations welcome. You must register in advance HERE. You’ll receive an email with the Zoom link.
The Warner-Carrillo Ranch House – SOHO’s Newest Museum!
Step back in time at the Save Our Heritage Organisation ‘s Warner-Carrillo Ranch House on Saturdays & Sundays from 12-4 p.m. Enjoy the scenic drive out to Warner Springs, California. It is located near the Palomar Observatory and is located on State Route 79, which connects to the city of Temecula to the north and the communities of Santa Ysabel and Julian to the south.
For those that are interested in getting a glimpse into San Diego’s history, the Warner-Carrillo Ranch House is a must-visit spot for your checklist. The ranch house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Built in 1857 by Vincenta Carrillo, a prominent early Californian woman rancher, the adobe known as the Ranch House at Warner’s served as the Butterfield Stage Stop from 1858 until the beginning of the Civil War in 1861.
Live Music from the Museum of Making Music
The Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad hosts a wide variety of events, from live music and workshops to films, family activities and hands on music making sessions! Find tickets, links and more information here.
MoMM@Home welcomes Robin Sassi and Kimberly Deverell of San Diego Music Studio live online Thursday, March 3 at 2 p.m. Learn about their careers, the award-winning local music store they’ve established in Southern California, and the impact they’re having on their community and the music products industry.
Tim Bluhm, co-founder of the iconic band The Mother Hips, makes his live Museum of Making Music debut with his band, The Coffis Brothers on Saturday, March 12 at 7 p.m. A mix of Americana, roots, country, and rock and roll, this show will feature new original music as well as fresh take on classics.
Seventeen-year-old Pianist Brenda Greggio shares her love for jazz by performing original compositions, her arrangements of standard tunes, and a few more contemporary pieces. She will perform live on Saturday, March 19 at 7 p.m. with bassist John Murray and drummer Julien Cantelm.
SAVE THE DATE! Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego reopens its flagship location in La Jolla on Saturday, April 9 after a four-year, $105 million renovation and expansion. The Museum will offer four times the current gallery space, two levels of light-filled galleries, a public park, and new seaside terraces offering dramatic views of the Pacific Coast. Get ready for a week of activities to celebrate!
