In 1869, early founders of San Diego set aside 1,400 acres as a “City Park.” Today Balboa Park is home to many museums and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. It is also home to some great urban hiking. This is our guide to hiking what is currently Balboa Park Trail 31. Starting Point: Park Blvd…
The Birch Aquarium in La Jolla is part of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This is great attraction for those that want to explore sea life but do not want to spend the time or money to visit a large amusement park like SeaWorld. Overview The Birch Aquarium has actually been around in some form…
The Living Coast Discovery Center is a hidden gem in Chula Vista, about 15 minutes south of downtown San Diego. The center is a combination zoo and aquarium. There are hands-on exhibits with all kinds of animals native to the San Diego coastal area. This includes fish, sea turtles, sharks, sting rays, birds of prey…
Washington DC is a great city to visit because so many of its attractions are free. However, there are also some excellent premium attractions. When visiting we use the Go Washington DC Card to get discounts and save money when going to multiple attractions. Overview The Go Washington DC Card is part of the Leisure…
Every time we visit Washington, D.C. we do a car tour of the area. Our favorite Washington, D.C. drive is a quick tour through the heart of the nation’s capital. This drive is basically a simple drive along the National Mall and the area stretching from the Potomac River and Lincoln Memorial to the U.S….
Washington, D.C. is noted for its free Smithsonian museums. A museum that charges admission needs to be pretty spectacular. We are happy to report we have visited the International Spy Museum multiple times. This was before the museum doubled in size in 2019! Overview WEBSITE: https://www.spymuseum.org/ NOTE: Upfront we need to note that we have…
Our family refers to the Smithsonian American Art Museum as the “fun” art museum. Located in the heart of Washington, DC, the American Art Museum shares space with the National Portrait Gallery. Overview The Smithsonian American Art Museum (abbreviated as SAAM) has the world’s largest collection of art made in America. In addition to the…
The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC sounds rather boring considering all the other options in the neighborhood. However, this is one of the most educational and entertaining museums. Overview The National Portrait Gallery was founded in 1962 and opened in its current location in the Old Patent Office building in 1968. The focus…
Being born in Washington, D.C. I have been going to the free Smithsonian museums all my life. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History is a personal favorite. It opened right before I was born, and in recent years my father worked at the museum. Overview The National Museum of American History opened in 1964…
The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute is on the National Mall in Washington D.C. Located directly in the shadow of the U.S. Capital it is one on the most popular museums in the world. I have been coming here since it opened in 1976. Overview The annual Global Attractions Attendance report…