So Cal residents - children's museums

[maxie]

Are there any good children's museums close to DL or in San Diego. I was wondering about the Science Museum in San Diego if there would be anything there for an 17 month old.

 

[AStarOnMars]

A good hands on one in San Diego is the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (rhfleet.org ). This was my favorite place to visit as a kid. For a 17 month old, I'm not very sure ... it really depends on the interactive exhibits going on. I remember there being bubble and color exhibits.

it's located with a whole bunch of other museums in Balboa Park (balboapark.org)

 

[M's_girl]

There will not be many things for a 17 month old to do at the Ruben H. Fleet museum. Our son is almost 5 and he just now is really starting to enjoy the museum. San Diego did have a Children's Museum located near the Gaslamp District downtown, but it is closed at the moment and being rebuilt. http://sdchildrensmuseum.org/index.pacq

There is a children's museum in North San Diego--Carlsbad--where Legoland is. http://www.museumforchildren.org/

In Balboa Park, the only museum that my son likes is the railroad museum, but he is a railroad nut.

 

[maxie]

Thanks guys! I was wondering about the one in Balboa Park. We won't bother than. BTW is the playground in Balboa Park worth going to. We do have a car while in San Diego and we could could walk around and let Joshua have a play in the playground.

 

[M's_girl]

The play area in Balboa Park is OK, but not any nicer than some of the other neighborhood parks. If you go there though it is only a short walk to the entrance of the Zoo. While you may or may not want to go to the Zoo, there is a small railroad outside the entrance where kids and parents can ride together--$1 a person I think--and there is also a carousel. We love the carousel.

 

[AStarOnMars]

I prefer Sea Port Village better (they just reopened the carousel there) ... just b/c I like getting balloon animals and walking along the bay ... but there is no play ground there from what I recall

 

[M's_girl]

There is not a playground at Seaport Village, but on some days there are lots of people flying kites and that is always fun to look at.

 

[iceskatejen]

There's the Discovery Science center museum at the intersection of the 5 and 57 freeways in Santa Ana. It's probably about 5-10 (less if you go when there's no traffic) minutes from DL. I've never been so I am not sure if a 17 month old would get anything out of it.

 

[maxie]

Thanks for the tips! THe day we get the rental car and drive to San Diego I'm trying to keep quiet and slow pace. Perhaps we'll stop in San Juan Capistrano for a few hours for lunch. Than after checking into the hotel (BW Mission Bay?) perhaps we'll go the beach to play in the sand or drive to Balboa park and hang out at the playground. Any other idea? Want to keep the day cheap and laid back as a break from the DL days.

 

[M's_girl]

Sounds like you should have a good time. You may want to check out this link of cheap things to do in San Diego.

http://www.geoparent.com/local/sandiego/features/free.htm

 

[maxie]

Wow great tips! Printed off that list of things to do!

Now how about the SEALs harbor tours (the buses that turn into boats). Would those be worth the $? Would it be too cold on the water in Feb?

How about Tijuana - i was there once 20 years ago. Would it be really silly to take a baby and go for couple of hours to the marketplace?

 

[AStarOnMars]

Originally posted by maxie

Now how about the SEALs harbor tours (the buses that turn into boats). Would those be worth the $? Would it be too cold on the water in Feb?

I've wanted to do this too ... when I see it on the street/water ... I say do it for the experience ... hehehe.

In Feb. it is cold for the native California's but out of town-ers usual parade around in shorts. It could be 65-68 degrees out and I will be bundled up from head to toe ready for a blizzard. And it also depend on what time you take the tour. Mornings are obviously colder than afternoons.

 

[M's_girl]

I'm always freezing in February also, but I'm also native San Diego. Tijuana has really grown from when you remember it. If you do decide to go, I'd take the trolley to the border and then walk across and find a cab. The lines to get across seem awful any more. I really think the prettier areas are an hour past TJ, but then you really need to be willing to drive. If you are looking for relaxing, I'd probably not head south of the border.

 

[mobetsy]

You might consider the Children's Museum in La Habra. It's not right next door to DL, but probably about 20-25 minutes up Harbor. It is small but excellent, has loads of hands on stuff, and a special room particularly for little ones. There is even a very small but real carousel that is free and inside the museum, which runs frequently. Really, really good playground outside, too.

 

[QueenTriton]

I'd second the La Habra idea. It is a great museum for that age and much less money than the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. Their address, phone number, hours are here: www.lhcm.org

 

[almostGoofy]

Originally posted by maxie
Perhaps we'll stop in San Juan Capistrano for a few hours for lunch. .

If you do stop off in San Juan Capistrano, you should visit Jones Mini-Farm. You can feed farm animals, they have pony rides, a little train ride and a pen you can enter with rabbits and guiena (sp?) pigs which you can touch and pick up. You can find it across the street from the Amtrak station. On the other side of the train station, down the block, is a Ruby's Diner. Good place to take kids to for lunch.

I also second the La Habra Children's museum. The room for 5 year olds and under will have plenty for your 17 month old to do.