San Diego is brimming with world-famous museums and this is
the month to plan as many visits to them as you can. Macy’s Museum Month is going on right now
with more than 40 museums participating until the end of February. Just visit one of Macy’s many locations
(click HERE to find a store near you) for a free pass that will give you 50%
off admission. Each pass will allow you
to bring up to three people so the whole family can enjoy the deep discounts.
The Museum Month pass is not just limited to art
museums! You can use it at favorites
like Birch Aquarium at Scripps, USS Midway Museum, and the Maritime Museum as
well. You can find a list of all
participating spots HERE.
This February you might want to frequent the lesser known historical
treasures in San Diego for a fraction of the cost. We recommend you start at the San Diego History Center nestled in Balboa Park. This small spaces celebrates the unique
history of our great town, and has rotating exhibits that brings to life San
Diego’s past, present and future. The
History Center is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.
On the northwest corner of Balboa Park is the Marston House Museum & Gardens, a sprawling mansion on five acres of land. The 8,500 square foot house is one of
California’s best examples of the Arts and Crafts movement, and was built in
1905 by George W. Marston and his wife Anna.
The manicured gardens are pristinely preserved and will transport
visitors back 100 years. The house
became a museum in 1987 and is currently operated by Save Our Heritage Organization
(SOHO) a nonprofit group committed to promoting and supporting the preservation
of architectural, cultural and historical landmarks. The House is open Friday to Monday from 10 AM
to 5 PM.
Another small historic gem, also run by SOHO, is the Whaley House Museum in Old Town San Diego. Built
in 1857, this was the first two-story brick building in San Diego, and even
though it might look small by today’s standard, this was an impressive sight in
the 1850s. This modest building is also
one of the most popular historical attractions in our state, with over 125,000
people visiting it annually, thanks to its locations in Old Town and its
haunted history. When you visit you can
learn more about its ghostly folklore attached and its mid-19th century
Greek revival architecture. During the winter the museum is open Sunday to
Tuesday from 10 AM to 4:30 PM and Thursday to Saturday from 10 AM to 9:30
PM.
Smack dab in the heart of San Diego is the Gaslamp Museum at William Heath Davis House, the oldest standing structure Downtown. This charming yellow house was actually
shipped from Portland, Maine and placed downtown in 1850. The house was moved in 1873, by its
then-owner Anna Scheper, and then moved yet again in 1977 to its current
location when it was donated to the city of San Diego. That is a lot of changes for a little house which
is more than 160 years old! The museum
is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and on Sunday from 12 PM to 4
PM. Three houses of free parking is
available at Horton Plaza.
Don’t delay! Book a week at Mission Bay Vacation Rentals and take advantage of San Diego’s rich history in visiting all these landmarks and museums in February. Thank goodness for Leap Year, you’ll need that extra day this month to explore and check out all these interesting sights.
