San Diego Air & Space Museum

The San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park is the kind of place where kids run ahead of you because there's something genuinely impressive around every corner. Housed in a restored 1935 Ford Building in the park's Palisades area, the museum holds over 65 aircraft and spacecraft — many of them originals or certified replicas of historically significant machines.

The scale is what gets kids first. Walking into the main exhibit hall and looking up at full-size aircraft hanging overhead is a different experience than looking at a model in a glass case. The Apollo capsule replica puts the cramped reality of early space travel into immediate perspective for kids who only know NASA from movie montages.

A replica of the Spirit of St. Louis (Lindbergh's plane) hangs alongside actual fighter aircraft from multiple eras.

For kids who want more than looking, the flight simulators are the session highlight. These motion-platform simulators let you experience basic aerial maneuvers and are available for a small additional fee beyond general admission. Kids ages 6 and up generally handle them well; the attendants are patient with first-timers.

The museum also covers the development of aviation in San Diego specifically — which is a genuinely important story, since San Diego was a major hub of early aircraft production and naval aviation. This local angle makes the exhibits feel grounded rather than just a parade of famous machines.

Practical notes: the museum is entirely indoors and climate-controlled, making it one of the better midday or summer picks in Balboa Park. General admission runs roughly $20 for adults and $10 for children 3-11; under-3 is free. Military discounts are generous — bring your ID. The Balboa Park Explorer Pass is worth purchasing if you plan to visit two or more museums during your stay.