It’s almost February, and that means Museum Month! This year marks the event’s 25th annual celebration, offering half-off admission to more than 40 San Diego museums.
While San Diego is best known for its many outdoor activities, nothing beats an afternoon browsing a local museum. With so many different museums located throughout the county, you can find something for everyone, from science buffs to SoCal surfer bros. And this February, there are several options for music and arts enthusiasts in particular – right up our alley here at TakeLessons!
Museum Month runs from February 1st through February 28th, with discount passes available at Macy’s locations throughout San Diego, Imperial Valley, and Temecula. Passes allow up to four visitors to receive the discount, and can be used all month long.
So, ready to get your learn on? Here are some of our favorite San Diego museums worth checking out:
1. Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
1875 El Prado, Balboa Park
GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked the World is the must-see exhibit at the Fleet right now, featuring 60 instruments, nearly 100 artifacts, and 15 hands-on exhibits. Here you can learn about the inner workings of the guitar, find out about its history, and also play the World’s Largest Guitar. For the 21+ crowd, the museum is also hosting a live concert series on select Friday nights through the end of March, with performers like Common Sense and Michael Tiernan gracing the stage.
While you’re there, make sure to check out their two music IMAX films current showing: Country Music: The Spirit of America (through January 26th), and Rolling Stones at the MAX (limited showtimes through January and February).
2. Museum of Making Music
5790 Armada Dr.,
Carlsbad, CA 92008
This one is an obvious one, and we just can’t get enough of it! The museum is located right next to the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) headquarters in Carlsbad, and celebrates the history and future of music-making. You can check out vintage instruments and artifacts, learn about instrument production through history, and play with a variety of instruments in their interactive area. Current exhibits include Singing the Golden State (ends January 31st, 2014), Celebrating 30 Years of MIDI, and The Banjo: A New Day For an Old Instrument (opens March 2014).
The county’s oldest and largest museum also hosts free Sunday afternoon concerts four time annually, in conjunction with the San Diego Early Music Society. But get ready for a blast from the past – the performances focus on music from Europe’s Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, performed on period instruments and in accordance with historical practice. The next concert is February 2nd at 2pm.
4. San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
320 North Broadway
Escondido, CA 92025
Planning an afternoon with the kiddos? Make sure the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum is on your list! Instead of traditional exhibits, this “museum” is all about hands-on, free-play fun, including both indoor and outdoor exhibits focused on science, art, and world cultures. Although the museum is geared toward kids ages 0-10, children of all ages are welcome.
To introduce your kids to music, we recommend checking out the Escondido Roots Series, meant to educate visitors about different cultures through hands-on activities, music, and the arts. On February 15th from 2-4pm, join the museum as they celebrate the culture of Japan with storyteller Steven Gregory, musician Reiko Obata, and Taiko drumming performed by Asayake Taiko.
Readers, what San Diego museums would you add to this list? Which are your favorites? Leave a comment below!
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Photo by ConspiracyofHappiness
Suzy S.