
Featured articles
Food & Drink
Features
Food & Drink
Featured articles
Food & Drink
Things to Do
Things to Do
Featured articles
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Food News
Featured articles
podcast-ep
podcast-ep
podcast-ep
Featured articles
Food & Drink
Features
Food & Drink
Featured articles
Food & Drink
Features
Partner content
Ready to know more about San Diego?
SubscribeReady to know more about San Diego?
A peek at SD's first wine-and-beer bar to serve exclusively local craft beer
“It really is planes, trains and automobiles,” says Beau Schmitt as we stand at SD Brew Project’s entrance, watching orange and blue planes hit the tarmac. You can almost hear the passengers exhale in relief. The trolley chugs past. “It doesn’t get much better,” he says of the Downtown skyline.
We gave you the scoop on the exclusively San Diego-county-brewed-beer and wine bar earlier this month, but they’ve added another dimension since then. 24 Carrots, an Orange County-based catering company, will also take a share of the 10,000 square-foot spot, now home solely to 57 Degrees. There will be a walk up ordering window where beer and wine guzzlers can snack. Beer/wine and food pairings are in the works.
Those stainless steel tasting flights will come with a dry-erase marker. Scribble the brew you want to try in front of each glass and hand it to the bartender; they will pour, you will drink, then erase and repeat. Take them to the long, communal tables Beau’s dad is building or squat in one of the grandma-style rocking chairs Kyle will be putting in the window. They hope to be pouring in two weeks—but, as always, that’s a tentative date.
Enough talking. Here are some photos of the space and the 28-tap behemoth.
FIRST LOOK: SD Brew Project
FIRST LOOK: SD Brew Project
FIRST LOOK: SD Brew Project
FIRST LOOK: SD Brew Project
FIRST LOOK: SD Brew Project
PARTNER CONTENT
San Diego beers nab 14 medals at Great American Beer Festival. Try these now.
San Diego beers took 14 medals at the 33rd Annual Great American Beer Festival. It’s where craft beers go to be celebrated, drank, judged. Here are a few of our favorites and ones we’d most like to spend quality time with:
GOLD MEDAL: Old Numbskull by AleSmith Brewing Co.
First place out of 51 entries in the category. Barleywine isn’t wine. It’s confused. It’s beer. A very old beer invented in England back when showers were a pretty irregular thing and septic systems were a loopy sci-fi concept. Maybe that’s why barleywines are one of the strongest, thickest style of beers on the planet. Couple glasses of Old Numbskull (11% ABV) and those long-dead Englishmen would’ve blissfully forgotten how often people in their neighborhood used the word “squalor.” Barleywines age really well, just like wine. If you like dark fruit and hops, Old Numbskull is for you.
GOLD MEDAL: Oatmeal Stout by Benchmark Brewing Co.
There were 94 entries in its category (Session Beer), so huge congrats to the Mission Gorge brewery. Why make a beer using breakfast food? Because oatmeal gives it a real smooth, silky, creamy body. Benchmark’s tastes like chocolate, coffee, and all that is dark and good in this world. At 4.8% ABV, you can drink a couple of these and maintain basic language skills.
GOLD MEDAL: White Ale by Saint Archer Brewing Co.
This took top prize in the Belgian-Style Witbier category (65 entries). Saint Archer is just killing it. First, they’re owned by pro skaters, surfers and snowboarders. So their release parties are well-tanned and high in swimsuit models. But pretty, mocha-tinted, world-class athletes wouldn’t matter if your beer tasted like sadness. This gold medal suggests Saint Archer’s taste pretty great, and we agree. You know witbiers—spicy, refreshing, light. This one tastes like coriander and orange peels. Yes, like Moroccan food. It’s excellent.
GOLD MEDAL: Witty Moron by Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Stations
If Karl Strauss invented craft beer in San Diego, Stone exploded it. They distribute most other craft beers in town (they literally haul their “competitors” beers in refrigerated trucks to retail outlets). They created a scene. Witty Moron has the usual witbier spices, but it’s darker, more complex. The poetry major of witbiers.
SILVER: Guillaume by Pizza Port Ocean Beach
Second place out of 94 entries in the Session Beer category (session means lighter beer with a lower alcohol content so you can drink more than one of without losing all motor control). Unless our math is bad, that’s about top 2-3% in the nation. Awesome work by one of the early leaders in San Diego’s craft beer scene. It’s a golden ale, 4.4% ABV. A touch sweet. You just surfed and the sun is out? This is your beer.
SILVER: Hop 15 by Port Brewing Co.
This beer always wins awards. It’s good at doing that. It’s also good in your mouth. Hop 15 is not shy at 10% ABV. It’s definitely made for the small glass, high class beer crowd. As you can guess by the name, it’s hoppy. Beer people call it “sticky” and “resinous.” Wonder if they refer to their weed as “refreshing.”
BRONZE: Le Freak by Green Flash Brewing Co.
In the American-Belgo-Style Ale category, this took second place out of 69 entries. Le Freak is a combination of Belgian-style Trippel and American Imperial IPA. It’s day-glo orange in the glass with a little bit of citrus, a little bit of flower and a little bit of funk. One of my personal favorites in San Diego. Green Flash is set to open a new brewery/tasting room in Poway.
BRONZE: Mosaic Session Ale by Karl Strauss Brewing Co.
This is a hoppy little IPA brewed as a “session” beer. It smells like grapefruit and a tropical vacation well-spent. Perfect for those 100-degree days in October when you’re just sitting around talking about global warming with your buds.
BRONZE: The Pupil by Societe Brewing Co.
Third place at the country’s biggest beer festival is a huge honor. Yet this still feels like they were robbed. What a great beer. It’s got a nice full body with a touch of oiliness. Oily can be good (Thai food is proof). Grapefruit, assorted citrus, endorphins. Big fan.
ALPHA KING: Pound Town by Belching Beaver
You thought Belching Beaver was a pretty interesting name. Well, the Vista-based brewery doubled down on your shock value by naming their double IPA “Pound Town.” This 10.3 ABV ditty hasn’t been released yet. But oh you bet it will now. Wide and far.
For a full list of winners, click here.
The Best San Diego Beers
San Diego beers nab 14 medals at Great American Beer Festival. Try these now.
San Diego beers took 14 medals at the 33rd Annual Great American Beer Festival. It’s where craft beers go to be celebrated, drank, judged. Here are a few of our favorites and ones we’d most like to spend quality time with:
GOLD MEDAL: Old Numbskull by AleSmith Brewing Co.
First place out of 51 entries in the category. Barleywine isn’t wine. It’s confused. It’s beer. A very old beer invented in England back when showers were a pretty irregular thing and septic systems were a loopy sci-fi concept. Maybe that’s why barleywines are one of the strongest, thickest style of beers on the planet. Couple glasses of Old Numbskull (11% ABV) and those long-dead Englishmen would’ve blissfully forgotten how often people in their neighborhood used the word “squalor.” Barleywines age really well, just like wine. If you like dark fruit and hops, Old Numbskull is for you.
GOLD MEDAL: Oatmeal Stout by Benchmark Brewing Co.
There were 94 entries in its category (Session Beer), so huge congrats to the Mission Gorge brewery. Why make a beer using breakfast food? Because oatmeal gives it a real smooth, silky, creamy body. Benchmark’s tastes like chocolate, coffee, and all that is dark and good in this world. At 4.8% ABV, you can drink a couple of these and maintain basic language skills.
GOLD MEDAL: White Ale by Saint Archer Brewing Co.
This took top prize in the Belgian-Style Witbier category (65 entries). Saint Archer is just killing it. First, they’re owned by pro skaters, surfers and snowboarders. So their release parties are well-tanned and high in swimsuit models. But pretty, mocha-tinted, world-class athletes wouldn’t matter if your beer tasted like sadness. This gold medal suggests Saint Archer’s taste pretty great, and we agree. You know witbiers—spicy, refreshing, light. This one tastes like coriander and orange peels. Yes, like Moroccan food. It’s excellent.
GOLD MEDAL: Witty Moron by Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Stations
If Karl Strauss invented craft beer in San Diego, Stone exploded it. They distribute most other craft beers in town (they literally haul their “competitors” beers in refrigerated trucks to retail outlets). They created a scene. Witty Moron has the usual witbier spices, but it’s darker, more complex. The poetry major of witbiers.
SILVER: Guillaume by Pizza Port Ocean Beach
Second place out of 94 entries in the Session Beer category (session means lighter beer with a lower alcohol content so you can drink more than one of without losing all motor control). Unless our math is bad, that’s about top 2-3% in the nation. Awesome work by one of the early leaders in San Diego’s craft beer scene. It’s a golden ale, 4.4% ABV. A touch sweet. You just surfed and the sun is out? This is your beer.
SILVER: Hop 15 by Port Brewing Co.
This beer always wins awards. It’s good at doing that. It’s also good in your mouth. Hop 15 is not shy at 10% ABV. It’s definitely made for the small glass, high class beer crowd. As you can guess by the name, it’s hoppy. Beer people call it “sticky” and “resinous.” Wonder if they refer to their weed as “refreshing.”
BRONZE: Le Freak by Green Flash Brewing Co.
In the American-Belgo-Style Ale category, this took second place out of 69 entries. Le Freak is a combination of Belgian-style Trippel and American Imperial IPA. It’s day-glo orange in the glass with a little bit of citrus, a little bit of flower and a little bit of funk. One of my personal favorites in San Diego. Green Flash is set to open a new brewery/tasting room in Poway.
BRONZE: Mosaic Session Ale by Karl Strauss Brewing Co.
This is a hoppy little IPA brewed as a “session” beer. It smells like grapefruit and a tropical vacation well-spent. Perfect for those 100-degree days in October when you’re just sitting around talking about global warming with your buds.
BRONZE: The Pupil by Societe Brewing Co.
Third place at the country’s biggest beer festival is a huge honor. Yet this still feels like they were robbed. What a great beer. It’s got a nice full body with a touch of oiliness. Oily can be good (Thai food is proof). Grapefruit, assorted citrus, endorphins. Big fan.
ALPHA KING: Pound Town by Belching Beaver
You thought Belching Beaver was a pretty interesting name. Well, the Vista-based brewery doubled down on your shock value by naming their double IPA “Pound Town.” This 10.3 ABV ditty hasn’t been released yet. But oh you bet it will now. Wide and far.
For a full list of winners, click here.
The Best San Diego Beers
A brew benefit with Craft Beers+Bites
Green Flash beer
The second iteration of Craft Beers + Bites pairs 10 local brewers with 10 local chefs—Green Flash and Alchemy are among the mix—on April 5 for an outdoor food fest to benefit the San Diego Brewers Guild and The Front Burner Fund. The event, which will take place at SILO in East Village’s Makers Quarter, also celebrates SDSU’s Business of Craft Beer Program. Once you’ve eaten and imbibed, stick around for ping pong, Bocce ball, and Jenga. And no need to leave Fido behind; dogs are welcome. Tickets are $30/$35 at the door. 753 15th Street
Yes, Chef! winner Emily Brubaker leads the robust culinary program at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
For Executive Chef Emily Brubaker, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa feels like home. She grew up just a mile-and-a-half away from the 400-acre property and fondly recalls walking the golf course perimeter as a kid. Though her ambitions led her away from San Diego for nearly two decades in which she honed her craft in some of the highest of high-profile Las Vegas restaurants—including triple Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand—they ultimately brought her back to North County.

Today, the classically French-trained chef, who’s fresh off a victory on NBC’s Yes, Chef!, judged by Martha Stewart and José Andrés, oversees Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s seven distinct dining concepts. Her goal is to elevate the resort’s culinary program with her creative, hyperlocal ingredient-driven approach while maintaining the Spanish- inspired flavors and fresh California coastal cuisine that are the bedrock of its culinary identity.
“The San Diego food scene is really growing, and in North County alone, it’s really exploded in the last five years,” Brubaker says. “There are Michelin stars, beautiful tasting menus, craft bakers, and all this food—when I was growing up in La Costa, it was fish tacos. Now there are really cool things popping up, and I’m so happy to be here to see where it’s going to go.”
Brubaker gives chefs de cuisine at each individual restaurant autonomy, however, her influence is evident across the resort.
For example, lobby restaurant Bar Traza serves as Omni La Costa’s culinary centerpiece and features bold Spanish flavors in a lively, social atmosphere. Brubaker overhauled the menu to be more consistent and centered on casual bites with that signature vibe. Think smoky paprika, vibrant citrus, and Spanish meats and cheeses.
At VUE, the focus is on seasonal offerings, California coastal cuisine, and Baja-inspired dishes. She and Chef de Cuisine Cameron Dixon change the menu biannually, which heading into summer, will highlight farm-fresh produce and hyperlocal ingredients—the resort even has its own herb garden and honeybee hives.

Poolside dining options are leaning into the country’s 250th this summer with a selection of classic American dishes with an Omni La Costa twist. And Bob’s Steak & Chop House (Brubaker is a trained butcher) offers a classic steakhouse experience with elevated service.
The chef and company also plan menus for special events at the resort where her creativity can really shine. For an upcoming National Ski Association dinner, the banquet hall will be transformed into an Alpine-themed winter wonderland complete with a snow machine, savory sausages, and melty, decadent raclette. A recent dinner was built around the Carlsbad Flower Fields and each course was matched to a color of ranunculus (Did you know pink dragonfruit are grown in North County? You do now.).
“It’s my zen to be in the kitchen playing with food,” Brubaker says.
Omni La Costa’s culinary program is a key part of the resort experience. And with Brubaker’s leadership, it’s becoming a draw for visitors and locals alike.
“These aren’t just hotel restaurants, these are restaurants that you should go to. They’re destinations, and I’m really hoping for the future that’s where we’re going,” Brubaker says.

Brubaker is also channeling her experience on Yes, Chef! into the culture at Omni La Costa—more emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, empowering her staff to share constructive critiques, and embracing different perspectives. Alongside her leadership role, Brubaker has become an advocate for mental health in the hospitality industry, serving as chief ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Apex Culinary Program, where she mentors and develops future talent.
For more on Omni La Costa Resort & Spa and its dining program, please visit omnihotels.com/hotels/san-diego-la-costa.
A brew benefit with Craft Beers+Bites
Green Flash beer
The second iteration of Craft Beers + Bites pairs 10 local brewers with 10 local chefs—Green Flash and Alchemy are among the mix—on April 5 for an outdoor food fest to benefit the San Diego Brewers Guild and The Front Burner Fund. The event, which will take place at SILO in East Village’s Makers Quarter, also celebrates SDSU’s Business of Craft Beer Program. Once you’ve eaten and imbibed, stick around for ping pong, Bocce ball, and Jenga. And no need to leave Fido behind; dogs are welcome. Tickets are $30/$35 at the door. 753 15th Street
San Diego's first all-local craft beer bar going into 57 Degrees
It’s one of those “How has this not happened already?” ideas.
In three weeks, 57 Degrees will become the first bar in San Diego to offer exclusively local craft beers on tap (not counting places that have just a couple tap handles). We’re talking 28 local brews, from the biggies (Stone, Ballast Point, Green Flash) to little guys (Indian Joe Brewing in Vista, etc.).
The concept is called SD Brew Project, the brainchild of locals Beau Schmitt and Kyle Chaykowski. It basically splits 57 Degrees—a huge, 10,000 square-foot space—into two concepts, working in unison. 57 Degrees owner Russ Kindom had been looking for a partner to fill out the room. Schmitt and Chaykowski had been looking to open their own craft beer bar in East Village.
“After looking at the prices on licensing and build-out, we decided not to do it,” says Schmitt. “So we partnered with Russ. He’ll do wine and we’ll do beer. We’re renovating the central bar and opening the southwest wall with two garage doors so you can view the skyline and airport. You can literally see the smoke from the tires as they hit the runway.”
An idea like this wouldn’t work in most cities. But San Diego squats out another craft brewery every couple days. In terms of American craft beer, this city is the mother ship. “Every ounce of beer served will be local,” says Schmitt.
And every tap will be dedicated to a different brewery. Theyll be selling the beer for consumption on premise, as well as 22-oz. bottles to go. SD Brew Project is currently working with 35 local breweries. The tough part of their business plan will be getting the smaller brewers to deliver product, since many don’t have distribution systems in place like Stone, Ballast Point and Green Flash.
“People travel to San Diego just for the beer. We want to be a really central, reliable hub where people can try a ton of the craft beers on tap,” he says. “We’ll drive traffic to those breweries, with cards that give directions to each.”
Schmitt’s a regular at the Tap Room, and a fan of craft bars like Blind Lady Ale House and Hamiton’s. But he and Chaykowski are finance guys, not brewers. “I tried homebrewing once,” he says. “I’m pretty sure I brewed urine. Why do it when there are so many other people doing it better?”
The duo also worked with AP Precision Metal in Chula Vista for custom steel tasting flights that’ll hold 5, 4-oz. clear tasting glasses. They’ll host food trucks on Fridays, and look to set up 57 Degrees as an events space that holds between 500-550 people. One half wine, one half all local brew.
“The girls we know love going to 57 Degrees—go there on a packed night and it’s 70 women and 10 guys,” says Schmitt. “Now, there will be local craft beer on tap.”
To follow progress, check SD Brew Project’s website and follow them on Twitter.
SD BREW PROJECT’S CURRENT LIST OF BREWERIES
AleSmith Brewing Co., Aztec Brewing Co., Belching Beaver Brewery, Breakwater Brewing Co., Ballast Point Brewing Co., Coronado Brewing Co., Green Flash Brewing Co., Helms Brewing Co., Hess Brewing, Hillcrest Brewing Co., Indian Joe Brewing, Iron Fist Brewing Co., Karl Strauss Brewing Co., Latitude 33 Brewing Co, Lightning Brewery, The Lost Abbey Brewery, Mad Lab Craft Brewing, Manzanita Brewing Co., Mission Brewery, Mother Earth Brew Co., New English Brewing Co., Oceanside Ale Works, Offbeat Brewing Co., On-The-Tracks Brewery, Poor House Brewing Co., Port Brewing Co., Prohibition Brewing Co., Rough Draft Brewing Co., Stone Brewing Co., Stumblefoot Brewing Co., Wet ‘N Reckless Brewing… more to come.
San Diego Magazine's 2026 Guide to Balboa Park.
Balboa Park is San Diego’s cultural heart.
The iconic 1,200-acre preserve’s history dates back more than 150 years, evolving from a scrub-filled plot atop a mesa overlooking what’s now Downtown to an urban oasis—the largest of its kind in the country—filled with an array of museums, attractions, gardens, trails, restaurants, and more. Balboa Park is an epic playground where San Diegans and visitors alike can experience the great outdoors just as easily as they can enjoy a world-class performance or explore groundbreaking discoveries.
Tucked away in the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture are 18 diverse museums that allow visitors to spend the day learning about, well, anything. A great place to start is the San Diego History Center. Located in the Casa del Balboa building, the museum tells the story of the city’s past, present, and future through photographs and art, clothing and textiles, and interviews with people who witnessed history-making events firsthand. The San Diego Natural History Museum takes visitors even farther back with interactive exhibitions that show what the region was like up to 75 million years ago.
Blast off on a simulated trip to space at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, then check out artifacts from aviation legends, including the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Buzz Aldrin. Discover new perspectives revolutionizing the science world, learn about an often overlooked but overutilized utility, and exercise your creativity at the Fleet Science Center.
Calling all theater-lovers, Balboa Park has something for you, too. The San Diego Junior Theatre will present their musical take on beloved children’s book A Bad Case of the Stripes from June 26 through July 12. And laugh, cry, and marvel in awe as the pros of The Old Globe perform Kim’s Convenience, the award-winning comedy that inspired the popular series, from May 15 to June 14.
There’s nowhere else in Balboa Park quite like WorldBeat Cultural Center. The institution celebrates African diaspora and indigenous cultures around the world using art, music, dance, and education. The building, a renovated water tower covered in colorful murals, houses a performing arts center, museum, gift shop, cafe, and outdoor classroom.
If you’d like a side of nature with your culture, Balboa Park has you covered there, too. Stroll through the gardens of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, a monument to the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, Japan. Inspired by traditional Japanese design dating back centuries, the 10-acre respite features a living exhibition that showcases plants native to both cities.
If there seems like a lot going on in Balboa Park, it’s because there is. Let the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership be your guide. The organization is the umbrella for 24 of the park’s institutions and offers an Explorer Pass that allows visitors to access multiple museums for one affordable price. The hardest part is picking where to start.

Save on admission to San Diego’s top museums with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass. Explore 16 museums of art, science, history and culture across Balboa Park — all with one affordable pass. Choose the option that fits your pace: the Limited Pass (one day for up to four museums), the Parkwide Pass (seven consecutive days of access to all 16 museums) or the Annual Pass (365 days of unlimited exploring).
Looking for an experience-driven gift? Let the museum lover in your life enjoy their favorite museums all year with a Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass gift voucher.
BuyMyExplorer.com | Phone: 619-232-7502, Press 2 for Explorer

Bigger experiments, brighter ideas, and boundless curiosity await at the newly reimagined Fleet Science Center. This summer, the Fleet debuts Element 8 Cafe, an expanded theater queuing and concessions space, two new gallery spaces, and, for the first time, a free entrance gallery exploring science in and around San Diego. The transformation marks a new chapter for the Fleet, keeping it a vital, innovative, and accessible science hub for the region. Visitors are invited to explore the experience this summer and connect with the power of science like never before.
Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: FleetScience.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Phone: 619-238-1233

An accredited cultural gem, the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum brings traditional Japanese garden design to life with koi ponds, curving walkways and layers of greenery. Guests explore bonsai trees, streams and peaceful nooks while taking part in exhibits, educational programs and festivals that illuminate Japanese culture. Situated in the heart of Balboa Park, the garden doubles as a meditative retreat and a dynamic gathering place, welcoming visitors to slow their pace and connect more deeply.
Address: 2215 Pan American Road E, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: Niwa.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; last admission at 6 p.m.
Phone: 619-232-2721

A San Diego summer favorite, The Old Globe invites audiences to experience a beloved local tradition in its outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
This summer, the 2026 Shakespeare Festival presents two thrilling tales of power, passion and romance. Measure for Measure, running June 14 through July 12, 2026, is a riveting story of justice and hypocrisy that asks who holds power, who is punished and what it truly means to be virtuous. Much Ado About Nothing, playing Aug. 2–30, 2026, is a classic rom-com packed with schemes, sparks and laughter as opposites attract. Audiences can enjoy both shows for $44.
Address: 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: TheOldGlobe.org
Hours: Box office open Tuesday–Sunday, 1 p.m. to final curtain
Phone: Box office, 619-234-5623

Aviation and space exploration come to life at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. See an airworthy replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, a Gee Bee racer and historic aircraft from World War I, World War II and the Korean and Vietnam eras. Get up close to the Apollo 9 command module — one of only 11 of its kind in the world — along with Mercury and Gemini capsules, Mission Control and space shuttle simulators, and a selfie spot beside a lunar lander on the moon. Running through 2026, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brings oddities from around the world to Balboa Park.
Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: SanDiegoAirAndSpace.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 619-234-8291

History belongs to everyone. At the San Diego History Center, two experiences bring that history to life this summer: America at 250 and the Center for Women’s History. America at 250 traces San Diego’s place in 250 years of U.S. history, while summer programs invite children to learn and explore. The Center for Women’s History amplifies the voices of women whose leadership and creativity have shaped our region.
By understanding our past, we build a more vibrant and inclusive community together. These vital educational experiences are only possible through generous community support. Discover your roots, spark meaningful dialogue, and help keep San Diego’s stories alive for future generations.
Address: 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: SanDiegoHistory.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday
Phone: 619-232-6203

Junior Theatre is San Diego’s longest-running youth theatre program, empowering students ages 4 to 18 to explore storytelling, performance, and collaboration in a supportive environment. Through classes, camps, and productions, young artists build confidence, creativity, and lifelong skills onstage and off. Each season features a wide range of opportunities, from introductory experiences to advanced training in acting and musical theatre.
Looking for a summer adventure? Junior Theatre’s Summer Camps deliver dynamic programs for grades K–12, including musical theater intensives, acting academies and immersive JT Studio experiences. It’s a place where imagination truly takes center stage.
Address: 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: JuniorTheatre.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 619-239-1311

This summer, The Nat is talking trash—literally. Their newest exhibition, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, features larger‑than‑life marine sculptures made of ocean debris collected from beaches. It invites visitors to explore the impact of plastic pollution and discover ways to take action.
But the experience doesn’t stop at the gallery doors. Friday nights, the exhibition transforms into an ocean-themed “dive bar” during Nat at Night. Select Sundays bring something brand new: a rooftop brunch with sweeping Balboa Park views. Add two new giant-screen films and five floors of nature to explore, and The Nat is shaping up to be one of the season’s must-visit destinations.
Address: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: SDNat.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays in summer
Phone: 619-232-3821

The WorldBeat Cultural Center is a nonprofit multidisciplinary cultural organization dedicated to promoting, presenting and preserving Indigenous cultures worldwide through music, art, dance, education, sustainability and community programs. WorldBeat elevates multicultural artists, expands opportunities for cultural enrichment and fosters deeper understanding across traditions. WorldBeat offers a holistic cultural experience that inspires pride, unity, connection and belonging for all ages.
Address: 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101
Website: WorldBeatCenter.org
Hours: Classes: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 6–9 p.m. Exhibits and café: Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Phone: 619-230-1190

Step into a world of the weird and wonderful at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. Explore hundreds of bizarre artifacts, interactive displays and unbelievable stories that celebrate the curious and the extraordinary.
San Diego Air & Space Museum | 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101

Presented in partnership with the San Diego Museum of African American Fine Arts, San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods uses augmented reality, oral histories, and archival materials to explore communities and residents displaced by redlining, freeway construction, and other discriminatory policies.
San Diego History Center | 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101

Spend a summer night at The Old Globe. The Lowell Davies Festival Theatre stages Measure for Measure (June 14–July 12) and Much Ado About Nothing (Aug. 2–30), offering two unforgettable Shakespeare productions for just $44.
The Old Globe | 1363 Old Globe Way,
San Diego, CA 92101

Summer camps at Junior Theatre spark creativity for grades K–12 with hands-on training, musical theatre intensives, acting academies, and JT Studio experiences.
San Diego Junior Theatre | 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92101

A museum visit turns into a Sunday Funday with the addition of rooftop brunch, featuring mimosas, bloody Marys, and brunch bites from Wolfish by Wolf in the Woods (June 14, August 9) and Hash House a Go Go (July 12).
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

Celebrate Juneteenth weekend with guided birding, storytelling, soul food, native planting and an African peace drum circle.
WorldBeat Cultural Center | 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101

Nagashi at the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum by floating a lantern to honor loved ones who have passed. Stroll merchant booths, enjoy cultural performances in the Inamori Pavilion, and sample food vendors plus a beer and sake garden in the lower garden.
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum | 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101

Explore arts, science, history, and culture in the Balboa Park Cultural District with one convenient, affordable Pass. The Balboa Park Explorer Pass is your ticket to up to 16 museums and endless fun! Purchase your pass at BuyMyExplorer.com.