Partner Content JANUARY 10, 2023

12 Best Natural Body Lotions in 2023

Find your new signature body lotion that will have you wondering how you ever survived without it.

12 Best Natural Body Lotions in 2023
Best Natural Body Lotions in 2022

Best Natural Body Lotions in 2022

Sponsored content provided by Machines Agency


Moisturizing our skin is so, so important. Many of us have a multistep process for taking care of the skin on our face but tend to neglect the rest of our body. It doesn’t matter what your skin type (dry, combination or oily) is; everyone benefits from moisturizing every day. Let’s take a look at the different ways moisturizing can help your skin.

When your skin moisture levels are out of balance, you will see an increase in skin issues.  These issues can manifest themselves in the form of redness, acne, increased oil production or even psoriasis. Knowing your skin type can help you pick the right lotion for you. For example, if your skin is oily, you should choose a lotion with less oil. If your skin is dry, try a creamy oil to help hydrate and balance.

The more moisturized your skin is, the younger it will look and feel. When moisturized, our skin tends to be healthier and more protected from harsh environments or pollution. It is also more elastic and less likely to wrinkle, which is the first sign of aging skin. Moisturizer will keep wrinkles at bay and will give your skin a plump, firm appearance. Lotion helps to keep your skin hydrated and more youthful. When your pores are hydrated and moisturized, they not only appear smaller but also are at a reduced risk of soaking in daily pollutants.

Knowing that our skin is capable of soaking up anything we put on it, why would we massage on lotion that has harmful ingredients in their formulas? Truthfully, non-natural body lotions often have ingredients, like alcohol, that will ultimately make your skin dry and cracked rather than moisturized and hydrated. Chemicals and toxins will strip your skin of its natural moisture and oils, making your skin dull and lackluster. Natural body lotions contain essential oils and plant-based ingredients that will balance what your body needs, leaving you with a healthy glow and silky smooth skin.

With the thousands of different terms and synthetic “natural” ingredients, it may feel impossible sometimes to determine what body lotions are actually natural vs. just claiming to be natural. We totally get how overwhelming that can be, but stick with us. We have put together the 12 best natural body lotions, and we mean actually natural body lotions, that will give you the soft, healthy, beautiful skin you’ve been longing for.

Each of the brands on this list are intentional about creating grooming products that are healthy for you to use and are also aware that they need to do their part in reducing harm toward the Earth. So dive right in, and find your new signature body lotion that will have you wondering how you ever survived without it.

1. Blu Atlas Moisturizing Cream

Best Natural Body Lotions - Bluatlas

Best Natural Body Lotions – Bluatlas

If you spend time researching natural products, which we’re assuming you do since you’ve landed on this article, you’ll start noticing the Blu Atlas brand popping up on many of the top lists. This is because Blu Atlas is a brand that prioritizes clean and natural ingredients when formulating their products.

All of their products are paraben-free, sulfate-free and phthalate-free.  Blu Atlas makes it a priority to ensure the health and the safety of their customers because they are a brand that cares deeply about creating natural products that are still effective. Each and every product in the Blu Atlas collection is dermatologically tested for safety and efficacy, so you can feel completely safe and comfortable when using them.

Blu Atlas is a premium brand, and while they formulate their products for the modern man, they believe their products can be beneficial for women as well. They create their products to be luxurious and high quality but fairly priced so that everyone can afford to reap their benefits. Blu Atlas knows that men want to look and feel good, so why not create a grooming brand that fulfills the needs of men with products that are simple and quick to use?

The Blu Atlas Anti-Aging Moisturizer can be used on both your face and your body to provide  ultrahydrating moisture for your skin to soak up. This moisture is specifically designed to target dry and dull skin. It has powerful anti-aging properties that will work to offset aging from dehydration and external pollution. Natural ingredients like seaweed extract, mango seed butter and vitamin C are effective yet gentle enough for all skin types. Mango seed butter is a powerhouse of vitamin E and vitamin C, two of the top vitamins to provide protection to your skin.

Seaweed extract (laminaria algae) is a triple threat: antioxidant, exfoliant and hydrator. It also regulates your oil production, leaving your skin healthy and glowing. You can trust this natural formula because it is 100% vegan, with no artificial fragrances, and it includes all natural ingredients and a money-back guarantee. Seriously, Blu Atlas Anti-Aging Moisturizer is in a league of its own as one of the most effective all-natural moisturizers on the market. That is exactly why it is our top pick for the 12 best natural body lotions.

The impressive nature of the Blu Atlas brand doesn’t stop there. They have a subscribe-and-save program that will save you money and make your life easier. If you love their moisturizer, sign up for their subscribe-and-save program, and you will get 20% off, and Blu Atlas will automatically send you refills before you realize you’re getting low. Blu Atlas has other products, such as other skincare, body care, hair care and fragrances.

This means they could be your one-and-only grooming brand. Subscribe and save on all of their products, and your wallet as well as your grooming routine will thank you. Head over to their website, and read through the hundreds of five-star reviews, and you’ll be a Blu Atlas customer in no time.

2.  Necessaire The Body Lotion Fragrance-Free

Best Natural Body Lotions - Necessaire

Best Natural Body Lotions – Necessaire

The inception of the Necessaire brand was fate—serendipity if you will. The two founders were drawn to each other when they realized they were the only two people wearing all black in the Bel-Air Hotel bar in L.A. Nick Axelrod, an editor, and Randi Christiansen, a former Estee Lauder staffer, got wrapped up in conversation and found they connected over their longing to bring sustainability to their beauty routines with clean ingredients and products.

Just like that, the Necessaire brand was born. Well, a lot of work went into it before it was born, but still, the buds had taken root. The result is facial-grade skincare for our bodies. Each product has effective concentrations that will deliver results. Necessaire knows that we leave a footprint with everything we do, and while we cannot give back as much as we take, they have committed to doing as much as possible.

They are climate-neutral certified and plastic-neutral certified, which means they have measured and offset their carbon and plastic footprints in full. Necessaire also partners with How2Recycle, which provides transparent and verified third-party recycling.  Necessaire allocates 1% of every sale to environmental nonprofits that defend our water, land, air and wildlife.

Necessaire The Body Lotion Fragrance-Free is good for all skin types, especially those with concerns such as dryness, crepiness or barrier repair. With a formula rich in niacinamide, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Omega-6 and Omega-9, this body lotion will soak right into your skin.  After a two-week clinical study, 100% of users felt their skin was softer and more moisturized, and 98% of users felt their skin was healthier. You won’t miss the lack of added fragrance because your skin will be recharged after just one use.

3.  Organic Bath Co. PeaceFull Organic Body Butter

Best Natural body lotions - peacefull organic

Best Natural body lotions – peacefull organic

Organic Bath Co. believes in creating simple self-care products that complement mindful moments and peaceful thoughts. The founders of this awesome company are partners in both business and in life, meaning they are fully vested in the brand. One of the founders, Gianne, experienced something that many of us are familiar with: a serious reaction to conventional beauty products.

She and her partner, Jay, set out to create a highly effective moisturizer using only whole ingredients. Gianne drew inspiration from her childhood, as her Belizean mother often used home remedies crafted from natural ingredients. Jay and Gianne are passionate in their journey to advocate for accessible, safe skincare along with health and wellness. Their products are all straightforward and unisex, as well as free of unnecessary, synthetic or harmful ingredients.

Organic Bath Co. PeaceFull Organic Body Butter is a 100% organic plant-based body butter that is highly concentrated and intended to provide protection and nourishment for your skin.  Previously titled “Stress Less Organic Body Butter,” this blend will give you a calming, zen-like experience from the second you open the jar. Lavender essential oil will help you to feel relaxed and peaceful.

This body butter blends together exotic Moroccan argan oil, sunflower oil and jojoba oil to leave you with supple, smooth, hydrated skin. The inclusion of shea butter will heal any extra-dry or irritated skin concerns and will shield your skin from dehydration. PeaceFull Organic Body Butter is ultra-hydrating, and a little goes a long way due to its creamy nature. You will feel the effects of the hydration long after you apply it.

4.  The Honest Company Purely Sensitive Face + Body Lotion

Best Natural Body Lotions - Honest

Best Natural Body Lotions – Honest

Honest Beauty is clean beauty that works. Each of their products uses only clean ingredients, which they believe is the perfect equation for happy skin. Living the Honest Life means making clean, sustainable choices and embracing your responsibility to leave the world a better place than you found it. Jessica Alba created the Honest Company with the purpose of creating safe and effective products for her family and yours.

The Honest Standard helps her to make that intention a reality. Protecting human health and not compromising performance are two leading pillars when creating products for their collection. When researching and purchasing Honest Beauty products, you will be greeted with knowledge and transparency so you know exactly what you are receiving.

Honest Beauty Face + Body Lotion is a gentle formula that is fit to hydrate your body from head to toe. Gentle enough for babies, and effective enough for adults, this body and face lotion is all you need for your entire family. The formula includes a blend of jojoba, shea and safflower oils that will soothe and moisturize your skin. There are four variations of this lotion: nourishing sweet almond, classic sweet orange vanilla, calming lavender or fragrance-free. Purchase all of the scents if you prefer some variation in your moisturizing schedule.

5.  Lush Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion

Best Natural Body Lotions - Lush Dream Cream

Best Natural Body Lotions – Lush Dream Cream

The creators of Lush Cosmetics originally founded a brand called Cosmetics to Go. It was a mail-order cosmetics company that delivered bath bombs, solid shampoo bars and massage bars. When they decided to stop production on Cosmetics to Go, the founders took everything they had learned about creating ethical and unique products and poured that into the Lush Cosmetics brand.

Lush Cosmetics has a “We Believe” ethos that they live by. They believe in using fresh, organic fruits and vegetables and the finest essential oils to make effective products. They believe in testing their products on humans, rather than buying ingredients from companies that commission tests on animals. Lush Cosmetics believes that their products are of good value and that happy people make happy soap.

They invent their own products and fragrances and produce them by hand, trying to use minimal packaging and little to no preservatives. You can always count on Lush Cosmetics to be entirely transparent about how their products are made and what they are made of.

Lush Cosmetics Dream Cream Body Lotion is an absolute powerhouse of a lotion, jam packed with the ultimate ingredients to heal irritated, sensitive skin. If you are the type of person whose skin reacts to almost anything you put on it, then you need to treat it to this Dream Cream. It is gentle but effective, making it the perfect option for anyone with sensitive skin.

Olive oil and cocoa butter will soften up even the driest of skin, and rose oil will tone down any redness or irritation. Oat milk, lavender and chamomile work in tandem to calm your skin. Once you finish a jar, you can bring it back to Lush Cosmetics, and they will take care of recycling it. It has a light, herbal fragrance with hints of oat milk and lavender, and it uses a vegan formula.

6.  Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion

Best Natural Body Lotions - Drunk Elephant

Best Natural Body Lotions – Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant is a skincare brand with a serious cult following. The simple white bottles with neon caps will catch your eye anytime you see them on the shelves. Their products are effective, which keeps their customers coming back for more, or to try new launches. Drunk Elephant made a commitment to only include ingredients that either directly benefit the health of your skin or the integrity of the formula. The ingredients in their products are chosen based on biocompatibility.

Sili Body Lotion is a formula that will supercharge your skin to restore dry, dull and irritable skin to its best state of health and balance. It is a lotion that can be used from head to toe, and it includes a blend of fruit-derived antioxidants that will provide all of the nourishment your body needs. It is completely free of sulfates, essential oils, fragrances, alcohols, or silicones.

7.  London Grant Co. Cocoa + Jojoba Body Souffle

Best Natural Body Lotions - Body Souffle

Best Natural Body Lotions – Body Souffle

If less is more is your favorite mantra to live by, London Grant Company’s products might be exactly what you’re looking for. They truly believe that there is profound beauty to be found in homemade goods, so they handcraft small batches of their products to provide you with simplicity (without compromise) as if they were making it for their own family. When we take care of ourselves, our capacity to care for others grows, and one way to care for yourself is to use natural products that are healthy on your skin.

Each of their products are pure, authentic and well-living inspired. London Grant Co. Cocoa + Jojoba Body Souffle is a whipped moisturizer that will deliver nourishment and improve elasticity throughout the day. Without any added fragrance, this lotion is ideal for sensitive skin and gets its natural chocolate scent from cocoa butter and jojoba oil.

8.  Osea Anti-Aging Body Balm

Best Natural Body Lotions - Osea

Best Natural Body Lotions – Osea

The Osea brand has a long family lineage that makes their products over a century in the making. Back in 1920, Osea’s founder’s grandmother discovered the healing properties of the ocean. Much like her grandmother, founder Jenefer was studying archeology in Israel in 1976 and was consumed with the healing powers of clay and mud, which sparked her interest in natural healing.

A few years later, in 1982, Jenefer opened a spa and was frustrated by the lack of natural products that were up to her standards, so she decided to make her own. The first product she produced was the Osea Essential Hydrating Oil. In 1986, Jenefer sold her spa so that she could devote all of her time and attention to creating more natural products, even using her bathtub as a seaweed storage receptacle.

Through studying cosmetic chemistry and natural healing for years, Jenefer and her daughter Melissa worked tirelessly to expand their product line and commit to sustainable, cruelty-free, vegan skincare. Osea was the initial company to sign the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a campaign that now has over 1,000 company signatures. Most recently, in 2020, Osea has become completely carbon neutral.

Osea Anti-Aging Body Balm is the perfect balm that employs the lasting hydration of lotion with the anti-aging properties of a serum. Alaria seaweed will not only improve the appearance of your skin but will aid in elasticity and skin tightness. This ultra nourishing formula will leave you with softer skin after every use, due to its super formula of passion fruit, coconut, acai and babassu oils. Your skin will remain hydrated long after you apply it.

After a consumer test, 94% of consumers said their skin felt more moisturized, softer and nourished. 94% of consumers also agreed that their skin was glowing, supple and smoother. Osea Anti-Aging Body Balm is suitable for all skin types.

An incredible bonus of this body balm, is that it can be used as a conditioning hair treatment.  Simply apply it onto your dry hair, let it soak in for a minimum of 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly and your hair will be left nourished and hydrated, just like your skin.

9.  Juice Beauty Green Apple Firming Body Moisturizer

Best Natural Body Lotions - Juice Beauty

Best Natural Body Lotions – Juice Beauty

Just because you want to start the journey of using natural products does not mean you aren’t looking for products that can help with insecurities or signs of aging. The good news is that natural skin care can be just as effective, if not more, than synthetic and chemically driven products. Juice Beauty Green Apple Firming Body Moisturizer has some of the best ingredients in its formula to not only moisturize your skin but also target problem areas.

Vitamin C brightens the appearance of your skin. Organic aloe, shea, jojoba and botanicals will provide antioxidant-rich hydration. The peptides in this formula will create firmer-looking skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. While this body moisturizer is safe for all skin types, it is best for those with discoloration, dark spots or uneven skin tone and texture.

10. Cocokind One-For-All Balm

Best Natural Body Lotions - Cocokind

Best Natural Body Lotions – Cocokind

Cocokind lives and breathes transparency, which makes this brand an awesome option from this list of the 12 best natural body lotions. They live up to their mission of disrupting the status quo of the beauty industry. So many brands tend to settle when it comes to their products, or ingredients, and reel you in with their buzzy marketing claims that they could never actually live up to. If you become a Cocokind customer, you will feel informed and empowered every time you shop. Cocokind will remain as transparent as possible about what ingredients are in their products and the impact they are making on the world.

Cocokind is a newer brand, but they are certainly making their stamp on the natural beauty product world. On each of their packages, you will find what they call a formulation facts panel. Rather than just a list of ingredients, this panel will break down everything about the formulas, from the hero ingredients, carriers and emulsifiers to the packaging and how you can recycle when you’ve finished a bottle. Cocokind wants you to see for yourself that their formulas include research-based ingredients. If you aren’t already convinced that Cocokind is the brand of the future, they know they still have work to do and are committed to doing it.

They have already identified three phases of future goals.  The first phase, which they are currently working on, is auditing their entire supply chain. Second, they will look to offset emissions and will investigate ways to reduce their carbon footprint. The third phase includes creating actionable steps to continue an upward trend of reducing their carbon footprint every year, and they will communicate the changes to customers.

Cocokind One-For-All Balm is an all-over hand and body salve that will nourish your skin and provide a water-resistant layer of protection. It is a vegan, petrochemical-free formula that is the perfect solution for stubborn dry spots like your hands, lips, feet, cuticles and more. Nordic Birch Sap will help your skin retain moisture, ashwagandha will combat oxidative stress and rhodiola rosea root extract will soothe irritated, cracked skin. Your skin will be left softer, nourished and luminous.

11.  Alba Botanica Very Emollient Coconut Rescue Body Lotion

Best Natural Body Lotions - Alba

Best Natural Body Lotions – Alba

Alba Botanica believes that the future is beautiful, and they are committed to doing their part to add to that beauty. They create plant-based products that align with the natural world, never test on animals and keep evolving their packaging materials to reduce their environmental footprint.  Alba Botanica Very Emollient Coconut Rescue Body Lotion is on this list of the 12 best natural body lotions because it provides instant relief from the woes of dry skin.

Designed specifically for those with extremely dry or irritable skin, this body lotion is rich and creamy, and I will get right to work providing relief. It is an intensely hydrating formula with ingredients like virgin, unrefined coconut oil, coconut milk, and aloe vera that will rejuvenate and heal your skin. It is a hypoallergenic body lotion with 100% vegetarian ingredients.

12.  Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Banana + Coconut Nourishing Superfood Body Cream

Best Natural Body Lotions - Briogeo

Best Natural Body Lotions – Briogeo

Many associate Briogeo with their hair products, but this superfood body cream will have you obsessing over their body care. It is a smoothie-inspired formula that will melt right into your skin. Be Gentle, Be Kind Banana + Coconut Nourishing Body Cream uses fruit antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to nourish, moisturize and soften your skin. 

Banana peel extract improves your skin’s appearance; coconut fruit extract locks in moisture and provides hydration; and acai fruit extract helps prevent damage. The benefits don’t stop there: The natural fragrance of this body lotion will transport you to a tropical vacation every time you lather it on.

 

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Studio S JUNE 12, 2026

Nominations Open for the San Diego Business Impact Awards

The annual event honors middle market companies creating jobs, scaling up, and investing in the region

Nominations Open for the San Diego Business Impact Awards
Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

San Diego is known for its startup culture and innovation economy, but what happens when the company moves beyond its early-stage years? The San Diego Business Impact Awards aim to answer that question, spotlighting the middle market businesses helping drive the region’s economy.

Hosted by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards celebration takes place on Thursday, July 23, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Scripps Research Auditorium. More than 200 executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders are expected to attend the networking and cocktail event honoring some of San Diego County’s fastest-growing companies.

Businesses headquartered in San Diego County that have operated for at least two years are encouraged to submit their nomination by Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. Companies across industries—from technology and life sciences to tourism and consumer products, as well as pre-revenue startups—are eligible for recognition.

For EDC President and CEO Mark Cafferty, the event is as much about building connections as celebrating success. “We’ve had a longtime partnership with JPMorganChase; their work aligns with our efforts to support underserved communities and drive talent development,” says Cafferty. “And the networking was invaluable last year. I’m still in touch with people I met at last year’s awards.”

Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

EDC is an independently-funded nonprofit that works directly with San Diego companies to help them grow the local economy, make the region as a whole more competitive, and attract and retain top-tier talent with quality jobs. Through EDC, companies can get help starting or expanding their business with support for things like site selection, permit navigation, and regulatory guidance, plus connections to local resources and potential business collaborators.

The San Diego Business Impact Awards began as an idea with one of EDC’s longtime strategic partners, JPMorganChase. The two organizations share a commitment to San Diego and are dedicated to bolstering middle market businesses.

“We’re blessed with a robust innovation economy and startup community,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager for JPMorgan’s Commercial and Investment Bank and vice chair of the firm’s’ San Diego Market Leadership Team. “But one of the segments of the business community we felt was overlooked was emerging middle market companies—the businesses that are no longer small but not yet large.”

Ryan says supporting those companies is critical as they scale and decide where to invest, hire, and grow.

San Diego’s high cost of living remains one of the region’s biggest business challenges, making talent recruitment and retention increasingly competitive. But local leaders point to the region’s quality of life, climate, and collaborative business community as advantages that continue to attract employers and workers.

Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

“In order to support thriving households, there has to be enough high-quality jobs for people to be able to afford to live here,” Cafferty says. “Once a company grows and excels past that middle market point in their growth cycle, they become much more likely to pay higher wages and compete globally.”

Both Cafferty and Ryan proudly tout the unique collaboration that exists among San Diego County businesses. Bringing together top universities producing high-quality talent, cutting-edge research institutions, a robust military and defense presence, leading ocean science and environmental organizations, and a binational, cross-border identity creates a distinct business ecosystem that defines and strengthens the San Diego region. 

Last year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards celebrated nearly 60 honorees from 49 industries, representing a total of 8,232 jobs across eight sectors, including: software and technology, healthcare and life sciences, consumer goods, professional services, finance, construction and manufacturing, defense, and hospitality and tourism. On average, honoree companies doubled their revenues over the previous year, employed more than 145 San Diegans each, and offered an average annual compensation of $192,415.

Top honorees included defense contractor Innoflight, environmental consulting firm Bancroft Construction Services, life sciences startup Element Biosciences, defense technology contractor GALT Aerospace, organic grocery store chain Jimbo’s, and biopharmaceutical company LENZ Therapeutics. During the event, Innoflight Founder and CEO Jeff Janicik held a fireside chat offering his insights on investing in the community and embracing San Diego culture.

This year, organizers hope to continue highlighting the middle market players driving economic impact across the region. Nominations are now open through June 18 at 4 p.m. Get your tickets to the San Diego Business Impact Awards celebration to enjoy drinks by Snake Oil Cocktail Co., light bites, live music, and networking.

Partner Content JUNE 10, 2026

New Options for GLP-1 Users

Scripps study shows that some patients may be able to taper their dose and maintain results

New Options for GLP-1 Users
Courtesy of Scripps Health

While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agents have been used to treat Type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, their recent emergence as weight-loss wonder drugs marked a new frontier in medicine. But their effectiveness has left some patients wondering what to do once they’ve reached their goal. Stopping the medication could mean regaining some, if not all, of the weight. A Scripps Clinic internal medicine physician recently conducted a small study of whether GLP-1 patients who had reached their goal weight could maintain that weight by taking their regularly prescribed injection every other week instead of weekly. Spoiler alert: 30 of 34 patients did. Read more about the study here and what that may mean as pharmaceutical companies roll out oral GLP-1s.

For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.

Partner Content
Partner Content JUNE 5, 2026

Beautiful Balboa Park: Nine Ways to See the City’s Crown Jewel in a New Light

San Diego Magazine's 2026 Guide to Balboa Park.

Beautiful Balboa Park: Nine Ways to See the City’s Crown Jewel in a New Light
Magical San Diego’s Balboa Park at twilight in San Diego California USA

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.

16 Museums, One Pass

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 

Fleet Science Center

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

Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum

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

The Old Globe

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

San Diego Air & Space Museum

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

San Diego History Center

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

San Diego Junior Theatre

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

San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)

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

WorldBeat Cultural Center

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


Event Calendar

Throughout 2026: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!

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

Throughout 2026: San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods

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

June –Aug: The 2026 Shakespeare Festival

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

June 8–Aug. 7: Theatre Summer Camps

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  

June 14, July 12, Aug 9: Brunch at The Nat


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

June 21: Harriet Tubman Freedom Bird Walk

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

Aug 7-8: Toro Nagashi Festival

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.

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Tastemakers 2026: La Gran Terraza

Chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and craft mixers - meet our 2026 Tastemakers, the minds behind the magic.

Tastemakers 2026: La Gran Terraza
SDM Tastemakers 2025 (All)

Marbi Becerra, Chef de Cuisine

La Gran Terraza, the University of San Diego’s signature restaurant, has been a campus favorite for over 16 years, offering California cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. This summer, its gastropub, O’Toole’s, is open for evening service —perfect for sunset bites and drinks.

At the helm is chef Marbi Becerra, a Culinary Institute of America alum with roots in the US and Mexico. She now leads culinary operations for La Gran Terraza and USD Catering, bringing bold Mediterranean flavors and a fresh perspective.

Try This!

Seared Scallops: With charred broccolini oyster mushrooms corn puree herb cherry tomatoes and chimichurri

La Gran Terraza

5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, California 92110
619-849-8205  |  lagranterraza.com  |  @eatatusd

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Partner Content JUNE 4, 2026

Tastemakers 2026: Labora Cafe

Chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and craft mixers - meet our 2026 Tastemakers, the minds behind the magic.

Tastemakers 2026: Labora Cafe
SDM: Tastemakers 2026

Lauren Thiemthath & Bao Doan, Owners

Labora Café offers so much more than premium ceremonial-grade matcha; it’s a lifestyle café where people come to feel more energized, inspired, and connected to their community. Labora partners with retailers and lifestyle brands, from local Pilates instructors to Neiman Marcus, so there’s always something new to learn about or browse when you’re here. As for the drinks, whether you’re thinking matcha or Vietnamese coffee with a specialty house-made foam on top, expect a natural pick-me-up, without extra sugars or syrups.

Try This!

Pistachio 54: Pistachio foam layered with a slow drip Viet coffee or Matcha

Labora Café

8055 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Suite 101, San Diego, California 92111
858-471-6970 | laboracafe.com | @laborasd

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Partner Content JUNE 4, 2026

Tastemakers 2026: Happy Medium

Chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and craft mixers - meet our 2026 Tastemakers, the minds behind the magic.

Tastemakers 2026: Happy Medium
20260430SD_Mag_Christian_HappyMedium003

Christian Siglin, Bartender & Owner

Happy Medium lives in the sweet spot: not too fancy, not too gritty. Think dive bar soul with cocktail bar standards. It’s the kind of place where you can grab a beer and a shot, a fancy cocktail, plus a killer spirits list. The menu includes all the best bar classics along with elevated plates. Some would call it a “happy medium.” With your favorite B-side tracks always playing in the background, Happy Medium is the ultimate neighborhood hangout spot.

Try This!

Lava Flowgroni: Pineapple gin layered with strawberry Campari, banana vermouth and coconut, served over crushed party ice.

Happy Medium

4002 30th Street, San Diego, California 92104
619-310-5642 | happymediumsd.com

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