Your Kid-Friendly Guide to The BIG Exchange in San Diego (May 2022)
Time to flash your memberships...The BIG Exchange is back!!
Contents:
What Is The BIG Exchange?
From May 1-18, you'll get FREE Reciprocal Admission into 40+ museums, gardens & historical sites when you show your membership from any one of them.
So if you have a family membership from one of the participating museums, your family will get in free to another. This program has a max. of 4 people per membership and is hosted by the San Diego Museum Council.
Here's Our Strategy to Make the Most of The BIG Exchange
Some museums are normally free or cheap, so skip these and save them for another day.
Go to the ones that are a bit more expensive OR that you wouldn’t normally go to.
Avoid going to the ones at Balboa Park on a Resident Free Tuesday. 👍
Least Expensive Memberships
If you don't have a membership, it's time to get one. Our favorite cheapest family memberships are at the 🚂 San Diego Model Railroad Museum ($50/family), 🌸 Japanese Friendship Garden ($60/family) and the 🚗 San Diego Automotive Museum ($60/family).
👉 TIPS: Keep in mind that kids are FREE under certain ages at different museums, so you may only need to get an Individual or Dual membership.
You'll find membership prices listed for each museum below. Now is a great time to snag one that you'd love to go back to again and again.
Participating Kid-Friendly Museums
See below for a list of participating museums that are kid-friendly and that mine have always loved going to. ✨👬✨
I've included their hours, normal admission costs and membership pricing to help you compare when & where to go, which ones to skip, see and buy.
🐠 Birch Aquarium, La Jolla
"See more than 5000 fish in 60+ aquarium habitats plus exhibits showing cutting-edge research from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego."
Hours:
daily 9-5
advanced reservations are required online, no walk-ups
Admission:
$24.95 adult
$22.95 students and ages 60+
$19.95 ages 3-17
free for ages 0-2
Memberships
$179 family incl. 4 kids
$99 dual, $74 individual
$74 individual
2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037
858-534-3474
🚙 JA Cooley Museum, Univ. Heights
"The J.A. Cooley Museum is the private collection of Jim & Carmen Cooley. The museum features over two dozen automobiles from 1886 to 1933. Each car highlights advances in technology at the very beginning of car manufacturing."
Hours:
daily 11-4
Admission:
$5 adults
$2 children
Memberships:
n/a
4233 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92103
619-296-3112
🌸 Japanese Friendship Garden, Balboa Park
"An expression of friendship between San Diego and Yokohama illustrating two cultures and creating a unique experience into Japanese culture with koi ponds, bonsai trees & garden tours & more."
Hours:
daily 10-7
Admission:
$12 ages 7+
$10 ages 65+, students & military
Free for ages 0-6
Memberships:
$90 generational (4 adults + children)
$60 family (2 adults + children)
$40 individual
$25 student
2215 Pan American Rd. E., Balboa Park
619-232-2721
🦅 Living Coast Discovery Center, Chula Vista
"Discover endangered sea turtles, eagles, sharks, owls, and more! The Living Coast Discovery Center is an environmental education center with marine animal, animal and bird exhibits located in the Sweetwater Marsh Unit of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge."
Hours:
Wed-Sun 10-5
Mon-Tue closed
Admission:
$18 ages 13+
$13 ages 3-12
Free for ages 0-2
Memberships:
$119 Household (up to 6 named adults & children in the same household)
$119 Grandparents (up to 6 named adults or children including grandchildren)
$70 dual
$40 individual
$40 Add A Guest
$20 Add A Child
1000 Gunpowder Point Dr., Chula Vista, CA 91910
619-409-5900
⚓️ Maritime Museum of San Diego, Embarcadero
"The Maritime Museum of San Diego, established in 1948, preserves one of the largest collections of historic sea vessels in the United States. Located on the San Diego Bay, the centerpiece of the museum's collection is the Star of India, an 1863 iron bark."
Hours:
daily 10-5
Admission:
$20 ages 18+
$15 ages 62+, students & military
$10 ages 3-12
Free for 0-2
Memberships:
$85 family
$70 grandparent
$50 individual
$45 senior
$45 student
1492 N Harbor Dr., San Diego/waterfront, CA 92101
619-234-9153
🎶 Museum of Making Music, Carlsbad
"A museum about making music with galleries of instruments, special exhibitions & live events." You'll find "deeper stories, more hands-on interactivity, and a chance to connect to music making on a whole new level!"
Hours:
daily 10-5, closed Mondays
Admission:
$15 general admission
$10 ages 60+, students & military
Free ages 0-3
Memberships:
$70 family (2 adults & their children)
$65 grandparents (2 adults & their grandchildren)
$40 individual
$35 seniors, students & military
5790 Armada Dr., Carlsbad, CA 92008
760-438-5996
"The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of railroads as as they existed in the Pacific Southwest." This exchange is for the museum only, not the train rides; which, if you pay extra for I'm sure your kids and the whole family will love.
Hours:
Sat & Sun 9-5, varies for special events and train rides
Admission:
$10 adults
$8 ages 62+
$5 ages 3-12
Free for ages 0-2
Memberships:
$60 Family
$35 Individual
$25 Senior 65+ & Students
750 Depot St., Campo, CA 91906
619-478-9937 (weekends only)
⛏ San Diego Archaeological Center, Escondido
"Learn about local archaeology though interactive exhibits. Discover how people have lived in San Diego over the past 10,000 years."
Hours:
Wed-Fri 10-4
Sat 10-2
Sun-Tue closed
Admission:
donation based, suggested $5 donation, but "pay what you wish"
Memberships:
n/a
16666 San Pasqual Valley Rd., Escondido, CA 92027
760-291-0370
🏎 San Diego Automotive Museum, Balboa Park
"The San Diego Automotive Museum in Balboa Park in San Diego, California is a museum that features a collection of cars and motorcycles that highlight automotive culture throughout history."
Hours:
daily 10-5
Admission:
$14.50 ages 18+
$10 ages 65+, students & military
$8.50 ages 5-17
Free for ages 0-4
Memberships:
$60 Family (2 adults + 4 kids)
$40 Individual
$35 Senior/Student
2080 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
619-231-2886
"Lively indoor & outdoor museum providing interactive educational exhibits for children."
Hours:
Tue-Sat 9a-12p / 1:30-4:30p
Sun-Mon closed
Admission:
Only valid for one 3 hour session
$11.50 per person
$8 active duty military, veterans & families, preschool & elementary teachers
$1 EBT, WIC, SNAP card holders, max 4 people in same household
Free for 0-12 months
Memberships:
$150 Premium (6 named individuals)
$95 Basic (4 named individuals)
$Duo (2 named individuals)
320 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025
760-233-7755
🚂 San Diego Model Railroad Museum, Balboa Park
"The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is a model railroad exhibit in San Diego, California. At 27,000 sq. ft., it is the largest such indoor exhibit in North America, and one of the largest in the world."
Hours:
Thur-Sun 11-4
Mon-Wed closed
Admission:
$13.50 adults
$9 ages 65+, students & military
$6 ages 4-11
Free for ages 0-3
Memberships:
$70 Contributing (3 adults & 4 children)
$50 Household (2 adults & 4 children)
$35 Individual (1 adult & 1 child)
$25 Student
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
619-696-0199
🦕 San Diego Natural History Museum (aka The Nat), Balboa Park
"Explore the natural history of Southern California and Baja California—from past to present...with hands-on exhibits, real fossils, and more. There's always something new to discover..."
Hours:
Fri-Tue 10-4
Wed-Thur closed
Admission:
$19.95 adult
$16.95 ages 62+, student & military
$11.95 ages 3-17
Free ages 0-2
Memberships:
$89 Family (2 named adults & household children)
$89 Grandparents (2 named adults & grandchildren)
$79 Individual Plus (1 named adult & a guest)
$69 Dual Senior (2 seniors ages 62+)
$49 Senior (1 senior age 62+)
$39 Student
1788 El Prado, Balboa Park
619-232-3821
🤸🏻♀️ The New Children’s Museum, downtown
"The New Children's Museum is an arts-based children's museum in downtown San Diego, California, whose mission is to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking in children and families through inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art."
Hours:
Thur-Mon 9a-12p / 1-4p
Tue-Wed closed
Admission:
$15 per person ages 1+
$10 ages 65+ & military
$2 Museums for All (EBT, WIC, SNAP benefits)
Free for ages 0-12 months
Memberships:
$150 Family (6 named individuals)
$140 Grandparents (2 grandparents & 4 grandchildren)
$110 Duo (1 adult & 1 child)
200 W Island Ave., San Diego/downtown, CA 92101
619-233-8792
⚓️ USS Midway Museum, Embarcadero
"The USS Midway Museum is a historical naval aircraft carrier museum located in downtown San Diego, California at Navy Pier. The museum consists of the aircraft carrier Midway. The ship houses an extensive collection of aircraft, many of which were built in Southern California."
Hours:
daily 10-5
Admission:
$26 adult 13+
$18 ages 6-12 & veterans
Free ages 0-5, active duty, law enforcement, fire fighter & reservists
Memberships:
$150 Family (four total individuals)
$90 Dual (two total individuals)
910 N Harbor Dr., San Diego/waterfront, CA 92101
619-544-9600
All The Rest
These are all the remaining museums that participate in The BIG Exchange. Although my kids personally haven't taken an interest in these places, doesn't mean that your kiddos won't enjoy them. Or stop in here on a day when you don't have the kids with you if you're curious about these.
1095 Barona Rd., Lakeside, CA 92040
619-443-7003
Admission:
Free
4355 Bonita Rd., Bonita, CA 91902
619-267-5141
Admission:
donation based, pays as much or as little as you choose
Memberships:
n/a
340 N Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025
760-839-4138
Admission:
$12 adults
$6 students and ages 65+
Free for military and ages 0-18
Memberships:
n/a?
312 Pier View Way, Oceanside, CA 92054
760-721-6876
Admission:
$7 ages 13+
$5 ages 62+, students & military
Free for ages 0-12
Memberships:
$75 family
$50 individual
$25 ages 62+/military
$25 students
1100 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118
619-435-7242
Admission: free?, I couldn't find pricing info
Memberships: $60 family (includes 2 free tickets to their Historic Walking Tour)
410 Island Ave., San Diego/downtown, CA 92101
619-233-4692
Admission:
$8 public self-guided tour
$10 private group self-guided tour
Memberships:
$70 family
12110 Cuyamaca College Dr. W., El Cajon, CA 92019
619-670-5194
Admission:
$6 adults
$4 ages 55+
Free ages 0-17
Memberships:
$30 family
$20 individual
$10 ages 55+ & students
1439 El Prado, Balboa Park
619-236-0011
1550 S El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024
760-436-6611
Admission:
donation based "pay as you wish"
Memberships:
$100 family
$50 individual
780 Prospect St., La Jolla, CA 92037
858-459-5335
Admission:
free
Memberships:
n/a
La Mesa Train Depot (museum only)
4695 Nebo Dr., La Mesa, CA 91941
619-465-7776
Admission:
$10 adults
$8 ages 62+
$5 ages 3-12
Free for ages 0-2
Memberships:
$60 family
$35 individual
$25 ages 65+ & students
3185 Olive St., Lemon Grove, CA 91946
619-460-4353
Admission:
donation based, free for ages 0-12
Memberships:
$25 "Friend" entry for 2 persons
3525 7th Ave., Balboa Park
619-297-9327
Admission:
$15 adults
$12 ages 65+, students & military
$7 ages 6-12
Free ages 0-5
Memberships:
$50 family
$40 individual
$25 seniors & students
1600 Henderson Ave., Bldg 26, San Diego, CA 92140
619-524-6719
Admission:
Free?, I couldn't find pricing info
Memberships:
$150 "Chosin Few"
$75 "Teufel Hunden"
$35 "Leatherneck"
(no specific information was listed about family vs. individual, etc.)
1439 El Prado, Balboa Park
619-239-0003
Admission:
$14 ages 18+
$10 seniors, students & military
Free for Children
Free with EBT
(no age levels were given for seniors or children)
Memberships:
$85 Companion (2 adults)
$60 Independent (1 adult)
$30 Passport (1 adult for gallery only)
No children are included in these because kids are always free.
3190 Lionshead Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92010
760-727-9492
Admission:
donation based
Memberships:
n/a
700 Prospect St., La Jolla, CA 92037
858-454-3541
Admission: $25 adults ages 26+; $15 senior; Free for ages 0-25! Free third Thursday, Free second Sunday
Memberships: $180 Wanderlust (2 adults); $96 Discovery (1 adult)
Museum of Photographic Arts
Admission:
Memberships:
New Americans Museum
Admission:
Memberships:
Oceanside Museum of Art
Admission:
Memberships:
San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts
Admission:
Memberships:
San Diego History Center
Admission:
Memberships:
San Diego Museum of Art
Admission:
Memberships:
Timken Museum of Art
Admission:
Memberships:
Visions Art Museum
Admission:
Memberships:
Whaley House Museum
Admission:
Memberships:
Women's Museum of California
Admission:
Memberships:
Note that not all of the Museum Council Museums participate in The BIG Exchange (most notably are the new Comi-Con Museum, Fleet Science Center and the San Diego Botanic Garden).