San Diego Air & Space Museum

The other big kid-pleaser of the museums (along with the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center), this popular facility has more than 60 aircraft on display, providing an overview of aeronautical history from hot-air balloons to spacecraft. It emphasizes local aviation history, particularly the construction here of the Spirit of St. Louis; you'll also find motion simulator rides and a theater screening 3D films (with added "4D" special effects built into the seats). The museum is housed in a cylindrical hall built by the Ford Motor Company in 1935 for the park's second international expo. The imaginative gift shop stocks items such as old-fashioned leather flight hoods and new-fashioned freeze-dried astronaut ice cream. Allow at least an hour for your visit.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.