San Diego Natural History Museum

Founded in 1874, the Natural History Museum is one of the oldest scientific institutions in the Western United States. It focuses on the flora, fauna, and mineralogy of Southern California, including Baja; as a binational museum, research is done on both sides of the border and most exhibits are bilingual. You can see them all in about an hour. There's a 300-seat large-format movie theater that boasts the latest in 3D technology, and two or three films are screened throughout the day (included with admission). The interactive installation Fossil Mysteries explores the region's prehistory and includes life-size models of primeval animals such as the Megalodon shark, the largest predator the world has ever known. SDNHM also leads free nature hikes and has a full schedule of classes, lectures, and overnight expeditions for both children and adults.

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