You’ve soaked up the modern masterpieces, strolled through the airy galleries, and maybe snapped a few shots of the ocean peeking through the windows at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. But what’s next? Lucky for you, the creativity doesn’t stop at the museum doors. From secret sculpture walks to oceanfront trails, La Jolla is packed with free experiences that keep the inspiration flowing. Whether you’re here for an afternoon or planning a full day, we’ve rounded up the best nearby things to do—no wallet required. Let’s go exploring.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the educational outpost of UC San Diego’s famed oceanographic institute. With 60+ habitats showcasing 3,000+ creatures—including leafy seadragons, seahorses, sharks, rays, and the West Coast's only little blue penguins—you’re diving into real marine science. Interactive tide pools, a kelp forest tank, and immersive exhibits like Living Seas offer hands-on wonder for all ages. Plus, outdoor plazas provide sweeping ocean views—ideal for a post-gallery breather. With an aquarium that sparks curiosity and inspires conservation, it perfectly complements a contemporary art day. And since the pass covers general admission, you can explore this world-class aquarium without paying extra at the door.
📍 Address: 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA
🚶 Walking Distance from MCASD: ~15‑18 minutes by rideshare
💸 Budget: Included with pass
Fleet Science Center (with IMAX)
Just steps from the art museum, the Fleet Science Center marries engaging interactive exhibitions with one of the most unique IMAX Dome theaters. It houses over 100 hands-on exhibits exploring everything from electricity and water science to space exploration and VR. The dome theater—featuring 180º film projection—makes educational entertainment feel cinematic. Family-focused galleries like Kid City are perfect for engaging young minds, while Science on a Sphere demos add planetary perspective. Whether you're a curious kid or a grown-up with questions, the Fleet feeds the mind with play and insight, all included on the pass—making it a smart pairing with MCASD’s visual storytelling.
📍 Address: 1875 El Prado Dr, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking Distance from MCASD: ~7‑10 minutes walk
💸 Budget: Included with pass
San Diego Museum of Art
If contemporary pieces sparked your imagination, the San Diego Museum of Art is a logical next visit. Housed in a grand Spanish Renaissance building, it houses a diverse collection—from European old masters to Latin American masterpieces and American impressionism. Rotating exhibitions regularly surface fresh vantage points and deeper context. The museum's garden courtyards are quiet spaces for contemplation, and the sculpture garden offers art set against Balboa Park’s foliage. Visiting here expands your artistic journey from modern lines and installations to works rich in theme and technique—all covered by your pass.
📍 Address: 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking Distance from MCASD: ~10 minutes walk
💸 Budget: Included with pass
Harbor Tour with Flagship Cruises & Events
Explore San Diego’s stunning coastline aboard a Harbor Tour with Flagship Cruises & Events. Departing just a 10-minute drive from the museum, this scenic cruise offers the perfect way to soak up panoramic views of the city skyline, Coronado Bridge, and naval ships docked along the harbor. Onboard commentary brings San Diego’s maritime history to life, with stories of military operations, architecture, and aquatic life. You’ll also spot sea lions basking on buoys and may even catch a glimpse of dolphins. Choose from one-hour North or South Harbor tours, or go for both and make it a two-hour round trip. With open-air decks, shaded seating, and onboard refreshments, this cruise blends relaxation and discovery into one memorable afternoon. It’s a brilliant way to get your bearings, cool off from the city heat, and enjoy a fresh perspective of the waterfront.
📍 Location: 990 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA
San Diego Natural History Museum
Just a short stroll away in Balboa Park, the San Diego Natural History Museum (aka “The Nat”) is an ideal stop for curious minds. The exhibitions span four floors and dive deep into the fascinating geology, paleontology, and biodiversity of Southern California and Baja California. Get up close with dinosaur fossils, step inside immersive ecosystems, or marvel at the region’s rare gems and minerals. Don’t miss the life-sized replicas of ancient sea creatures or the lively nature documentaries in the on-site theater. The museum has a strong local focus, making it an insightful way to understand the unique landscape and wildlife that surrounds San Diego. Ideal for families, science buffs, and anyone keen to add a brainy twist to their day out.
📍 Location: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA
💸 Included with pass
San Diego Museum of Us
San Diego Museum of Us
Housed in a jaw-dropping Spanish Colonial building crowned with a tiled dome, the Museum of Us invites you to question what it means to be human. Just 10 minutes from the Museum of Contemporary Art, it’s one of Balboa Park’s most thought-provoking stops. Inside, the exhibits are anything but conventional—expect explorations of ancient Egyptian burial practices, race and identity, indigenous cultures, and even the cultural meaning of monsters. The hands-on elements and reflective installations invite both adults and kids to think critically and empathetically about the world around them. Don’t miss the guided climb up the California Tower for sweeping city views—it’s available as an add-on and absolutely worth it. The museum blends education, introspection, and visual storytelling into one unforgettable package.
📍 Location: 1350 El Prado, San Diego, CA
💸 Included with Go City (Tower climb extra)
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Moored along the Embarcadero, the Maritime Museum of San Diego is one of the best spots in the city to dive into nautical history. Just 10 minutes by car from the Museum of Contemporary Art, this floating museum is home to one of the largest collections of historic sea vessels in the U.S. You can board ships like the Star of India—the world’s oldest active sailing ship—as well as a Russian submarine, steam-powered ferry, and classic yachts. Each vessel offers a glimpse into life at sea, from exploration and trade to wartime missions. With interactive exhibits, engine rooms to explore, and spectacular harbor views from the decks, the museum feels more like a hands-on adventure than a static display. It’s a hit with kids, history buffs, and curious travelers alike.
📍 Location: 1492 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA
💸 Included with Go City
USS Midway Museum
Anchored a few blocks from the Maritime Museum, the USS Midway Museum lets you walk the decks of an aircraft carrier that served for nearly 50 years. This massive floating museum offers over 60 exhibits and more than 30 restored aircraft, from fighter jets to helicopters. You can climb into cockpits, explore the engine room, and even see the mess halls and sleeping quarters where 4,500 sailors once lived. Volunteers—many of whom are veterans—share fascinating stories that bring the ship’s legacy to life. The flight deck delivers unbeatable views of the harbor, and kids can enjoy flight simulators or Junior Pilot activities. Whether you're into aviation, military history, or just looking for a larger-than-life experience, the Midway delivers.
📍 Location: 910 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA
💸 Included with Go City
San Diego Zoo
Located in the heart of Balboa Park and just a 10-minute drive from the Museum of Contemporary Art, the San Diego Zoo is one of the most renowned in the world—and with good reason. Home to more than 12,000 animals across 650 species, this sprawling wildlife haven offers lush, naturalistic habitats and informative displays that entertain as much as they educate. Walk the treetop trails, hop on the Skyfari aerial tram for a bird’s-eye view, or take a guided bus tour to cover more ground. Must-see animals include the giant pandas (on loan from China), majestic elephants, and adorable red pandas. With themed zones like the African Rocks and Elephant Odyssey, it’s a full-day adventure for families, couples, and anyone with a soft spot for wildlife.
📍 Location: 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA
💸 Included with Go City
Take a Guided Kayak Tour of the La Jolla Sea Caves
Take a Guided Kayak Tour of the La Jolla Sea Caves
This one’s a local favorite. Paddle out with a group of adventurous souls and navigate into sea caves carved by time and tide. The tour winds through the La Jolla Ecological Reserve—so you’re likely to spot sea lions, leopard sharks (harmless!), and maybe even a dolphin or two. Guides are lively and full of stories, making the whole thing feel like a floating nature documentary. Tours are available through various operators, including Everyday California and La Jolla Kayak. Make sure to bring a change of clothes; you will get wet. It’s thrilling, physical, and offers an oceanfront perspective of San Diego you just can’t get from land.
📍 Launch point: 2261 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla
⏱️ About 15–20 minutes by car from MCASD
La Jolla Tide Pools
When the tide pulls back, a whole world reveals itself at La Jolla Tide Pools. At low tide, explore rocky platforms flush with starfish, colorful anemones, hermit crabs, and even peeking octopus. Each pool offers a mini-ecosystem teeming with life. It’s the kind of hands-on nature experience that sparks curiosity—kids get to poke around (gently!), and adults can admire nature’s intricate design. Bring sturdy shoes for slippery rocks, and go ideally 30 minutes to an hour before low tide to catch maximum marine action. The backdrop of crashing Pacific waves and panoramic ocean views makes it feel like an art installation crafted by nature. Don’t forget to bring a small magnifying glass or smartphone macro lens to make details pop. It’s free, endlessly fascinating, and perfectly complements the contemporary art vibe with real-world creative design.
📍 Address: 1133 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, San Diego, CA
🚶 Distance from MCASD: ~5-minute drive or 25-minute walk
Torrey Pines Scenic Overlook
This overlook at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve delivers jaw-dropping views of cliffs, wildflowers, and the Pacific stretching to the horizon—all completely free from public areas. It feels like a live landscape painting with wind-softened grass, twisting Torrey pine trees, and sparkling water below. A quick stroll along the cliff’s edge yields lookout points where you might spot hang-gliders launching or sea birds gliding over waves. The mix of coastal breeze, rugged terrain, and endless sky creates a calm, inspiring atmosphere—ideal for lingering with your thoughts post-gallery. Peak wildflower season in spring adds golden splashes across the meadows. Pack a camera, binoculars, and maybe a picnic—this spot beckons you to sit, admire, and breathe.
📍 Address: 12600 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, San Diego, CA
🚗 Distance from MCASD: ~10-minute drive
Geisel Library Selfie Terrace (UCSD)
Head to UC San Diego’s Geisel Library terrace for a moment of campus culture and architectural awe. The building’s futuristic angular design is iconic, and the terrace offers generous benches with panoramic views of the surrounding SoCal hills. It’s a local favorite for Instagram shots—but also a quiet spot perfect for pondering or reading near sculptural concrete and glass. Watch students buzz by, notice birdlife tucked into planted areas, and appreciate the library’s clever interplay of space and light. The terrace nails a kind of minimalist beauty, and since it’s free and open to public visitors, it’s a chance to experience an academic atmosphere right in the heart of La Jolla.
📍 Address: 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, San Diego, CA
🚗 Distance from MCASD: ~8-minute drive
Sculpture Bench Pathway (Bear Chapel Area)
This hidden gem features whimsically carved wooden benches along a shaded pathway leading toward Scripps Coastal Reserve. Each bench is sculpted with sea creatures, local flora, or poetic lines. It feels like a small outdoor sculpture gallery—the kind of low-key public art that sparks delight at every turn. A casual stroll along this path lets you rest on carved seats, snap photos of unexpected sculptures, and enjoy salty breezes from nearby bluffs. It’s both an art installation and a chill walk rolled into one—and completely free. Plus, this stop is great if you’re art‑minded after MCASD and itching to keep the vibe going in a more natural setting.
📍 Address: Near La Jolla Pkwy & Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, San Diego, CA
🚗 Distance from MCASD: ~6-minute drive
Coastal Bluff Trail To Scripps Pier
Coastal Bluff Trail To Scripps Pier
This paved bluff-side path hugs the cliffs above the ocean from La Jolla Shores down to the iconic Scripps Pier. It’s perfect for a post-museum stroll: wild bunches of native vegetation, crashing waves below, seabirds flitting overhead. On a clear day you can glimpse the pier jutting into the water and surfers riding swells beneath you. Take the short flat stroll or keep going for more ocean vistas—either way, the air is bracing, scenic, and refreshing. The experience blends exercise with calm reflection, and natural spectacle with craft—an ideal counterpoint to indoor gallery time. Benches and shaded spots along the way invite you to pause, breathe, and let the coastal panorama work its magic.
📍 Address: 8612-8618 Herschel Ave, La Jolla, San Diego, CA (trailhead)
🚗 Distance from MCASD: ~7-minute drive
La Jolla Open Air Art Installations
Stroll through downtown La Jolla and encounter a mini route of free, public art installations just steps from the museum. Sculptures, whimsical murals, and quirky gallery windows turn streets into outdoor galleries: oversized sea horses, abstract metal forms, and vivid wall murals share space with pop-up art displays. As you wander, you might stumble upon surprise musical buskers or window installations that rival what’s inside the galleries. The vibe is casual and creative, inviting you to slow down and soak up the spirit of La Jolla’s local art scene without ever pulling out your wallet. It’s an effortless extension of your MCASD visit—ideal for art lovers looking to experience more.
📍 Address: Around Girard Ave & Prospect St, La Jolla, San Diego, CA
🚶 Distance from MCASD: ~4-minute drive or 20-minute walk
Turns out, you don’t need to spend big to make your La Jolla day feel like a masterpiece. Whether you’re dipping into tide pools, strolling through open-air art, or catching coastal views that rival any gallery wall, there’s something enriching around every corner. The Museum of Contemporary Art might be your starting point, but the creative energy spills far beyond its walls. So take your time, follow your curiosity, and let the neighborhood surprise you—with nature, culture, and plenty of sunshine, all for free. 🎨🌊
Check out some more of our favourite Balboa Park museums, and weigh up the pros and cons of Belmont Park vs Knott’s Soak City.
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