Free Tuesday at Balboa Park

The free-admission-Tuesday phenomenon at Balboa Park museums was one of the first San Diego freebies I learned about here. 

And now, I've finally lived in the city long enough to actually want to take advantage of it.

Which museums are involved rotates, and the free-ness is for San Diego County residents and active military and their dependents.

Today is the fourth Tuesday of the month, which means you can wander San Diego's Air and Space Museum, Automotive Museum, Hall of Champions or the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages.

Fine print: 

Special exhibits, like "the science of...aliens" at the Air and Space Museum may not be free.

Fifth Tuesdays are not free, although there are some Balboa Park institutions that always offer free admission according to Balboapark.org's schedule.

Timing:

Air and Space final entry is at 4 p.m. It closes at 4:30 p.m.

Automotive Museum final entry is at 3:45 p.m. It closes at 4 p.m.

Hall of Champions closes at 4:30 p.m.

Cottages close at 3 p.m. 

Saving: 

Between $8 and $24.75 for an adult.

P.S.

The reason it took me several weeks to want to hit up free-museum-day is because on the East Coast, indoor activities are reserved for days that are rainy, freezing, unbearably humid or otherwise uncomfortable - which is much of the time.

It is, of course always free to stroll around Balboa Park enjoying San Diego's amazingly consistent good weather. You can even park your car for free!

Balboa Park museums - Free today

The free-admission-Tuesday phenomenon at Balboa Park museums was one of the first San Diego freebies I learned about here. 

And now, I've finally lived in the city long enough to actually want to take advantage of it.

Which museums are involved rotates, and the free-ness is for San Diego County residents and active military and their dependents.

Today is the first Tuesday of the month, which means you can wander the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Natural History Museum, Model Railroad Museum and the Centro Cultural de la Raza.

Fine print: 

Some things, like the giant screen theater at the San Diego Natural History Museum, aren't included on Free Tuesday, and there are some other restrictions.

Fifth Tuesdays are not free, although there are some Balboa Park institutions that always offer free admission according to Balboapark.org's schedule.

Timing: 
The Science Center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The Natural History Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Model Railroad Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Savings: 

Between about $7 and $16 for an adult.

Free museums from BOA - Coming Up

Bank of America customers get free admission to select museums on the first weekend of the month. You can figure out what's free in San Diego, or in whatever city you are heading to at museums.bankofamerica.com, which can be kind of a clunky site to navigate.

Visit the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla (open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.) or take the kids to the New Children's Museum (open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday) June 5 and June 6.

If you are hitting the road, the Riverside Art Museum will be free for BOA cardholders Saturday, as is the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. You can also try the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach,  or Muzeo in Anaheim.
Heading to L.A.? Stop in LACMA or the Autry Center of the American West.