Another attractive feature of the garden is its educational programs. They offer classes and demonstrations where you’ll learn the secrets of bonsai or origami. It also hosts a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony every first Tuesday of each month. If you’d like to learn conversational Japanese, classes are available here too.

The garden is open Labor Day through Memorial Day, Tues.–Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Memorial Day to Labor Day, Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is ($4) for adults; ($2.50) for students and military with ID. Free admission on the third Tuesday of each month.

Banquet information: With its serene setting and lush grounds, the garden has become a popular setting for weddings and other special events. The Fujidana (wisteria arbor) is a romantic outdoor reception area that can accommodate up to 200 people. Contact Lovelynn Hanson (619-232-2721).

The Lake Elsinore Historical Society is a nonprofit organization under Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)3.

This awe inspiring museum is one attraction that should not be missed. Be sure to use their discount coupon for 50 percent off historical art prints or 10 percent off your purchase of $35 or more at their extensive gift shop. Admission is free.”

Located at Building 26 on the Marine Base near Old Town San Diego. The entrance to the Marine base is via Gate 4, which is at the foot of Witherby Street. To get on the base you will need a valid ID, proof of insurance and current automobile registration. Once you’re on the base, the museum is directly in front of you just slightly to the right.

Building 26 is a two-story Spanish colonial building. Guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more with advanced planning.

Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed national holidays. Admission: $7 adults, $5 seniors, $3 youth, students/military with ID. Also visit Mingei International’s museum in downtown Escondido.

Other location: 155 W. Grand Ave., Escondido (760-735-3355).

Open Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed national holidays. Admission: $6 adults, $4 seniors, $3 youth, students/military with ID. (619-239-0003)

Also visit Mingei International Museum in Escondido, the cultural heart of San Diego North. A stunning example of contemporary adaptive re-use, the Museum has a Grand Plaza Gallery and a more intimate Mezzanine Gallery, both featuring dynamic, changing exhibitions of folk art, craft and design. The Escondido Museum also houses a multi-media education center, visitor kiosks for collection overview and The Collectors’ Gallery, and Mingei International’s popular museum store.

Open Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. Noon-4 p.m. Closed Mondays. Admission ($5) for adults, ($4) for seniors, ($3) for youth 6-17, students and active military with ID, free for members and children under 6.

Here you will find this majestic jewel of early California history called Mission San Luis Rey. The Mission provides both guided and self guided tours. Discover the architectural beauty of the Missions museum, church, sunken gardens and cemetery. The museum features an extensive collection of early mission artifacts.

The museum is open daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Prices are ($6) for adults, ($5) forseniors and military, ($4) for youth 6–18, and free for children 5 years of age and under. Admission for the whole family is only ($25). Be sure to stop by the gift shop featuring unique and delicate religious artifacts, mementos and books. Dont miss visiting this beautiful and fascinating old mission.

Inside the museum are artifacts, photos and displays that help visitors relive the stories of courage, sacrifice and achievement in World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The outdoor museum is 1.3 miles west of I-15. Look for their own entrance gate marked with Marine Corps and American flags on the south side of Miramar Road. They also have a gift shop. Admission is free. The museum is open to the public Tues.–Sun., 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. except major holidays.

Propeller Plane	Korean Era Jet	Troop Carrying Helicopter

IMAX films are extra. They open daily at 9:30 a.m. and close Mon.–Thurs. at 5 p.m., Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 7 p.m., Sun. 6 p.m.with extended summer hours.

It honors the heroes of aviation and aerospace history. Their current special blockbuster event, which runs through January 3, 2011, is called The Science of… Aliens. You can even send a personalized message to an alien at this hands-on exhibit.

Open daily 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., last admission at 4 p.m.; extended hours in the summer. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission is ($15) adults;($12) students and seniors 65 and older; ($6) children 3–11. Children 2 and under and active military with ID are free. SanDiego County residents with ID are admitted free on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

Early Flight Exhibit	World War I Era Planes	Space Module & Helicopter

There is also an interactive children’s area and lots of displays of memorabilia to enjoy. The museum also offers an excellent museum store with a huge inventory of gifts and clothing for the auto lover in your life.

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day). Admission is ($8) for adults, ($6) for seniors and active military, ($5) for students with ID, and ($4) for children ages 6-15. Children under 6 are admitted free. See the discount coupon from the SAN DIEGAN for admission discounts<

Always expanding and always under construction are new exhibits that are created by local railroad clubs. Currently you can watch the construction of the Tehachapi Loop model by the La Mesa Model Railroad Club.

Also fascinating is the Toy Train Gallery, which is home to an impressive exhibit of an imaginary town with multiple train lines. The town changes with the seasons; look for autumn colors in the fall and Christmas lights in the Balboa Park 195 winter. Kids can even operate some of the trains with the push of a button!

Make sure not to miss a visit to the gift shop, which is filled with a fabulous array of railroad memorabilia for the railroad lover in your life. Their selection of vintage railroad posters is especially noteworthy. And if you are a history buff, their Erwin Welsch Research Library is a must.

The museum and gift shop are open Tues.–Fri., 11 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sat.–Sun. till 5 p.m. Admission is ($7) for adults, ($6) for seniors 65 and older, ($3) for students with ID, ($2.50) for active military with ID, and free for children 15 years and under. Admission includes access to their railroad history library.

Big attractions here are their themed birthday parties and special events for kids of all ages. Contact Ana Parra (619-696 -0199).

San Diego & Arizona Eastern	Tehachapi Pass	Cabrillo & Southwestern

Plus, weddings are a specialty at the historic Saint Francis Chapel, which is the only chapel in Balboa Park. Contact the museum at (619-239-2001) for more information. Admission is ($8) for adults; ($6) for students, seniors (65+) and active military with ID; ($4) for youth ages 6-17; and residents with ID are free on the third Tuesday of every month.

A touching tribute to members of the armed forces is their beautiful Veterans Memorial Garden. Divided into three sections, it honors those who served “in the air, on land and at sea” with a walkway of flags, an amphitheater, fountain and a B-24 replica.

The museum is open Tues.–Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is ($5) for adults, ($4) for veterans and seniors, ($2) for students and free for military and their dependents with ID. Memorial services are held the fourth Saturday of each month at 11:30 a.m. honoring San Diego veterans.

One of Balboa Park’s best-kept secrets is the museum’s giant 3-D theater. Admission to all films is included in the ticket price and they play several times a day. The museum is open daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Admission is ($16) for adults, ($14) for seniors, ($11) for military and students with ID, ($10) for children 3-12 and children 2 and under are free. The museum also offers over 300 nature related experiences, from free hikes around the county to exotic excursions to the Galapagos Islands.

So for ($3) above the cost of admission you can also take a one to two hour bay trip aboard the Harbor Pilot. Be sure to visit the maritime gift shop aboard the steam ferry Berkeley.

Open daily 9 a.m.–8 p.m. with extended hours Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission is ($14) adults; ($11) active military with ID and seniors 62 and over; ($8) children 6–17; children 5 and under free. Add ($5) to any admissions package and receive an Explorer Pass, which is good for unlimited general admission to the museum for the rest of the year! For discounts and other perks, become a Maritime Museum member ($35-$65). Be sure to use their discount coupon and buy one historic bay cruise and get one FREE for up to four people!

General admission is ($7); seniors, students and active military ($5); and children under 5 are admitted free.

You can launch, fly dogfight missions and land aboard the carrier via optional flight simulators. Also available are educational programs including an award-winning children’s audio tour, group tours and limited wheelchair accessibility. Be sure to stop by the gift shop and café before disembarking. Limited paid parking on Navy Pier ($7–$10). Open daily 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.;ticket booth closes at 4 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Admission is ($18) for adults; ($15) for seniors 62 and over; ($10) for retired military; ($15) for students with ID; ($10) for youth ages 6 –17; and no charge for children 5 and under and active-duty personnel with ID. Be sure to use their discount coupon in this book for a free youth admittance with paid adult up to 4 persons. Save up to ($36).

Another house favorite is Sandy’s savory cheese melt. It’s filled with brie, blue cheese, cheddar cheese and sliced tomato accented with a savory artichoke spread. They also offer a delicious half herb-roasted chicken with rosemary potatoes and a rocket salad. For dessert have their black beast chocolate flourless cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Dog owners can also bring their dog and sit on the patio. Credit cards: .

Open daily from 4 p.m.–10 p.m. during the week and till midnight on the weekends ($5–$15). Ask about their wine and beer dinners. They also feature live music on some nights and are a popular destination for Sunday brunch.

The Tijuana Cultural and Visitor Center is a major attraction and an excellent place to learn about the different regions of Mexico. The Cultural Center includes an exciting multi-image Omnimax theatre. Their museum, Museo of the Californias, presents the history of Baja and Southern California.