Maritime Museum (San Diego)

Spring break is always a great time to explore new places with the kids. This year, we decided to visit the Maritime Museum in San Diego with all four of our children. As a homeschooling family, we're always on the lookout for fun ways to learn, and this trip was a huge hit!

1492 N Harbor Dr San Diego, CA 92101

Let me start with the practical stuff. Parking was a breeze! We found a spot right near the entrance, which is always a win when you're traveling with four kids. No long walks or shuttle rides needed - we just parked and walked right in.

The admission prices were pretty reasonable too. For our family of six, we paid about $20 per adult and $10 per child. Kids under 3 get in free, which is always nice for families with little ones. They also offer family passes if you plan to visit more than once during the year.

The weather was absolutely perfect, which isn't surprising for San Diego in the spring. Sunny skies, a light breeze, and temperatures in the mid-70s made it comfortable to explore both the indoor exhibits and the ships outside. San Diego rarely disappoints when it comes to good weather, which makes it an ideal spot for spring break adventures!

Now for the fun part - the ships! The Maritime Museum has several historic vessels that you can actually board and explore. My kids were amazed at how old some of these ships are and how different they are from modern boats.

The Star of India is the main attraction - it's one of the oldest ships still sailing in the world! Built in 1863, this iron sailing ship has been around for over 150 years. My kids couldn't believe people used to cross oceans in this ship without engines or modern equipment.

We also loved exploring the HMS Surprise, which is probably the ship my kids recognized the most. This ship was used in movies like "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Master and Commander." My 10-year-old is a huge movie buff and was so excited to walk on the same deck as Captain Jack Sparrow!

Another favorite was the Soviet submarine. It's a real B-39 submarine from the Cold War, and it's incredibly narrow inside. My husband had to duck his head the whole time! The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever to see how sailors lived underwater for months at a time.

As a homeschooling mom, I'm always thinking about the educational value of our trips. The Maritime Museum was like a giant floating classroom!

The museum has great signs with simple explanations throughout the ships. Many of them have hands-on displays where kids can try things out for themselves. My 8-year-old spent nearly 20 minutes at one exhibit learning to tie different sailor knots!

One of the best parts was talking to the volunteers on some of the ships. Many of them dress in period clothes and really know their history. They were so patient with my kids' endless questions and explained things in ways they could understand.

What I love most about places like the Maritime Museum is how they make learning feel like an adventure. My kids didn't even realize how much history and science they were absorbing because they were having too much fun climbing around ships and pretending to be pirates!

My 6-year-old's favorite part was ringing the ship's bell, while my 12-year-old was fascinated by the navigation tools. Each child connected with something different, which is the magic of hands-on learning.

If you're visiting San Diego with your family - especially if you homeschool - I highly recommend adding the Maritime Museum to your list. It's educational, fun, and gives everyone a new appreciation for the sailors who helped shape our world.