The USS Midway Museum occupies the former USS Midway, a large aircraft carrier permanently moored at Navy Pier in downtown San Diego. Visitors can explore the ship’s flight deck, hangars, engine rooms, crew quarters, and command spaces while learning about life aboard a carrier. The museum displays more than 30 restored aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, and other naval aircraft, along with exhibits covering naval aviation and the experiences of sailors who served aboard the ship. Interactive areas include flight simulators and demonstrations by docents, many of whom are former military personnel. From the flight deck, the museum also provides views across San Diego Bay and the city waterfront.

Balboa Park is a large urban park near downtown San Diego that combines museums, gardens, cultural institutions, recreational areas, and distinctive Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. The park contains more than a dozen museums, including the San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Natural History Museum, and San Diego Air and Space Museum, as well as the San Diego Zoo. Its central El Prado area features ornate buildings, pedestrian paths, fountains, and the Botanical Building, while the Japanese Friendship Garden provides a quieter landscaped setting. The park also includes the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Spanish Village Art Center, theaters, sports facilities, and canyon trails.