This week we visited the Museum of Man in Balboa Park in San Diego with our unschooling group, the Funschoolers. It was great fun exploring the museum with friends and enjoying a picnic in beautiful Balboa Park afterwards. Currently, the museum has a special exhibit, Modern Day Mummy. The Museum has an actual "modern day mummy" called "Mumab", which is a mummy preserved recently in the 1990s using a donated cadaver of a 70 year old Baltimore man who had donated his body to science. Dr Bob Brier from Long Island University and Ronn Wade, Director at the University of Maryland used the ancient Egyptian techniques of mummification on the body and replicated results similar to those of Tutankhamen.
There are several other fascinating exhibits including an ancient Mayan exhibit, an exhibit about evolution, an ancient Egypt exhibit, one called Strange Bones, a modern science area which includes information about DNA, robotics as well as replicas of early humans in the Footsteps Through Time exhibit.
By far, one of the biggest hits with the kids was the interactive "Discover Egypt" Discovery Center. Lots of great hands-on fun for the kids to play and learn more about Egypt like hieroglyphic puzzles, wooden pyramids, a marketplace, and Egyptian ship and more. We probably could have spent all day in there!
There was a lot to see and it will require a 2nd trip for my family to better take our time and see some of the interesting artifacts that we missed.
The Museum is open daily 10am to 4:30pm. Docent led tours are available as well as homeschool/school and scouts programs.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Did you know that there is an aviation museum in Miramar right next to the Marine Corps Air Station Base? If you're into vintage airplanes, aviation history, and enjoy seeing memorablia the Flying Leatherneck Aviation museum is free and open to the public. They also have a virtual online tour you can check out before your visit.
We went recently with our unschooling group on a self-lead tour through the plane yard and in the Aviation museum. There are volunteers available to answer questions and a museum store filled with great games, books, and even kid-sized air-flight suits (great for Halloween or just everyday dress-up fun).
There's many vintage planes on the grounds, but the biggest hit with many of the younger kids was the wooden "play" plane that the kids could actually get up and play on. They spent a lot of time playing on it while there.
Inside the museum there is memorabilia and artifacts that date to early Marine history. There's military uniforms, including those worn by some of the women in the military, trophies, and medals. Many of the artifacts date from WW II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
The museum has Open Cockpit days throughout the year. Coming up on August 6-7th, and September 3-4th they will be having Open Cockpit days and you will be able to sit in a real Warbird!
The Flying Leatherneck Museum is located at T-4203 Anderson Ave, San Diego 92145 and the hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 9am-330pm. It is free but they do accept donations which support and help growth of the museum.
Here's what else is going on this week in San Diego:
Through August 6th, "Annie", Moonlight Theatre, Vista. $27-$50.
Friday, August 5th, 7pm, San Diego Junior Theatre, Hairspray, Casa del Prado Theater, San Diego
IMAX Film: Born to be Wild, Reuben H Fleet Science Center, San Diego.
Through Sept. 25th, Summer Shakespeare Festival, Amadeus on 8/5 8pm, Lowell Davies Festival Theater, San Diego.
Old Town Hop-on Hop-off San Diego Bus Tour, ongoing, Seaport Village, Gaslamp Quarter and Old Town. $11.49-$13.99.
Saturday & Sunday, August 6-7th 10-6pm,12th Annual Bead Bazaar Hosted by The Bead Society of San Diego, Scottish Rite Center, San Diego. $3, $1 online coupon here. Free parking.
Saturday & Sunday, August 6th & 7th, 11am-5pm, 27th Philippine Cultural Arts Festival, Balboa Park Presidents Lawn, San Diego. FREE.
If you'd like to see more Soaring over San Diego updates, join us on our Facebook group. Links to fun, family friendly activities are posted throughout the week.
Mandy & Dawn