ucsd field trips

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Campus Guide

Campus field trips, games and activities.

When you need a break from the conference grind we've got you covered with multiple organized and self-guided optional activities. 

Wednesday Campus Field Trips

Take some time at the end of the conference on Wednesday, August 17, to join a field trip and visit some special campus sites before heading home. Choose a field trip to see art installations, theatres, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Or visit the television and maker studios where students create, our new Design and Innovation Building, and the Qualcomm Institute.

We have two field trips with shuttle transportation (20-person capacity each, with some walking) and three full walking field trips alternating among four locations (15-person capacity each).

Please note:

• Field trips are 12:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon and depart from Price Center. Look for UC Tech volunteers on hand to help get you where you need to be!
• Separate signup required.
• If you need any accessibility accommodation please sign up by August 10 and respond to the relevant question on the signup forms. 
• Shuttle Field Trips A and B: Capacity limited to 20 people. These will be conducted on UC San Diego transportation with masks required . 
• Walking Field Trip: Capacity limited to 15-20 people. 
• Field trips subject to change or cancellation by venue(s); you'll be notified if that happens. 

Signup Form Links:

• Shuttle Field Trip A signup form
• Shuttle Field Trip B signup form
• Walking Tour signup form

For questions about Field Trips contact Ronise Zenon at [email protected].

Shuttle Field Trip A

This field trip starts with visiting the locations of seven art installations that are part of  The Stuart Art Collection . The site-specific sculptures that comprise the Stuart Collection each have a unique story to tell. The collection is designed to enrich the cultural, intellectual, and scholarly life of the campus and community. A short walk from Price Center to the first two installations, then pick up the shuttle to ride to the remaining five: [note, number is the location on map:  https://stuartcollection.ucsd.edu/map/index.html ] * Fallen Star (#18) * Bear (#16) * Sun God (#1) * Red Shoe (#13) * The Wind Garden (#19) * La Jolla Vista View (#8) * La Jolla Project (#3) The next stop is the  La Jolla Playhouse , where artists and audiences come together to create what’s new and next in American Theatre. From Tony Award-wining plays and musicals, to imaginative programs for young audiences, to interactive experiences outside our theatre walls, the Playhouse brings people together to inspire discussion and open pathways to new ways of thinking. A visit to the Playhouse is an invitation to harness the transformative power of theatre to explore the here and now – and together, expand our world’s compassion, understanding, and hope. (2910 La Jolla Village Drive – Google Maps Plus Code VQC5+HP La Jolla, San Diego, CA) The field trip ends with a visit to  Scripps Institution of Oceanography   (SIO)  for a tour from their Scripps Community Outreach for Public Education (SCOPE) team. (8650 Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037 – Google Maps Plus Code VP8W+G4 La Jolla, San Diego, CA) * Tour of the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier This is our most popular tour. Visitors will learn about the history of Scripps including uses of the pier over time and the importance of having a pier to conduct research. Depending on the expertise of the tour guide and requests of the visiting group, the focus might be biology, geology, chemistry, or physics of the oceans. * Tour of the local beach geology Participants will get their feet and ankles sandy (and maybe wet) while learning about the principles of erosion. This is a fun tour for all ages, including elementary students. ** Requesting accommodations for a disability:  Since there are hills and steps on SIO's standard tour, please indicate below if you will require assistance or accommodations and submit the form no later than Wednesday, August 3.  Every effort will be made to provide participants with reasonable and appropriate accommodations. **  Note: field trips are subject to change if required; you will be notified if that is the case.

Signup form

Shuttle Field Trip B

Walking field trips.

Taking a walking field trip sets you on a path to see one of our newest buildings (and the even newer trolley running overhead), places of innovation, engineering and creation. The Media Teaching Lab offers undergraduate and graduate students production studios, editing bays, a vast array of equipment for checkout, and provides technical workshops to the entire UCSD community. You’ll have an opportunity to visit these spaces and see how such an undertaking can be established on your campus if desired. (Media Center/Communication (MCC) Building, 251 – Google Maps Plus Code VQJ5+HV San Diego, California) The Qualcomm Institute offers state-of-the-art laboratory space and equipment, specializes in cutting-edge applications of technology and communication needs, and prototypes and builds enabling technologies. (3390 Voigt Dr – Google Maps Plus Code VQJ8+X2 San Diego, California) The EnVision Arts and Engineering Maker Studio in the Structural & Materials Engineering (SME) Building is an experiential teaching facility where both engineering and visual arts students are empowered to think, design, make, tinker, break, and build again. (Matthews Lane – Google Maps Plus Code VQJ8+2F La Jolla, San Diego, CA) The new Design and Innovation Building houses not only classrooms and work spaces, but is also a space for students of all academic disciplines to test innovative ideas and apply theory to real-world experiences. We will visit The Basement which serves those who want to make a difference in the world by offering a place where students can take ideas and turn them into reality, creating startup companies. On the second floor is Maker Space UC San Diego where students are provided access to various creative modalities: 3D Print + Laser Cutter Studio, Wood + Foam Shop, Electronics Studio + CNC Machining Shop, (Matthews Lane – Google Maps Plus Code VQH9+Q3 La Jolla, San Diego, CA) ** Requesting accommodations for a disability:  Please indicate below if you will require assistance or accommodations and submit the form no later than Wednesday, August 3.  Every effort will be made to provide participants with reasonable and appropriate accommodations. **  Note: field trips are subject to change if required; you will be notified if that is the case.

Games and Relaxation Area

Triton tasting tuesday afternoon.

The "Triton Tasting" features San Diego craft breweries is Tuesday afternoon 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. in Matthews Quad. ID required for entrance and participation! The following purveyors of craft beer are helping underwrite Triton Tasting and will be on hand to amuse and delight with selections of ales, IPAs, lagers and perhaps a few surprises:

• Border X Brewing
• Hopnonymous
• Novo Brazil
• Societe Brewing Company

Meditation and Yoga

Start UC Tech with self-guided meditation in the Dance Studio Tuesday, August 16, 8-8:30 a.m.

Join us for quick 30-minute yoga sessions. Classes are meant to be light and basic - just enough to get you stretched out and breathing right. No experience required and you can participate in your general conference attire. Sessions are in the Dance Studio at Price Center at the following times:

Tuesday, August 16

• 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 17

• 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
• 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Stuart Collection Walking Tour

San diego attractions.

Visiting & Tours

Discover uc san diego.

UC San Diego’s campus offers more than just salt air, sunshine and sweeping ocean views. From state-of the-art labs and research facilities to innovative spaces for exploring art and fostering creativity, it’s a destination for bold thinkers and curious minds. Come visit us and discover what it means to be a Triton. Your next big adventure could start here.

Explore our beautiful seaside campus virtually, in person or both—and see what makes UC San Diego the perfect environment to make a big impact. Discover our world-renowned public art collection, marvel at unique architecture or walk along Scripps Pier, where researchers are working to solve the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Tours are very limited at this time.

• Office of Admissions Tours
• Stuart Collection Tours
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography Tours

GETTING TO CAMPUS

Arriving by car? Our La Jolla campus is conveniently located just off I-5. Visitors can purchase hourly parking at parking pay stations or on their mobile device.

Campus Driving Directions

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Whether you’re arriving by bus, the COASTER train or the Blue Line Trolley that connects our La Jolla campus to the local San Diego community and beyond, we’ve got you covered.

Public Transportation Information

GETTING AROUND CAMPUS

Ready to explore? You might prefer the path less traveled, but if you’re short on time, our campus maps, waypoint indicators and shuttles can help ensure you hit all the campus highlights.

• Campus Maps
• Visitor Parking
• Triton Transit
• Campus Waypoint Location Markers

As a destination for entertainment, inspiration abounds at UC San Diego. From lectures and workshops to concerts and cultural heritage events, we offer ample opportunities to expand your mind beyond the pages of a textbook.

CAMPUS EVENTS

With new and unique offerings every day, there’s something for everyone on our campus calendar.

Campus Calendar of Events

Epstein Family Amphitheater

Our state-of-the-art outdoor entertainment venue is designed with entertainers of the highest caliber in mind.

Amphitheater Events Calendar

We’ve curated a lineup of performing and media arts events to engage, energize and transform the diverse cultural life of the university and San Diego.

ArtPower Events Calendar

Student Events

Embrace your curiosity and form new connections with a full lineup of student-focused events designed to enrich your UC San Diego experience.

Student Events Calendar

Join the sea of blue and gold and cheer our Division I scholar-athletes to victory. There’s never been a more exciting time to be a Triton.

• Triton Box Office
• Game Schedule
• Sports Summer Camps

ARTS AT UC SAN DIEGO

Explore UC San Diego’s wealth of arts events, installations, screenings and more.

Life at UC San Diego

Dining on campus, places to eat at uc san diego.

From late-night eats and coffee shops to a variety of international cuisines, our campus offers dining options to suit every palate.

University Centers Dining

Boba drinks, Indian street food and Thai fusion dishes are just a few of the many offerings within our University Centers, which are home to both locally owned restaurants and well-known national chains.

UC San Diego Housing, Dining and Hospitality: Restaurants and Markets

With an exclusively vegan eatery and lounge, the largest halal-certified residential dining facility in the nation and certified kosher menu options—all with a focus on sustainability—eating on campus has never been easier.

All the Essentials

Uc san diego bookstore.

Stock up on everything from textbooks and computers to the latest Triton gear at the UC San Diego Bookstore, located in Price Center East. Visit the bookstore’s Sunshine Market for convenient grab-n-go products including snacks, groceries and home and dorm essentials.

University Centers Shops & Services

A full-service salon, a bike & skate shop, an Amazon pickup location and more: you’ll find it all here on campus.

Our Target campus store is unique and provides a curated assortment of products and services tailored to the specific needs and wants of students, staff and faculty. It even includes a CVS Pharmacy.

Work Hard, Play Hard

Take a yoga class, navigate our challenge course, learn how to surf or face off against your fellow Tritons in a game of basketball. Between our countless recreational offerings and the year-round Southern California sunshine, it’s easy to stay active both on and off campus.

La Jolla Playhouse

Our campus is home to the Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse, a professional, not-for-profit venue that’s gained nationwide recognition as “the place to see what’s next on the American theatre landscape.”

Craft Center

Our reimagined 11,000 square-foot Craft Center offers classes and workshops ranging from ceramics and woodworking to culinary arts and surfboard shaping.

With study spaces, labs and access to the largest university research library system in the world, the Library is the perfect place to follow your curiosity and think outside the box.

Learn More About the Library

OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS TOURS

You've done all your research and read every brochure, but the best way to find out what we're all about is to see it for yourself.

Tour Our Campus

Virtual tours.

If you can't make it to campus, you can still take a tour!

GUIDED TOUR AND PRESENTATION

Tours are designed for prospective, current UC San Diego Students, Academic Counselors, UC San Diego faculty/ staff/administrators, and general guests. This is a completely outdoor walking tour led by current UC San Diego Campus Ambassadors along with a presentation by a Admissions Officer. Guided tours are ONLY for prospective students and families or general guests. Please book a group tour in the next section if you are touring with a school group.

• Register for a Guided Tour

Group Tours

Are you a high school group, college group, sports team, and would like to visit us? Click the link below to sign up for a group tour. Group tours are designed for 11 individuals or more.

Register for a Group Tour

SELF-GUIDED TOUR

If you are unable to attend a guided tour you are welcome to explore the UC San Diego campus on your own using the self-guided tour map. Our campus is open to the public throughout the year with each self-guided tour route in the map below is about 45 minutes to 1 hour long. Please feel free to stop by the Triton Center for questions if needed.

• Download the Campus Map
• Descarga El Mapa Del Campus

What to do While you're here

Calendar of Events

Explore Geisel Library

Snap a selfie in front of UC San Diego’s iconic Geisel Library, recently named one of the most beautiful libraries in the world and is among the nation’s top 25 public academic libraries.

EAT AT A DINING HALL

Treat yourself to a meal at one of our full-service eateries. Selections around campus include vegetarian, kosher and halal-friendly dining halls, as well as food to grab on the go.

Restaurants & Cafes

CHECK OUT THE BOOKSTORE

Browse bestsellers and outfit yourself like a true Triton at the UC San Diego Bookstore. There is also a full food court in the attached Price Center if you get hungry or just want to grab some coffee.

Visit Bookstore

SOAK IN SOME CAMPUS ART

Zigzag across campus in search of our carefully curated series of one-of-a-kind, site-specific installations from bold artists who proudly disrupt the status quo.

Field Trip Checklist

Questions? At any point in this process if you need assistance, contact our Education Scheduling team at  [email protected] or (858) 534-7336. 

Before Your Visit

Getting Started

• Create or Login to your school or group’s affiliate account
• Check your email for confirmation. Thoroughly review all attachments including program itinerary and important field trip policies. Some policies may change each year, so be sure to read all the information even if you have visited before
• Share the information with all other participating teachers, as only the teacher who books will receive the confirmation email
• Discovery Labs: Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your program time.
• Self-Guided Visits: Plan to arrive about 15 minutes before your entry time to check-in. Groups cannot enter the aquarium before their designated entry time.
• The self-guided visit portion of your field trip will take approximately 2 hours, depending on age and group size.
• Reserve your free teacher pre-visit to begin planning your learning experience by calling 858-534-7336.

Three Weeks Before Your Trip

• Your deadline to book your trip or cancel without a fee.
• Review and distribute the transportation information to bus drivers and/or parent drivers. Create a drop off and pick up plan with bus drivers, as buses are not permitted to park in the Birch Aquarium parking lot.
• Interested in buying boxed lunches? Contact  The French Gourmet to arrange lunches for pick up at Splash! Café.

Two Weeks Before Your Trip

• Look for an email from Education staff with final reminders and, if you are doing a Discovery Lab, a form to gather information about your group. Share all information with the other participating teachers.
• Extra chaperones may be added to your order or purchase extra chaperone tickets individually onsite for $24.95.
• Invoice: An invoice issued by UC San Diego Central Accounts Receivable Office will be emailed 2-3 weeks after your program date. invoice? Be sure to provide us with your school/organization’s Tax ID/EIN and billing contact information (name, phone, email) before your visit to process the invoice. Checks are due 30 days later to the address listed on the invoice. Do not mail checks to Birch Aquarium.
• Check: One check can be written and accepted day-of. We recommend not writing the check in advance as changes in student or chaperone numbers could change your total
• Credit card: One credit card payment can be accepted onsite day-of or taken over the phone after your visit.

One Week Before Your Trip

• Print and complete the Behavior Contract (one per school per day). Bring this with you on the field trip.
• Print Aquarium Activity Sheets for each of your students and Teacher Guides for you and your chaperones. Bring your own clipboards and writing instruments!
• Booked a Discovery Lab? Some of our programs have pre-trip activities to compliment their learning.
• Review the provided Field Trip Guidelines with your students. 
• Assign a chaperone to each small group.
• Review the field trip behavior guidelines will all chaperones.

Field Trip Day

• Buses should drop off in the traffic circle by the Whale Fountain. Parent drivers should park in the parking lot. 
• *During the summer, groups may need to enter through the main entrance
• Be prepared with the total number of students and adults for the entire reservation. Let our staff know if you have any school nurses or aides with you. School nurses and aides are always free and will not be counted towards your total number of chaperones.
• Collect your signed Behavior Contract
• Calculate total cost based on student and adult numbers
• Provide you with a check-in receipt OR collect payment as one check or credit card
• Distribute teacher and chaperone badges and small aquarium maps to the lead teacher
• Store small brown bag lunches/lunch boxes in our provided lunch cubbies located in the lunch area to keep birds out. Consolidate lunches to as few bins as possible to leave space for other groups. Avoid storing backpacks, water bottles, or other large items in the cubbies. Coolers or bins with secure lids can be kept next to the cubbies
• Enter the aquarium through the School and Youth Group Entrance. Chaperone and teacher badges serve as tickets for the students and adults, allowing for reentry throughout the day from the main entrance.
• If you booked a Discovery Lab and your start time is within 15 minutes of your arrival, an educator will meet you at the Education entrance and escort you into the classroom. Groups exploring the aquarium before arrival should meet their educator at the Discovery Lab check-in sign 5 minutes before their program.
• All chaperones are expected to enforce the student behavior expectations throughout the visit.
• If a student gets lost, ask anyone wearing a Birch Aquarium name tag for assistance or go to the Guest Services office.
• Students must be accompanied by a responsible chaperone at all times, including in the gift shop. Enter the gift shop in groups no larger than 10 students per chaperone. Groups may be asked to enter one at a time to moderate capacity.
• *During the summer, school picnic tables may not be available 
• After lunch, inspire your group to take care of our environment by cleaning up. Use the provided trash and recycling bins to discard any waste. Empty the lunch cubbies of all items and trash when your group is finished. To report large spills or full trash cans, notify anyone with a Birch Aquarium name tag.

Subscribe to Birch Aquarium at Scripps Emails

Subscribe to teacher elist emails.

A very important part of what we do in the Geological Collections is to teach students of all ages and the community at large about the importance and impact of the scientific research conducted with samples from the geological collections. Numerous times throughout the year, we conduct lab tours for students from elementary to college age, Birch Aquarium Summer Camp attendees, donors to our collections, as well as for interested members of the community.

During these tours we have the chance to teach visitors about topics such as how and where different types of seafloor rocks form, what sediment cores are and what they tell us about the areas of the seafloor in which they were taken, how we use x-rays to tell and show us more about our samples, how scientists use samples like corals, microfossils, tree cores, and more to reconstruct past climate settings, how scientific research with samples from our collections teaches us more about Earth’s history, and much more.

Some examples of schools, other than SIO, that have had a tour of the Geological Collections are: Corona del Mar Middle and High Schools, Nativity Prep Academy, Vista Middle School, High Tech High, El Centro Junior High, University of San Diego, Grossmont College, California State University-Bakersfield, Palomar College, Bird Rock Ocean Club, San Diego Coastkeeper and many more. Besides giving tours, the Geological Collections also provides bulk sediment samples from the seafloor to educators of all levels, in California and beyond, to use in their classroom, so that students can see and touch ocean sediments firsthand.

This is a great opportunity, especially for land-locked students to learn about the ocean with actual ocean mud. Along with samples, information about where the samples were taken, what the sample contains, and how to treat the sample in the classroom so students can see the tiny, sometimes fossil-bearing, components of the sediments. We have gotten amazing feedback from educators after their students get to work with the seafloor material! One of the educational programs that benefits greatly from having access to educational samples is San Diego Youth Science . They have brought seafloor samples of mud, rocks and microfossils into hundreds if classrooms giving thousands of students access to learning opportunities about the ocean they would otherwise not have. It is an amazing program that also supports teacher, administrators and families of the students they educate.

Since 2018, the Geological Collections has been participating in a very cool project called GEOPATHS . The GEOPATHS project is a collaborative project between University of San Diego, California State University-Bakersfield and SIO. The goal of the project is to inspire under-represented students through learning to pursue careers in the geosciences and to keep them engaged in those careers. The project focuses on taking undergraduate students out to sea to collect geological samples and to then have the students engage in research with the samples in the classroom or as a part of a summer internship. Over the three years of funding for this project, there will be a total of seven research cruises. Another goal of this project is to have high school teachers participate in a workshop, as well as embark on a research cruise, and then to develop curricula based on the geosciences and oceanography. The ultimate goal is have the teachers perfect these curricula through teaching and then to make the finalized module available to teachers throughout California and beyond. More details on this project can be found here .

In 2019, the four collections at SIO were featured in a photography exhibit by SIO alumni Oriana Poindexter, MAS'15. The collection is called Treasures from the Scripps Collections . Half of the proceeds from the sale of the images will go to the collections. The collection had numerous debut events both at SIO and in the community at large, so has been a great source of outreach for all four collections. We are very grateful to Oriana for wanting to highlight the collections in such a unique and artistic way.

The Geological Collections does a lot of work to support the Birch Aquarium. In 2018, all four of the Oceanographic Collections at SIO helped in the creation of the Oddities: Hidden Heroes of the Scripps Collections . It was such a fun experience to bring science to life in the form of giant comic panels and see people of all ages enjoy such a fun exhibit! The exhibit even inspired a science teacher from the Monarch School in San Diego to have her students create their own educational comics based on a species that they were researching. The exhibit should be up well into 2020.

On November 19, 2018, head Curator Richard Norris and collections manager Alex Hangsterfer gave the Jeffrey B. Graham Perspective on Ocean Science Lecture.

In August and October of 2016, the collections manager was the guest scientist and presenter at the Birch Aquarium's Full Moon Pier Tour, where dozens of members of the aquarium and the public came to SIO to listen about the history of SIO and the Geological Collections, walk on the pier at sunset and have interactive experiences at tables set up by the aquarium and collections manager.

The Geological Collections were happy to be a part of the Birch Aquarium's first ever “ Exploring Ocean Careers ” event, on April 1, 2014, April 14, 2015, April 27, 2016, April 26, 2018 and April 30, 2019. At each event, there were about 200+ people in attendance, half of which were students from 6th through 12th grade. The students had a chance to walk around and interact with researchers, graduate students and staff scientists from Scripps, and then participate in a question and answer session where the floor was open to ask the Scripps scientists questions when everyone was together in on room.

On June 22, 2014, the Geological Collections, along with the Marine Vertebrates Collection, set up a display table at the Scripps Family event at the Seaside Forum . This event hosted 75 members of the Scripps family, who are descendants of E.W. Scripps and his offspring.

On June 7, 2014 and June 10, 2017, a group of students from Animo Leadership Charter High School's Marine Biology Club came for a educational tour of the Geological Collections. Many of the members of this club are also a part of C-DEBI ( Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations ) and Rising Deep Scholars. All members participate in educational outreach at public events like Earth Day and local aquarias and fairs, parents meetings, and more. They are mostly Hispanic and African-American in descent and come from low-income, primarily immigrant families. Although they may be a part of the Marine Biology Club, their director, Mark Friedman, exposes them to all aspects of science and oceanography, including marine geology. They are young, inquisitive and ambition young men and women, who will hopefully be up and coming ocean and science leaders!

Educational samples in our collections have been donated to educational institutions both locally and in other states.

The Ocean Discovery Institute is a local organization in Pacific Beach that uses science exploration to engage urban and diverse young people in three ways: education, scientific research and environmental stewardship. They inspire their students to make a difference as scientific and environmental leaders.

We donated seafloor and some terrestrial samples, including glassy basalts, pumice, gabbro, diorite, sandstone, manganese nodules, and other rock samples, as well as samples of sediments containing microfossils. Along with these samples, Power Point presentations containing slides that teach about coring techniques and what deep-sea sediment cores are, how sediments become finely laminated, what dredging is and why the rocks retrieved are useful and how they form, microfossils and corals, terrestrial inputs into the ocean, and more.

These samples and presentations are now incorporated into the curriculum at the Ocean Discovery Institute, giving the students there the opportunity to learn about ocean systems and why they are important.

The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA offers hands-on marine science, environmental education and maritime history programs to more than 110,000 K-12 students. They have a phenomenal visitors center in Dana Point that has museum grade displays and specimens, many of which are interactive, and all of which are highly educational. In the past, educational samples from our collection have been donated to the Ocean Institute, and in 2009, we were able to donate several more hand-sized educational samples to Rick Baker (Vice President of Education) at the Ocean Institute. These samples are now on display for their more than 50,000 annual public visitors and also for use in their educational programs. This is yet another way samples from the geological collections are reaching and educating the community.

Educational samples were also donated to Dr. Arthur Nonomura, an SIO researcher. He used these rocks as inspiration to challenge students in a San Francisco high school to not let any of their classmates dropout, a problem that has been escalating in the last several years. In Dr. Nonomura’s own words, he describes this abyssal rock challenge:

“Last year, the junior class at George Washington High School, San Francisco, was challenged by SIO's Dr. Nonomura to graduate without dropouts. If they met the challenge, GWHS would be endowed with a legacy from the Class of 2011--abyssal rocks that originated from geological collections at SIO. Curator Alexandra Hangsterfer assembled and distributed appropriate specimens and brainstormed with Dr. Nonomura about these such educational applications. Principal Lovrin, counselors and faculty immediately came onboard, supporting the proactive response of students to the prospect of leaving an enduring educational legacy by engaging them in the pursuit of excellence, encouraging fulfillment of long-range goals, and educating them about the ocean surrounding them. Availability of the specimens inspired the students to touch the abyssal environment and ask deeply probing questions. Coincidentally, the timing of the challenge could not have been better because it came in the midst of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, when deepwater exploration was at the forefront of our minds. As a result, the Class of 2011 understood and accepted the challenge. They understood that their classmates would be the first to know if somebody was considering dropping out and that friends giving support and positive feedback could turn the tide. All of the students worked hard at making this work and, as a result, the graduation numbers show that the rocks from SIO greatly enhanced the Class of 2011 in meeting their goal.”

The principal of GWHS, Ericka Lovrin, is sure that this rock challenge deeply motivated the students to meet Dr. Nonomura’s challenge to stay in school.

Dr. Nonomura also donated some of the educational samples from our collection to Arizona state senator John Nelson. The senator was motivated by these deep sea rocks, just as the students from GWHS, and decided to support the creation of a display in the AZ state senate for the deep sea rocks from the geological collections at SIO. Each year, thousands of community members come to visit the state senate, including many school groups. A new highlight of visiting the state senate now is the display of deep-sea rocks. Some of the rocks donated came from cruises that utilized the submersible Alvin, and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) supported by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). The display highlights the exciting ways we access the seafloor and the unique samples we retrieve and what they can tell us about Earth’s history.

Scripps supports summer programs that engage school students of all ages in programs that cover interdisciplinary topics, including marine geology.

One such program is called Focus on the Future (FOTF), a program started by Dr. Tony Haymet that reached out to Compton high school students, starting in 2010. In 2011, the program included 20 high school students and 6 teachers from their high school.

In July of 2011, all 20 students and four of the teachers had the opportunity to sail aboard the R/V Sproul for a one-day cruise. Accompanied by educational director at the Birch Aquarium Kristin Evans, benthic invertebrate specialist Greg Rouse, graduate student in the geological sciences Jillian Maloney, USGS scientist Norrie Robbins, and  Geological Collections Manager Alex Hangsterfer as P.I., students witnessed and assisted in the retrieval of sediment grabs using the Van Veen grab, plankton net tows and core recoveries using the box corer. This was an opportunity that these students would otherwise never have had the chance to participate in and many of them were extremely excited about the at-sea experience they had. They had the chance to learn about how we take geological samples, what scientists do with those samples, how they do the research they engage in, and most importantly, why the work they do is important and what impact it can have on all of our lives. It was an exceptional day for the geological collections in terms of being able to reach out to and impact our community!

Outreach image gallery

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Cosmic Tours

Cosmic tours: bringing the universe to you, volunteer program by uc san diego graduate students., number of shows given: 153 (over ~3800 people toured).

Cosmic Tours is an integrated education and outreach program to bring the Universe to you! The UCSD OIR lab maintains and facilitates the use of the portable planetarium for public shows for K-12 schools and other outreach events, as well as undergraduate curricula. A planetarium serves as a fantastic facility for interactive scientific visualization. Portable planetaria make use of an inflatable dome that includes an advanced projector. Our team currently offers a traditional astronomical experience of the night sky and offer pre-arranged visualization programs and full dome movies that are developed for children and adults. The portable planetarium follows safety regulations, and in case of emergency can easily be flipped by one person for a rapid exit.

The UCSD planetarium is currently organized by graduate students Clarissa Do-o and James Whiley, and Prof. Shelley Wright (PI). If you are interested in planetarium show at your institute or K-12 school, please contact cosmic-tours[@]ucsd.edu (remove brackets in the email address) or message our instagram account here . Our shows book several weeks and months in advance.

The cosmic tours program is conducted all by UCSD graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and is volunteer-based. If you are interested in supporting the Cosmic Tours planetarium program please donate here .

Please contact cosmic-tours[@]ucsd.edu (remove brackets in the email address) if you are interested in planetarium show at your institute or K-12 school.

We appreciate the UCSD Division of Physical Sciences for funding the purchase of the portable planetarium equipment.

1. How does a portable planetarium work? Our portable planetarium consists of a tent-like dome structure that is connected to a fan and inflated like a bouncy castle. A projector and fish-eye lens is placed at the center of the dome to project images onto the inside surface. The dome is floorless, resting on the building floor and therefore can easily be lifted for quick exits. There is a zipper door on the wall of the dome to enter and exit the planetarium while inflated.

2. How does this program work to bring the planetarium to our school or event? We typically do ~3-6 shows (each 15-30 minutes) at each event. The length of shows depends on the age of the audience and the total time for the event. We can fit about 35 people in the dome for each show. For schools, we typically give shows to all the students of one grade level (e.g. all 5th graders). We do not give shows to single classes due to overhead of set-up and transportation. We also tailor the content of the shows to the age of the audience and incorporate topics they may be learning about in class.

3. How large is the planetarium? The footprint of the dome is ~20ft in diameter and the fan extends a few feet on one side of that. At the center, the dome is ~12ft tall when fully inflated and at minimum an extra foot of clearance is required below any fixtures.

4. What is the planetarium made out of? "Digitalis® Domes are made of Digitalis’ imported Nolux™ fabric. This durable, fire retardant fabric consists of six distinct layers which keep out stray light and enhance digital projection.”

5. What is needed for set-up? The planetarium does need to be set-up indoors, so this requires a large room with at least 13ft of vertical clearance between floor and ceiling (or any hanging fixtures). The room must be at least 25ft across in the smallest dimension and power is needed to run the fan and projector.

6. Can the dome be set-up outdoors? No, the dome is not tied down so it cannot be set-up outdoors due to concerns with wind.

7. How many people can fit in the dome? For our planetarium shows we allow a maximum of ~35 people inside the dome at a time.

8. Can the portable planetarium accommodate individuals with accessibility concerns? The planetarium walls simply rest on the building floor and the dome therefore can be lifted at the sides in order to allow wheelchair access. However, the lens sits about 3 ft off the ground and projects light in a complete hemisphere above it. Thus participants using wheelchairs or other accommodations may find this light uncomfortable depending on their height. We also have chairs available for individuals who are not able to sit on the floor for an extended period.

9. How much does it cost to have the planetarium at our event? We charge a rate of $100 per event to bring the planetarium and give shows. This is a fully volunteer program and this fee covers travel costs and equipment maintenance. If this amount is cost prohibitive for your school please contact us about applying for a fee waiver. If you would also like to donate to this program to keep it sustainable for the San Diego community please donate here .

10. How long does it take to set-up the planetarium? We can set-up our portable planetarium in about an hour. This includes the time to inflate the dome and set-up the projection equipment. Take down is a little faster and can be done in just about 30 minutes.

11. How long are the planetarium shows? Planetarium shows can vary in length and material depending on the event and audience. The minimum length per show is 15 minutes to allow enough time to orient the audience and allow them to ask questions. 30 minutes for each show is recommended to allow a wider variety of material to be covered and more interaction with the audience.

Mail & Shipping

University of California, San Diego Center for Astrophysics & Space Science | Department of Physics 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA 92093-0424

Contact info

UCSD OIR Laboratory

Prof. Shelley Wright

Telephone: 858-534-3316

Building: Science Engineering Research Facility (SERF), Room 463

Email: oirlab[@]physics.ucsd.edu

• Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences (CASS)
• Physics Department
• UC San Diego

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Field trips offer COSMOS students behind-the-scenes access to many regional resources utilized by UCSD researchers. Field trips will vary between clusters and are included in the tuition.

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COSMOS hosts an annual COSMOS Alumni Panel, featuring alumni from different COSMOS campuses as well as UCSD COSMOS alums. This is an opportunity for current COSMOS students to hear about recent as well as not-so-recent alumni's professional and scholastic journeys since the time they attended the program.

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Field Trip: San Diego Neighborhoods

You may also be interested in:.

• Curriculum Committee quarterly meeting via Zoom
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• Holiday and Recognition Luncheon at the Faculty Club
• Joint Event With the UC San Diego Center for Healthy Aging. Speaker to be announced.

75+ Places in San Diego to Explore with Kids

Awe, San Diego!  It is a beautiful city home to numerous picturesque beaches and alluring coastal landscapes.  However, did you know that San Diego is also a very kid-friendly city that caters to a broad and diverse range of interests and subjects.  Wherever your children’s interest may lie, you’re sure to find a place in San Diego, that will provide them with deeper insight, engagement and inspiration.  From the fine arts, including classical, contemporary and folk art, to science and natural history, San Diego offers an abundance of options for children.

Therefore, I have compiled a list of 75 kid-friendly places in San Diego County that love little visitors and hosts field trips for students.  Some of them are free.  Some cost a few dollars.  But as always, you know your children best, so please call ahead of time to make sure it is an appropriate venue to take your own family.

Discover Your Next Adventure with SoCal Field Trips

75 field trips in san diego for students.

1.  Adobe Chapel – San Diego

The Adobe Chapel was originally built in 1850 as a home, and was converted to a church by Don José Aguirre in 1858. After having been bulldozed for street realignment in the 1930s, the WPA rebuilt the adobe chapel in 1937.

Much of the interior artifacts from the original chapel have been retained, including the tabernacle, the altar with its beautiful marbleized finish, some woodwork including pews and doors, and José Aguirre’s tombstone is laid in the floor.

Open Saturday & Sunday, 12-4pm and by appointment.

2.  Barona Cultural Center & Museum – Lakeside

As San Diego County’s first museum on an Indian reservation dedicated to the perpetuation and presentation of the local Kumeyaay-Diegueño Native culture, the Barona Museum offers a unique educational journey for visitors of all ages.

The Museum’s collection represents thousands of years of history—some objects dating as far back as 10,000 years—and it demonstrates the artistry and skill of the hemisphere’s first inhabitants.

The Museum is excited to present a series of fun and educational classes that reflect upon native cultural traditions of San Diego County Indians.  Classes are open to the public and are held at the Museum.

3.  Bates Nut Farm  – Valley Center

Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center provides families the opportunity to spend time on a working farm.  While there, you will learn how the farm transformed itself from a groove of walnut trees to a full fledge retail business today.

Take a tour and discover how nuts get from the tree to your table.  Tours are available for groups of 15 or more.  Call 760-749-3333 for reservations.

4.  Birch Aquarium at Scripps – La Jolla

Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the aquarium features more than 60 habitats of fishes and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and beyond.  An oceanographic museum showcases research discoveries by Scripps scientists on climate, earth and ocean science and includes five dozen interactive elements.  Field Trips for students are offered year round.

5.  Bonita Museum & Cultural Center – Bonita

The Bonita Historical Society is dedicated to preserve, for public education and enjoyment, the culture, history, art, crafts, and aesthetic facets of the region, specifically El Rancho de la Nacion in South San Diego County.

The Bonita Museum contains two large galleries for visitors to view cultural exhibits. The front gallery presents a portion of the museum’s permanent collection which depicts the history of the Rancho de la Nacion – the Sweetwater Valley. The larger second gallery presents changing exhibits such as local Fine Arts and other local history.

6. Butterfly Farms  – Encinitas

Butterfly Farms share their knowledge about butterflies with in-depth educational tours of their vivarium and grounds.  Educational Workshops are held Monday through Friday beginning at 10am, the last workshop is at 3pm.  The educational workshop lasts approximately 1 hour.  There is a minimum of 15 students per workshop.  Accommodations will be made for large groups.  Teachers are free.

7.  Cabrillo National Monument  – San Diego

Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. In addition to telling the story of 16th century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources.

The Cabrillo National Monument commemorates Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo’s West Coast exploration, Point Loma’s 19th century lighthouses and San Diego’s WWII coast defenses, and protects sensitive tide pools and coastal sage scrub habitat.

8.  California Center for the Arts – Escondido

The Museum at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido is an inviting 9,000-square-foot exhibition space that boasts three galleries, a sculpture court, and a museum store.

Through its Education Department, the Center offers a multitude of enlightening and informative programs for students, teachers and the general public, including: field trip opportunities, weekday performances for youth, artist – and performer-led master classes, free arts and crafts workshops for families, teacher workshops, music education programs and more.

9.  California Pizza Kitchen   Behind-the-Counter CPKids Restaurant Tour – San Diego County

Every kid gets a thrill discovering how things work.  A free VIP-style restaurant tour at CPK is a unique opportunity to step behind the counter and see what happens in our kitchens.  Kids will love learning the secrets about pizza making from the experts in our hands-on pizza demo.  Each kid also receives an activity book, CPKids pencil, and a certificate for a free CPK Meal on their next visit.  Behind-the-scenes tours are for schools and non-profit organizations and recommended for kids ages 10 and younger.   It is very fun and lasts approximately an hour.  Please contact a CPK Manager to learn more at all participating locations.

10.  California Surf Museum – Oceanside

The California Surf Museum serves as an international repository and resource center on the lifestyle sport of surfing through capturing, preserving, and chronicling its art, culture, and heritage for the education and enjoyment of future generations.  They offer field trips for groups year round.

11.  Coronado Historical Association & Museum – Coronado

Four galleries explore Coronado’s early history, Navy and Army’s role in Coronado, Hotel del Coronado and Tent City.  A special exhibit gallery changes quarterly.

12.  Deering Banjo Company  – Spring Valley

All banjos made by the Deering Banjo Company are exclusively hand-built by the owners, Janet and Greg Deering, and their team of 48 dedicated banjo specialists.  Over the last 40 years they have made more than 100,000 banjos.

They love visitors and welcome folks to take a tour of their factory anytime by calling (800) 845-7791.

13.  Free Flight Bird Sanctuary – Del Mar

Free Flight was originally established in 1981 as a boarding and breeding facility by Dr. Robert Stonebreaker.  However, after sometime Dr. Stonebreaker noticed that some of his clients were unable to care for their birds and brought them back to him.  Hence, Free Flight eventually evolved into a one of a kind exotic bird sanctuary where birds and people interact together.

First Flight offers field trips for schools groups, homeschoolers and scout troops year round.  A field trip includes a personal tour of the facility and the opportunity to feed the birds and fish in their koi pond.

14.  Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum – San Diego

The only official Marine Corps Aviation Museum in the U.S., including over 40 aircraft and other military equipment and vehicles on display, History of Women Marines exhibit, and a Museum Store.

What sets this museum apart from all others is the fact that it is the only museum in the world dedicated to preserving the incredible contributions made by Marine Corps aviators and their ground support personnel.  The museum has 34 aircraft and over a dozen military vehicles and support equipment on display on 7 acres along Miramar Rd, with a direct access entrance gate.  The 4,000 sq ft indoor facility has memorabilia and artwork from WWI to present day to include displays on Women in the Marine Corps aviation, Marines in the NASA space program.

They also have an Open Cockpit Days program where the public can sit in several select few vintage aircraft and enjoy the cockpit experience of Marine Aviators.

15.  Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House – San Diego

The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation (GQHF) is housed in the historic district’s oldest standing structure, the Davis-Horton House (1850).  As the steward of the Gaslamp Quarter’s architecture, culture and history, GQHF operates the house as the Gaslamp Museum to share information about San Diego’s early history through exhibitions, tours of the house, and guided tours of the Gaslamp neighborhood, Tuesday – Saturday.

GQHF offers many tours for their guests from architectural and historical Children’s Tours, to Gaslamp Quarter Walking Tours, to tours of the Davis-Horton House, and to Ghost Tours and Paranormal Investigations.  Their programs serve as educational tools that allow the Foundation to fulfill its mission of preserving the architecture, culture and history of the Gaslamp Quarter, while sharing San Diego’s amazing heritage along the way.

16.  The Gemological Institute  – Carlsbad

Established in 1931, GIA is the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, colored stones, and pearls.  A public benefit, nonprofit institute, GIA is the leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in gems and jewelry.

GIA offers a field trip program for students in 4th grade and up.  They also have a museum featuring gems from all over the world that is available to be seen by appointment only.  To schedule an individual or group tour of the museum call 1-800-421- 7250.

17.  Heritage of the Americas Museum – El Cajon

The Heritage of the Americas Museum, located on the campus of Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, California, invites visitors of all ages to experience a journey through time. Five wings divide the building into areas of Natural History, Archaeology, Anthropology, Art, and Education.

The museum is an educational and cultural center featuring the prehistoric and historic art, culture, and natural history of the Americas. Artifacts and art serve as a documentation of life and civilization throughout the ages.

Field Trips for 2-6 grades are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to noon.  There is a maximum of 40 students.  Students are free.

18.  Little Creek Acres Farm  – Valley Center

At Little Creek Acres Farm there are dairy goats and sheep who know their names, chickens you can visit, cats that talk to you, farm dogs who love attention, as well as a veggie garden and an orchard to explore and learn in!   

The farm offers a two and a half hour experiential learning tour for youth groups of 5 to 90, ages 6 and up, scheduled March through November.

19.  Japanese Friendship Garden Society – San Diego

Enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the garden, which features a zen rock garden, koi pond, traditional Japanese art, and garden features.  All garden tours are free with paid admission!  The Girl Scouts of San Diego Imperial Council, Inc., in collaboration with the Garden also developed a craft program to fulfill badge requirements.

20.  John’s Incredible Pizza Learn/Eat/Play Tour – San Diego County

For around $10.00 each child will get a tour of the restaurant (including the kitchen), make their own pizza and receive a fun card that includes 1 ride.  Field Trips are held Monday – Thursday before 3:00 pm.  You need a minimum of 12 kids to book a tour.  Please call each individual location to schedule a tour directly.

21. Junípero Serra Museum – San Diego

The Junípero Serra Museum, in Presidio Park, is one of the most familiar landmarks in San Diego. As a major symbol of the city, it stands atop the hill recognized as the site where California began.  It was here in 1769 that a Spanish Franciscan missionary, Father Junípero Serra, with a group of soldiers led by Gaspar de Portolá, established Alta California’s first mission and presidio (fort).

The museum offers a field trip for elementary and middle school students called San Diego Before Statehood.  Journey back in time and tread in the footsteps of the padres, soldiers, and settlers who established the first mission and presidio in Alta California. Through a combination of museum educator/docent facilitated or teacher-led activities, explore a section of Presidio Park, learning about the plaza, stables, jail, chapel, and commander’s house that lie protected underground today.

Inside the Serra Museum, investigate artifacts that reveal the daily life of the Kumeyaay, the Spanish, and the Mexican inhabitants of early California. “Meet” real historic figures by dressing in costume as Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo,  Father Junípero Serra, Guillermo Carrillo, Señorita Pico, and Josefa Carillo de Fitch, all important leaders in the early years of the city.

22.  Key Creek Lavender Farm  – San Diego

Keys Creek Lavender Farm is San Diego’s counties only USDA certified organic lavender farm.  About two dozen varieties of lavender are grown on the 8 acres lavender farm.  After harvesting the lavender is processed into a variety of products which are available for purchase at the farm gift store.

During the summer blooming season (May and June) Keys Creek Lavender Farm is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00am – 3:00pm.  The rest of the year the farm is open for private events and tours.

23.  La Jolla Historical Society – La Jolla

Dedicated to preserving and making accessible the unique cultural heritage of La Jolla through exhibitions, education programs, research programs, and public outreach. In our newly renovated Wisteria Cottage galleries LJHS provides high quality, rotating exhibitions that explore the rich culture of La Jolla and interpret history for contemporary audiences.  Their education programs include BEtalks: Dialogues on the Built Environment and youth summer camps in photography and architecture. The LJHS archive consists of photographs, postcards, architectural drawings, and oral history recordings; plus bound collections of local newspapers, street and land use files, and business and personal documents.

24.  Lions, Tigers and Bears Sanctuary  – Alpine

The Lions, Tigers & Bears Sanctuary in Alpine is home to 17 species of animals located on a ranch with a rich history to explore, including a historical adobe.  All visits to the sanctuary are by appointment only.  You can choose from being a member-for-a-day, feed a big cat or bear of your choice or plan a school field trip.  They also offer patrons the option to stay the night at their exclusive White Oaks private retreat.  Advance reservations are required.  Check out Groupon from time to time for discounts for this location.

25.  Living Coast Discovery Center – Chula Vista

Set against the natural beauty of San Diego Bay and the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, the Living Coast Discovery Center is an intimate zoo and aquarium featuring the unique animals native to the Southern California coastline, including endangered Eastern Pacific green sea turtles, sharks, rays, reptiles, owls, hawks, eagles and more.

The center offers a variety of field trips options so that you can choose your own adventure:

• CA Science Standards, Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core aligned curricula
• walking trails & sunshine by the bay!
• interactive scavenger hunts
• Living Labs & Dissections
• animal encounters

26.  Lux Art Institute – Encinitas

Lux Art Institute is redefining the museum experience to make art more accessible and personally meaningful.  At Lux, you don’t just see finished works of art; you see the artistic process firsthand.

They offer one in-house field trip options for children K-8 including:

Luxcursion –  Experience creativity in action with a field trip to Lux Art Institute. The Luxcursion includes a docent-led tour through the outdoor sculpture garden, artist’s studio and exhibition areas, followed by a related hands-on art project.  K-8 students.

High School and College Tours –  Bring your class for an interactive tour which include a 45 minute docent-led exploration of the artist studio for high school and college groups.  Classes have the opportunity to meet the artist-in-residence or sketch in the studio.

27.  Maritime Museum of San Diego  – San Diego

The Maritime Museum of San Diego enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining and operating historic vessels. The museum has one of the world’s finest collections of historic ships, including the world’s oldest active ship the Star of India.The Museum displays permanent and temporary exhibits on maritime history, commerce and exploration and stages popular public events such as “The Chocolate Festival”, “Pirate Buccaneer Birthday Bash”, “Festival of Sail each Labor Day weekend”, and family sleepovers on the Star of India.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego offers group and guided tours to accommodate the needs of school groups, touring groups, youth groups, community groups as well as offering a discount with your visit.  Tours are led by trained and knowledgeable museum staff who bring history to life through storytelling and reenactment.  Tours typically encompass visits to a number of ships including Star of India, HMS Surprise, B-39 Submarine, the 1898 Berkeley and the 1904 Medea as well as their galleries and exhibits which display a wide variety of maritime topics.  Any tour can be designed to emphasize particular interests such as subjects related to a school curriculum.

28.  Marston House Museum & Gardens – San Diego

The George and Anna Marston House in Balboa Park is a 8,500 square-foot home with five acres of gardens and trails, and is one of the most interesting house museums in all of California. George Marston is known as the father of Balboa Park, San Diego’s first citizen and is acclaimed as one of San Diego’s earliest environmentalists, conservationists and historic preservationists.

School guided tours for grades 1-12 of the Marston House Museum includes a certificate good for a free return visit with a paying adult to the Marston House Museum and Gardens.  Minimum 15 people including chaperones.

29.  Mingei International Museum – San Diego

Mingei International Museum preserves and exhibits folk art, craft and design from all eras and cultures of the world. Mingei celebrates human creativity, and the belief that everyday object and materials that often serve a useful purpose can also be objects of beauty.  The Museum’s collection now comprises more than 26,000 objects of folk art, craft and design from 141 countries.

The museum offers free tours for all K-12 when booked in advance.  Enhance your Docent-led tour with a hands-on art workshop inspired by the art forms on view in the galleries.  Classes must be booked at least two weeks in advance in conjunction with a Docent-led tour and are offered based on availability.

30.  Mount Laguna

At just over 6000 feet above sea level, Mount Laguna is one of the most popular places to see winter snow coming from the San Diego area.  If there is snow, chains are required and you’ll need to purchase them ahead of time.  The Laguna Mountain Lodge has reasonably-priced accommodations, a Visitor Center and Adventure Passes for sale.

31.  Mt. Woodson Castle  – Ramona

In 1909, Amy Strong, a famous San Diego dress designer, hired architects to build her dream home on the Ranch.  They pitched tents on the site for their own accommodations, drew renderings and blueprints. The home was completed by 1921.  The Strong home in Ramona is the vision of this artistic woman, the talents of her architects, and the philosophy of the Craftsman Movement.  The Castle has twenty-seven rooms and is made of eucalyptus, oak, and redwood, rocks and flagstone, adobe, bricks and tiles, plaster, concrete and stucco.  Tours are available daily.

32.  Museum of Contemporary Art  – San Diego & La Jolla

With two locations, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is the region’s foremost forum devoted to the exploration and presentation of the art of our time, presenting works across all media created since 1950. Located in the heart of downtown San Diego and in the coastal community of La Jolla, MCASD provides an unprecedented variety of exhibition spaces and experiences for the community, showcasing an internationally recognized collection and a dynamic schedule ofexhibitions and public programs.

MCASD offers guided tours and ArtLab workshops for middle and high school groups.

A Look/Explore Tour is an hour-long, student-centered dialogue in which students gain a greater understanding of the works on view through visual inquiry and in-gallery activities. Gallery Educators facilitate lively conversations on a select number of artworks, site-specific installations, or the architecture of the Museum to allow students to deeply engage with the works discussed. Look/ Explore Tours must be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance and any applicable fees must be paid in full a minimum of one-week prior to the tour.  San Diego County Public and Charter Schools receive free admission.  Independent Schools and Schools Outside San Diego County required a minimum of 15 participants and are charged a fee.

ArtLab Workshops build on the Look/Explore Tour with an additional hour of hands-on art making experience in which students further explore process and materials.

33.  Museum of Making Music – Carlsbad

For over ten years, the Museum of Making Music has provided opportunities for cultural enrichment while preserving our musical heritage through special exhibitions, innovative concerts and educational programs aimed toward a wide range of audiences.

On permanent display are hundreds of vintage instruments, audio and video clips, and a vibrant interactive area. Organized chronologically, each gallery features the historic milestones, popular music and instruments of those eras. A snapshot of music business practices and nostalgic re-creations of music stores provide a glimpse into the music products industry.

Designed for children ages 3 to 5, the Preschool Fieldtrips provide an interactive exploration of the Museum.  Children will discover instruments like the cello, saxophone, ukulele, piano and more!  Tours feature a storytime, a group drum circle and a special take-home surprise!

The Museum’s MusicVentures Fieldtrip takes students on a musical exploration of the people, historical events and innovations that influenced music making and musical instruments. Led by a trained facilitator, students embark on creative thinking adventure through the instruments on display, sound and video clips, and an interactive activity.

34.  Museum of Photographic Arts – San Diego

The mission of the Museum of Photographic Arts is to inspire, educate and engage the broadest possible audience through the presentation, collection and preservation of photography, film and video.  MOPA is a center for visual learning, passionately dedicated to sharing and exploring the universal language of photography.

Enjoy a free gallery tour for your school group.  Two-weeks advanced notice required.  One chaperone per every 15 children (age 18 and under) is required.

35.  The Monarch Butterfly House  – Escondido

Here researchers study the behavior and biology of various native butterflies in their Butterfly Vivarium, conduct field trips, cultivate plants in a greenhouse and rear butterfly livestock.

36.  Oasis Camel Dairy – Ramona

An unusual family; Gil, Nancy, a small handful of very dedicated animal caretakers and a huge family of camels, birds and other farm animals call the Oasis Camel Dairy home.  Located on thirty-four rolling acres, this unique “farmily” supports the efforts of furthering the education of the public world-wide about the amazing nature of camels and their milk.  They also offer camel rides!

Public tours are available once a month and school field trips are offered throughout the year.  Please send an email to [email protected] for details.

37.  Oceanside Museum of Art – Oceanside

The mission of the Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) is to educate and inspire the public through a diverse range of engaging exhibitions and programs that connect people with regional, as well as national and global artists and art forms of the 20th and 21st centuries.  The museum has more than fifteen highly praised modern and contemporary art exhibitions per year.

OMA offers engaging docent tours for groups and individuals.  Group tours are complementary for OMA members and students, and a small fee for non-members.

38.  Palomar College Planetarium  – San Marcos

This specific planetarium is the 5th largest planetarium in California.  The theater has 138 seats that sit under a 50-foot Astrotec dome.  The planetarium hosts field trips for area schools all year long.  At the planetarium students are given a brief tour of current constellations and the night sky. The students are then taken on a n informative virtual journey through the Solar System.

39.  Palomar Observatory  – Palomar Mountain

Palomar Observatory is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology.  The Observatory is a popular destination in Southern California and receives tens of thousands of visitors a year from all over the world.  Most come to see the famous 200-inch (5.1-meter) Hale Telescope — for decades the largest effective telescope in operation.  They also offer guided tours of the facility.

40.  Palomar Mountain  – Palomar Mountain

Palomar Mountain is a hidden gem surrounded by the The Cleveland National Forest.  Home to Palomar Mountain State Park, the Palomar Mountains include peaks ranging from 3000-6000 feet above sea level.  If you decide to play in the snow at Palomar Mountain State Park, an Adventure Pass is required.

41.  Petco Park  – San Diego

Take a behind-the-scenes guided tour of Petco Park where you will have the opportunity to visit the press box, learn about the historic Western Metal Supply Co. Building and explore the Padres dugout.

Tours are available seven days a week for individuals, families or groups smaller than 25.  Tickets are available online.

42.  Presidio Park  – San Diego

Presidio Park is located on a hill above Old Town State Historic Park.  You can see Monarch Butterflies roost in the Canary Island Pine trees along each side of Cosoy Way.  In November, the butterflies can be seen in the eucalyptus trees.

43.  Queen Califa’s Magical Garden  – Escondido

Queen Califa’s Magical Garden is an unusual sculpture garden created by the late famous artist Niki de Saint Phalle.  There are only four of these gardens in the world and only one located in the United States in Escondido.

The Garden is open to the public a few days a month, weather permitting.  Docents are available to answer questions.  The Garden may also be visited by groups of 10 or more by making pre-arranged reservation by contacting (760) 839-4000.

44.  Reuben H. Fleet Science Center – San Diego

Since 1973, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (“the Fleet”) has been inspiring minds and bringing hands-on science to the San Diego community.  At the Fleet, you can create colored shadows, design images with a sand pendulum, examine the vibration of guitar strings and engage with a variety of intriguing scientific phenomena via more than 100 “do touch” exhibits for all ages.  The Fleet is home to the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater, presenting immersive IMAX films and digital planetarium shows.

The Fleet Education Department develops and implements a wide array of educational and innovative programs and exhibits to promote lifelong learning and a deep appreciation of science and technology for the entire community.  As an informal education and inquiry-based institution, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center offers a number of activities designed to immerse your students in an interactive science experience.  Field Trips and classes are offered year round.

45.  San Diego Air & Space Museum – San Diego

Aviation history is truly a remarkable story, and it all unfolds at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.  Your journey through the history of flight begins as you stand beneath a model of the Montgolfier brothers’ hot air balloon of 1783 – the first manned vehicle in recorded history to break the bonds of gravity and lift humans above the Earth.  Rare specimens of aircraft suggest the excitement of air combat in the World War I Gallery. Marvel at the entertaining and dangerous antics of the barnstormers of the 1920s in the Golden Age of Flight Gallery.  Mint condition aircraft in a mint condition museum – a Spitfire Mk. XVI, a Navy F6F Hellcat and an A-4 Skyhawk jet – these beautifully restored airplanes help you appreciate the increasingly complex technology represented in the classic military aircraft of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

The San Diego Air & Space Museum offers a variety of group and individual activities that are tailored to meet the needs of specific grade levels.  All programs correlate with the State of California’s Academic Content Standards for Science, Math, History/Social Science, and/or Language Arts, as well as the Science Framework for California Public Schools.

46.  San Diego Archaeological Center – Escondido

The San Diego Archaeological Center is a curation facility and museum where visitors can learn the story of how people have lived in San Diego County for the past 10,000 years. In addition to its role as a museum, the Center serves as an education and research facility and is the only local organization dedicated to the collection, study, curation and exhibition of San Diego County’s archaeological artifacts.

The Center Museum has changing exhibits and hands-on activities that explore 10,000 years of history of the San Diego region through the archaeological record. Learn about the life-ways of early Native American hunter-gatherers who lived in the region and the many groups and immigrants who have contributed to the region’s archaeological record.

The Education Department will customize a field trip program to fit the needs of homeschoolers and K-12 school groups. Minimum of 15 students, maximum of 70 students. Chaperones are free.

47.  San Diego Automotive Museum – San Diego

Rotating exhibitions plus a regular collection that includes a 1948 Tucker and Louie Mattar’s Fabulous $75,000, as well as a large collection of motorcycles and memorabilia.  The mission of The San Diego Automotive Museum is to tell the story of the social and technological past, present, and future of motorized vehicles through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs.

The San Diego Automotive Museum’s Educational Programming offers the children of San Diego an opportunity for a number of educational experiences. The automobile represents a wide range of subject matter, from Social Studies (including local-national history), to science and physics along with technology and art.

48.  San Diego Botanic Garden – Encinitas

An urban oasis, featuring rare bamboo, a tropical rain forest, California native plants, and the West Coast’s nationally-acclaimed Hamilton Children’s Garden.  Enjoy four miles of trails amid 37 acres of over 4,000 plant varieties, restful vistas, flowering trees, majestic palms, and the nation’s largest bamboo collection. Thanks to San Diego’s mild climate, plants from all over the world thrive here.

The garden offers a variety of different group tours designed to meet the needs of all ages and interests including docent-led groups, self-guided tours, scout troops, school field trips and preschool groups.

49.  San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum – Escondido

Set sail on the museum’s Explore Discovery sailboat, experiment at the Magnification Station, and discover nature in the Children’s Discovery Garden.  There’s even a toddler area for the little ones.

Serving children ages 0-10, SDCDM focuses on these critical years of child development while also encouraging families to learn together. Through professionally designed exhibit spaces and programs, children engage a wide range of concepts about science, art, and world cultures. Whether children are playing musical instruments, putting on costumes to perform, or building structures out of recycled materials, children are able to combine learning with creativity for an educational experience all their own.

50.  San Diego Chinese Historical Museum – San Diego

The museum’s exhibits share the heritage of San Diego’s Chinese community and the essence of Chinese arts and culture through historic photographs, miniature models, ancient artifacts and explanatory text.  Special events also celebrate holidays like the Chinese New Year, the Moon Festival, and Veterans Day.

Enjoy a docent-led tour of the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum’s permanent collection and featured exhibit!  Museum tours are held the first Saturday of every month at 11:00am for the general public. School tours are held year round.

51.  San Diego Hall of Champions – San Diego

The Federal Building is the third home for the Hall of Champions. In 1959, Robert Breitbard arranged for space in Balboa Park and established the Hall of Champions as a non-profit sports museum.  San Diego’s sports history soon outgrew the facility, prompting a move to its grandest home when refurbishing of the historic Federal Building was completed in 1999.

See exciting exhibits like the Padres, Chargers and surf history exhibits or get your photo taken in the Athlete Hall of Fame.

52.  San Diego Inte rnational Airport – San Diego

The San Diego International Airport Authority offers a free tour called Terminals To Tarmac.  The tour is of the airport and airfield, including up-close looks at the runway, endangered species areas and public art.  Tours are two hours long.

53.  San Diego Model Railroad Museum – San Diego

At 27,000 sq. ft., the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is one the largest indoor model railroad displays in the world and the only accredited railroad themed museum in USA.  The individual HO and N scale layouts are among largest of their type. Construction of the model railroads is accomplished by volunteer club members.  With an interactive Toy Train Gallery, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is fun for the whole family.

The museum offers field trips for students year round.

54.  San Diego Natural History Museum (theNAT) – San Diego

theNat mission is to interpret the natural world through research, education and exhibits; promote understanding of the evolution and diversity of southern California and the peninsula of Baja California; and inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment.

theNAT School’s Programs are dedicated to providing quality science education to students in our community. By focusing on Earth and Life Sciences, and adhering to California State Standards, their classes are led by Museum-trained Docents and professional educators who bring passion and enthusiasm for natural history to your students.  With many classes and programs to choose from, e.g., “Read a Rock,” “Incredible Insects,” and the overwhelmingly popular “Autumn Harvest,” their educators and Docents work with students and share the actual specimens that are thousands and sometimes even millions of years old.

55.  San Diego Zoo – San Diego

The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park houses over 3,700 animals of more than 650 species and subspecies.  They offer guided and self guided field trips for preschool – 12th grader year-round.  Admission is free for all students in San Diego County during the traditional school year.  Non-San Diego County schools receive reduced admission.

Guided tours are offered year-round and include a bus tour, behind-the-scenes visits, and up-close animal encounters.

56.  San Diego Zoo Safari Park – Encinitas

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park also offers field trips for preschool – 12th grader year round.  Admission is free for all students in San Diego County during the traditional school year.  Non-San Diego County schools receive a reduced admission.

57.  Santa Ysabel Store and The Feed Store  – Santa Ysabel

The historic Santa Ysabel General Store, an iconic landmark, is now open for business with an innovative dual purpose.  Dating from 1884, the store is now being restored, bringing a unique emporium brimming with heirloom and artisanal foodstuffs, back-to-nature gifts, wares for home and garden, and books and guides for the naturalist or cultural tourist.  The store, ideally located at a well-traveled crossroads where state Highways 78 and 79 meet, is slated to be a popular destination as it doubles as a new Backcountry Visitor Center focused on public trails, birds and wildlife, recreational opportunities, and cultural heritage sites.

58.  The New Children’s Museum – San Diego

The New Children’s Museum empowers children to think, play and create through participatory exhibitions, engaging art-making activities, captivating artistic performances and in-depth educational opportunities.  Serving all ages, from toddler to teen, NCM inspires new ways to see the world through the language of art.  Including a cafe, abundant seating, quiet space for parents and infants and an outdoor park, the Museum provides a comfortable and engaging environment for the entire family to enjoy together.

The New Children’s Museum offers tours for schools and other groups ranging from pre-kindergarten to high school, college and more.  In addition to a tour, groups can choose to participate in a studio art project led by trained Teaching Artists.

59.  The San Diego History Center – San Diego

The San Diego History Center is located in the heart of Balboa Park. Here you will not only find a collection of intriguing exhibitions that chronicle San Diego’s diverse history, but also our Library.  This is home to over 45 million pieces of paper and 2.5 million images that document the people, places and events of San Diego’s past.

At the history center they offer the following programs for school groups including Stories of San Diego, Mapping Balboa Park, Ingenious! The World of Dr. Seuss and The Lore Behind the Roar.

60.  The San Diego Museum of Art – San Diego

The San Diego Museum of Art, the region’s oldest, largest and most visited art museum, provides a rich and diverse cultural experience for almost 250,000 visitors annually.  Located in the heart of beautiful Balboa Park, the Museum’s nationally renowned permanent collection includes Spanish and Italian old masters, South Asian paintings, and 19th- and 20th-century American paintings and sculptures.  In addition, the Museum regularly features major exhibitions from around the world, as well as an extensive year-round schedule of supporting cultural and educational programs for children and adults.

Docents provide guided tours for students in grades K-12 of the Museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions.  Tours include discussions as well as demonstrations of techniques and materials used by the artists. School tours fulfill the standards of the California State Framework for the Visual Arts: Artistic Perception, Creative Expression, Historical and Cultural Context, and Aesthetic Valuing.

Docent offer tours on the following topics:

• American Art
• Baroque Art
• Customized Tour (per teacher’s specifications)
• European (19th- and 20th-Century)
• Modern & Contemporary Art
• Museum Highlights
• Renaissance Art
• Sculpture Court
• Special Exhibitions

61.  Seabreeze Organic Farm  – San Diego

Seabreeze Organic Farm offers a farm stand, cooking and nutrition classes, a U-pick operation, organic fruits/vegetables and farm tours by reservation only.

62.  Spruce Street Suspension Bridge  – San Diego

Spruce Street Suspension Bridge was originally designed to provide pedestrian passage across a deep canyon, which isolated developing neighborhoods from the newly built trolley lines on Fourth and Fifth avenues.  Located just west of First Avenue, it is the only one of its kind in San Diego.

The beautiful 375 feet walkway floats among treetops and sways with the way of the wind.  The bridge is attached to steel suspension cables which are then anchored to massive concrete piers hidden beneath the soil at both ends.  From the center of the bridge you can see San Diego’s downtown skyline.  It is free to walk across the bridge anytime except when it is closed between 10 pm – 6 am.

63.  Suzie Farms  – San Diego

Suzie Farms offer a variety of ways to experience their beautiful 140-acre farm, located just south of Imperial Beach.  The farm is ever-changing and can be visited at any time during the year as a way to deepen your connection to your food, broaden your understanding of how a farm works, or simply enjoy a day out of the city.

School tours take a 90 minute exploration of our fields while tasting crops and learning about organic agriculture.  Identify various plants, visit the chickens and discuss farming as we walk among flowers and crops.

64.  The Water Conservation Garden – El Cajon

The Water Conservation Garden has nearly five acres of displays that showcase water conservation through a series of beautiful gardens, such as a native plant garden and a vegetable garden, as well as how-to displays such as mulch and irrigation exhibits. Admission is free, and the Garden can be viewed on a self-guided tour or through one of their programs.

Ms. Smarty-Plants award-winning programs inspire young people through interactive and engaging hands on learning in water conservation and stewardship of the earth.

65.  Taylor Guitars  – El Cajon

Taylor Guitars is one the country’s best known guitar makers.  They offer free guided factory tours ever Monday – Friday at 1 p.m.  The maximum group size is 10 people.  Reservations are not required.  You just show up and go!

66.  Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve – Imperial Beach

The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve preserves, protects, and manages the natural and cultural resources of the Tijuana River Estuary by focusing on research and education with compatible recreation and resource use.  The Reserve encompasses beach, dune, mudflat, salt marsh, riparian, coastal sage scrub, and upland habitats surrounded by the growing cities of Tijuana, Imperial Beach, and San Diego.

The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve has exciting, hands-on education programs for students as well as tours, informative lectures and other outreach opportunities for adult audiences.

67.  Timken Museum of Art – San Diego

Affectionately known as a “jewel box” of fine art, the Timken Museum of Art in San Diego’s historic Balboa Park is home to the Putnam Foundation’s world-class collection of European and American masterpieces. Located on the Plaza de Panama, it is the only art museum in Balboa Park with free admission.

Offered daily, free docent-led school tours explore highlights of the permanent collection and special exhibitions.  Tours may be half hour to one hour long.  An instructor must accompany college classes and K-12 classes must include one chaperone per ten children.

68. Edna Harper’s Topiary Garden – San Diego

Edna Harper’s Topiary Garden in San Diego is made of 50 or so whimsical characters including elephants, whales, a rooster, a bunny, and Mickey Mouse.  It is free to visit.  However, just be sure to stay on the pathway and enjoy the garden from afar.

69.  USS Midway Museum – San Diego

Imagine experiencing life at sea aboard one of America’s longest-serving aircraft carriers.  Visitors to the USS Midway Museum enter a floating city at sea and walk in the footsteps of 225,000 Midway sailors who served our country and upheld the American ideals of strength, freedom and peace.

The USS Midway Museum is an unforgettable adventure for the entire family.  Guests can spend the day exploring more than 60 exhibits with a collection of 29 restored aircraft.  The self-guided audio tour, narrated by Midway sailors, brings the carrier’s history to life.  Those who dare can “take to the sky” aboard one of two flight simulators.

Adventurous learning awaits students 2-8 grades, teachers, and chaperones aboard the Midway. Our “On Board With” programs enable Midway to become a one-of-a-kind learning laboratory for a variety of exciting topics that are specifically designed to teach the California Content Standards in Science, Math and Social Studies.

All “On Board With” programs are two action-packed hours and include:

• Education-discounted admission to the USS Midway
• Pre-visit information with a glossary and activity lessons designed to support the program topic
• An introduction and orientation to the Midway by trained education staff
• The opportunity to visit selected exhibits and locations specially picked to highlight your “On Board With” subject matter
• Plenty of interactive and/or hands-on activities
• Post-visit lessons to help review the information learned on board the Midway
• Lots of active fun mixed with a good dose of learning

70.  Veterans Museum & Memorial Center – San Diego

The Veterans Memorial Center, Inc. was formed in March 1989 to create, maintain and operate an institution to honor and perpetuate the memories of all men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

They provide a docent-led tour for large groups.  Advance reservations are required.

71.  Warner-Carillo Ranch House – Warner Springs

Built in 1857, the Warner-Carrillo Ranch House served as the Butterfield Stage Stop and was California’s first regular overland stage connection with St. Louis. With its multilayered history, the adobe ranch house tells the story of the emigrant trail, the overland stage, and the prominent ranching history of the area.

Group tours are available for large groups.  Call for complete details.

72.  Whaley House Museum – San Diego

The Whaley House is a classic example of mid-nineteenth century Greek Revival architecture, formally dedicated as a historic house museum on May 25, 1960 and has been open to the public ever since; it is one of southern California’s most popular visitor destinations.  Over 125,000 people visit the house annually, with guests traveling from across the globe to experience this world-renowned museum.

The Whaley House is a fine example of how a well-to-do family would have lived in San Diego during the 1860s and ’70s.  As home to an early county courthouse, San Diego’s first commercial theater, and Mr. Whaley’s general store, the possibilities for education are many.

School tours include a presentation of Whaley House history with a Q & A session in the courtroom by a knowledgeable docent in period attire, followed by a self-guided tour of the Whaley House and grounds.  Tours are for students in 1st through 12th grade.

73. Wild Willow Farm & Education Center – San Diego

Wild Willow Farm & Education Center is a six-acre working farm located less than three miles from the Pacific Ocean and two-thirds mile north of the Mexican Border.  The farm is nestled along the banks of the scenic Tijuana River, and borders the river’s stunningly beautiful estuary nature preserve.

Wild Willow Farm field trips typically last from 1.5 to 2 hours depending on your needs.  Visitors are split into groups and rotate through three to four hands-on activities, including light and easy farming and interactive lessons.  Farm tasks include planting, weeding, watering, bed-building,composting, mulching and more.

The following is a list of possible activities beyond farm work that tour groups can select from:

• Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
• Sensory Exploration
• Human Cameras
• Brown Bag Botany
• Homes for Seeds
• Recycling with Worms
• Meet the Chickens
• Farm Insects: Friend and Foe
• Soil and Water: Beyond Mud!
• Watering and the “Goldilocks Priniciple”: What is “just right?”
• Irrigation Methods: The Tinker Toys of Gardening!
• Plan a Farm

74.  Women’s Museum of California – San Diego

Since 1997 the Women’s Museum of California evolved into a full-fledged women’s history museum and valuable community educational resource.  With the help of many volunteers and a dedicated staff, the WMC features a variety of changing exhibits and displays on women’s history, sponsors workshop and lecture series, develops and implements educational and cultural events, including art shows, live performances and presentations; maintains a library and archive & collections.

Group tours give you the opportunity to learn more about the Museum Gallery, Museum Store, Museum Archives & Collections as well as the history of the Museum and it’s origins.  Tours are available Monday-Saturday before or after business hours when the Museum is closed to the public.  Group tours are approximately 1 hour and led by a Museum Docent.

75. Old Town San Diego – San Diego

Historic Old Town San Diego is the birthplace of California where the first Europeans settled.  There are over17 historic points of interest and the finest in professional theatre,  museums, artisans, galleries and shops all within easy walking distance with free live entertainment, mariachis, dancers, period attire docents providing tours and more.

They offer an official field trip program for all 4th grade students.

76. Best Places To See Wildflowers in San Diego – San Diego County

San Diego is a wildflower enthusiast’s paradise!  From the annual Flowers Fields in Carlsbad to the beautiful backcountry roads on the way Julian, there are numerous places to stop and enjoy the sprauling wildflower fields in San Diego.  There are also many opportunities to join other wildflower enthusiasts.

77.  The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch – Carlsbad

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are home to Tecolote Giant Ranunculus, also known as a Persian Buttercup or Ranunculus Asiatic.  The typical blooming season is March 1 – May 8.

Happy Field Tripping!

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System Status: 

• Environment, Health & Safety

Urban Domestic Field Trips or University Conferences – Field Operational Planner

Use this Field Operational Planner for urban domestic field trips or university conferences.

Useful Links

• PDF Field Operational Planner long-form
• Risk Management’s Planning Events Off-Campus
• Renting a Car for UCSD Business Travel
• UC San Diego waiver forms

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Mar 16 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Saint-Petersburg, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. All with plenty of candid photos to get a feeling of the city for photography. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

Saint-Petersburg

For this City Street Photography Guide I get to cover one of my favorite cities in the world, Saint-Petersburg, Russia . Not only is it a favorite of mine, but it’s a city that seems to go under the radar for many, including street photographers. A city this large and famous can’t be considered a secret, but when you mention cities like London, Paris, Tokyo, New York City and Havana, I would put Saint-Petersburg right up there with them at the top . 

Why would I give Saint-Petersburg such high recommendations for a visit, especially for street photography? There’s just something magical about Saint-Petersburg that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. The canals, pastel colors, incredible architecture, bridges, islands, hundreds of parks, and more give it this atmosphere that has to be experienced. And even better is the variety of life and people that go along with it. It’s a diverse mix of character, in the life and scenery, that when put together can create magic. For both your experience and your camera.

With such a high recommendation, I made sure to make this guide as in-depth as possible, with even more info and photos than normal to really give you a feeling of the city. So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Saint-Petersburg has to offer before you even arrive.

• Nevsky Prospekt / Station
• Hermitage / Field of Mars
• Sennaya Square
• Apraksin Dvor
• Krestovskiy Ostrov
• Hare Island
• Udelnaya Flea Market (Weekends Only!)

Bonus: Kupchino

Top 7 street spots:, 1. nevsky prospekt / station.

Nevsky Prospect is the main street in Saint-Petersburg, and one of the most famous in Russia. It runs through the historical center of the city along many popular sites like Kazan Cathedral, the Singer House and the Monument to Catherine the Great. It also runs by the majority of the city’s shopping and nightlife. This long and wide street attracts the most foot traffic in the city and is the center for anyone looking to see, and capture, the life of the city.

Some of the city’s busiest metro stations are located here too, including Nevsky Prospect, Gostinyy Dvor, Mayakovskaya and Admiralteyskaya. In total, Nevsky Prospekt runs from the Admiralty to the Moscow Railway Station and then a slight turn to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. The central location, scenery and amount of activity make this a street you’ll want to keep coming back to for street photography in Saint-Petersburg.

2. Hermitage / Field of Mars

The Hermitage is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, comprising over three million items, including the largest collection of paintings in the world. Six buildings make up the complex, but a former residence of the Russian emperors called the Winter Palace is the most famous, and most beautiful. While this is Saint-Petersburg’s top attraction, I included it on the list for what you see on the outside. The Winter Palace provides an amazing background to a very large square that fills with people, and sometimes outside events. It can be a great place for street photography due to the activity, light and backdrops.

There are endless parks in Saint-Petersburg, but my favorite would probably be the Field of Mars, only a few blocks away from the Hermitage. Many ex-soviet cities have eternal flames burning and this is where Saint-Petersburg’s is located. This large green space has been used for many things in the past, from military parades to a formal garden for Catherine I, but today it is used as a favorite place for locals, and tourists, to come relax and enjoy the beauty.

3. Sennaya Square

Sennaya Square is not only filled with history, but one of my favorites spots for guaranteed activity in the city. Originally, over 200 years ago, the square was used for selling hay, straw and firewood. In the 18th century, it became the city’s main commercial and merchant street, and today it’s one of the busiest squares in Saint-Petersburg.

Sennaya Square still has a variety of merchant stands and stores, making it one of the liveliest markets in the city, but it also serves three metro stations, including Sennaya Ploshchad, Sadovaya and Spasskaya. So people are moving in all directions here for different reasons. You can walk through the merchant stands or just stand in the middle of the square in front of the station watching all the activity moving by. It’s a nice, busy spot to hit up for street photography far enough away from Nevsky Prospect to lessen the amount of tourists, while still being in walking distance.

4. Apraksin Dvor

Apraksin Dvor is a 35 acre market/retail block that’s been going since the 18th century. It’s not pretty, but the mess of stalls provide a maze of chaotic activity that can be interesting to explore for some street photography. You’ll find mostly cheap clothing items, as well as leather goods, food and ethnic products. The low prices attract a unique mix of characters, while the set up of stalls falling apart and cluttered streets add more character.

This large city block of over 500 small shops and stalls is undergoing some renovation, but hasn’t lost its gritty atmosphere yet. It’s an interesting stop with your camera and should provide a good amount of time for street photography.

5. Krestovskiy Ostrov

When local street photographer Ilya Shtutsa showed me around Saint-Petersburg for a day of shooting, one place he took me to was Krestovskiy Ostrov, for something different that mostly only locals would know about. For centuries, this island has been a popular place for the locals to come for fun. With parkland and the Divo Ostrov amusement park, it still provides a fun place to get away from the city, but it’s also become one of the nicest suburbs in Saint-Petersburg. 

Divo Ostrov amusement park is free to enter and provides loads of activity, colors and interesting scenes for photography. Outside of the park, you’ll find beaches, boating, sporting facilities and other outside activities. It’s a place that really attracts the locals so you won’t see many tourists making their way up here. Still, it’s a quick and easy metro ride away, and worth it for a different atmosphere for street photography while in Saint-Petersburg.

6. Hare Island

Zayachy Island, also known as “Hare Island,” is a very small island in the center of Saint-Petersburg connected by two pedestrian bridges. In 1703, Peter the Great began construction of the Peter and Paul fortress here, which is a big tourist draw today. The grass, sand and stone surrounding the fortress is also a popular spot for the locals, especially in the summer. They come to lay out in the sun, take a dip in the water and enjoy the city view by the river.

The large grass area fills up with activity, but the most interesting spot is around the fortress where you’ll find a more secluded area with a large fort wall and stone shore. Since the wall faces the sun, it heats up and becomes a warm spot for locals to lay against in relaxation while they sunbathe. Combined with the mix of characters it attracts, it can create a very interesting, slightly surreal scene. It’s one of the more unique and interesting places I’ve found. So much so that I made a short series about it with photos here . 

7. Udelnaya Flea Market (Weekends Only!)

The Udelnaya Flea Market is one of the largest flea markets in the world, and the most famous market in Russia. It’s only on the weekends, but if you’re here then, you should get up early and make your way over to the Udelnaya metro station to check it out. It’s partly known for genuine Soviet Merchandise and things remaining from the Second World War, but there’s plenty more to find here than that. And by plenty more, I mean this outside market goes on forever with stalls and fields covered with blankets of items. You can find anything and everything here. And the characters and life this place attracts provides even more interest. This is a big deal to many of the sellers, who make the trip out every weekend from smaller, poorer areas. Many of them older in age, bringing a different scene than the rest of Saint-Petersburg.

Directions: Once you exit the Udelnaya station, you’ll see sellers along a large concrete lot, but where you really want to head is right, across the railroad tracks until you get to rows of stalls selling different items (just follow the people). Then once you make it all the way through the stalls to the end, it will open up to a large field completely covered with merchants and their goods. It’s a one-of-a-kind place that should give you hours of exploration and photography. 

*Some people don’t like photos here so you do have to be more careful than the rest of the city, but you’ll still have plenty of photo opportunities, while enjoying the best flea market experience around.

Saint-Petersburg is a beautiful city, but you can still find a grittier side with some soviet feeling, especially if you venture outside of the center. Personally, I enjoy both the beautifully impressive architecture and the soviet buildings filled with more character than beauty. Kupchino can be an interesting place to find some of that latter feeling. While it has a reputation for being dangerous, it’s much safer than it used to be. It’s very close and easily reachable on the metro, but feels isolated with a much different feeling. There’s an industrial and Soviet-time atmosphere with a strong local identity that I find appealing, especially for a change of scenery in Saint-Petersburg.

I’d recommend taking the metro for an easy visit to Kupchino at least once to experience and capture a different vibe for street photography, but do be a little more on guard and street smart in some areas.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Saint-Petersburg:

• Start your morning slowly walking east along Nevsky Prospect (1), making sure to stop at the different squares and canals.
• Take a right on Sadovaya until you get to Sennaya Square (3) where you can explore for street photography (and if you want, you can continue walking a little further until you get to Yusupov Gardens for more photography).
• After you’re done in this area head back northeast along Sennaya Square (3) until you get to Apraksin Dvor (4) for more exploring with your camera.
• Then head further northeast back to Nevsky Prospect (1) and take a left through more activity until you finish at the Hermitage (2)
• After exploring around the Hermitage (2), head northeast to the Field of Mars (2) for more photography
• Then head northwest through the end of the Field of Mars (2) and across the bridge. Once across, turn west to cross the short pedestrian bridge to Hare Island (6) for one of my favorite street photography spots. Spend some time exploring the entire small island, especially the Southeast side.
• Now depending on the time, you can walk back north over the pedestrian bridge to the Gor’kovskaya metro station to get to where you need. Back home or back to Nevsky (1) for more street photography, especially if you have that White Nights’ summer light :)

Ask a Local Street Photographer Where to Go:  Ilya Shtutsa

“As my favorite game is called “Go don’t know where,” there are no preferable places. I cannot predict where I could find a picture – in a place where I’ve never been before or on Nevsky Prospect . Of course, I love to explore new places, Saint-Petersburg is a big enough city, but I also love to come to Nevsky and say – hey, Nevsky Prospect , let’s play. Show me what you have today, something interesting! And it’s wonderful that after all these years, this place continues to surprise me.”

3 Things I’ll Remember About Saint-Petersburg:

1. canals & architecture.

Saint-Petersburg has been nicknamed the “Venice of the North” due to its many canals running throughout the city. With around 100 waterways and over 800 bridges, it’s as much a part of the city as anything.

There are only a few cities in the world where water is as much a part of the city as here. It gives it a calming atmosphere walking along the canals, while providing a place for street photography scenes you wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere. Some of the city islands provide parks overlooking the water and the bridges are something the city is really known for. A city having some type of body of water has always been important to me for many reasons, and it’s a big reason I love this city so much.

Another thing that stands out in Saint-Petersburg is its variety of impressive architecture. The colors and range of styles really make for a magical atmosphere when combined with the canals. While you can find Soviet style too, it’s the mix of other styles that really makes the city stand out in Russia. For Baroque-Style, you have the grand Winter Palace, now the home of the Hermitage Museum. For Art Nouveau/Style Moderne, you have the famous Singer House in the middle of Nevsky Prospekt. For Neo-Gothic, you have the pink Chesme Church. And of course, for the Stalinist and Soviet Architecture, you have places like the House of Soviets and the 1920s Red Banner Textile Factory.

Saint-Petersburg is also home to my favorite church, The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. The style is more medieval Russian, resembling Moscow’s famous St. Basil’s Cathedral. The Church is covered with over 7500 square meters of mosaics, arguably more than other church in the world. It can look like a painting against the sky’s backdrop. For someone unfamiliar with Saint-Petersburg, the architecture might be your most impressive surprise. And for photography, it can work beautifully for backgrounds.

2. Bridges & Parks

With over 200 parks and gardens, St. Petersburg is the greenest of Russia’s major cities. It’s one of my favorite parts about the city too, especially in the summer. Wherever you are, there’s a park nearby. Many of them are large, open and full of life too. After the canals, bridges and architecture, it’s what I think of next when I think about Saint-Petersburg. They can make for great spots for street photography too.

Summer Garden is the oldest park in the city, created in 1704 for Peter the Great and containing Russia’s oldest collection of park sculptures. Catherine Garden gets plenty of activity due to its location, right in the center of Nevsky Prospekt. Alexander Garden is another beautiful park, located by the Hermitage, but my favorite would have to be the Field of Mars , which used to be the setting for military parades and drills. Most of these parks I walked through daily for street photo opportunities, and for a relaxing break.

There aren’t too many things Saint-Petersburg is more known for than its many bridges. With all the canals and islands, bridges are everywhere. 342 bridges in the city limits, to be exact. Some are smaller pedestrian bridges, while others are much bigger. Many of these larger bridges fold up at night too, which has become a major attraction in itself.

Below are a few bridges you’ll definitely want to check out that should also attract activity for some street photography:

• The Palace Bridge – Saint-Petersburg’s most famous bridge, covering the historic center. When raised at night, this is the view you’ll see across post cards and magazines, making it a big attraction for visitors.
• Trinity Bridge – Probably the second most known bridge it the city, this is another attraction for its view, especially when raised at night.
• Anichkov Bridge – Sitting on the busy Nevsky Prospect, this bridge is a popular attraction for its four equestrian statues.
• The Bank Bridge – One of the city’s most famous pedestrian bridges, known for its golden-winged griffons.
• Lomonosov  Bridges – An impressive stone bridge dating backing to the 1700’s, one of the oldest in the city.

3. St P Magic

For anyone that’s never been to Russia, Saint-Petersburg might feel much different than expected. The people who are most surprised Saint-Petersburg is one of my favorite cities in the world are usually the ones that picture a dark Soviet version of Russia. Personally, I really enjoy the more “Russian” parts of Russia due to their character, but Saint-Petersburg has its own special magic. It’s filled with culture, art, museums, operas, plays, and everything that would rival anything Western Europe could throw at it. It’s been called a “window to the west” in Russia, but it’s also so much more.

As stated earlier, though, if you venture outside of the center, you can still find plenty of soviet feeling. I enjoy the wide variety of scenery and feeling the city has to offer. In addition to the soviet-era scenery in some areas, there’s a gritty industrial atmosphere in many areas, including the rubber factory and Kupchino. With all the islands and neighborhoods, the more time you have to explore Saint-Petersburg, the more you’ll discover the variety it provides for street photography.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Parks, bridges & piroskis.

I already covered why the city is known for their parks and bridges, but they also make a great spot for a break. Grab a bite to eat and relax in one of the many parks, like Field of Mars or Summer garden, or sit down on a bench by a bridge and enjoy the view. As for a local food that’s easy to take along, try a Piroski. There’s a variety to choose from, sweet to savory, and you can find them in bakeries, delis, cafes or even from babushkas pushing home-baked carts full of them.

Street Safety Score: 8

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

At 5 million people, Saint-Petersburg is the 4th largest city in Europe. So as with any city this size, you can’t expect complete safety and should take normal precautions. Saying that, in most areas it feels like a very safe city with plenty of police presence, especially in the center. With crowds and tourism, be aware of pick-pockets, but not more than any other popular city in Europe. And while Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. I would visit and explore Saint-Petersburg without any special worries.

People’s Reaction Score: 8

For me, Eastern Europe is one of the best places outside of Asia for street photography reactions. This is my personal experience, though, as some other photographers seem to have more fear here. I’m not sure why, but if you’re confident and friendly here, you shouldn’t have a problem. Many people tend to live their lives without as much care of what they look like to others, which can be great for street photography. And then the majority of those that do care, usually find photos surprising, yet amusing. Of course, this doesn’t go for everybody, especially in some markets, but in general I find Saint-Petersburg an easy place for street photography reactions. Being friendly, yet confident is my best advice for here, and most everywhere.

Street Tips:

Very walkable for a city its size.

When it comes to walkability, Saint-Petersburg is very good for a city its size (4th largest in Europe). While Moscow is still double the population, it’s nowhere near as walkable of city as Saint-Petersburg. Interest doesn’t feel as spread out here so you can walk from place to place without going long distances between photography opportunities. The way the streets and canals are set up, it makes for any easy city to find your way around. Transportation is solid here too with the metro system, but won’t be needed as often as many large cities. 

Go in the Summer for the Weather and White Nights

The summer is definitely my favorite time to be in Saint-Petersburg. Due to its location up north, summer light can last almost 24 hours a day. While I was there, it didn’t get dark until after midnight, with the sun coming out again at 3am. Because of this, the city has the White Nights Festival during its longest days (a few weeks during June to July).

The city fills with life everywhere during this time, with people outside walking the streets, canals and bridges, or enjoying the sun at the many parks. And this activity lasts as long as the sun does so if you wanted to, you could shoot all day and night here without getting bored. The White Nights festival activity peaks on the Saturday nearest the longest day of the year (around June 22nd). It’s especially celebrated as a holiday of graduates throughout the day and night, with the Scarlet Sails celebration of fireworks, concerts and water show topping it off. It’s a different city during the summer and makes it one of the most enjoyable cities for photography I’ve been to.

Don’t get the metro card

While I would advise using the convenient and solid metro system here, I wouldn’t recommend buying the metro cards. They expire quickly and don’t save you much money, even if you do use the bought number of uses before expiration. Just buy some tokens.

Flea Market and Amusement Park on the Weekend

If you’re here during the weekend, make sure to give both the Udelnaya Flea Market and Divo Ostrov amusement park a visit. They’re both free entrance and easily reached by the metro, each providing their own different and unique atmospheres for street photography with plenty of activity and life.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, look through the Street Photography of Saint-Petersburg photographers Ilya Shtutsa and Alexander Petrosyan , and check out 33 of my photos taken in Saint-Petersburg  and my short series on Hare Island .

Conclusion:

There’s something very special about Saint-Petersburg. Its history, architecture, canals, colors, light, parks and culture come together in a magical way that is unlike any other city in the world. What makes it even better is the mix of characters and life Russia provides in such a beautiful and unique city. Interest is all around you with the backgrounds to help bring it together into an extremely photographable city.

I hope this guide can help you go experience and photograph some of that Saint-Petersburg magic. So grab your camera and capture all that Saint-Petersburg has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Saint-Petersburg, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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(A New Guide Posted Every Other Wednesday)

March 16, 2017 at 11:09 am

Thank you for this, I will go to St. Petersburg in June probably :-)

March 17, 2017 at 6:36 pm

Hope it helps, Kitty. I’ll be going back there in June too!

May 17, 2018 at 2:43 pm

Thanks your sharing your knowledge! I going to Saint Petersburg and Moscow in June and your blog is been very helpful. One question, is it allowed the use of tripods outside? (In front of famous buildings and streets) or is a permit necessary ? Thanks.

July 6, 2018 at 9:55 am

Sorry, I missed this, Rolando. I’ve never heard of any problems with tripods there, and have seen them used without problem. Photographing famous building shouldn’t be a problem, either, as I’ve never had one. I hope you had a great time in Russia, one of my favorite countries to visit and photograph.

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Wilderness Orientation Office  (858) 534-8211 | [email protected]

All WO trips begin at 10am. Please plan your travel accordingly so that you arrive to check-in between 9am and 10am on the first day of your trip.

If Delayed:  If your arrival is delayed for any reason, please call the Wilderness Orientation Admissions office at (858) 534-8211.

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We recommend you make your travel plans as soon as possible to avoid complications. You should consider purchasing tickets that are refundable or changeable in case unforeseen events create changes in your plans. The nearest commercial airport is San Diego International Airport, which is about 25 minutes from UC San Diego. Most major commercial airlines service the airport. You must arrange for transportation from the airport or train station to Outback Adventures (see Shuttle Services below). You should take the following precautions with your luggage to ensure its timely arrival: Carry essential items onto the plane with you including prescription medications, passports, and hiking boots. Check your luggage all the way through to San Diego, especially if you are changing planes en route. Retain your luggage claim stubs. These are important tools for tracking any missing luggage.

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• San Diego Estancia , La Jolla Hotel, 9700 N Torrey Pines Rd, San Diego, CA | 0 mi W |  (888) 206-2247 0E
• Residence Inn , San Diego La Jolla, 8901 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA | 0  mi E | (858) 587-1770
• Embassy Suites By Hilton , San Diego La Jolla, 4550 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, CA | 0.6 mi SE | (858) 453-0400
• Sheraton La Jolla Hotel , 3299 Holiday Court, La Jolla, CA | 0.8 mi SE | (858) 453-5500
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• San Diego Marriott , La Jolla, 4240 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, CA | 1.4 mi SE | (858) 587-1414

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• The German settlement on Vasilevsky Island

German walking tour No. 1 - The German settlement on Vasilevsky Island

Vasilyevsky Island was the area where the first Germans who came to St. Petersburg on the invitation of Peter the Great settled. Here they worked for generations as architects and engineers, scientists and teachers, doctors and craftsmen, and here they were buried. The Russian writer, Nikolay Leskov, even has a story called The Islanders , about German life on Vasilyevsky Island.

Our walk begins on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, the main historic square on the island. Universitetskaya Naberezhnaya (University Embankment) runs along the river from here, and the first building is the Zoology Museum , the founder of which and the director for 50 years was the Saxon doctor and naturalist Johann Friedrich von Brandt. It is the first of a series of buildings - the Kunstkammer (No. 3), the Academy of Sciences (No. 5), and St. Petersburg State University (No. 11) - where German scientists made a huge contribution over two centuries to the development of Russian science, technology, and academia. At No. 15 stands the beautiful, baroque Menshikov Palace , built for Prince Alexander Menshikov in part by the German architect Gottfried Johann Schadel. The building later became the premises of the First Cadet Corps, Russia's first military higher education institution, which in the 1780s had as its director the great German Romantic playwright Friedrich Maximilian von Klinger.

Past the Menshikov Palace, we turn right up 1-ya Liniya. About 400m up the street are two houses where the famous German entrepreneur and archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, the discoverer of Troy, lived - in the 1840s (when he was an agent for a German trade firm) at No. 24, and in the late 1850s, when he had returned to Russia with a fortune made in the California Gold Rush, at No. 28. We head back towards the river and turn right onto Bolshoy Prospekt, the main avenue of Vasilyevsky Island. The first building we come to is the Lutheran Church of St. Catherine, a fine neoclassical edifice built by the great Russo-German architect Yury Felten for the German parishioners, who had established the first Lutheran church here in 1728.

A little further on, at the corner of Bolshoy Prospekt and 5-ya Liniya, we can see the former building of the elite pre-Revolutionary school for girls founded in 1858 by Emilia Schaffe, a teacher from a local German family. The main building of the Gymnasium (now School No. 21) on 5-ya Liniya was designed by Karl Schmidt, son of a German engineer, in early Art Nouveau style. A little further down Bolshoy Prospekt, past the Andreevskiy Market, turn left onto 7-ya Liniya to see the Pharmacy of Alexander Poehl (No. 16, 7-ya Liniya). Poehl's father was a pharmacist from Brandenburg and, as well as continuing the family business (which supplied the Imperial Court with medicines), he pursued a distinguished academic career in Russia and Germany in various branches of chemistry. There is still a pharmacy on the premises, with beautifully restored interiors.

Continuing along Bolshoy Prospekt, we come to another work by Karl Scmidt on the left at No. 49-51. This impressive building in Russian "Brick Style" was constructed in 1897 as a maternity hospital, funded by German industrialists of the Lutheran Evangelical Parish. Turning to the right onto 13-ya Liniya, we can see another of Schmidt's works, the Lentsz Apartment Building at No. 16.

There is another German-built hospital on the next cross street (4/6, 15-ya Liniya). Founded in 1881 by a group of wealthy, philanthropic German citizens as a memorial to the recently assassinated Alexander II, the Alexandrovskaya Men's Hospital was designed by another architect of German origin, Hieronymus Kutner, and its trustees included the German ambassador and Grand Princess Olga Fyodorovna, daughter of Grand Duke Leopold of Baden. Like the maternity hospital, it offered many of its services free for the poor.

At the corner of Bolshoy Prospekt and 16-ya Liniya can be found one of the many works of the prolific late fin de siecle architect Wilhelm Schaub, also from a St. Petersburg German family, who was known by his contemporaries as "the poet of plaster". More of his apartment buildings, which were popular for their combination of quality and low prices, can be seen on 18-ya Liniya (No. 21-23) and 20-ya Liniya (No. 7). Also, on 21-ya Liniya at No. 8 is the mansion Schaub built for the Prussian Frank brothers.

Back on Bolshoy Prospekt, we turn back to 14-ya Liniya and turn left, heading up the street to No. 39, where another German pedagogue, Karl May, ran one of St. Petersburg's most famous schools. Among its illustrious old boys were the artists Valentin Serov, Nicholas Roerich and Alexander Benois, and the linguist and literary historian Dmitry Likhachov. The building is now home to the Institute of Information Technology and Automation, and a small museum honoring the school.

From there, we continue to the end of 14-ya Liniya and turn left onto Kamskaya Ulitsa, crossing the Smolenka River and coming into the Smolenskoye Lutheran Cemetery, which was the final resting place for the German community on Vasilyevsky Island, as well as many other protestant citizens of St. Petersburg. Among the worthies buried here are von Brandt, von Klinger, Schaub and May, already mentioned in the text, as well as the architect Victor Schroeter, the orientalist Wilhelm Barthold, the doctor Robert Wreden, the anthropologist Friedrich Wilhelm Radloff, and Georg Rheingold von Engelhardt, a Baltic German writer and teacher who was director of the Tsarskoye Selo Lycee when Alexander Pushkin was a pupil there. Sadly, the cemetery is chronic, though quite romantic, state of disrepair, and graves are not easily recognized. Here we finish our first German tour of St. Petersburg, which has only really skimmed the surface of the rich history of the city's German settlement on Vasilyevsky Island.

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