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San Diego Air & Space MuseumvsMission San Diego de Alcala
Both Mission San Diego de Alcala and San Diego Air & Space Museum are rated very highly by reviewers writing for major publications. On balance, Mission San Diego de Alcala ranks marginally higher than San Diego Air & Space Museum. Mission San Diego de Alcala ranks #7 in San Diego with approval from 6 publications such as Michelin Guide, Afar Magazine and Lonely Planet.
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Fodor's
Lonely Planet
Michelin Guide
Where
Frommer's
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101
From $0/night
Fodor's "By day, the streamlined edifice looks like any other structure in the park; at night, outlined in blue neon, the round building appears—appropriately enough—to be a landed UFO." Full review
Lonely Planet "The round building at the southern end of the plaza houses an excellent museum with an extensive display of aircrafts – originals, replicas, models and Charles Lindbergh memorabilia." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"In the International Aerospace Hall of Fame, oil portraits and biographical plaques salute notable inventors, industrialists and pilots." Full review
Where "This cavernous museum traces the history of human flight, from the earliest contraptions to military jets, all suspended from the ceiling above interactive, educational exhibits." Full review
Frommer's "The other big kid-pleaser of the museums (along with the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center), this popular facility has more than 60 aircraft on display." Full review
Mission San Diego de Alcala Fodor's Lonely Planet Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine Where Afar Magazine
Condé Nast Traveler Frommer's
10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108
From $0/night
Fodor's "It's hard to imagine how remote California's earliest mission once must have been; these days, it's accessible by major freeways (I–15 and I–8) and by the San Diego Trolley." Full review
Lonely Planet "Although the site of the first California mission was on Presidio Hill, in 1774 Padre Junípero Serra moved it about 7 miles upriver to this location, closer to water and more arable land." Full review
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"California's first mission, with its gleaming white stucco façade and distinctive five-bell campanario." Full review
i
Note the 18C painting of St. Didacus, rescued from the fire of 1775, and the hand-carved wooden statues
Afar Magazine "Mission San Diego is the very first Mission built in what is now the state of California and was built in 1769." Full review
Where "Founded by Father Junípero Serra in 1769, Mission San Diego de Alcala has served as a historic monument and a working Catholic parish." Full review
Afar Magazine "An active parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá remains a tranquil place of worship and reflection." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Services still happen daily in this mission dating to 1769." Full review
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Make sure to spend some time in the gardens, which are filled with palms, flowers, and succulents.
Frommer's "Known as "the King of Missions," the San Luis Rey is the largest of California's missions and one of its most beautiful." Full review
