Stuff to do in San Diego?

[Executor32]

My brother graduates from boot camp next Friday, so my mom and I are flying out to San Diego for a few days. Our flight to SD will arrive at 11:10 AM on Wednesday, and our flight back will be leaving at 6:35 AM on Saturday. I've already decided she and I are going to the zoo after we arrive, and since we can't check into our quarters at MCRDSD until 4:00 PM, we'll probably stay at the zoo until it closes at 5:00. We have some sort of meet-and-greet from 6:30-10:00, then I think we're free after that.

Thursday is Family Day, so we'll be busy with those activities until 4:30, though since we get to hang out on-base with my brother until 6:00 I'm sure that we won't be going anywhere until then. The only day we'll be able to go anywhere off-base with my brother is Friday, and only after 12:00 when the graduation ceremony is over with. First thing after the ceremony, we're going to the USS Midway because of course we are.

Any suggestions on what else we can see and do while we're there, with an emphasis on being cheap and/or open after 5:00? Dining suggestions are welcome, too. My mom's a picky eater, but my brother and I are up for pretty much anything.

[Thanas]

Go visit the Maritime Museum and USS Midway, the two of them being directly next to each other. And you can also watch as a replica of a Spanish Galleon is being built.
Full complex including buildsite on Google Maps, just scroll to the right and zoom in to see the museums.

[Dominus Atheos]

Well, seaworld obviously, on the off chance you hadn't thought of that.

[Executor32]

I had, though it's a bit out of our budget, even after the discount from buying at the MCRD ticket booth. Active duty military and up to three direct dependents can each get one free ticket to SeaWorld or Busch Gardens this year, but I don't think we qualify for that. It also suffers from the 10-5 schedule that most everything else seems to have in San Diego, making it hard to cram into our schedule.

I already mentioned we were going to the USS Midway, Thanas, but thanks for the tip about the Maritime Museum. The San Salvador definitely sounds like a must-see, and since we can just walk there from the Midway we can save on transportation.

Speaking of which, how would you recommend getting about? There's taxis, obviously, but the fares strike me as kind of expensive.

[Thanas]

Just a note: AFAIK San Salvador is still not finished so depending on weather she might be tarped up. But you'll see.

[TimothyC]

Balboa Park has several very nice museums (the Air and Space museum, the Museum of Art, and the Timken) and gardens plus it is co-located with the San Diego Zoo.