Did you know your San Diego Public Library card is a key to unlocking free admission to some of the city’s most popular museums and attractions?

It’s called the Discover & Go program. Since my husband didn’t have a library card, I had him apply for one to take advantage of these San Diego discounts for a recent trip to Balboa Park. Here’s how it went.

Step 1: Get Your Free San Diego Public Library Card

Getting a library card is the first step, and the process is surprisingly quick.

1. Start Online: Fill out the Temporary Online Library Card Registration form on the San Diego Public Library website. Once you submit it, you’ll immediately receive a temporary library card number.
2. Visit a Library Branch: Next, take your temporary card number, a valid photo ID, and proof of your current address (like a utility bill if your address isn’t on your ID) to any San Diego Public Library location.

My husband arrived at the La Jolla branch right when it opened at 9:30 a.m. on a Friday. (That’s also usually when there’s the available free street parking near the entrance.) He presented his temporary number and ID at the front desk and walked out with a permanent library card in what he described as just a few minutes.

Step 2: Explore the Free Attractions Through Discover & Go

Now that you have a library card, you can access the Discover & Go program online.

• What it is: This program provides San Diego Public Library cardholders with free day passes to various local museums and cultural attractions.
• Participating Attractions: The list changes but typically includes fantastic places like:
  • The New Children’s Museum
  • Museum of Us
  • San Diego Museum of Art
  • San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
  • Skateworld
  • MCASD in La Jolla (tip: ages 25 and younger are always free)
  • Mingei Museum
  • SDSU Athletics (these get reserved quickly)
  • and more

Step 3: Reserve Your Free Passes

Using the Discover & Go website is straightforward, but it does require advanced planning. Not many attractions have same-day or even next-day tickets.

1. Log In: You’ll need your library card number (found on the back of your card) and your PIN. If you don’t have a PIN or forgot it, there’s a link on the login page to set one up. My husband set up his PIN during this step.
2. Browse Offers: Once logged in, you can see which attractions have passes available on what dates.
3. Reserve: If you find an offer you like, click on it to reserve your pass. You can usually choose between a mobile pass or one you can print at home.

The page you browse looks like this.

My husband printed a pass for the San Diego Museum of Art about a week ahead of his visit (more on this below).

Important Tips

• Availability: Passes availability is limited. It’s a good idea to check the site regularly and plan ahead.
• Restrictions: Most offers have specific rules, such as limits on how many people the pass covers or how often you can reserve a pass for a particular attraction. Always read the details of each offer carefully before reserving.

Pro Tip: Combine Resident’s Free Tuesday with Discover & Go

Balboa Park’s “Residents Free Tuesdays” program gives San Diego City and County residents free admission to select museums each Tuesday of the month. Different museums participate on different Tuesdays, following a monthly rotating schedule. A valid photo ID showing local residency is required for free entry.

My husband was headed to Balboa Park on the First Tuesday of the month. These are the free museums:

But it had been a while since he’d been to the San Diego Museum of Art, so he chose that as his Discover & Go free attraction. General admission to the museum would otherwise be $20.

All I heard about for the next two days was how he was able to spend a day at Balboa Park visiting museums for free. Yes, he is a history and art buff, but it does show the value of combining these two promotions. All you need to do is:

1. Check the Free Tuesday Schedule: See which museum(s) offer free admission on the specific Tuesday you plan to go. Remember that free entry sometimes has exclusions. For example, the IMAX dome movie theater at The Fleet isn’t included. You’d buy a separate ticket if you wanted to see a movie.
2. Check Discover & Go for More: Search for passes available on that same Tuesday for a Balboa Park museum that would otherwise be full price.
3. Reserve Your Second Pass.
4. Visit the Free Museums: Arriving early on Tuesdays is a good idea. We shoot for about 9:30-9:45 a.m. and park in the lot behind Fleet Science Center.

By planning ahead and checking both the Balboa Park Free Tuesday schedule and the Discover & Go pass availability, it’s easy to enjoy a free and fun day out!