Veterans Day Activities for Seniors

San Diego has such an incredible military presence and history, and is home to some of the best Veterans Day celebrations and military memorials in the country. Here are a few things to do for Veterans Day to honor our vets and learn more about military history. These four events and outings can be enjoyed by anyone but make excellent Veterans Day activities for seniors.

Watch or volunteer at the San Diego Veterans Day Parade

When: November 11, 10-11am
Where: Harbor Drive, between Grape St and Pacific Hwy
Cost: Free
One of the biggest Veterans Day events in San Diego is the annual San Diego Veterans Day Parade, which celebrates the military with bands and floats. The parade marches south for about a mile past the USS Midway to Pacific Highway. Arrive early to stake out a good spot, and bring some chairs and a picnic lunch so you can enjoy the San Diego sunshine while you watch the parade go by. If you’d like to get involved, sign up to volunteer and help out at the Veterans week events.

Discover the USS Midway

When: November 1-17
Where: USS Midway Museum, 910 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Cost: Free admission for Veterans and Active Duty Military Nov 1-17

The USS Midway Museum provides a close-up look at what life was like for the 225,000 men that served on the aircraft carrier. Named the #1 Thing to Do and #1 Museum in San Diego on TripAdvisor, it features more than 60 exhibits and 29 restored aircraft. Keep an eye out for museum docents throughout the ship that will share their own stories and experiences. Enjoy special events on Veterans Day, including NBC 7’s and Telemundo 20’s Salute to Service festival on the flight deck, with live entertainment, a KidzZone, booths, special activities, and giveaways. Activities are free with paid admission, and admission is free for veterans and their families, making this one of the best Veterans Day activities for seniors who happen to be veterans. The museum is dedicated to accessibility for all its visitors, providing elevator access and complimentary loaner wheelchairs. Over half of their exhibits are wheelchair accessible, and the friendly staff is happy to help in any way they can.

Visit The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park

When: Open 10am-4pm Tuesday-Sunday, Closed Monday
Where: Balboa Park, Chapel Road, San Diego, CA 92101
Cost: Veterans and Seniors: $4.00, Free for Active duty military

Learn something new at The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park, a beautiful museum that houses military artifacts and memorabilia from the Civil War to the present day. See murals by artist Richard deRosset depicting scenes from Pearl Harbor, D-Day Normandy, and more, and visit the “Vietnam Remembered” exhibit currently on display. Located on the former site of the San Diego Naval Hospital Chapel, the museum includes a Veterans Memorial Garden and B-24 Memorial honoring veterans from all conflicts and branches of the military.

Head Up to Mt. Soledad

When: Daily, 7am-10pm
Where: Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, 565 Pearl St, Suite 301, La Jolla, CA 92037
Cost: Free

Take in views of the entire city from the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, located at the top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla. Memorial walls feature beautiful black granite plaques engraved with the names of both living and deceased veterans from the Revolutionary War all the way through the War on Terror. There will also be a Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11 from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

These are just a few of the Veterans Day events and memorial services happening across San Diego this November 11th. Visit Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups’ online senior resource for more senior activities as well as information on healthcare, housing, transportation, events, and more.