Balboa Park

Balboa park is a must see when visiting San Diego for any age. The Zoo is also located in the Park along with a lot of trails and museums. There is a free organ concert on Sunday’s.
I arrived at the park at 10am and parking wasn’t a issue but when I left at 1pm the parking lot was full. Parking from 11am to 5pm might be a challenge depending on where your at in the park. Balboa park is very peaceful place, I come here whenever I visit San Diego.

Always a nice time here whether you are with family, friends, a lover, or alone. Some days, there more tourists who may come up and ask for assistance with taking photos. Sometimes, you can catch street performers, musicians, and artists performing along. This place is special and especially my favorite for me as a native San Diegan. Beautiful memories are created here. As for safety, there have been unfortunate incidents where women have been sexually assaulted around the area. There was news of a lady who managed to escape from a man who attempted to grab her by the trails area at the left of the rose garden.
Also, keep in mind that it is a short walk from downtown so there are homeless people here and there.
One qualm I have as of late is the signs keeping people out of the fountain by the History Museum, which ruins the beauty.

This park is huge! I spent one day at the zoo and another day attempting to explore the rest of the park, but it would require more visits one day. Balboa Park is definitely a must see. It is an awesome place to take photos, have a professional photo shoot, and maybe even for a wedding!
I didn’t go in the museums as I didn’t want to pay. The only thing I paid was for the Japanese Friendship Garden and one of the food places (which I was very disappointed in the chicken sandwich I bought which was hot one side and ice cold the other).
There were also a lot of street performers, which really reminds me of the ones in Waikiki. A few painted up their whole bodies/​clothes. There were face painters, singers, balloon artists, etc. There were two singers who I think were competing with each other or at least one was trying to compete with the other. Clearly the younger one was trying to sing all the songs the older one was singing. The younger one was trying way too hard to out sing!

One of the most gorgeous parks I’ve ever visited. Nestled right in the center of San Diego, it’s surrounded by all the happening neighborhoods. In the past two weeks, I’ve made two visits down to San Diego and each trip would not have been complete without a walk in the park.
They have a couple museums inside, rather small, but something to fill your time with. There are numerous gardens, food stands, a dog park and, of course, the San Diego Zoo. I still haven’t been to the zoo, but the Rose Garden and Desert Garden were great to walk through. Roses smell good. And I saw some weird desert plants that could probably impale you.
Walking down Prado, we were right in the middle of the hustle and bustle. You pass by the Museum of Man, the arboretum and the long reflecting pool. Definitely the best photo spots! The arboretum closes at 5pm so I finally got to go inside and check it out. Don’t pass it up if you haven’t been here!
I wish we had a park like this back home. Relaxing way to spend time, have a picnic and enjoy the green oasis. Lovely place that adds a bit of character and beauty to SD,…not that it was lacking any!
Tip: don’t try to find parking on Prado! Park near Sixth, right near the entrance and walk over to the activities. Saves time! That traffic looks like a nightmare.

Balboa Park is one of the most iconic places to visit in San Diego. There is so much to see and do here, from looking through gardens to exploring museums. The architecture and grounds are very beautiful, and it’s not rare to see an engagement photoshoot going on. The gardens are all free, with the exception of the Japanese garden, but most of the museums you have to pay for. Even so, there are ways to get around that if you are a local, with Free Tuesdays!
PARKING: The actual parking lots inside can get very busy. I prefer to park on the streets on the outskirts of the park and walk in through the Balboa Bridge.
ATTRACTIONS: Of course there are various museums that cover history, art, and culture. These museums close up in the early evening, but you can still check out the different gardens after they are closed. The Botanical Building is the heavily photographed wooden building housing a huge collection of orchids. This one does closes early too, so double check the hours. I also really enjoy the organ performances and the international cottages. Also, it’s a park, duh! If you like to hike or bike, look up a trail that suits you.
this park is the hub of activity in downtown San Diego. Since it’s so large, make sure you plan out your trip here thoroughly so you know where to go!

This is a must do when you visit San Diego. My only suggestion because this place is extremely packed on the weekends is to find parking on the streets. Parking lots are small, busy, and slow moving, there is a bridge to walk over if you park on the street. This park is huge which includes the zoo and 15 museums, as well as a few eateries, and vendors. There are lots of bathrooms as you walk the trails, they also have bikes you can rent to avoid all the walking, only problem is it’s hard to find parking for them when you want to check things out. The gardens are beautiful and the statues are massive. Cannot wait to come back to finish viewing the rest of the museums, you definitely need a whole day if you plan on viewing them all.

Very beautiful location! the architect of the buildings is so lovely. A very peaceful and clean place. Beautiful location for photography of special occasions. The have several art museums and other museums.
A Must see place when visiting San Diego.

One of the places that everyone should visit if you visit San Diego! It’s located right next to the San Diego Zoo! Walking distance!!! :D Balboa park has a couple of museums and restaurants. They have a lot of big events thru out the year and one of the biggest one is probably December nights! A lot of people comes here and take tons of pictures! ;) For special occasions or just random pictures here and there with the flowers and scenery.

I really love Balboa Park. I was here a few years ago and made it a point to come back and spend a few hours here again. Early on a Sunday morning, it was pretty empty, but it was also a bit drizzly so that probably dissuaded people. I love aimlessly exploring and stumbling upon gorgeous architecture or gardens. While there are a hundred ways to spend money, you can still enjoy yourself and not spend a single penny, thanks to free parking and loads of spots to explore.
I love that there are an abundance of museums, all in one place! You can spend hours in any given one, and it’s nice to have a variety to choose from. The outdoor organ is my favorite spot, and I managed to catch a free concert at 2PM on Sunday. The California Tower at the Museum of Man recently opened, and from there you can see all the way to Mexico. The views are just stunning.
I can’t wait to go back and see more museums!

The architecture here is everything! Give me all the buildings! The arches — YASSSS!
This is the perfect place to just stroll on a Sunday afternoon. Which is exactly what we did! We soaked in the perfect SD weather while walking through this beautiful area.
In-​between visiting The Museum of Photographic Arts and The Natural History Museum, I could not get enough of the gorgeous surroundings. The brightest flowers, butterflies fluttering around and fun little artistic/​creative vendors lining the pathways.
I have a legit picnic basket that is calling to be packed and used on these premises.
Oh and the free parking is

The Admission: FREE to come to Balboa Park. There are 15 museums (with admission fee), 10 gardens (free except Japanese garden) and the famous San Diego Zoo.
This place is huge! You can spend all day here~ First, I would suggest you visit the Visitor Center and grab a map. Ask the staffs any suggestions or recommendations of what to see and where to go depends on your interest.
If you are coming to San Diego, Balboa Park is a MUST TO SEE place! Not only the tourists love coming here… but also the locals too. I saw many people jogging in the park.

Great way to spend the day with the family. Many museums a horticulture area old unique beautiful buildings. Many of the things are free including the botanical garden. A great destination what do you live here or visiting

Brilliant is the word to describe this place we came up here after seeing it on our way to the zoo and we were not disappointed. It was the prefect eclectic mix of people and activities!
I’m not familiar with the beginnings of this place, but whatever they are, they’re continuing to do it right. Tons of area to walk around, lots of museums, a couple areas with running water, a greenhouse (Orchid heaven!) and tons of flowering trees. We spent a couple hours walking around and seriously could have spent a week here just taking things in.
Lots of street vendors lined specific areas with everything from ornate blown glass to poorly drawn caricatures for folks who really wanted caricatures of themselves. Additionally, it appeared that a number of the buildings dated back a few hundred years and made for some spectacular photographs.
This is one of those spots were you could go on a date, have a wedding, study, walk, rest, have a picnic, let the kids run around, listen to music, bike, play a guitar, etc, etc. Plus the zoo sits next door so you’ve got your whole day taken care of! It’s amazing how this place is simultaneously a perfect spot for d-​bags to scholars and everyone in between!
Easy walk from downtown, especially on the way back where the walk is predominantly downhill. It took about 30 minutes to walk back to the Gaslamp district and equal time to walk down to the stadium and was perfect on a sunny day! A must for anyone visiting and those who live here!

Dunno bout you, but I like being a tourist in my own home state. Today, mother’s day, brought my unintended «just drive» plans to Balboa Park. I knew it existed. I knew living and working in the area was ideal if you could afford it. But I never delved into what would interest me.
The park sits shoulder to shoulder with San Diego Zoo — now I’ve been there (didn’t review it although I loved it!) This area is huge! It’s beautiful in spring with the purple trees and overgrown fuschia plants.
Don’t wanna scare people, but on a special day like today (and possibly any Sunday funday) in the parking lot, you sorta have to car stalk people to get their parking space. So once you’ve been a somewhat bad person, you can walk around and forgive yourself.
If you’re a museum, a garden, a photographer person, especially a daydreamer!!! … this is definitely your hangout. There’s so many things to see for kids and big kids. I suppose doggies also cuz they were abundant getting their walk on too.
Tips:
Bring enough money average $ 12 – 20 each entry. Botanical Garden building was free.
Huge organ amphitheater entrance accepted donations.
Bring water bottles and snackies.
Wear comfy shoes.
Cart mobile thingamabobbers are available to rent.
I had TONS of fun here! I felt I was in another country. I wish I was able to visit the Japanese Botanicals and the Aerospace Museum. Was skeptical about the Cannibals exhibit ?@#%&? I did browse in the Museum of Man which is inside The Old Globe.
Uncertain of what the area with international houses is called. Super cute section of the park. Didn’t have the chance to nosey into any of them. There was much lounging and relaxing in the grassy area, with a musician singing some old hits that reminded me of my Ma :-)
Worth a bookmark, worth a visit, worth an entire day, worth the entrance fees, worth the wait for a parking space!!! Remember my advice car stalk people walking back to their cars, then walk around and forgive yourself ;-)

I love coming to Balboa Park. There is always something to do here. Whether it is simply coming here to enjoy the weather and the scenery or enjoying a local event, this place is a true San Diego treasure.
Last year, when I had a small staycation, I came to Balboa Park and took advantage of the day. I stopped by and grabbed some ice tea and a table and just enjoyed the weather and people watched.
I ventured out and stopped in to a few of the museums that are located at Balboa Park. One of which was the Museum of Man and I took the Tower Tour. I found out amazing information about some of the history of Balboa Park.
If you choose to you can come here to enjoy rose gardens or the Japanese Friendship garden. Or even one of the playgrounds for the kids.
There are a lot of grassy areas that a person or family can sit and enjoy a picnic.
You could walk for hours at the Park, they have walking trails.
One of the challenges can be parking, However it really is not much of a challenge when there is not an event going on.
We are lucky to have a park like this available to our community.

If you are in San Diego, take advantage of all the beauty this park has to offer. Seriously! This park has so much to offer. Each of the buildings are unique — quite lovely architecture that you can sit and admire. I appreciate how clean and well taken care of this park is.
There was plenty of FREE parking on Sunday. Definitely a plus, the last thing I want to be concerned with is searching endlessly for parking ha.
Under the bridge near the bathroom there are two trees with massive roots. Whether you appreciate nature or not, go see it.
There are museums nearby, gardens, coffee, a theater, and probably some things I’ve missed because this park is pretty huge. Now stop reading and go explore!

This is a MUST SEE when visiting San Diego. It houses the famous San Diego Zoo along with many museums. This gives you an idea of it’s massive size. 1200 Acres!
Even if choosing to skip the zoo, head over for a beautiful day outside exploring the botanical gardens (free), koi ponds, museums (fee), and other sites. Grab a coffee near the visitor’s center. Sit on a bench, relax and enjoy.
There is an area with a massive stage. My son enjoyed going on the stage and performing for us. We went on a mini hike around one part of the park that had dirt trails. We also enjoyed the free tram that takes you to several of the main attractions throughout the park.
Parking was easy and free in the morning both days that we arrived.

I’ll have to admit that I’ve never really had the whole Balboa Park experience until this past week. I like to dabble in photography and I shot an engagement session here. It was the perfect day, perfect weather and endless sights made up for some beautiful photographs.
Lucky for us, we were able to quickly find a parking spot, but I’m pretty sure it can get real crowded on weekends. There were a bunch of tourists, photographers, families, and parties going on here around 4 in the afternoon too. It’s definitely an awesome park to bring your kids to-​theres a bunch of activities they can do, or basically just awesome things to see. I’m not quite certain about any food vendors here, but there are a lot of places to lay a blanket down and eat a packed lunch with the family-​or read a book, or even people watch.
I was there for work, so although I got to see a lot of the pretty sights, I didn’t get to really enjoy it as much as I would have liked to. So I’ll definitely be back for more.

This is an update review of the Balboa Park Rube Powell Archery Range…
In Balboa Park, Located under the Laurel Street Bridge…
For years and years, I never knew there was a great archery range inside Balboa park, with hiking trails, lots of palm trees, offering a great day in the sun, in beautiful San Diego.
Parking can be an issue right in front of the range, so I would suggest parking by The Organ Pavilion… Where large lots and parking spots are in abundance. The walk is short to the range from these parking spots is about a five minute walk.
This last visit here, a lot of the targets were closed, and seemed a little run down, but overall, lots of friendly people… but this place is solely ran and maintained by San Diego Archers who run a lot of events at this location.
There is a two dollar entry fee, you pay in the little red metal tube, cash only.

Not a first timer in San Diego, but a first timer here and man have I been missing out!
The culture, architecture, and diversity is just overflowing. The overall environment here is amazing. My boyfriend and I decided to check out this common tourist attraction on Valentine’s Day and it was a pretty late visit. We came around 4pm so by the time we parked and walked to the main area, most museums or exhibits were closed. We explored a lot and mainly took notes on places and things we would like to see next time, and there’s A LOT to see.
There are a lot of street artists and performers that are fun to watch. There are little vendors and shops to check out as well. It’s definitely a great place to have a picnic and relax! There were a lot of Valentine’s Day couples with the same idea. Great place for a photo shoot as well. It is definitely a tourist spot, there will be lots of people, cameras, baby strollers, and dogs.
Parking can be hectic. We ended up parking in the lot across from the science and space museum, it is free! No strings attached, just have to get lucky and find a spot. Most attractions close at 5, but it’s a nice place to explore regardless of the museums.
Personally, I loved the forest area next to the giant organ pavilion amphitheater. It seemed like a common jogging spot for locals and it was a nice little hike. My boyfriend and I ended up going off track and exploring! How often do you find a fallen tree and see the bottom of a tree trunk… or massive tree roots?! We’ll definitely be back to check out the museums and botanical gardens!

Balboa Park is a good time waster for a lazy day in San Diego. Plenty of gardens, museums, light fare things to eat, street performers, religious wackos, and people watching to keep you interested. There’s also loads of things to take pix of, places to walk, and (if you’re lucky enough to find it) some quiet and tranquility amongst the bustling city.
— Parking outside the park is street parking, you’re gonna walk anyway so…
— Dogs are allowed in most areas (leashed of course).
— A lot of stuff is free, but some of the museums, gardens, and galleries are not.
Don’t be lazy. Get out and explore!

Balboa Park is always busy because it is rich with events, culture, museums, parks, theatre. One think really appreciate is the free parking

Such a beautiful park. This is just north of downtown on a hill overlooking he city. Across the canyon is a cool neighborhood and you get to it by going over this really cool bridge. Most of these buildings were built around 1915 for the pan American exhibition.
I just love the architecture and the flora. It’s really out of this world. One of the most beautiful places I have been.
It’s worth it to just walk around but there are also a lot of small museums to check out. The museum of man is really worth a visit.

Balboa Park is one of the great gems of San Diego!
The park is located in south San Diego sitting on acres and acres of land. It’s right next to the San Diego Zoo. The park is comprised of multiple gardens and museums scattered around. Some attractions are free and others cost between $ 5 – 20. Though this is a tourist spot, you also see a lot of locals hanging out or exercising. This a great location for a date!
The park provides free parking in multiple locations and has a tram that drops you off near the visitor center which is located in the center of the park. If you’re new to the park, definitely stop by the visitor center to get a free map and suggestions where to go from the friendly volunteers.
Note: the park gets busy on weekends and holidays so be prepared to hunt for parking and hang out with crowds. Wear comfortable shoes because you’ll be walking a lot.
Tip: San Diego residents get in free to select museums on the first four Tuesdays of each month. Must show your drivers license.

I went last weekend for the first time and I must say, this place is so beautiful! It’s a good stroll in the park with DOGS EVERYWHERE, you’re in doggy heaven! There are multiple museums surrounding the area and you get a sense of historical ambiance everywhere you go. It’s a great place for the family and dates! Definitely coming back here on a sunny day :)

Balboa park is beautiful! Lost of museums and sightseeings! I just went here today and had a blast. My friends and I rode tandem bikes around and it was 35 $ for the four of us. I also liked the botanical gardens and the pretty cactus area. Lots of great photoesque spots. Also the people here are nice and super friendly. Lots of old people though ahahahah. Dont get the lemonade though. Its kind of bland.

This is my favorite place in San Diego other than the beach, hence my decision to move a hop, skip, jump away from this beautiful park. Its actually a jog away-​along 6^th Ave as part of my aerobic workout.
It’s 1200 acres, built in 1868 with Spanish colonial architecture (thank you Wikipedia), restaurants like El Prado, Art and space museums, pop up exhibits like Dr Seuss or history of beer, concerts, renown San Diego zoo, botanical gardens and lots of things to do like lawn bowling, yoga, tai chi, and pop up classes for hula hooping, archery, and regular classes like bridge, etc.
I can’t explain the magic of it… the smell of citrus-​y eucalyptus, and the beauty of the park seen from different altitudes, is intoxicating. It’s a good place for solitude or for community events… It’s like it’s own living city and for the alive to thrive.
Yes, it’s San Diegos #1 landmark so it can be touristy, but there’s no shortage of space to also steal away, if desired. Come camera ready, because it’s scenic. The lawns also attract the homeless sometimes, but they’ve always kept to themselves, and respected the cleanliness of the park.
There are several places to park, clean bathroom facilities and water fountains are also available.

Balboa Park is hands down one of my favorite places to visit in San Diego.
The architecture is truly amazing. I am always blown away by the magnificence and artistry of the designs.
I am extremely disappointed that they closed the observatory! That place was SO cool. I also wish that the city kept it clean and took better care of the grounds.
FYI, do not go to the zoo during the summer when the temperature is in the 90s. I swear that I almost died of heat exhaustion, because my mom drank all of our water.

On the last leg of our San Diego trip, we had a little bit of time to chill before heading back home. We had planned to go on this specific day to Balboa Park because fortunately, it gave us access to five different museums for free. To fully take advantage of this beautiful park, make sure you plan around their free museum days and free organ concerts. The museums are moderately priced but affordable, with an a discounted ‘all access’ pass available.
Upon entering the park from the west (across the bridge from University Ave), I couldn’t help but feel as though I was back in Spain. The main complex of the park has a Spanish mission feel, with high walls and the iconic bell tower with tiled roofs. Even inside, with broad arched openings, fountains, various statues and carvings and lush foliage, I feel as though I was walking through the Alhambra again. Lastly, walking the paths through the park grounds is very peaceful. The gentle hills hide the noise of the surrounding city quite well, and rustle of the ocean breeze though the many palm and Eucalyptus trees hide any remaining reminders.
This is usually always some type of event happening within the park. The amphitheater has amazing acoustics. There are several restaurants and shops, some less expensive than others, and plenty of places in and out of the shade to enjoy the parks’ beauty.
If you drive, parking is free and there are several lots to take you around to other areas of Balboa park.

Un Impelable de San Diego, no dejen de conocerlo y de visitar la fuente que siempre tiene buenos espectáculos de bailarines urbanos y el paseo de artesanos es maravilloso

Love finding new spots here. Can’t believe we are lucky enough to have this jewel in out city. Love the bridge at night, love having the great museums, the zoo, live this park!
Must come to see the performers throughout the day, the free museums every Tuesday for SD county residents. Great place to walk enjoy.

Where is Balboa Park? Follow the signs and you shall see. We were following Google Maps and we were on Florida and took Zoo up because we didn’t know where to go. If you’re on Parks, there’s a sign that tells you where to go :3
Balboa Park is niceee! There is a good amount of parking here where you’ll be able to find spots for your visit. We walked in a random direction and found a Japanese Garden, a huge area where there were lots of seats (hey someone could get married here!). We went to an area that had a pond that you could take a picture of with koi fish (albeit small) and then we made our way to the Botantical Garden, where they had plants you could touch and poinsettias! We then walked in another direction and found an area with a Dr. Seuss theme where you had a Grinchmas Whoville tree and a theater! We saw a bell tower as well parading in the sky (but admission to that was $ 12.50). There’s so many things that are within Balboa Park, museum-​wise.
We only spent around 30 – 45 minutes here, and I don’t even think we touched Balboa Park. There are a lot of great places here where you can take pictures and enjoy the view!

Read a lot of great Unilocal reviews for this park so we figured we’d come and check it out while down South during the holiday weekend. It was definitely a great place to get some fresh air, walk around, see some nice architecture, and check out the scenery.
We got there early since a few reviewers mentioned crowds and difficulty parking. We arrived around 9:30am on a Saturday and there was plenty of parking. There were many tables selling art, pottery, jewelry, and other crafts. We walked to the visitor’s center that had just opened. The worker there was very helpful, giving us a map and telling us about the different museums that were available and the exhibits that were free. We also found out about the one-​day pass ($ 45) that would allow you to visit up to 5 museums that day, which seems like a great deal since a lot of the museums seemed to be about $ 20 for admission.
We walked around the Organ Pavilion and checked out the Nativity scenes. Walked past the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Museum of Man, walked across the bridge, walked to the Air & Space Museum, and also checked out the free Botanical building that had a lot of poinsettias. We enjoyed looking at the ducklings and the koi in the pond outside.
The Museum of Man and the Instruments of Torture exhibit looked really interesting but we didn’t have much time that day to check it out, but if we were to choose a museum to go to, that would be the one. Maybe next time.
Kinda reminded me of the Conservatory of Flowers at Golden Gate Park in SF but on a smaller scale. I guess if you can’t go to the East Coast to check out the Smithsonian museums (which are FREE), you could pay to go here. Or be like us and just walk around and breathe in some fresh air. :)

I love Balboa Park so much, I got married here! And what’s not to love? Ok one thing about Balboa Park that’s annoying is the parking but besides that it’s beautiful, has a bunch of museums, a restaurant, street performers, amazing architecture, the old globe theatre and a koi pond in front of the botanical garden.
This is a great place to walk around with friends, on a date or even alone. It’s the best place to people watch or have a picnic on the lawns. The plays that are in the old globe and the other theatre’s are all simply amazing! If you’ve never experienced an authentic Shakespearean play in the old globe, you don’t know what you’re missing! It’s amazing, the actors skills at Elizabethan are something to marvel at! Highly recommend! All the museums are fun, and there’s one for everyone. No matter what you are interested in, I’m sure you’ll like at least one.
Basically, if you live in San Diego or are visiting, you definitely need to spend a day or two enjoying everything Balboa has to offer!

My husband and I had an awesome time at «Balboa Park December Nights». We arrived around 5:30pm found great parking at «City College» and took the shuttle to the park.
The parking and shuttle services were fantastic I couldn’t imagine trying to find parking without it on a night like this. Of course people were everywhere coming and going, standing and sitting, eating and drinking; taking pictures and shopping, singing and dancing, watching performances and well you get the idea.
The Christmas lights were beautiful but I was expecting more decorations. Thanks to all the police officers, bus drivers and traffic control folks I appreciated your presences and was able to enjoy all that «Balboa Park December Nights» had to offer.

I love Balboa park. So much trees and a lot to do here for the family. You can have a picnic, let your kids play on the playground and check out free museums. Not all museums were free but only one was free.
We came here for the December Nights in Balboa Park. For this event, we got here early around 11 am. We wanted a parking spot and we got one. We ended up checking out the vendors but they didn’t open up until noon, so we waited and took a break from walking since it was rather a long walk for my daughter and myself. We got some free samples. I got a free energy drink.
I actually ended up winning 4 free passes to Sea World from one of the radio stations. Pretty cool deal. Fill out a survey and win free tickets. The winners names were written up on the board. Hubby also won tickets!
I love how this park is huge. This park has many activities that are being held here. Always a great place to take your family. I enjoyed the walking through this beautiful park. One of my favorite places to go to.

Trams, Walkways, Flowers & Trees, and Free Museums Tuesdays… just too much FUN!
Tuesday 11/​17/​2015 was my free Museum Day.
Here is a list of free museums for the third Tuesday for San Diego residents only
1. San Diego Art Institute
2. Mingei International Museum
3. San Diego Museum of Art
4. San Diego Museum of Man
5. Japanese Friendship garden.
Although there was little time we visited two, the Mingei and the SDMOA.
The SDMOA has exhibits of music in the art, and art in the music!
It is always fun to visit Baliboa Park, I also LOVED the Whoville Tree in the Old Globe Square… I am sad I missed the tree lighting… but I was at the X ambassadors concert!

Definitely one of the nicest public parks I’d ever been to!
Prior to leaving San Diego, my girlfriend and I decided to visit Balboa Park on a Sunday afternoon. Since it was my 3^rd time here, I kind of knew what to expect when it came to the parking situation. Parking inside the park was impossible, so we decided to park outside west of the park where you enter via the Cabrillo Bridge. The exact address of where we parked was about 684 Juniper Road where you can find plenty of paid street parking. That way you don’t have to face the nightmare of the traffic on the bridge leading into the park, which was bumper to bumper.
As for the park itself, there was plenty of things to see. We didn’t get to roam around the entire park, but the obvious destination of choice for many is the San Diego Zoo, which I think is a must if you have a day to visit here. And yes, you do have to devote at least ½ of your day here. Besides the zoo, there’s also the famed Prado Restaurant, which has garnered rave reviews. I’ve been there once and the food, service and casual atmosphere was perfect. If you’re looking to just wander around, there are great photo ops to take in front of many landmarks, including the San Diego Museum of Man, The Research Library, San Diego Art Institute, Copley Auditorium, San Diego Museum of Art, Casa Del Ray Moro Garden, Balboa Art Conservation Center and so much more! Everywhere we turned, there was something to take a picture of!
The park was definitely made for families with the grassy areas and giant fountains. It was truly one of the best family friendly parks I’d been to and a great place to just flat out chill, day or night.

I can’t believe I originally thought Balboa Park was just the little area near the zoo parking lot. Boy, was I wrong! It is such a lovely park and I can’t believe they don’t charge people to go there. They totally could and it would be worth it.
My group spend a few hours just wandering around the park enjoying beautiful San Diego weather and picturesque scenery. We didn’t really do anything other than wander around, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. If we had more time at our disposal, I would have loved to go into the museums, see a show or dine at one of the restaurants.
Balboa Park wasn’t on the flattest of terrain. It wasn’t hard to walk around, but it wasn’t easy. I got to enjoy the sites and get a little workout in at the same time. Throughout our visit, we saw people getting full blown workouts in, either running or cycling.
A gorgeous park with lots to do (or not do). I’d recommend Balboa Park to both visitors and locals.

What a beautiful park to enjoy a morning of strolling and basking in the beauty of the old architectural magnificent building which contain some beautiful pieces of art, history, and yes some of the most beautiful plants and flowers, and the best part is some of these museums are free or fairly inexpensive to visit.
Another feature is that the museums are surrounded by the most magnificent natural scenery. Big old trees providing plenty of shade, trails all around if you wish to go on a nature walk or hike. A restaurant and a couple of stores to buy many, many, unique items, and yes a place to grab a cup of coffee.
My boys and I enjoyed our morning strolling around the beautiful grounds taking many picture, and yes don’t forget the camera as there are many photo ops throughout. If you ever find yourself in San Diego do pay Balboa Park a visit as there is plenty for you to enjoy.

This place is no ordinary walk in the park! This is probably one of the best San Diego attractions I have ever been to! It’s actually a park spread out into miles of multiple parks! When my nephew first brought my family here to do the tourist thing, I was expecting your average public park with a bunch of nice shade trees, barbecues and picnic tables. Little did I know that this was just a small fraction of what you’ll find at Balboa Park!
Imagine acres of beautiful grounds that include a play area just for kids, a dog park, nature trail, lawn bowling, basket ball courts, tennis courts, golf course, a botanical building, floral gardens, fountains, pools and fish ponds. If that’s not enough, there is a whole section of amazing architectural buildings that house what seems like endless museums featuring art, living art, photographic art, music, nature, international cultures, history, model railroads, and the museum of man.
You will also find a visitors center with helpful information in arranging tours via bus, trolley, walking or ranger guided. Purchase tickets to the museums, theaters, events and concerts. Gift shops, restaurants, and beverage bars can be found along with places to just sit and relax. All the gorgeous scenery and sight seeing is free! But spending money to the attractions is well worth every penny! I saved mentioning one of the best attractions for last, and that is, that the famous San Diego Zoo is also part of Balboa Park!
Whether you are a resident or vacationing in San Diego, this has got to be a place you must visit at least once in your lifetime! But I just can’t imagine anyone ever going here only once!