Balboa Park is one of the largest urban cultural parks in the United States. Encompassing 1,200 acres and with 15 museums, performing arts venues, gardens, and the World’s Famous San Diego Zoo, it’s easy to spend an entire day wandering through Balboa Park.
- Museums: From photography, to science, automobiles, trains, sports, art and history, there is a museum for everyone in the family. The oldest is the San Diego Natural History Museum, which was founded in 1874. The San Diego Museum of Art is the region’s oldest and largest art museum. It was founded in 1926.
- Performing Arts: Built in 1935, the Old Globe is one of San Diego’s jewels. It has three unique venues and produces 15 plays a year, including the Summer Shakespeare Festival. The Spreckels Organ Pavilion offers free concerts and is one of the world’s largest outdoor pipe organs with 4,530 pipes ranging in length from a pencil to 32-feet.
- Gardens: Balboa Park contains 350 species of plants with approximately 1,500 trees. Thanks in part to Kate Sessions, “the Mother of Balboa Park,” who took the first steps in beautifying the park in 1892. Although all the gardens are worthy of a look, there are several standouts. The Botanical Building and lily pond are one of the most photographed areas in the park. It is one of the largest lath structures in the world and includes more than 2,100 plants. The Old Cactus Garden was developed in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition. The Japanese Friendship Garden was originally a teahouse during the 1915-16 Exposition.
- Hiking/Biking: With over 65-miles of trails of varying difficulty and length, Balboa Park is popular with both visitors and locals who want to get outdoors to enjoy San Diego’s beautiful weather. Many of the trails take you past gardens and museums where you can marvel the architecture while getting some exercise.
- The San Diego Zoo: The zoo is home to 4,000 animals, including the giant panda. The zoo offers a wide variety of activities for the kids, such as face painting and arts & crafts, along with interactive shows and exhibits. Various themed events throughout the year and Jungle Bells in December make it a favorite for everyone.
There are several different guided tours you can take to see Balboa Park. Check at the Visitors Center for more information.
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