Filed under: Art, garden, museum, park, top-feature
Passport to Balboa Park
As a city girl, I’ve always loved to stroll around large, public parks full of history, nature and culture. During my visit to Balboa Park in San Diego I found a wonderland of beautiful spaces, lush landscaping and architectural wonders with non-stop activity at every turn.
The nation’s largest urban cultural park, Balboa Park (travel guide) is a 1,200 acre oasis where you can experience San Diego’s natural beauty, exquisite gardens, ever-changing museum exhibits, plays, concerts and truly stunning Spanish Revival architecture. Named after the Spanish maritime explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the park was originally built for temporary use during the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition. Today, it’s home to the El Prado, the park’s colonial Spanish inspired pedestrian thoroughfare, 15 engaging and diverse museums, and the fabulous San Diego Zoo.
Once you enter this park, you will be amazed by all the options available to you. It might help if you plan your day in advance with a visit to their website to map out your desired activities.
Museums
With so many museums to choose from, ranging from art to science to air and space to natural history or anthropology you might have difficulty fitting them all in. But be assured, the historic aircraft and spacecraft at the Air & Space Museum are worth the trip, the photography at the Museum of Photographic Arts and the artwork at the San Diego Art Institute offer one-of-a-kind exhibits and the San Diego Zoo needs no explanation, it is literally one of the finest zoos in the world.
Our first stop at the San Diego Air & Space Museum (travel guide), an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, we found a working flying replica of Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, the actual Apollo 9 Command Module spacecraft, and the only real GPS satellite on display in the world. The Museum also offers interactive exhibits including MaxFlight and Space Shuttle simulators and a 3D/4D Theater and Interactive Air & Space Technology Kid Zone.
The colorful flagstone pathways welcome visitors to the Spanish Village Arts Center.
As an amateur photographer, I was looking forward to the Museum of Photographic Arts (travel guide) one of the few institutions in the country solely devoted to the art of photography. With more than 7,000 works, representing the entire history of photography, the collection includes modern and contemporary work. A new exhibition of works by San Diego artists opens every four to six weeks at the San Diego Art Institute (travel guide). Out of the 10,000-square-feet of gallery space, my favorite is the David Fleet Young Artists Gallery where art from San Diego school children is showcased.
Our next stop didn’t take us inside the actual museum, because the outside is a breathtaking sight. The San Diego Museum of Man (travel guide) is the city’s only museum devoted to anthropology. You can’t miss it because this ornate 200-foot tower with dome was designed in the style of a Spanish-Colonial church. One of the many buildings originally constructed for the 1915–16 Panama-California Exposition it was designed to greet visitors to the event. The striking blue mosaics make this landmark stand out amongst the rest.
Giant pandas at the world-renowned San Diego Zoo.
I can’t imagine a trip to Balboa Park and missing the world famous San Diego Zoo (travel guide) where rare and endangered animals like the giant pandas and cuddly koalas live in painstakingly authentic habitats. A whole day should be set aside to visit this popular landmark. I recommend the Backstage Pass ($99 per person) which offers many up-close opportunities with some of the unique residents of the zoo and other perks around the park.
Performing Arts
If the opportunity arises, check out a play or musical at The Old Globe Theatre (travel guide). This Tony Award-winning theatre boasts three unique venues: the historic Old Globe Theatre; the intimate Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre; and the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. Founded in 1935, the Globe produces 15 plays and musicals annually–from the renowned Summer Shakespeare Festival to world-premiere productions that have gone on to Broadway. It’s a picturesque spot near the Museum of Man where you can relax on benches and have a snack.
Music buffs will delight in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion featuring the Spreckels Organ, one of the world’s largest outdoor pipe organs. Housed within an unbelievably ornate structure, this organ contains 4,530 pipes ranging in length from the size of a pencil to 32 feet. Stop by for the free weekly concert. The city of San Diego has had a civic organist play for the crowds since 1917.
A picture perfect Lily Pond in front of The Botanical Building.
Gardens
Ranked among the Best Parks in the World for its mixture of horticulture, art and culture, Balboa Park has more than eight gardens which include the lovely Alcazar Gardens, the award-winning Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, the Japanese Friendship Garden, the desert garden and the historic Botanical Building.
In bloom from March through December, anyone who has tried to grow a rose bush will be overwhelmed and a bit jealous by the stunning selections of roses at the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden. A popular location for wedding ceremonies, this stunning display of 2,500 roses of nearly 200 varieties on three-acres is full of fragrance, color, and beauty.
The view of the Botanical Building with the Lily Pond in the foreground is one of the most photographed scenes in Balboa Park. Free to the public, more than 2,100 permanent plants and an amazing variety of ferns, orchids, and palms are on display.
The San Diego Museum of Art sculpture garden with the San Diego Museum of Man museum in the background.
Restaurants
From the award-winning Prado restaurant to coffee carts and hot dog stands, the Park offers many options for dining both in and outdoors.
For great pizzas, salads and other casual fare, The Sculpture Court Café is an outdoor sanctuary, part of the San Diego Museum of Art with a nice view of the Plaza de Panama and the May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden with works by famous artists. To experience traditional Japanese green tea, herbal and specialty teas as well as sushi, Japanese noodles, miso soup and snacks, visit The Tea Pavilion in the Japanese Friendship Garden. You’ll love the views of the park from the outdoor courtyard and the deck.
Shopping and Art
Every time I visit Balboa Park, I never miss the opportunity to walk around the Spanish Village Art Center. More than 50 artists and craftspeople sell their work in a charming setting reminiscent of an old Spanish village. The colorful flagstone patio filled with flowers welcomes you with the unique shops filled with jewelry designers, local painters, glass artists and more under historic Spanish-tile roofed buildings.
Well, I’ve barely scratched the surface in terms of identifying the top spots to visit at Balboa Park. Whatever you choose to do the adventure will transport you to a different time and place and make you want to come back for more.
Parking & Free Tram
Park in the Inspiration Point parking lot (on the east side of Park Blvd., between Presidents Way and the Balboa Park Activity Center) for easy access to the heart of Balboa Park via the free tram. There are also numerous smaller lots throughout the Park. The tram or what really looks like a historic bus (army green with red) will deliver you to into the heart of Balboa Park. Trams pick up from Tram Central every 8-10 minutes.
Discounts
Admittance is free to the Park grounds, Botanical building, outdoor gardens and some attractions. Admission charges vary at other cultural attractions. The Passport to Balboa Park offers visitors the chance to experience 14 museums in the Park, with the convenience of a one-time purchase. Check the main Balboa Park web site for special day passes at discount rates.
Photos from personal collection and The San Diego Zoo.
