Situated in the middle of San Diego is one of the most beautiful and diverse parks in the world. It is next to the San Diego Zoo and it is called Balboa Park. It is a must see for any traveler or local. Most of the best Museums in San Diego are there too. The San Diego Museum of Art, The Mingei International Museum, The Museum of Photographic Arts, Ruben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Automotive Museum, The Natural History Museum, The San Diego Museum of Man, The San Diego Model Railroad Museum. This place really is something to see!
There are not only museums but Balboa Park is situated on 1200 acres of property and also contains the San Diego Zoo. There are trails for hiking or biking, dog walking... parks for kite flying and picnics and barbecues. There are a couple of nice sized dog parks, and plenty of open land. It is really interesting how when hiking or mountain biking the trails there... one can feel like they are in the middle of nowhere but actually be right in the middle of a large semi-urban area. Some of the trails lead to Morley Field which has plenty of space... a few baseball fields, a 24 yd. lap pool(yes I know most are 25 but they say 24 so I'm just doing extra laps to compensate lol), a very nice Tennis complex called the Balboa Tennis Club. It is has quite a few courts. There are course basketball, an archery range, a disc golf facility, an excellent bicycle velodrome, barbecueing facilities in multiple locations, Lawn Bowling, really... it has so much to offer. In my opinion... besides the beaches, Sea World, San Diego Zoo, and San Diego Wild Animal Park, it is the premier destination to visit in San Diego. It is by far the most unique and cultured experience.
As one walks down the Prado they see a large fountain and they walk between the massive white museum that is The Natural History Museum and the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center. They walk down steps into not only Balboa Park... but the History of Balboa Park. It's roots go back to 1868 where civic leaders set aside a 1400 acre parcel of land to be enjoyed as a park. It was originally called "City Park" by the locals but the name changed to Balboa Park in 1910.
"The name of "City Park" was changed to "Balboa Park" in 1910, the result of a citywide naming contest. The winner, Mrs. Harriet Phillips, chose the name because the Park offered a wide view of the Pacific Ocean and explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa was the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean (from the coast of Panama). The park was beginning to become more developed-but soon would be even more lushly landscaped and also filled with cultural institutions as a result of two Expositions." - www.balboapark.org
One will find themselves wondering how so much can be in one place and still seem so vast. That is the magic of Balboa Park. Most definitely bring your camera if you go there. And plan for the whole day. There is food available at the cafe by the Japanese Friendship garden and also at The Prado restaurant which is one of San Diego's top rated restaurants. It is not uncommon to see newly-weds taking pictures in back of the restaurants there because it is just one of those romantic kind of places. I hope you enjoy your visit to Balboa Park whenever you decide to visit San Diego... 'America's Finest City'.
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