What started as the “City Park” in 1868, which overlooks present-day downtown, is today’s premiere travel spot for anyone passing through San Diego. Balboa Park spans 1,200 acres with 18 museums, over eight gardens, an artist's village, multiple shops and performing arts centers. The park is bigger than New York’s Central Park.
The sheer amount of things to see and do can be overwhelming for someone’s first visit, but we’ve got a day of exploring all planned out.
The journey starts with the Spanish Village Art Center which is styled after a Spanish village. This area of the park is home to art studios and shops.
Along with the studios you can peruse in, some artists have their creations displayed in a statue garden.
A tourist in town for a concert, Brenda Vasquez, spent the time before her concert exploring Balboa Park. “I wanted to do some exploring, and a travel pamphlet told me to come here,” said Vasquez. “It’s beautiful here; I really love it.”
From the Spanish Village, you can walk a million different paths. One path takes you past places like the House of Balboa and eventually to one of the museums with free admission, the Timken Museum of Art.
Spectators sit in front of a lily pond taking in their scenic surroundings.
Visitors gaze at the art at the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park.
Another free museum to visit at Balboa is the Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego
After the museums, you can walk to the famous California Tower and the Museum of Us. As you walk, you also pass by the Old Globe Theater, which is modeled after The Globe in London, England. This view from the Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park overlooks the famous California Tower.
Balboa Park is so vast that you can’t do everything it has to offer in a couple of hours. These are just a few of the highlights that I managed to see, and I hope you get to as well on your visit.
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