San Diego Sights: Balboa Park
Balboa Park is one of San Diego’s crown jewels. The 1,200-acre park is one of the country’s oldest that’s dedicated to public recreational use. Back in 1868, land was originally set aside for what was then known as City Park. It took more than 20 years for development to start happening on the land, and some of that included botanist Kate Sessions offering to plant 100 trees a year in the park in exchange for 32 acres within the park’s boundaries for her commercial nursery. In turn, she earned the title “The Mother of Balboa Park” at the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition.
Since then, Balboa Park has seen immense growth. The park was eventually renamed, roads were built, water systems were installed, and the park that overlooks downtown San Diego became an integral part of the city. Museums were built, the zoo was established, gardens were planted, and restaurants opened. It became a place that fully represented the city’s rich history and culture.
When we first moved to San Diego in spring 2021, we lived less than 10 minutes away from Balboa Park. It quickly became one of my favorite places. Sometimes we’d go picnic there, listen to live music, or walk around during sunset. More than four years later, Balboa Park still remains one of my favorite spots in San Diego. We often take Buster there for walks and the occasional off-leash dog park visit. Most of all, Buster loves sniffing around for squirrels and just exploring. There is plenty to do, see, and enjoy without having to spend a lot of money, making it an even more appealing place to check out.
Balboa Park features 18 museums, including the Comic-Con Museum, Air & Space Museum, Fleet Science Center, and Model Railroad Museum. It is also home to many gardens, such as the Botanical Building, Japanese Friendship Garden, and Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden. The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park, and two bridges in the city’s 7 Bridges Hike - Park Boulevard Bridge and Cabrillo Bridge - are located with the park’s acreage. The Spreckels Organ Pavilion plays host to numerous concerts and performances throughout the year, while the Spanish Art Village features the work of painters, sculptures, metalsmiths, and other creatives. Balboa Park is also home to many Instagrammable spots.
Whenever people are coming to visit San Diego, one of the first places I recommend is Balboa Park. It’s a must-visit spot in San Diego, whether you’re a local, transplant, or just vacationing here.
