San Diegans know that Balboa Park is the greatest gem that we have in our amazing city! Located in the heart of the city, this 1,200 acre park is the largest urban cultural park in the United States. It is home to the many of the city’s major museums, stunning gardens, numerous attractions, performing arts venues, recreational facilities, and so much more! With all the park has to offer, every time you visit the park you will experience something new!
Museums
Learn something new at one of the 15+ museums located in Balboa Park. Whether you are interested in art, technology, sports, or history, there is a museum that will spark your imagination. Here are a few of our favorites:
The San Diego Air and Space Museum (2001 Pan American Plaza) is a spectacular aviation and aerospace museum. It features original and replica aircraft and space exploration vehicles. Along with the exhibits permanently housed at the museum, there are amazing special exhibitions held throughout the year. We recommend checking out Da Vinci: The Ultimate Innovator which is currently on display. This interactive special exhibition features transportation, military, and mechanical inventions dreamt up by this Renaissance genius. You will marvel at how the majority of Da Vinci’s inventions because reality hundreds of years later!
The San Diego Museum of Art (1450 El Prado) is the oldest and largest art museum in this region of Southern California. Be inspired by artwork created around the world. Wander the permanent exhibits to see work from the great Spanish and Italian masters as well as work from contemporary greats. There are always exciting new exhibits on loan from other museums and galleries. During the month of August, visitors can also enjoy free film screenings in the garden every Monday. The films are related to the exhibits currently on display and cannot be missed!
The sports lover will have a field day at the San Diego Hall of Champions (2131 Pan American Plaza)! It is the largest multi-sport museum in the country! It features memoribilia and information about reflecting the history of San Diego Sports. Check out the exhibits about the Padres and the Chargers, our hometown teams. There are also interactive displays featuring some of the favorite sports activities of San Diegans, including sailing and surfing.
Devoted to anthropology, the San Diego Museum of Man is a unique museum. Learn about the history of humanity by visiting this museum. The entire family will find something to enjoy. Check out BEERology to see how this beverage has been closely linked to civilizations throughout time. Your kids will love exploring the Monsters! Exhibit where they can participate in hands on activities while learning about monster mythology and legends from around the world. After exploring these and the other exhibits housed inside, check out the beautiful 200 foot California Tower, visitors can now climb the historic tower for the first time since 1935 and enjoy spectacular views of the city.
The other fantastic museums located throughout the park are the San Diego Automotive Museum, Centro Cultural de la Raza, San Diego Art Institute (SDAI), San Diego Model Railroad Museum, Mingei International Museum, San Diego Natural History Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Timken Museum of Art, Veterans Museum and Memorial Center, George W. Marston House, San Diego History Center, and WorldBeat.
Gardens
You can explore natural wonders from around the world in the park’s numerous gardens. Enjoy the San Diego sunshine and get some exercise as you walk through the acres of garden space. There are gardens featuring plant life from Florida, Australia, Japan, the Southwest, and California. These spectacular gardens provide a natural oasis to visitors in the heart of a major metropolitan area.
Attractions
As if your days weren’t already full with things to do in Balboa Park, there are great attractions for the entire family to enjoy. Take a ride on the Carousel or the 1915 Electriquettes. Get active at the Morley Field Sports Complex. Or check out one of these awesome attractions:
Truly the most recognized attraction worldwide, the San Diego Zoo (2920 Zoo Drive) is a can’t miss stop during your time at Balboa Park. The zoo occupies 100 acres and is home to more than 3,500 rare and endangered animals. You will see animals that cannot be viewed anywhere else in the country. For 100 years, the San Diego Zoo has allowed visitors to witness these exotic creatures in open air, cageless exhibits. You can travel around the world in a single day by checking out animals native to the Arctic, Africa, Australia, and all other corners of the world.
Check out a show at The Old Globe. There are three stages located at this facility, including two located in the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center and one outdoors at the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. There are 15 productions put on annually featuring both classic and contemporary work. We recommend attending the summer Shakespeare Festival to see some great live entertainment.
Planning a visit to the park? The Balboa Park Visitors Center, located within the park at 1549 El Prado, will provide you with all the information you need to get the most out of your visit. The center is open daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. There are many different Park Passes that you can purchase online to take advantage of all the locations in Balboa Park.
Residents throughout San Diego have the benefit of being able to visit the park all year round. But why not have the park right outside your front door?! The park is bordered by the beautiful neighborhoods of North Park, Mission Hills, and South Park! Let McT Real Estate Group help you find your dream home in this area of San Diego today!