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CaliforniaSan DiegoTravelUSA

Top 12 Attractions to visit in Balboa Park San Diego

by kumamonjeng January 16, 2018
written by kumamonjeng January 16, 2018
Top 12 Attractions to visit in Balboa Park San Diego

Balboa Park San Diego

Balboa Park San Diego is one of the top attraction in San Diego. There is no entrance fees for the park which is  good thing!  About 15 museums, few theatres, gardens & a Zoo all located in the Balboa Park.  The architecture of the buildings in Balboa Park are mostly Spanish influence architecture! These buildings were built originally  for the Panama–California Exposition in 1915 so expect to enjoy the old antique architecture.  Now these buildings are used as Museum.

We have managed to explore 12 attractions and you should also plan before visiting Balboa Park.

Balboa Park San Diego

In LA there is Griffith Park and here at San Diego, you have Balboa Park!  The park is the largest urban park in North America.

Balboa Park San Diego

Balboa Park is named after a famous Spanish explorer, Vasco Núñez de Balboa who was the first European to lead an expedition to reach the Pacific from the New World.  Before that, it is called as “City Park”, pretty boring right?  I prefer the new name!

Balboa Park San Diego

1. Spanish Village Art Center

Balboa Park San Diego

The Spanish Village is located near the San Diego Zoo, used as an art destination by a group of dedicated artist. Once you enter the Spanish Village, you will notice the village has vibrant colors, especially at the courtyard which has the rainbow color concrete tiles plus flower & cacti.

Balboa Park San Diego

The buildings in Spanish Village were built back in 1935 to depict a quaint little Spanish Village.

Balboa Park San Diego

What caught my attention in this village is still the rainbow color concrete tiles at the courtyard.

Balboa Park San Diego

Street Entertainment in Spanish Village.

Balboa Park San Diego

About 37 Art Studios in Spanish Village!  This is also a place to get some souvenirs.

Balboa Park San Diego

Some of the artists here now are descendants of the original artists who founded the village.  You can walk freely into these studio and look at their art piece, from painting to ceramic or glass and many more.

Balboa Park San Diego

The entrance is free for Spanish Village Art Center so go in to have some Spanish vibe while you are at Balboa Park.

Balboa Park San Diego

2. Balboa Park Railroad

Balboa Park San Diego

There is a miniature train run just a small portion of Balboa Park.

Balboa Park San Diego

The duration is about 3 minutes and this miniature is a rare antique which is still able to function!

Balboa Park San Diego

3. Casa del Prado

Balboa Park San Diego

Balboa Park San Diego

You can smell the Spanish atmosphere here at Balboa Park, Spanish children ready to pose for their parent to shoot pictures.

Balboa Park San Diego

Balboa Park San Diego

Balboa Park San Diego

4. Botanical Building, Lily Pond & Fountain

Balboa Park San Diego

Balboa Park San Diego

The view in Botanical Building is the most stunning of all, I think it is the best spot for photograph. The building architecture is very unique which was built on 1915 for the Expo. Inside the Botanical Building there are display of different type of plants so if you are interested in plant, you may want enter the Botanical Building and have a look.

Balboa Park San Diego

The pond here make a great landscape, you can see some reflection from the buildings and also some ducks or birds swimming in the big pond.

Balboa Park San Diego

A huge fountain situated near the pond and the Botanical building.

Balboa Park San Diego

Park Entertainer everywhere in Balboa Park.

Balboa Park San Diego

Children running for bubbles in the park.

Balboa Park San Diego

Bigger bubbles, run for it! Baby in purple.

Balboa Park San Diego

5.San Diego Museum of Art

This museum display more of Spanish art.

Balboa Park San Diego

6. The Old Globe Theatre

Balboa Park San Diego

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” musical production was shown when I was there, during the December Nights festival in Old Globe Theatre.

The “Grinch” Xmas Tree greets visitors to the Old Globe Theatre.

Balboa Park San Diego

7. San Diego Museum of Man

Balboa Park San Diego

Museum of Man has one of the nicest architecture in Balboa Park which include a dome & a tower.

Balboa Park San Diego

8. House of Charm – Mingei International Museum 

The word ‘mingei’ in Japanese meaning ‘art of the people’, the Mingei Museum exhibits for art, craft and design.

Balboa Park San Diego

Balboa Park San Diego

9. Balboa Park Open Air Theatre

Concert held here are free throughout the year.  If you are coming at the right timing, you may be able to catch some free concert at this open air theatre.

Balboa Park San Diego

10. Japanese Friendship Garden

Balboa Park San Diego

11. El Cid Statue

The statue of El Cid of a medieval hero of the eleventh century, located at the entrance to the Plaza de Panama.  The statue is quite striking.

Balboa Park San Diego

12. Moreton Bay Fig Tree – 100 years old

Go spot this giant tree called Mereton Bay Fig Tree, is the largest of Ficus plant in Balboa Park. It was planted as a small tree in a garden back in 1915 for the Panama-California Expo and now became a giant after more than 100 years.  When I passed by this tree, I felt it was unusual & huge so took a picture of it then only realized it was not an ordinarily plants in Balboa Park.  This tree has some history!

Balboa Park San Diego

Where to eat in Balboa Park?

There are few restaurant in Balboa Park but we choose to have a quick bite at The Village Grill.  We ordered a burger & tender chicken & “fries”.

Balboa Park San Diego

Chips or Fries?

When  I made my order at the counter, I told the lady “and chips” please and she show me 4 type of packets of Lays Chips in different flavor.  Then only I realize I should tell her “fries”.  Well in Australia & UK, they called it chips or hot chips – the fried potatoes.  I was shocked and laugh when they give me the packet of Lays chips. 🙂  She happily changed the “fries” for me, seem like a lot of tourists made the same mistake like me.

Balboa Park San Diego

Final thoughts 

Balboa Park is so huge that you could spend days to explore.  You can imagine that as it consist of 15 museums, several theatre, garden, restaurants and San Diego Zoo.  You can choose one museum to visit and the rest you can just walk around the courtyard and take picture.  There is a fee to enter to most of the museum.  Even you don’t enter the museum, there are still plenty to explore around the courtyard of these beautiful buildings which were built for Panama-California Expo in 1915.  This is a park where nature meet culture!

Other attractions in San Diego California :

  • La Jolla Cove San Diego
  • USS Midway
  • Old Town San Diego
  • Sea World San Diego 

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Balboa Park Open Air TheatreBalboa Park RailroadBalboa Park San DiegoBotanical Building Balboa ParkCasa del PradoChips or Fries?El Cid StatueHouse of Charm - Mingei International MuseumJapanese Friendship GardenMoreton Bay Fig Tree 100 years oldSan Diego Museum of ArtSan Diego Museum of ManSelf Drive CaliforniaThe Old Globe TheatreThe Spanish VillageThe Village Grill Balboa ParkVasco Núñez de Balboa
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22 comments

Chelsea Elizabeth February 18, 2018 - 1:06 am

I giggled reading about the chips. There’s always so much confusion over crisps, chips and fries lol. Great photos though, looks like such a beautiful place. The burger looks delicious!

Reply
kumamonjeng February 18, 2018 - 2:06 pm

Dear Chelsea,

I was shocked when Lay chips in the packets were given to me. I guess this is part of the fun part about traveling!

Reply
Corinne and Kirsty February 18, 2018 - 5:59 pm

That sun is amazing! I need warm and sun! The colors on all the buildings omg! Everything looks so nice! i need to visit san diego

Reply
kumamonjeng February 19, 2018 - 1:48 am

There are many old buildings built which was used for the Panama-California Expo back in 1915. Mostly Spanish influence architecture and you will have a taste of Spain in Balboa Park San Diego.

Reply
Indu Indra February 19, 2018 - 9:53 am

Balboa Park in San Diego looks like a mammoth area with so many museums and other attractions. Your wonderful pics portray vibrant feel of the park, I liked immensely.

Reply
kumamonjeng February 19, 2018 - 10:31 am

Dear Indu,
Thank you for visiting this blog. Balboa Park in San Diego is so big that it may take few days to explore every corner and every museum. It is not only park for leisure, it also has different museums with different theme, from motor cars to human science museum, art and many more. There is even open air concert where people can enjoy the free music. It is a wonderful place to spend.

Reply
Emily Leary February 19, 2018 - 11:15 am

Balboa Park looks amazing with so many incredible things to see and do that making time to spend a few days there would be great.

Reply
Ithfifi Williams / IthinityBeauty February 19, 2018 - 2:54 pm

Oh wow Balboa Park looks amazing!! So many colours and so many wonderful things to so. I would want to spend a couple of days here seeing it all, the art to the beautiful surroundings. These pictures make my eyes very happy!

Reply
Stephanie Jeannot February 19, 2018 - 5:09 pm

The art center sounds really nice. I would enjoy the railroad park too. That looks pretty cool.

Reply
kumamonjeng February 19, 2018 - 10:59 pm

The railroad cover very small part of Balboa Park but it is fun to sit on the antique train and very tiny too! One look like a giant when sitting in this little antique train. Art centre is pretty cool especially the colorful floor.

Reply
Elizabeth O February 19, 2018 - 7:43 pm

Oh wow Balboa Park looks like so much fun, the history here looks incredible and the place is so instagrammable!

Reply
Monique Elise February 20, 2018 - 12:38 am

Balboa park looks like an amazing place with endless options! Thanks for the break down. I have plans to visit San Diego soon, I always hear such great things about it.

Reply
Amanda February 20, 2018 - 1:55 am

There is so much to see! I love the look of the art museums though. I feel like I would be in there for hours!

Reply
Preet@thevelvetlife February 20, 2018 - 4:16 am

I am totally loving your outfit and the pictures, you look so pretty. Balboa Park looks like an amazing and fun place, would love to visit this. A great mixture of history, art, science, and a lot more.

Reply
Shubhada Bhide February 20, 2018 - 8:16 am

Wow!! Balboa Park looks pretty awesome and looks so much fun. I will definitely show this to my kids and to my hubby. They will surely love this place to visit. Such a great recommendation for me.

Reply
Alison Rost February 20, 2018 - 8:40 am

It’s such a beautiful place to visit especially for a morning to afternoon stroll. It’s peaceful, colorful and interesting! I like that they changed the name to Balboa Park.

Reply
Angela Ricardo Bethea February 20, 2018 - 1:35 pm

This is such amazing place to visit this year. Balboa par looks so much fun. The ambiance of this place is so fulfilling.

Reply
Lyosha Varezhkina February 20, 2018 - 7:19 pm

ok now I want to travel to San Diego! And you look so shiny there! love it!

Reply
flora_the_sweaterist February 21, 2018 - 9:21 am

I’ve never been to San Diego so it was great to be able to “visit” the place through your stunning photos! The architecture of Casa del Prado is breath-taking, and I love how heavenly blue the sky is on every pic.

Reply
itsnadianelson February 21, 2018 - 6:59 pm

I love your photos. San Diego is definitely on my bucket list. I will keep these recommendations in mind when I go.

Reply
Elizabeth February 23, 2018 - 6:44 am

What a beautiful park to visit! Love the architecture and there’s so much to explore. I’d love to visit there one day.

Reply
AlwaysCarryOn.com February 24, 2018 - 3:29 pm

The Spanish Village Art Center looks like my kind of attraction! I haven’t been to San Diego yet, but it’s definitely on my list to visit soon x

Reply

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I am the travel writer for Thinkerten. I lived in Japan, Australia, Malaysia and now based in Singapore. Speak 4 languages, Japanese, English, Malay, and Chinese. There are the many types of travels one can experience and mine are mostly focus on self-driving/road trip to explore the places I wanted to see and learn about. Only if you get out of your country, you will see the real you and understand more about yourself, to realize of your own identity, your own culture, and your root.

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