Stuff To Do in San Diego: Balboa Park

A trip to San Diego would not be complete without a visit to Balboa Park. Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the United States. It's also home to 15 museums, numerous performing arts venues, lush and beautiful gardens, and the famous San Diego Zoo. 

Of the many beautiful spectacles within Balboa Park, here are some of my favorites:

Balboa Park Carousel: Before you head into the Zoo, spend 5-minutes on this antique ride. Originally built in 1910,  the carousel still features all but two original hand-carved creatures. The Balboa Park Carousel is also one of the few remaining carousels to play the Brass Ring Game.

Japanese Friendship Garden: Within the two acres of exquisitely maintained Japanese gardens you'll find a Zen garden for meditation, koi ponds, a bonsai exhibit, and a lush & tranquil Fujidana (wisteria arbor). there are classes offered on the weekends for sushi-making, bonsai, calligraphy, and conversational Japanese. 

Spanish Village Arts Center: This is where the artists of San Diego gather to sell their goods. Over 200 local painters, sculptors, metalsmiths, jewelry designers, clay artists, gourd artists, photographers, printmakers, glass artists, basket weavers and more assemble here daily. There is something for everyone to enjoy in this unique market. Don't waste money on junky souvenirs, buy something lovingly handmade by a San Diego artist to commemorate your trip.

Museum of San Diego History: There are many wonderful museums within Balboa Park, but if you don't have time to see them all, make sure you at least see this one. To truly appreciate the city of San Diego, one must first appreciate the colorful and diverse history of the region. In this museum, you'll discover a dazzling array of artifacts, costumes, textiles, art, and photographs detailing life and development of the local area. 

For the extensive list of  attractions and activities of Balboa Park, visit the official website, BalboaPark.org.