Balboa Park
add photosPassport to Balboa Park Is a Great Value
There are so many incredible things to see and do in Balboa Park, it would probably take you a week to do it all! The Passport to Balboa Park is designed with that in mind. Experience up to thirteen Balboa
Park museums for $30 (an $87 value). This Passport to Balboa is valid for seven days. Obtain yours at any of the museums or the Balboa Park Visitor Center House of Hospitality at 1549 El Prado. Call (619) 239–0512 for more information.
Free Tuesdays - As a public service, most Park organizations offer free admission on a rotating basis throughout the month.
20 Reviews for Balboa Park
27
00 families found this helpful
"So much to do!"
We had such a great time checking out Balboa Park. There are so many beautiful gardens, unique museums and, of course, the San Diego Zoo. You could spend several days there and never get bored, although you will get tired as there is a TON of walking (wear good shoes). If you want to stay entertained and have memorable experiences without traveling all around the city, then this is the place to go!
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0 families found this helpful
"Huge."
Balboa Park is probably one of the biggest "parks" i've visited. I absolutely enjoyed it, though. There were different performers (magicians, balloon shapers, "psychics," etc.), museums, and many other things there. The kids had a blast running around seeing everything that they could. I would definitely suggest this place!
1 family found this helpful
"different season different thing"
It is nice having this in the middle of city near downtown. Let's start in new year, most of the building are closed, but..you can just drive here, park, and watch fireworks from every corner. Also because it mostly closed, no parking hassle. Every 2nd & 4th Saturday & Sunday, they have art mart, it is like a bazaar for art. Every Tuesday is museum for free day. It is not all museum simultaneously, they rotate it instead. The gym there, provides open volleyball, table tennis, and basket ball. Just check the schedule for the season there. I met some new friends here and learned volleyball more because there were people that nice enough to teach me. In Halloween, the museum sometimes celebrate this spooky holiday, so much fun for kids. This year there is february free museum month from Macy's. There are some events specially for kids so check out http://www.balboapark.org/calendar?tid=33. Then of course the famous December nights. A bunch of different food from different countries could be tested. Addition to that, christmas caroling at the organ pavilion. Only one important recommendation, make sure to wear a warm jacket, and don't worry if you can't get parking in the park because there are provided free tourbus that specially for the event. What I like to do the most here is late jogging with my husband around the park.
0 families found this helpful
"love the museums!"
The museums are awesome! On Tuesdays select ones are open for free! Those are fun! The old buildings and architecture are beautiful!! My hubby took a lot of pictures there for his photography class. There are also some fun playgrounds and the zoo!! If we lived closer, we would hang out there more!
0 families found this helpful
"So much to see and do"
Balboa Park is huge. The zoo is part of it as is a museum and botanical garden. It's also a great place to have a picnic and do some people watching. There is a lot of grass and big shady trees to sit under and watch the kids play. This is definetly a place not to be missed for entertainment.
'11
1 family found this helpful
"Beautiful, awesome park"
This park is stunning and sprawling.
Prepare for a walk, and pack snacks with your little ones.
The park is the land surrounding a ton of museums, so if you have artsy or history buff kids, they will love it.
The buildings were built for the Panama Canal Expedition and are amazing in themselves, but the younger ones will likely not care too much about architecture. There is a carousel and mini-train for the little ones, but they can be tricky to get to.
Overall, if a free afternoon in a beautiful park are what you are seeking, this is an incredible destination.
Check http://www.balboapark.org/ as they often post free museum entrance days.
0 families found this helpful
"Balboa Park!"
If you go in the summer be prepared to get there VERY early or you will not find parking anywhere close. It gets very busy. Young children are only able to go on 2 rides. The mini golf and maze are fun. My 4 yr old enjoyed them. There are some games but not much. It's a fun little place if you're in the area.
0 families found this helpful
"December Nights/ Museum"
This is a great place to take your kids during the holiday season. They have an event called December nights. They have amusements rides, tons of food vendors, local dancers and entertainment. A lot of fun if you bundle up and can withstand the San Diego "cold."
2 families found this helpful
"So much more than you expect"
This park has so much more than you would expect. You will find some world class museums here not to mention the sheer variety of museums you can encounter, from Aerospace to Photography, from Trains to Natural History. Balboa park really has an amazing accumulation of museums. There is a Passport option available so you can enjoy every last museum you wish to see.
Additonally, they have several options just for the kids to enjoy. They have a merry go round (carousel), mini train, and a giant fountain many kids love to play in. I highly recommend the Rueben H. Fleet center in Balboa park, as well as the Cafe at the Prado for lunch. Lastly, if you are visiting in the winter you will want to check out the christmas lights displays here, they are gorgeous and every year the play house in Balboa (The Old Globe) offer "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" which is truly wonderful to watch!
1 family found this helpful
"Great Park For The Family!!"
Balboa Park can keep the family occupied for hours! There are museums, trails,playscapes, rides, shops,food and the San Diego Zoo is right next door(within walking distance).
When we lived in San Diego Balboa park was on our list of weekly activities. We would get there in the morning, visit the science museum which has a tot play area upstairs. We would then walk around the park for a bit, stop and play in the fountain(as did the tons of other people there). After playing in the fountain we would walk through the shops and make our way over to the rides. They have a train, a merry go round and a little helicopter ride for kiddos. The train was my sons favorite! The best day to go is on Tuesdays because each week one of the museum has free entry. A different one each week. While the kids will enjoy the water, and rides, Mom and Dad can appreciate the Spanish architecture, the botanical gardens, shops. The kids have plenty of sidewalk and open space to chase each other and have fun. When I took my son we were always there from about 9am until after lunch. It was always a great time!
0 families found this helpful
"Great!"
We really enjoyed strolling through the park on our last trip to San Diego. We loved the botanical gardens and the butterfly garden. We only spent one afternoon there, but easily could have spend days! The park is huge. Many of the museums cost, so we opted out of those. It is a beautiful place and we will definitely be back soon!
0 families found this helpful
"fun places for children"
This is really a fun park. I am not going to repeat what other families said in terms of things to do. Our favorite area in the park was the courtyard with all the local artists exhibiting their art in a Mexican inspired environnment. Very enjoyable.
0 families found this helpful
"Beautiful and Kid-Friendly"
There are museums, a zoo, a puppet-theatre, a little train and carousel. What more could a family need? Oh, and did I mention the awesome weather. We enjoy strolling the grounds, don't miss the artist's villa with it's colorful tiles. There are great restaurants at the park too. We liked eating at El Prado and the cafe in the courtyard outside the Museum of Art.
1 family found this helpful
"Most beautiful city park in US."
Balboa Park in San Diego is probably the most beautiful city park in the states. It is very large with shade trees, a rose garden, a cactus garden, a carousal and museums. It also includes the San Diego Zoo. There are playgrounds, outdoor performances and quiet places.
1 family found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
In 1868 some farsighted city leaders set aside 1,200 acres of barren pueblo land for a city park. Now that land contains the world-famous San Diego Zoo and fifteen museums (the largest concentration outside the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.). The best way to see the rest of Balboa Park’s attractions is on foot. Park at the Plaza de Panama lot (by Laurel Street near the Cabrillo Bridge crossing) or take the free tram from the Inspiration Point parking lot (the tram has eleven stops through the park).
Museums, galleries, and gardens are not the only things going on in Balboa Park for your family. The forty-eight-passenger Miniature Railroad will take you and yours into a bygone era. The Carousel will set you spinning. The Starlight Bowl, where the San Diego Civic Light Opera Association
presents delightful musicals, is a sure hit, so call (619) 544–7827 for current schedules. The Spreckels Organ Pavilion has free concerts on weekends. The pavilion houses the world’s biggest outdoor pipe organ; call (619) 235–1100 for program information. The Morley Field Sports Complex, in the northeastern section of the park, can satisfy just about
every recreational need your family can dream of (no matter how complex), with a tennis club, two golf courses, a swimming pool, a kiddie pool, some bocce courts, a fitness center, a playground, an archery range, a couple of baseball diamonds, assorted picnic areas, two recreation centers, and a zippy eighteen-hole Frisbee golf course.
1 family found this helpful
"There's always something new to see at this urban park"
Balboa Park is great for people watching, strolls, and to take in any one of the many museums located within the park. The SD Zoo is located here as well. I really like the Spanish architecture of the buildings. There is only one nice sit-down restaurant within the park called The Prado, which has excellent food! A bonus...parking is free within the park. There is also a quaint botanical garden building and lily pond right outside. Many nice picture opportunities throughout as well. Would definitely recommend Balboa Park to anyone visiting San Diego!!!
2 families found this helpful
"Great for Picnics"
This is a great place to come to walk around and enjoy the free music being played throughout the park, catch a free puppet show, listen to the spreckels organ concert, play in the fountains or visit museums. Select museums are free on Tuesday even! It is also great for bike riding. My family and I have been here several times and each time we seem to discover something new about the park. This is definitely one of my favorite places to visit while in San Diego. We always have a good time.
0 families found this helpful
"Great place for kids"
We went to the park for lunch at the Prado and also visited the Natural History Museum and the Aerospace Museum. Both are great choices with a kid!
0 families found this helpful
"Free at times"
Balboa Park: In addition to the world famous San Diego Zoo, Balboa park is also home to over a dozen museums which offer FREE Tuesday admission on a rotating basis. The schedule can be found at
http://www.balboapark.org/calendar/detail.php?EventID=370
0 families found this helpful
"Great place for families"
Look for the goldfish and fountains. Will make any kid go crazy with happiness.
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