Top 10 things to do in Balboa Park in San Diego

Acknowledged as a National Historic Landmark in 1977, Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural and recreational park in San Diego. Apart from large open areas and gardens, Balboa Park also boasts of centers, museums and theaters dedicated to the art and culture of California.

Here is a list of top things that you can do to have a wonderful time here at the Balboa Park:

1. Balboa Park is home to wonderful museums and architectural wonders and is thus a prime attraction for tourists flocking to San Diego in California especially for some family vacations.

You can visit 13 museums by just buying a reasonably priced passport to the park. The validity of the passport is for one whole week. And you can also check out some of the museums on rotating Tuesdays for free.

It would be convenient for you if you stay at a nearby San Diego vacation rental. This way you can commute easily to the Balboa Park every Tuesday to see the museums.

2. The San Diego zoo attracts the biggest crowd in Balboa Park. It is home to more than 800 rare animal species and subspecies. Check out the giant pandas here. It is a wonderful place to visit especially if you are spending family vacations with kids.

3. Carry a mat and sit down to have a picnic with your family in any of the open areas inside the large park. There are swings, tables, and a tiny tot area for kids along with rest rooms. You can also head to the Pepper Grove playground area to have a good time with your family.

4. Take your kids to watch a puppet show at the Marie Hitchcock’s Puppet Theater. Established in the late 1940s, various troupes come here to showcase their puppet shows throughout the year. There are hand puppet shows, rod puppet shows and shadow puppets. Workshops are also conducted for those who are interested in puppetry.

5. A visit to the Botanical Building is a must. Check out the wide varieties of beautiful orchids, ferns, cycads and other tropical plants here. In fact, with a lily pond in the foreground, the Botanical Building is the most photographed site in the Balboa Park.

6. Also check out the Carnivorous Plant Bog in the Botanical Building. It contains the carnivorous plants such as Venus Fly Traps and Pitcher Plants. It is fun watching these meat eating plants waiting patiently for their prey and pouncing on them with lightning speed.

7. For theatre lovers, there is Old Globe Theatre where free plays are staged by artists on every Sunday.

8. Give a treat to your dog and take him to the Nate’s Point Dog Park. It is one of the most popular dog parks in San Diego.

9. Play scrabble, board games or indulge in creative writing and lots more at the Balboa Park Senior Lounge, located in the Casa del Prado building.

10. Another major attraction is the Spreckels Organ Pavilion which houses the world's largest pipe organ. Entry is always free here.

All these ten highlights of Balboa Park are not in any pecking order. Pick the ones which appeal to you the most.

However, checking out all these attractions is not possible in one day. Hence it is advisable to check online and find a vacation rental in San Diego which is nearby to Balboa Park and other attractions of this spectacular city.

There are various hotels in San Diego which offer complete vacation packages and also complementary breakfast. All you need to do is browse the net and find a good, reputed San Diego vacation rental.

David Miller is a well-known travel writer who has traveled extensively in San Diego, California. He has contributed several interesting articles focusing on California family vacations and the various San Diego vacation rentals providing amazing San Diego vacation packages to the travelers.

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