Attractions
Local GemSpanish Village Art Center
FreeA 1935 exposition village in Balboa Park with working studios where local artists create and sell their art.
Sport & OutdoorLocal GemFamily Favorite
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is an outdoor activity in San Diego, CA, part of the San Diego guide. Cost: free.
1549 El Prado · San Diego, CA
Why you should go…
Built out for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, Balboa Park's ornate buildings now house most of San Diego's major museums along with the zoo, a Japanese garden, and miles of walking paths. El Prado, the park's pedestrian promenade, is free to stroll even without visiting any single museum.
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- #architecture
- #museums
- #gardens
- #free
Maps and brochures
What's around here?
The closest stops to Balboa Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.
Steps awaySwitch it up: Attractions
- AttractionsIconic
San Diego Zoo
$50+One of the world's best-known zoos, set in lush Balboa Park with pandas' longtime legacy and a canopy tram.
0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions
- MuseumsFamily Favorite
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Under $25Balboa Park museum with large-scale model train layouts recreating Southern California railroad history.
0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums
- Sport & OutdoorHistory Buff
Cabrillo National Monument
Under $25A clifftop point at the tip of Point Loma marking the first European landing on the West Coast, with whale-watching views.
7.1 mi awayMore like this
- Sport & OutdoorLocal Gem
Surf Diva
$50+La Jolla surf school offering group, private and camp lessons for all ages at beginner-friendly La Jolla Shores.
11 mi awayMore like this
- Sport & OutdoorOutdoor Adventure
La Jolla Cove
FreeA small, cliff-ringed beach cove where sea lions haul out on the rocks just feet from swimmers.
11 mi awayMore like this
