Here at House of Coco, we are clock-watching, ticking down the days and eagerly awaiting our upcoming trip to San Diego. We are already planning our cool outfits, thinking about the food we’re going to devour and of course, pondering how to overcome all the hangovers that we will inevitably endure. There is so much to explore whilst we are there but one place we can’t wait to be seen at is Balboa Park.
Balboa Park is the nation’s largest urban cultural park, with 1,200 beautiful and lushly planted acres to explore. Located in the centre of downtown San Diego, the park is home to an array of museums, performing arts venues, gardens, and many other cultural and recreational attractions, including the San Diego Zoo and Japanese Friendship Garden.
This year, San Diego is celebrating the founding of the land that the park was built on. Its richly vibrant and authentic concentrations of art include a sweeping architecture that spans Spanish Colonial Revival to mid-century modern, meaning that is it now designated as one of California’s 14 Cultural Districts and showcases some of the unique artistic identities that drive California’s culture. The districts help promote authentic grassroots arts and cultural opportunities, increasing the visibility of local artists and community participation in local arts and culture.
Did you know?
Here are some fun facts about Bilboa Park…
Bigger than New York’s Central Park – fun fact!
19 unique and diverse gardens including;
The 1935 Old Cactus Garden contains some of the largest cactus and specimens in the park.
The Botanical Building and Lily Pond is one of the most photographed scenes in Balboa Park. The historic building houses plantings including orchid displays, cycads and palms and a scratch-and-sniff garden.
The Zoro Garden is a sunken stone grotto now home to many species of butterfly. Containing both the larvae and nectar plants needed for to complete the life cycle of the butterflies, the garden also includes miniature indentations built into rocks that collect small pools of water for monarch, sulfur, and swallowtail butterflies that can all be spotted.
The Japanese Friendship Garden is an expression of the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama. The garden illustrates two cultures and creates an immersive experience of Japanese culture across a 12-acre plot. Educational programs, exhibits and festivals are often held here.
17 museums including;
San Diego Museum of Man is home to a number of interactive diverse exhibits that cover a vast range of human history and culture. Guided tours of the iconic Californian tower are offered daily, with sunset tours offering a picturesque view of the park and beyond.
Centro Cultural de la Raza is a fascinating cultural arts centre dedicated to creating, promoting, preserving and educating visitors about Chicano, Mexican, Indigenous and Latino art and culture. Housed in a former water tower, the museum is exquisitely painted with colourful murals and features rotating exhibits and performances including theatre, dance, music, and film.
San Diego’s Air and Space Museum Science holds exhibitions and historic artefacts spanning space and aviation history from all over the world. A working flying replica of Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis and the actual Apollo 9 Command Module spacecraft are on display including artefacts from the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
14 diverse restaurants including;
The Flying Squirrel located at The San Diego Natural History Museum, is a new café that serves brewed-to-order espresso drinks, fresh juices, wine, craft beer, and California casual fare in the comfort in the Museum’s four-story, sky-lit atrium.
The Prado is an award-winning, full-service restaurant located in the House of Hospitality. The unique décor blends the historical aspects of the House of Hospitality and whimsical accessories inspired by the Park Museum collections.
The Tea Pavilion at the Japanese Friendship Garden serves traditional Japanese green tea, herbal and speciality teas as well as sushi, Japanese noodles, rice bowls, miso soup, salads and snacks. Visitors can enjoy the magnificent views from the outdoor courtyard and deck.
9 performing arts centres;
Spreckels Organ Pavilion holds free concerts for an hour, every Sunday from 2 pm. The unique organ contains more than 5,000 pipes ranging in length from the size of a pencil to 32 feet and is the largest outdoor pipe organ in the world.
Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre, founded in 1948, is the longest continuous-running puppet theatre in the United States. Puppet performances are presented throughout the year by a variety of troupes, with approximately 45 shows a year and different shows each week.
Balboa Park also offers 6 diverse walking tours exploring history, the gardens, architecture and one golf course. Balboa Park Golf Course is a challenging par 72, however, offers amazing views of San Diego, Balboa Park, Point Loma and the Pacific Ocean.
Explore the vibrant drinking scene of San Diego with our curated guide! From craft breweries to trendy cocktail bars, sip your way through the city’s best libations. Check out our article “Drink Your Way Around San Diego” for insider tips and recommendations.
Be sure to follow our Instagram for the #TeamCoco adventures in San Diego.
www.sandiego.org