San Diego Best Attractions

Balboa Park is home to many of the museums in San Diego. It is also a great place to go just to hang out and have a picnic. Every Sunday at 2:00 pm the Spreckel’s Organ Pavilion has a free show. On Tuesdays the museums rotate having free admission throughout the month.

San Diego Museum of Man, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Photographic Arts, the San Diego Art Institute the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the Natural History Museum, the San Diego Historical Society, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, the Reflection Pond, the latticed Botanical Building (which is always free), the Bea Evenson Fountain, San Diego Air & Space Museum, San Diego Zoo, and Timken Museum of Art are all located in the park.

I would definitely recommend the bigger museums… the Science Center, Museum of Art, and Natural History Museum are the best. The Science Center is especially fun for kids because it is interactive.

There are a number of gardens located in the park. These include Alcazar Garden, Botanical Building, Cactus Garden, Casa del Rey Moro Garden, Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, Japanese Friendship Garden, Marston House Garden, Palm Canyon and Zoro Garden.

The Old Globe Theatre, a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Starlight Bowl both have many shows throughout the year.

Visit the “international cottages” or House of Pacific Relations. These are a collections of houses from 17 different countries. There are free shows during high season on Sundays at 2:00.

Chess, horseshoe, petanque, and lawn bowling clubs are also located in the park.

Located in the northeast corner of the park is the Morley Field Sports Complex. Included in this complex is the largest tenant of the park, the Balboa Park Golf Complex with an 18-hole golf course and a 9-hole executive golf course, the San Diego Velodrome, baseball fields, the USTA awarded Balboa Tennis Club, archery ranges, the Bud Kearn Swimming Pool, and a disc golf course.

The rich ethnic diversity of San Diego is reflected in the Park’s institutions: the Centro Cultural de la Raza; the World Beat Center (celebrating cultures of African origins); the Mingei Museum of International Folk Art; the Japanese Friendship Garden, and the House of Pacific Relations.

For dog lovers, there are 3 leash-free dog areas.

Discounted admissions to Balboa Park’s major museums are available through the Passport to Balboa Park. The $39 Passport, valid for one week, represents a $95 value and allows entrance to 13 Park museums. A child’s passport is also available for children 3 to 12 years old for only $21, which is a $43 value.

For more information, hours, and prices click on the link…

Balboa Park

Torrey Pines Reserve is a state owned park that is right on the beach. It is the home of our nation’s rarest pine tree – Pinus Torreyana or Torrey Pine.

It is an awesome place to go hiking and take great pictures. You can’t bring food in, but you can always have a picnic on the beach after your hike. Do bring water and wear good, steady shoes as there are dirt trails and hills.

There are free, docent led tours on Sat, Sun, and holidays at 10 AM and 2 PM. Typically they last 1 to 1-1/2 hours and can be tailored to the abilities of the participants.

The Los Peñasquitos Marsh is part of the reserve but there isn’t much to see there.

For more information and hours click here…

Torrey Pines State Reserve

I had the opportunity to visit the new Octopus Garden exhibit opening at the Sea Life Aquarium at Legoland California. I  must say it was pretty cool to see the elusive creature up close. The tanks they are in are small enough to get a really great view.

I enjoyed the other tanks there, as well. There is a large ocean tunnel with sharks and other sea creatures swimming all around you.  I loved the hammerhead shark that kept swimming over my head! Some of my other favorites were the clownfish (yay for little Nemo’s!) and jellyfish exhibits. All of the tanks allow you to see the creatures up close and there is even one where you can pet the starfish.

Although it doesn’t really compare to Sea World, it is still fun. I like the Lego people and things around the exhibit. I would definitely check out the aquarium if you are at Legoland, especially if you don’t have time to go to Sea World.