La Mesa, CA, USA < change city >

"Balboa Park is frequently referred to as the "Smithsonian of the West" for its high concentration of museums. Many of the park's attractions are along El Prado, a long, wide promenade running through the center of the park. Most of the buildings lining this street are in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, a richly ornamented eclectic mixture of Spanish and Latin American architecture. Along this boulevard are many of the park's museums and cultural attractions, including the 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, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, and the Timken Museum of Art where admission is always free. Other features along El Prado include the Reflection Pond, the latticed Botanical Building, and the Bea Evenson Fountain. Adjacent to the promenade is the San Diego Air & Space Museum. 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. Theatrical and musical venues include the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, featuring the world's largest outdoor pipe organ (free performances every Sunday at 2:00 PM year round, and on Monday evenings at 7:30 PM during the summer); the Old Globe Theatre complex, which includes a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre as well as an outdoor stage and a theatre in the round; and the outdoor amphitheatre Starlight Bowl. The Casa Del Prado Theater is the home of San Diego Junior Theatre, the country's oldest children's theatre program"

"Museums, Museums, Museums!!"

"This is a great area to see the famous San Diego Zoo, take a stroll through the park and see all of the historic buildings and museums!"

"Museums, cafes, san diego history, where we took our engagement pictures."

"15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo."

"Park, Museums, great architecture and people-watching."

"Please visit the above website (click on the blue underlined "Balboa Park"), as it has very detailed maps, lists of things to do and places to eat, and a calendar of public events. Recommended things to do in Balboa Park: - Japanese Friendship Gardens - Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (interactive science-related experiments, and IMAX movies) - Dining: The Prado restaurant - Museums: Museum of Photographic Arts, Air and Space Museum, Automotive Museum, Museum of Art, Man, Museum of Natural History"

"Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes—all in the beautiful and timeless setting of this must-see San Diego attraction."

"The nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens etc."

"There are many museums at Balboa Park. The "World Famous" San Diego Zoo, many museums, and beautiful gardens."

"A must see! Great museums, and a beautiful setting."

"Balboa Park offers tons of different museums to explore or you can enjoy the flowers in the Park on a walk. We suggest stopping in at The Prado (http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants/theprado/), a gorgeous restaurant in the park that has excellent food. Sometimes the bar has live music too."

"Welcome to Balboa Park - the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes—all in the beautiful and timeless setting of this must-see San Diego attraction."

"Balboa Park is the most visited and popular as it has the most museums and is beautiful. Balboa Park House of Pacific Relations Japanese Friendship Garden Mingei International Museum Museum of Photographic Arts Museum of San Diego History Reuben H. Fleet Science Center San Diego Air and Space Museum San Diego Automotive Museum San Diego Hall of Champions San Diego Model Railroad Museum San Diego Museum of Art San Diego Museum of Man San Diego Natural History Museum Veterans Museum and Memorial Center"

"Stop by the Visitor's Center to learn about the museums and other things to do in this beautiful park."

"Balboa Park is a wonderful attraction for any of our out-of-town visitors. It offers many museums, gardens, and tours near Downtown San Diego."

"the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes—all in the beautiful and timeless setting of this must-see San Diego attraction."

"Next to the zoo and minutes from Downtown San Diego. Tons of museums (Art, Aerospace, natural history, science, museum of man, etc) and gardens (botanical, rose, cactus and Japanese gardens) plus so much more. Worth a visit!"

"Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes—all in the beautiful and timeless setting of this must-see San Diego attraction."

"Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes"

"Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes—all in the beautiful and timeless setting of this must-see San Diego attraction."

"Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park with 15 museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens, and the San Diego Zoo."

"There are great museums, IMAX theater, and gardens here. It's a beautiful place to take a walk or have a picnic."

"Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes—all in the beautiful and timeless setting of this must-see San Diego attraction. It is a wonderful place to bring the family for a day of relaxation and adventure."

"One of Susan's favorite places in SD. So many museums, so little time! A few are below. Add the flowers, the people-watching, it's heaven... SD Model Railroad Museum SD Natural History Museum Reuben H. Fleet Science Center San Diego Museum of Art Japanese Friendship Garden SD Automotive Museum SD Aerospace Museum SD Hall of Champions/Sports Museum International Cottages Spanish Village artist "colony""

"For some cool old Spanish buildings and muesums"

"This is a must see if you're visiting San Diego."

"Rehearsal Dinner site"

"One of San Diego's most popular attractions, Balboa Park is the home of the world famous San Diego Zoo and countless museums and gardens."

"Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes"

"Welcome to Balboa Park - the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes"

"The nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts and classes. Visit the website (click on the title 'Balboa Park' up above) to find out more."

"This is an amazing historic area filled with every type of museum you can imagine; from a science center to various types of art museums. Click on the name to go to their website to see what is happening."

"Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes."

"Natural History Museum, Museum of Man, Air Museum, International Museum, IMAX theater"

"Beautiful gardens, 15 different museums, lots to see!"

"Lots of museums, gardens, and little shops to look at."

"Enjoy Balboa Park - a special place where you can experience San Diego's natural beauty, wonderful art and culture and stunning Spanish Revival architecture. There are so many things to do and see in the Park: museums ranging from art to science to air and space to natural history or anthropology performing arts from plays at the Tony Award"

"Welcome to Balboa Park - the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes—all in the beautiful and timeless setting of this must-see San Diego attraction."

"Filled with spectacular Spanish style architecture, Balboa Park is home to 15 museums including the Air & Space Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum. Lush landscaping and beautiful gardens are also a popular feature of the park."

"Balboa Park is another top favorite, originally designed for the Worlds Fair, it is a unique place that just IS "San Diego". Museums, beautiful architecture, a rose garden, and the trees that inspired Dr. Seuss."

"Great park area. Has 15 museums within the park."

"Romantic Balboa Park is a lush, 1,400 acre forest of exotic trees, well-kept gardens, a majestic lily pond and the home of the San Diego Zoo. Here, too, are the renowned Old Globe Theatres and over a dozen outstanding must-see museums, art galleries and one of the largest planetariums in the United States."

"Balboa Park is a great place to spend an afternoon. There are many museum and other attractions here. The regular San Diego Zoo is in the park."

"Tons of museums, the San Diego Zoo and many other touristy places to visit"

"http://www.balboapark.org/"

"Here are a variety of museums, restaurants, and gardens."

"Museums, parks and more!"

"This is the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums (including the Museum of Photographic Arts), renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes all in the beautiful setting of this must-see San Diego spot."

"Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes."

"Gardens, trails, restaurants, and museums!"

"This is a very popular spot for tourists because it has everything rolled into one. It is the nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego Zoo, the Park has an ever-changing calendar of museum exhibitions, plays, musicals, concerts, and classes—all in the beautiful and timeless setting of this must-see San Diego attraction. There are several restaurants in Balboa Park, however, the Prado is the most popular. The Prado, an award-winning, full-service restaurant located in the House of Hospitality, offers charming indoor and outdoor dining. This restaurant has good food, creative drinks... and arguably the best mojitos in San Diego."