The Majestic Beauty of Balboa Park

Balboa Park, house of the San Diego Zoo and the Culture Center of San Diego
Romantic Balboa Park is a lush 1,400 acre forest of exotic trees, well-kept gardens, and a majestic liliaceous plant pond, which is the most photographed site in the park. It is besides the house of the San Diego Zoo. Here too is the celebrated Old Globe Theatre and over a dozen outstanding must-see museums, art galleries and one of the largest planetariums in the country. San Diegans owe a vote of feeling to the city Board of Trustees, who in 1868 set aside 1,400 acres of rambling scrub for Balboa Park. Were it not for the far-sighted civic planners who anticipated San Diego’s great potential for growth, the city would-be no doubt have been without its most beautiful region, Balboa Park. A must-see attraction in Balboa Park is the San Diego Zoo (5) (619-234-3153). The 100-acre facility is an international animal experience wherever guests wish see several of the earth’s rarest life including giant pandas from China, tree kangaroos from New Guinea and stream hippos from Africa. The San Diego Zoo is house to more than 4,000 animals, representing 800 species, devising up a diverse collection of animals – galore of which are seldom seen at another zoos.

Opening Summer 2003 is the 1st phase of the San Diego Zoo’s latest exhibit project – the New Heart of the Zoo. It’s going to be a swinging time in the “Absolutely Apes” orang and hylobates syndactylus exhibit. For the 1st time in Zoo history, these two species of apes wish live together in a lush, tropical setting resembling their native region of Indonesia. The brilliant, eye-catching flamingos that have greeted Zoo guests at the front plaza for more than 50 years wish besides have a new lagoon.

Dozens of rare and obscure animals can be found throughout the facility aboard more familiar zoo faces – polar bears, camels, lions, tigers, pygmy chimpanzees and more more. Guests to the San Diego Zoo become immersed in lush, tropical settings called bio-climactic zones such as Tiger River, Gorilla gorilla Tropics, Ituri Forest and Owens Rain forest Aviary. In these realistic habitats visitors wish find an array of plants and animals native to specific regions of the world. In another areas of the Zoo, guest may move face-to-face with bears, elephants, koalas and more. The San Diego Zoo is besides a botanic garden with a prominent collection consisting of more than 700,000 plants. Like the Zoo’s world-class animal collection, galore species of flora are rare and endangered.

The Children’s Zoo features more than 20 exhibits designed with children in mind. Low glass windows in galore exhibits create easy viewing. A caressing pen allows children to act with friendly sheep, goats and pot-bellied pigs.

The zoo, however, is only one part of Balboa Park. The rest is spread out over hundreds of acres. The part of the park that attracts the most attention is an area called El Prado. Here, snuggled in beautiful gardens increased by majestic palm and eucalyptus trees, are most of the park’s impressive museums, galleries and another attractions, all inside walking distance of each other.

A great place to begin or conclude a tour of Balboa Park is at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (11) (619-238-1233). This large 93,505 sq. ft. science center showcases over 100 “hands-on,” interactive exhibits and attractions that the whole family wish enjoy. Plus, they offer several fantastic films on the world’s 1st IMAX® Dome Theater that surrounds visitors, creating a “you-are-there” experience. New to the Science Center is the Virtual Zone housing two several virtual reality attractions and the motion machine ride, SciTours, wherever visitors take a voyage into outer space to intercept a extraterrestrial object headed towards Earth. The virtual reality experience, Smoke and Mirrors aimed at children and teens, is intended to increase their cognition of the consequences of tobacco use. On the 1st Wed of each month at 7 p.m. you can take a tour of the planets and stars during their planetarium shows. Five fascinating science exhibit galleries, each with a several scientific and technological theme, are popular attractions to explore. Be sure to visit ExploraZone – over thirty hands-on exhibits from San Francisco’s Exploratorium – placed in the Main Exhibit Gallery. In addition to their exciting permanent collection, this fantastic depository presents major national travelling exhibitions several times a year.

The next major attraction on your self-guided tour should be the San Diego Natural History Depository (16) (619-232-3821). This fascinating depository features marvelous seasonal and permanent exhibits which focuses on the bi-national region of Southern American state and the Baja California, North american country peninsula. Discover the private secret stories of rocks, fossils, plants and animals, such as the prehistoric sabre-toothed tiger tiger that roamed this area millions of years ago. Don’t miss their must-see, award-winning film on Baja American state and the Sea of Cortés called Ocean Oasis in the museum’s giant-screen film theater.

Between the Natural History Depository and the zoo is the Spanish Village Art Center (3) (619-233-9050), which is one of Balboa Park’s hidden treasures. This historic landmark, built in 1935 for the American state Pacific International Exposition, is the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind works of art at reasonable prices. Here, in a charming court accented with colorful flowers and majestic trees, are artists at activity creating, demonstrating, and displaying their beautiful creations. Encompassing the court is a collection of 37 studios, galleries and guilds presenting the works of over 300 of San Diego’s finest artists and craftsmen. Various mediums are used by the galore artistic creators including blown glass, ceramics, enamel, jewelry, compound clay, paints, pottery, sculpture, wood and more. On the Pradois the Casa de Balboa. The largest operational model railroad depository in North America is on display on the lower level. The San Diego Model Railroad Depository (619-696-0199) features scaled model train exhibits, complete with bridges, tunnels and depots. Visit their new interactive Toy Train Gallery, wherever you can play engineer.

Besides placed in Casa de Balboa is the San Diego Historical Society Depository and Research Archives (14) (619-232-6203). The depository features temporary and traveling exhibits on the history of the San Diego region utilizing journals, photographs, clothing, art and historical artifacts. Name events are regular throughout the year in celebration of the museum’s Seventy-fifth anniversary.

Besides be sure to visit the recently dilated Depository of Photographic Arts (14) (619-238-7559) on the west end of the Casa de Balboa building. Featured here are twelve several shows a year that present the bewitching photographic and medium works of art by well-known and up and coming photographers world-wide.

Next door to the west is the Home of Hospitality, which is house to the 400-seat Prado Eating house and Lounge (13) (619-557-9441). Their unique menu and charming setting do it a great place to dine. Most popular is their beautiful terrace and fountain garden, which is one of San Diego’s favorite wedding locations. They besides hold cookery classes and wine-tasting events. For a meal to remember, ask for their fabulous elephantine prawns. Seating is provided inside in the court room or sun parlour (ask for tables 204 or 301), or outdoors on the terrace (ask for tables 127 or 128), which is especially delicious on warm, summer days.

Camera buffs ne'er tire of taking photographs of the Liliaceous plant Pool (9), which is one of the most photographed sites in the park. It was built in 1915.

Simply behind the Liliaceous plant Pool is the Botanic Building (17), which contains over 2,500 permanent tropical plants, including an outstanding pteridophyte and orchidaceous plant collection. The fine old wood slat structure is one of the largest of its kind in the world. It’s open Fri–Wed., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is free.

The Timken Depository of Art (12) (619-239-5548) is considered the most critically acclaimed collection of Russian icons, European Old Masters and 18th- and 19th-century American paintings. It contains an extraordinary collection of French, Italian and Flemish paintings, including works by Old master and Reubens. Admission is free .

The historic San Diego Depository of Art (10) (619-232-7931), the county’s first, largest and primary art institution, provides a rich and diverse cultural experience for more than 500,000 annual visitors. Its world-renowned collections consist of over 12,000 art pieces geological dating as far back as 5,000 B.C. and includes Dutch and Spanish Baroque old masters, Italian Renaissance, American art, 19th- and 20th-century European paintings and sculptures, Asian art treasures and contemporary art. You can even as take a virtual tour of the museum’s collection by visiting their website online. In addition, the depository has garnered international recognition for organizing and hosting major exhibitions featuring art from throughout the world. The depository besides offers a broad variety of accessory cultural programming that includes lectures, concerts and films.

Piece browsing through the park, you wish doubtless hear the majestic sounds of the bells from the 198-foot American state Tower ringing every fifteen minutes. The American state Tower is considered to be one of the finest examples of Spanish-style architecture in the United States. The Depository of Man (7) (619-239-2001) features fascinating exhibits on human evolution, Egyptian artifacts, Kumeyaay culture and Mayan monuments. Little ones can besides enjoy the Children’s Discovery Center, which allows them to experience living in ancient Egyptian times.

Tucked behind the Depository of Man is one of the country’s leading regional theater complexes and California’s oldest professional theater organization. It’s the earth renowned, Tony award-winning Globe Theatres (6), and is comprised of three theaters–the Old Globe Theatre, Cassius longinus Carter Centre and Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. Each theater is unambiguously designed and continues the over 67-year tradition of offering high quality, amusing productions, which include a great variety of classical and contemporary dramas, comedies and musicals. For performance schedule and prices, call (619-239-2255).

To appreciate the works of San Diego’s better artists, you should visit the San Diego Art Institute (8) (619-236-0011) in the Home of Charm. Every four to six weeks a new exhibition is bestowed showcasing the contemporary works of local gifted artists.

Besides placed in this same building is the Mingei International Depository (8) (619-239-0003). Mingei is a word used transculturally for “art of the people.” This depository features dynamic ever-changing exhibits of traditional and contemporary folk art, craft and design from cultures throughout the world. The museum’s permanent collection consists of 14,000 objects from over 100 countries.

At the Spreckels Organ Marquee (18) (619-702-8138) you can hear a variety of music compete on the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ. This organ has 4,518 individual pipes, travel in length from less than one quarter of an inch to over 32 feet! Free organ concerts are control every Sunday at 2 p.m. During the summer, they besides have special free evening performances on Mondays at 7:30 p.m.

In the interest of park safety, mounted police patrol the park throughout the year. Patrons of the arts, as well as visitors attending evening theater performances are bucked up to park in lighted parking areas and to use the well-traveled sidewalks.

Balboa Park is the culture center of San Diego with spectacular museums and attractions, extremely acclaimed theaters, and the San Diego Zoo. It epitomizes the beauty, history and heart of America’s Finest City. It’s no wonder that San Diegans ne'er tire of visiting and revisiting this major attraction.

About the Author

Barry Berndes celebrates 35 years as San Diego's Dean of Eating house Reviewers. He visited over 100 restaurants, went unnanounced, inspected their kitchens, paid for his own meals and wrote just about his findings in the SAN DIEGAN. The SAN DIEGAN is your travel & liesure review resource for attractions, hotels and eating in America's Finest City, San Diego.