It is said that the Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the United States. Featuring a historic site, the Balboa Park is one of the landmarks of this region. The world-famous San Diego Zoo is only a small portion of this magnificent zoo, which houses dozens of area attractions including museums, theatres and gardens and so on. Being a popular tourist destination of San Diego, the Balboa Park attracts millions of visitors annually. Offering a variety of cultural attractions and with a series of shopping and dining venues located within walking distance, the Balboa Park would definitely ensure its guests an enjoyable and unforgettable experience.

Since its interception in 1868, the Balboa Park has spared no effort to enrich the life of residents in the city. And it does create a load of fun and wonderful memories for its visitors. For tourists, paying a visit to a number of museums inside the Balboa Park is truly a great idea to walk into the history and culture of this enchanting city. Taking a stroll through breathtaking gardens or watching a movie with your beloved ones at one of the theatres located in the Balboa Park is definitely the best way to escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. When you are tired, just choose a favorite restaurant around the park area to enjoy a one of a kind dining experience.

Official Website of the Balboa Park

http://www.balboapark.org/

Learn More about the Balboa Park on Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balboa_Park_%28San_Diego%29

Featuring so many wonderful cultural attractions, the Balboa Park is undoubtedly a must see for anyone who comes to San Diego. No matter what your age and taste, you are bound to find something interesting at the Balboa Park. Actually, it is hardly possible for you to experience the park completely in one trip, since there are too many wonderful places for you to visit at the Balboa Park.

As we all know, the Balboa Park boasts breathtaking scenery as well as prime location. That really makes it one of the best destinations for your vacation. Besides, if you are planning a grand wedding ceremony, consider hosting your once in a lifetime wedding at the splendid Balboa Park. This gorgeous park is always available for weddings, parties or any other kinds of special events. Also, it furnishes countless perfect venues, both indoor and outdoor, for events of all sizes.

Before you rent any venue inside the Balboa Park for your impressive wedding, try to figure out how many guests would be invited to your wedding first. Then you will need to pick out a suitable venue that is capable of accommodating all your guests. If necessary, you will have to contact different organizations to make sure your desired wedding venue is still available. To catch a clear view of all the buildings or areas that are available for special events, you can browse through the following page. Information regarding seat capacity and more can be found on this page as well.

Venues for Special Events

http://www.balboapark.org/info/events/venues

Once you have picked out a perfect venue for your special wedding at the Balboa Park, you should pay close attention to certain rules regarding the used of this venue. Keep reading to know what to look out when renting a building or area of the Balboa Park for your gorgeous wedding.

1) Cultural Organization Buildings: Cultural organization buildings would definitely add a touch of elegance to your grand wedding. At present, these unparalleled buildings inside the Balboa Park are available for weddings as well as other special events. However, you will have to call individual cultural institutions or talk to the Special Events Manager of the organization for the details regarding rental and more.

The House of Hospitality is a historic site inside the Balboa Park. If you would like to have your unforgettable wedding hosted in this fantastic building, remember to make an appointment with the Prado restaurant - the current inhabitant of this building. For further information about renting the House of Hospitality for your wedding, you can call (619) 557-9441 x202.

2) Outdoor Park Areas: It is no exaggeration to say that the entire Balboa Park, especially its outdoor park area, is ideal for any romantic and engaging weddings. Since all outdoor park areas of the Balboa Park are managed by the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department, you will need to make an appointment with the park administration before renting an outdoor area for your special wedding.

In order to keep the Balboa Park well maintained and guarantee the safe of your guests, both adults and children, the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department will ask you to abide by a series of rules and regulations regarding renting outdoor park areas for special events. Make sure you can meet all the requirements that the department ask for before making a reservation. The park administration can be reached at (619) 235-1100.

3) Park Buildings: All park buildings are under the management of the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department as well. Therefore, it would be necessary for you to comply with all the requirements from the department. Facilities managed by the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department include Balboa Park Activity Center, Balboa Park Club, Casa Del Prado, Recital Hall, War Memorial Building, Municipal Gymnasium and Puppet Theatre. To rent any of these facilities, call 619-235-1169 for detailed information.

More about Hosting a Wedding at the Balboa Park

http://www.balboapark.org/info/events

No matter you plan to rent an outside park area or a park building for your gorgeous wedding at the Balboa Park, remember to call (619) 235-1100 or visit the website of the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department for the lasted information. Want to rent a fabulous museum as your wedding venue? You will have to speak with the Special Events Wedding coordinator at individual cultural institutions. To host your wedding at the House of Hospitality, call (619) 557-9441 for more information. Or you can check out the following website: www.balboaparkweddings.com. If you have any question about hosting your wedding at the Balboa Park, feel free to call (619) 235-1100.

The Park and Recreation Website

http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/balboa/permitsites.shtml

The Prado is a fantastic restaurant located in the House of Hospitality which can be found at the center of one of the most visited parks in the city - Balboa Park. This full service restaurant boasts sensational surroundings and engaging atmosphere. Its design as well as decoration has been widely acclaimed owing to the blend of incredible accessories inspired by various attractions inside the Balboa Park and historical elements from the House of Hospitality.

Thanks to its outstanding service as well as delicious cuisines, the Prado at Balboa Park has earned itself a pretty good reputation since its interception. According to Gourmet Magazine, this excellent restaurant has even ranked among the top 10 America's restaurants. Besides, the Prado at Balboa Park has also been a winner of the "four star" award of the California Restaurant Writer's Association. More amazingly, it has been voted as one of the most romantic restaurants in the city by its guests.

It is said that the Prado at Balboa Park is one of the perfect places in the nation for visitors to enjoy continental food with truly upscale service. Maybe that is the reason why people keep flocking to this incredible restaurant, even though there are quite a few venues for visitors to eat around the Balboa Park area.

Learn More about the Prado at Balboa Park

http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/prado-balboa-park

The Prado at Balboa Park inhabits the splendid House of Hospitality which is a historic building featuring an incredibly beautiful inner courtyard. Visitors coming to the Prado at Balboa Park for the first time would, with no doubt, be impressed with an array of flower pots and a terrific water fountain in the courtyard. In some way, it is the beautiful fountain as well as flowers, its unique decoration and a pleasant ambiance that makes the Prado at Balboa Park a fabulous place for people to take a break and have a one of a kind dinning experience.

Hungry for paying a visit to the Prado at Balboa Park? Let's check out what this excellent restaurant looks like before you set out. The Prado at Balboa Park is seated inside the historic building and consists of four major parts. This restaurant has its dinning rooms situated both indoor and outdoor. So visitors can choose a fantastic dinning area just as they like. Indoor dining rooms of the Prado at Balboa Park boast various decorations of contemporary art while outside dinning rooms highlight natural light as well as fresh air. Outside dining areas are very close to the Casa del Rey Moro Garden and enjoy a nice view of the courtyard.

The lounge areas of this restaurant can also be found both indoor and outdoor. Actually, these areas are designed to be very casual to make visitors feel relaxed and comfortable. When you are sitting at these lounge areas, you can also find a couple of lighter menu of wonderful drinks and appetizers.

As we are on the topic of fabulous food, you might wonder what the Prado at Balboa Park has to offer. And the fact is that a wide selection of foods and beverages are provided by the Prado at Balboa Park. Great beverages involve cocktail, margaritas and sangria and so on. Delicious salads, along with sandwiches or other delicate entrees, is also a portion of the impressive menu.

In general, appetizers served by the Prado at Balboa Park would only cost you 15 dollars or so. Interesting enough, appetizers would always be served with a plenty of things, including crab cakes and portabella mushrooms. If you are in the mood of having salads or soups at the Prado at Balboa Park, do not hesitate to order. Both soups and salads offered by this restaurant are superb and quite affordable. Normally, soup or salad is about 8 dollars each.

Pastas are priced at 20 dollars at Prado at Balboa Park, while seafood would always be available at 25 dollars. Meats including steak, roasted chicken and prime rib would be charged 25 to 35 dollars each. Whenever you grab a bite at the Prado at Balboa Park, you will find that all the foods are richly prepared and artistically arranged.

Would you like to have some drinks at the Prado at Balboa Park? A wide variety of alcoholic beverages are available at this fantastic restaurant. Its margaritas or sangrias are highly recommended. Plan to come to the Prado at Balboa Park along with your little ones? Don't worry! This restaurant furnishes a number of cuisines especially made for kids as well. Just remember to ask for kid's menu when you are dining at the restaurant. For more information about menu of the Prado at Balboa Park, you can check out the following page. Or you can call 1-619-557-9441 for further information.

More about Menu of the Prado at Balboa Park

http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants-menu/?restaurant=the-prado

With so many dramatic foods and beverages to offer, the Prado at Balboa Park could ensure you an unforgettable dining experience. However, to achieve an enjoyable experience at this restaurant, you also need to pay special attention to the operation hours of the Prado at Balboa Park. Usually, this restaurant would be open at 11 am and closed at 3 pm on Saturdays as well as Sundays. When it comes to weekdays, the opening time of the restaurant is at 11:30 am while the closing time is at 3 pm.

Note that visitors who opt to have dinner at the lounge area would be able to enjoy longer lunch and dinner hours. If you happen to stop by the lounge area of the Prado at Balboa Park on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings, you will be able to enjoy exciting live music at this amazing restaurant. Besides, you can even have a romantic and impressive dinner at the beautiful Balboa Park. For more information about this, click the link below.

Enjoy Live Music at the Prado

http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/whats-on-our-plate/enjoy-live-music-at-the-prado/

When it was originally established in 1874, the San Diego Natural Museum was known as the San Diego Society of Natural History. As a scientific institution, it is considered as the second oldest in California, while the third oldest west of the Mississippi River. This terrific institution performs as one of the major sources for scientific culture, environmental education and natural history research in this region. Over the years, the museum has conducted a wide range of researches in order to explore the biodiversity as well as evolutionary history of California.

Regarded as the most respected and popular culture and science institution in California, the San Diego Natural History Museum also acts as a wonderful area attraction and plays host to a large number of visitors every year. The new museum which was completed and dedicated on January 14, 1933, can be found in the heart of the beautiful Balboa Park. Thanks to the huge expansion in 2001, the size of the museum has been doubled while more usable space for various researches has been added.

Official Website of the San Diego Natural History Museum

http://www.sdnhm.org/

Learn More about the Museum on Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Natural_History_Museum

Situated inside the spectacular Balboa Park, the museum is very close to the junction of Park Boulevard and Village Place. It is also in the vicinity of the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The address of the San Diego Natural History Museum is1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, California. Possessing a convenient location, the historic museum is easily accessible. For visitors coming from downtown San Diego, it is truly a piece of cake to arrive at the San Diego Natural History Museum, since No.7 bus commutes between downtown San Diego and this region very frequently. If you like, you can also take trolley to get to the museum. Just remember to get off the trolley and transfer to No.7 bus at the City College Stop. Besides, there are a number of other transportation options for you to choose from. To obtain more details about the Metropolitan Transit System of San Diego, check out the following page.

Official Website of the Metropolitan Transit System

http://www.sdcommute.com/

Visitors who opt for an enjoyable driving tour to the San Diego Natural History Museum should keep in mind that parking would be a nightmare around this area. Things would be even worse if you happen to arrive at the museum during peak hours. Between the Balboa Park Activity Center and the Presidents Way, you can find a parking lot. In addition, a number of small parking lots are placed across the Balboa Park. If possible, try to take advantage of these lots. If valet parking is preferable, you can get to the House of Hospitality.

Bet your visit to the San Diego Natural History Museum would be fantastic, since the museum has so much to offer. It boasts a series of interesting exhibitions as well as ample free programs for both adults and kids to take part in. At present, the museum offers seven exhibitions featuring photography works, gems and fossils and so on. You are bound to have an eye-opening experience. If you are about to visit the museum some time later, chances are pretty good for you to catch several upcoming exhibitions, like the Horse which is scheduled to be hosted from June 1, 2012 through January 20, 2013.

If you would like to participate in a couple of free programs or lectures at the San Diego Natural History Museum, you might need to change your plan accordingly, since these programs would only be hosted in certain months. Before you make a reservation to join these amusing programs or educational lectures, you can visit the official website of the museum to obtain the latest information.

In general, the San Diego Natural History Museum would be available for visitors every day, from 10 am until 5 pm. However, it would be closed on both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The admission of the museum is very affordable. Plus, children and senior would be able to enjoy discounted admission tickets. Normally, admission ticket for the San Diego Natural History Museum would cost an adult 17 dollars. Price for a senior ticket is 15 dollars. However, a ticket for student, military or child aged 13 to 17 would be only charged 12 dollars.

Visitors coming to the museum in groups would be able to enjoy group discounts, which would cut several dollars off the admission. Group of 10 or more visitors would only be charged 14 dollars for each member. College group led by professors can enjoy deep discounts. Each member would only need to pay 8 dollars for his admission ticket. Plus, a $3 for 3D experience at the museum would be provided for each person.

Discounts for school groups of students under the age of 12 would be extremely alluring. Adult members would be charged 8 dollars anyway. But, child ticket only costs 6 dollars. Remember that, any groups that are going to visit the museum will be required to make a reservation before the trip. For more details about group discounts or to make an appointment with the Education Department for your visit, call 619-255-0210 or send your email to groupregistration@dnhm.org.

To make the most out of your San Diego Natural History Museum experience, you can choose to pay a visit to a number of other attractions inside the museum before or after you enjoy all the interesting exhibitions. Actually, a couple of destinations inside the San Diego Natural History Museum are really worth your visit. Places that might interest you include the Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan Theater, Alex and Elizabeth Wise Museum Store and the Dinosaur Cafe.

The Dinosaur Cafe can be found in the atrium of the museum and serves as one of the best places for visitors to take a break during their trip to the museum. Gourmet drink as well as tasty food is available at the small cafe. You can enjoy a bottle of cold beverages if you happen to visit the museum during hot summer days, or purchase sandwiches, hot dogs, pastries or various snacks from the cafe whenever you feel hungry. The cafe would open at 10 am and close at 4 pm, from Thursday through Sunday. Since its operation hours might be changed anytime, you can call 619-255-0317 for the latest information.

The Alex and Elizabeth Wise Museum Store is a perfect destination for visitors to purchase a couple of souvenirs to commemorate their enjoyable trips. A wide selection of natural history products would be found at this fantastic store, from fossil mysteries to AR. Valentien Signature Collection. If you are interested in purchasing several art products from this store, call 619-255-0239 for further information.

For visitors who would like to watch a 3D movie to enhance their museum experience, the Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan Theater would be definitely a must-visit. You are sure to be completely dazzled by the premium 3D movies. The premium viewing experience would undoubtedly make your trip to the museum more impressive and unforgettable. As the film schedule of this theatre would be changed every day, you might have to check out the information published on the official website of the museum to get details about your favorite films. For the latest information regarding theater schedule, go through the following page.

More Places to Visit inside the Museum

http://www.sdnhm.org/visit/index.html#admission

Make Balboa Park your first stop in San Diego and bet you will never regret!

Covering a vast area of 1,200 acres in San Diego, Balboa Park is proud to be the nation's largest urban cultural park and boasts its status as one of the oldest places in America dedicated to public recreational purpose. Once as the location for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, Balboa Park has received a number of architectural landmarks from these two events. Today, this awesomely huge campus is the home to 15 major museums, award-winning performing art venues, landscaped gardens and the world-renowned San Diego Zoo.

The ever-changing calendar of exhibitions, plays, live concerts, classes, theatres and movies, along with frequent festivals and special events, put this timeless and awe-inspiring park onto the top of the must-see attractions in San Diego! There are arrays of things happening at Balboa Park every day and always something new among them. The wide range of exhibitions, performances, events, movies, dances, and tours is so extraordinary that visitors often have difficulties deciding what to do in this vast complex. As a result, to make the most out of your Balboa Park visit, you had better check the event calendar and work out your own visit schedule prior to your trip.

Event Calendar

http://www.balboapark.org/calendar

On this calendar, you will get informed of the latest updates about all events going to happen throughout a day at Balboa Park, including exhibitions, films, theatres, lectures, and tours. The amount of these events is given, as well as details for each. So you can easily have an in-depth view into this land of art and culture and select events that go best to you.

Due to the large amount of events hosted at Balboa Park every day, we can not list detailed event schedules in this article. However, to help you get a glimpse into the park's offers, we have collected events on July 1 and you are encouraged to take a look for some hints.

On July 1, 2011, Balboa Park Grounds is open 24 hours, just like the rest of the year, and the Visitors Center is open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm to provide information and answers for guests. So if you meet any problems during your visit, you can seek help from the Visitors Center at 1549 EI Prado.

Modern Day Mummy: The Art & Science of Mummification

This is an exhibition going on display at San Diego Museum of Man, lasting from 10 am to 5 pm. It will focus on the appealing subjects of mummification and the biggest highlight is a modern-day mummy made from the cadaver of a Baltimore man who donated his body to science in the mid-1990s when he died in his 70s. In addition, the exhibition will also demonstrate various difficulties and situations mummy researchers may encounter in their work, for instance, how to move the mummies without any risk to the mummy.

A Year with Frog and Toad

Can you image a good musical journey with frog and toad these two best friends? Oh, nearly forget there is another one - buddy snail! Come to San Diego Junior Theatre on July 1, watch a fun, musical and unexpected theatre and see how friendship grows among these three little guys. This theatre is suitable for guests of all ages and will start at 7 pm! By the way, the San Diego Junior Theatre is located at 1650 EI Prado #208. Call at 619-239-1311 for general info, and 619-239-8355 for tickets.

Identity: An Exhibition About You

Do you think you really know yourself? Have you ever given a thought to what you are made of, humor or sense? Come to Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and take a test! On June 25 through September 25, the center will host a series of exhibitions dedicated to the exploration of your unique physical, psychological, and social identities, together with a number of engaging hands-on and interactive opportunities. Let this exhibition show you how science offers new and fresh ways to discover your personal identity.

The admission for this exhibition is $10 for adults, $8.5 for kids aged 3-12 and seniors aged 65+. These prices only include the exhibition, and extra fee is needed for IMAX films. For any enquiry, please contact 619-238-1233. This venue is located at 1875 EI Prado.

Nighttime Zoo

How can you skip the fascinating San Diego Zoo? On July 1, the zoo will stay open after the sunset until 9 pm and offer an awesome program called "Nighttime Zoo" for visitors to stay up late with an extensive collection of animals. This event benefits visitors with a different perspective on the zoo and ultimate fun like performances, exiting shows and more! On this day, the zoo is open for guests from 9 am to 9 pm and the gate will be closed at 8 pm. You can visit the San Diego Zoo's website for more details about Nighttime Zoo.

San Diego Zoo

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/index.php

Pontiac…the Rise and Fall

On July 1 at 10 am, San Diego Automotive Museum at 2080 Pan American Plaza will host a dedicated exhibit to show how Pontiac grew into one of the nation's best manufacturers of high-performance vehicles. The exhibit will highlight Pontiac's styling, branding, and most popular cars, which have contributed to the irreplaceable mark of Pontiac on American culture. Please call 619-231-2886 for more info.

George Inness in Italy

As one of the best American landscape painters, George Inness is most renowned for his tonal style of landscape and has left us a number of masterpieces which were mainly completed in Italy. The exhibition at Timken Museum Art on July 1 will showcase a full range of his Italian works during 1850 and 1879, which are regarded to be the best of his genius and demonstrate perfectly his inductive creativity. 10 of the Inness's most celebrated painting works will be shown in this exhibition. The exhibition will start at 10 am at Timken Museum of Art located at 1500 EI Prado and the admission is FREE! More info is available on:

George Inness in Italy

http://www.timkenmuseum.org/exhibition/george-inness-italy

Portrait of a Proud Community: Norman Baynard's Logan Height 1939-1986

At 10 am on July 1, San Diego History Center will present an exhibition committed to the original images captured by Norman Baynard, native photographer to San Diego. This legendary man once operated a notable commercial studio in Logan Height for more than 40 years, documenting the social, political, and religious aspects of the African American community in San Diego. The venue stands at 1649 EI Prado, Suite 3 and opens from 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday. To get further info about this center or the exhibition, please call at 619-232-6203.

Ends of the Earth: From Polar Bears to Penguins

Is it possible to travel from the ice cold Arctic to the Antarctic in one day? Just come to San Diego Natural History Museum on July 1! On this day from 10 am, the venue will host a exceptional interactive exhibition, furnishing visitors, particularly the little ones, with unique opportunity to explore the nature of the Earth's polar regions, learn more about the friendly "residents" - polar bears and penguins, get to know the current science and research ongoing there, and the impact of climate change to these two lands as well as the entire planet. See you at the museum at 1788 EI Prado.

The Tempest

At 8 pm on July 1, Shakespeare's last and the most beloved masterpiece - The Tempest, is going on stage at the Old Globe and provide guests with an enchanting evening, full of romance, magic, humor and adventure. This is an awe-inspiring story about redemption and forgiveness. More details about this event are available on:

The Old Globe Event

http://www.theoldglobe.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=8718

More events going to happen on July 1 include:

- Inspiration of the Natural World

Place: San Diego Natural History Museum

Hours: 10 am to 5 pm

Contact Number: 619-232-3821

- Bold Expressions: African American Quilts

Place: Mingle International Museum

Hours: 10 am to 4 pm

Contact Number: 619-239-0003

- Face to Face: Works from the Bank of America Collection

Place: Museum of Photographic Arts

Hours: 10 am

Contact Number: 619-238-7559

- Gustav Stickley and the American Arts and Crafts Movement

Place: The San Diego Museum of Art

Hours: 10 am

Contact Number: 619-232-7931

- Imagine That!

Place: Museum of Photographic Arts

Hours: 10 am

Contact Number: 619-238-7559

- Inside Out: Portraits from the Permanent Collection

Place: Museum of Photographic Arts

Hours: 10 am

Contact Number: 619-238-7559

- In Their Own Words: Classic and Contemporary Native American Art

Place: Mingle International Museum

Hours: 10 am

Contact Number: 619-239-0003

- Maneki Neko

Place: Mingle International Museum

Hours: 10 am to 4 pm

Contact Number: 619-239-0003

- Creating An Artists Basis

Place: San Diego History Center

Hours: 10 am to 5 pm

Contact Number: 619-232-6203

- Ultimate Wave Tahiti

Place: San Diego Natural History Museum

Hours: 10 am

Contact Number: 619-232-3821

In any case that you are not familiar with the inside of Balboa Park, take advantage of the Park Map to find your venue in the shortest time.

Balboa Park Map

http://www.balboapark.org/maps-old

Undoubtedly, there is no place on earth like the Balboa Park, which is the largest urban cultural park in the country. This fabulous park in San Diego, California is a massive cultural complex consisting of natural vegetation as well as a forest of exotic trees and beautiful gardens from cactus to rose. Apart from engaging outdoor park areas, the Balboa Park features a variety of cultural attractions including dozens of performing arts and international culture organizations, renowned theatres and numerous museums from science to sports.

Also within the Balboa Park is an unparalleled lily pond, which is one of the most sought-after photographed sites in this region. Besides, this outstanding cultural park contains a series of must-see area attractions like the historic Old Globe Theatre and a number of wonderful art galleries. The Balboa Park is also home to one of the largest zoos in the world - San Diego Zoo, along with one of the largest planetariums in the United States. More amazingly, visitors coming to the Balboa Park will be able to enjoy various amusing activities and interesting events which would take place at the expansive park from time to time.

With no doubt, the Balboa Park is truly a treasure in the city. This well maintained urban park always furnishes its guests with breathtaking scenery as well as natural environment and elegant & pleasant ambiance. All these elements make the park an unrivaled venue for people to enjoy an unforgettable holiday, take a romantic stroll or sit down to unwind both body and spirit. As a popular vacation destination, the Balboa Park is definitely second to none.

More Details about the Balboa Park from the Official Website

http://www.balboapark.org/

Being such a wonderful destination for vacation as well as a best-loved venue for various special events, the Balboa Park is one of the must-visit places in San Diego. If you still have no idea about where to go for your next holiday, give the Balboa Park a try. Bet you will have a great time at this terrific urban park. Before your trip, would you be interested in the history and a few facts about the Balboa Park? If so, keep reading to get a better understanding of your destination.

History: The history of the Balboa Park dated back to 1868 when it was originally established by a number of civic leaders. These officials from the Mexican government designated an area for recreation purposes. Then a portion of this area became the magnificent Balboa Park. Today, this area has been widely considered as one of the oldest sites in the United States used solely for public recreation. When it was completed, the park was often referred to as the "City Park" and covered nearly 1,400 acres of land in San Diego. (Now, the total land parcel of the Balboa Park is only 1,200 acres) However, this park had been nothing but a mesa without any formal landscaping for over 20 years. It was no wonder that only a few citizens visited the City Park annually.

There was no park beautification of the City Park at all until 1892. In that year, a patron saint of horticulture - Kate O. Sessions offered to plant 100 trees throughout the City Park every year and donated trees as well as shrubs for planting elsewhere around the city, in order to lease 32 acres of parkland in the park for her commercial nursery. Various exotic trees, including a number of popular species like poinsettia and queen palm had been planted within the park ever since. Lots of these trees planted by Kate O. Sessions are still alive today. Actually, they perform as one of the most fascinating sights of the entire park. If you are on a trip to the Balboa Park, do not forget to catch a view of these towering trees which would definitely remind you of the incredible contribution Kate O. Sessions has made to the city.

It was not until after the turn of the century, a formal plan regarding beautification and improvement for the City Park officially began. From 1903 through 1910, plenty of changes took place at the park. A couple of roads were built and water systems were improved as well. In 1910, the Park Commissioners renamed the park as the "Balboa Park", a name which is in use today.

The oldest museums in the Balboa Park involve the San Diego Natural History Museum and the Marston House. The former was founded in 1874 and acted as a research institution in the city. In fact, today it is regarded as the oldest scientific institution in Southern California. The Marston House was built in 1905 to commemorate a notable merchant and civic leader of the city, George W. Marston. Since then, a host of museums and other cultural attractions have been built within the Balboa Park one after the other. And finally, the Balboa Park becomes the largest urban cultural park in the nation and serves as one of the most visited tourist destinations in the city.

Learn More about the History of the Balboa Park

http://www.balboapark.org/info/history

In some way, the rich history does add a touch of mystery to this splendid urban park. It offers a great opportunity for visitors to catch a glimpse into the cultural and tradition of the city, since the history of the park and San Diego are so inseparable. Having a better and deeper understanding of the history of the park would be helpful to enhance your experience at the Balboa Park for sure. Besides, bearing in mind a few interesting facts related to the park might also make your trip to the park more enjoyable and memorable.

Facts: This gorgeous urban cultural park boasts over 35 performing arts and international culture organizations, 15 fantastic museums, approximately 20 scenic gardens and a plenty of other recreations and attractions. Plus, an abundance of delightful amenities, hiking trails and nice restaurants can also be found inside this spectacular cultural park.

Lots of museums featuring different architecture styles and a wide range of collections are placed at the Balboa Park. Each of them would be able to offer its visitors an eye-opening experience and ensure a unique and unforgettable trip. Museums you can visit during your adventure at the Balboa Park include the following:

- Centro Cultural de la Raza

- Japanese Friendship Garden

- Marston House

- Mingel International Museum

- Museum of Photgraphic Arts

- Reuben H Fleet Science Center

- San Diego Air & Space Museum

- San Diego Art Institute

- San Diego Automotive Museum

- San Diego Hall of Champions

- San Diego History Center

- San Diego Model Railroad Museum

- San Diego Museum of Man

- San Diego Natural History Museum

- The San Diego Museum of Art

- Timken Museum of Art

- Veterans Museum & Memorial Center

- WorldBeat Center

Whenever you visit the Balboa Park, you can not miss out your chance to watch performing arts. There are so many great theaters or pavilions offering excellent performances almost every single day. Most of these venues get a full schedule all the year around. You can choose to enjoy youth ballet in one of the theatres or dance with live music at a club as you like. Places for you to enjoy performing arts contain:

- Bon Temps Social Club

- Civic Dance Arts

- Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater

- San Diego Civic Youth Ballet

- San Diego Junior Theatre

- San Diego Youth Symphony

- Spreckels Organ Pavilion

- Starlight Theatre and Starlight Bowl

- The Old Globe

For those who truly appreciate nature beauty and long for intimate contact with nature, a host of scenic gardens inside the Balboa Park would be undoubtedly the best options. Just imagine how romantic and touching it would be when you take a stroll with your beloved one through breathtaking gardens full of blooming flowers and various other vibrant plants. Each garden you can find within the Balboa Park boasts native plants as well as the most photographed scenes. If you are interested in paying a visit to any of the gardens in the Balboa Park, take a look at the following list to pick out your favorite ones.

1) 1935 (Old) Cactus Garden

2) Alcazar Garden

3) Australian Garden

4) Botanical Building

5) California Native Plant Garden

6) Casa del Rey Moro Garden

7) Children's Ethnobotany Garden

Desert Garden

9) Florida Canyon Native Plant Preserve

10) Japanese Friendship Garden

11) Marston House Garden

12) Palm Canyon

13) Rose Garden

14) San Diego Botanical Garden Foundation

15) San Diego Floral Association

16) San Diego Zoo Botanical Collection

17) Trees for Health Garden

18) Veterans Memorial Garden

19) Zoro Garden

Besides all the museums, performing arts and gardens listed above, there are a number of other attractions and recreations situated at the Balboa Park. These venues would also provide a load of fun for visitors of all age groups. It is these family-friendly attractions and recreations that make the Balboa Park more attractive to both local residents and tourists. People will be able to enjoy unparalleled family fun while spending time together enjoying carousels or many other interesting things offered by the park. Attractions inside the park that you can take advantage of involve:

- Balboa Park Carousel

- Balboa Park Miniature Railroad

- Balboa Park Visitors Center

- House of Pacific Relations Int'l Cottages

- Photographic Arts Building

- San Diego Zoo

- Sefton Plaza

- Spanish Village Art Center

- United Nations Building

Other recreations for you to enjoy a great time and unwind yourself at the Balboa Park refer to:

- Balboa Park Activity Center

- Balboa Park Golf Complex

- Balboa Park Senior Lounge

- Balboa Tennis Club

- Hiking and Biking Trails

- Lawn Bowling

- Morley Field Sports Complex

- Municipal Gymnasium

- Play Areas and Picnics

- San Diego Mineral and Gem Society

The Balboa Park is so expansive that you might get exhausted when trying to explore the park completely. Whenever you feel hungry or thirsty, you can turn to restaurants or eateries located throughout the Balboa Park. Actually, there are ample venues for you to enjoy a wonderful dining experience during your trip to the park. Most restaurants would furnish you with great cuisines and various beverages. If possible, stop by an eatery and grab a bite to eat. We bet enjoying delicate dishes in beautiful nature settings would an engaging experience that your will never forget. Restaurants providing tasty food and excellent drinks in the Balboa Park include:

- Albert's Restaurant

- Cafe in the Park

- Daniel's Coffee Cart

- Dinosaur Cafe

- Flight Path Grill

- Galileo's Cafe

- Home Plate Bar & Grill

- Lady Carolyn's Pub

- SDMA Sculpture Court Cafe by Giuseppe

- Snack Carts

- The Prado at Balboa Park

- The Tea Pavilion

- Village Grill

Admittedly, there are so many things for you to do and places for you to visit during your Balboa Park adventure that you can hardly experience the par completely in one trip. It would take estimated several days for you to enjoy all the Balboa Park has to offer. Apart from all the attractions and venues we mentioned, you can also find lots of other interesting things or places around the park area.

If you really want to experience the Balboa Park to the fullest, you might need to keep a map of the park handy and pick out all the attractions that interest you. And then plan your trip accordingly to make sure you will never miss out any places you would like to visit. Packed with all the information this article shares with you, you might be able to fully explore this splendid park. Hopefully you can obtain a completely unforgettable experience at the Balboa Park.

Is it possible to encounter and admire the universal appeal of Japanese aesthetic views of nature in San Diego? Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park will tell you YES! Seated in the center of Balboa Park, this garden is treasured as a hidden gem in the park, feeding visitors with storied culture of Japan, heart-capturing Japanese gardening and more. This is a perfect destination for visitors of all ages. To get you fully familiarized with it, we present this article here which includes an informative guide to this 2.5-acre oasis. Have a check to learn more for your next trip!

General Info:

As a production of the friendship between San Diego and its sister city Yokohama, Japanese Friendship Garden can trace back to 1915 Panama-California Exposition for which a Japanese Tea Pavilion was built. For the following 30 years and more, this tea house was well kept and remained its glory and elegance. In 1950, San Diego and Yokohama became sister cities and they were dedicated to creating a monument to symbolize their shared ideals. Then they chose this former Japanese tea house, turning it into an authentic Japanese garden out of Japan while blending the two cultures together for a new and fresh concept of a Japanese garden outside Japan.

Over years, Japanese Friendship Garden has been valued as an irreplaceable asset in Balboa Park and offered a unique experience for visitors from all over the world. In addition to its traditional Japanese style setting, stone arrangement, exhibition hall, and ornament trees, the garden also serves as an educational source to the communities in the city, offering a diversity of educations, classes and workshops. Each year, close to 100,000 visitors throughout the world come to this awe-inspiring garden for a glimpse into Japanese culture via a large yet never-seen-before collection of Japanese artifacts. Japanese Friendship Garden is proud and willing to be a remarkable landmark and promote the friendship between two diverse cultures.

If you are interested in the garden's glorious past filled with awards, plus its mission, current expansion and future plan, please open the website below and follow the sidebar menu to read more.

About Japanese Friendship Garden

http://www.niwa.org/about-garden

Garden Map

http://www.niwa.org/garden-map

Visit the Garden:

Though keeping the traditional and iconic style of Japanese gardens, the 2.5-acre Japanese Friendship Garden has been adapted to the climate and topography of San Diego, and acclaimed to be the premier place for getaway and contemplation in the city. Whenever you are going to drop in at Balboa Park, be sure to make a trip to this stunning Japanese garden outside of Japan!

Japanese Friendship Garden is open every day across the year, except on Christmas and New Year's Days. It is operated according to Summer hours and Winter Hours. Summer days refer to Memorial Day to Labor Day and the rest of the year is Winter/Spring season. During Summer season, the garden is open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday, and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. When this comes to the Winter/Spring season, the garden welcomes visitors from 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Monday! Please take the particular note that the last admission into the garden must be 30 minutes prior to the closure.

As for the ticketing, the garden charges $4 for adults, $3 for students and military with ID, as well as seniors over 62 years of age. Children aged 6 and under can enjoy FREE admission every day.

Japanese Friendship Garden is located nearly in the heart of Balboa Park, serving as an exquisite centerpiece. It stands just off the Plaza De Panama and next to the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Its address on Google Maps is 2215 Pan American Road. E, San Diego, while the mailing address is:

Japanese Friendship Garden Balboa Park Administration

Building 2125 Park Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92101

Google Maps

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Japanese+Friendship+Garden+Balboa+Park&fb=1

For Balboa Park is very easy to navigate via vehicle, so if you are going to drive your way to Japanese Friendship Garden, follow the directions suggested below.

- If you are coming from 15 N/163 N, proceed on 163 S and take Exit 5 towards Park Blvd. Turn left and merge onto Park Blvd. Stay on Park Blvd and turn left to President's Way. Turn right onto the 2nd driveway and get into the Organ Pavilion parking lot. The garden is located adjacent to the pavilion.

- If you are coming from Intestate 5 S, take 6th Avenue Exit and veer right onto EI Prado. This road will lead you into Balboa Park.

- If you are coming from Interstate 5 N, exit at 10 Street and take a right onto A Street. Stay on A Street and turn left onto Park Blvd. Turn left on Park Blvd and merge onto President's Way. The Organ Pavilion parking lot is on your right side.

If you have any enquiry about the directions above, you can refer to the Balboa Park map on the following website, or contact Japanese Friendship Garden by calling 619-232-2721, or emailing to jfgsd@niwa.org.

Currently, the garden houses over 500 permanent artifacts for exhibition, including a koi pond full of high quality koi collection, Bonsai exhibition by Bonsai Masters, and lots more award-winning living collections. Visit the website below to keep yourself updated with the latest exhibition schedules:

Current Exhibition

http://www.niwa.org/exhibitions

Besides permanent exhibitions, there is always something new happening at the garden to inspire and entertain the visitors. You can view the full event calendar of 2011 to learn more about the garden's events for your next trip.

Event Calendar

http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/calendar/monthview?eso=001SFVF3oIpp70WuBhcntwoxg%3D%3D&llr=gwflvbeab

Host Private Events:

Have you ever imagined your own event in such a landscaped garden underneath the stars? Whether it is a romantic wedding ceremony, or a large-scale garden celebration, Japanese Friendship Garden offers you an unbeatable backdrop for every event you have always dreamed of.

Currently, the garden provides 5 rental venues, respectively the Kio Pond & Moon Viewing Deck, the Ceremonial Gate, the Courtyard, Exhibit House, and Ceremonial Plaza. Separate introductions to each of these venues are listed on:

Facility Tour

http://www.niwa.org/facility-tour-photos

Guess you may be eager to know the rental rates, right? As one of the hottest wedding venues in San Diego, Japanese Friendship Garden charges much higher than common gardens. For each hour the rental fee is $450 with a minimum of 3 hours. Moreover, rental should not exceed 8 hours. To request for more info about garden rental facilities, or to schedule an appointment, please contact Event Coordinator at 619-232-2721, or email to lovelynnb@niwa.org.

To discover further info about this fantastic garden, please visit its official website.

Japanese Friendship Garden Homepage

http://www.niwa.org/

Balboa Park golf course is one of the famous places operated by San Diego Park and Recreation Department. Travel to San Diego will not be a complete and satisfactory if you miss this hot spot.

Balboa Park Golf Course is close to San Diego Downtown. The highlight of this golf course is that it has an 18 hole championship course and a nine hole executive course. Entire 27 greens are fresh as they were recently renovated.

If you are going to spend only few hours at Balboa Park golf course then choose the nine hole executive course. With excellent scenic beauty and great infrastructure this golf venue attracts tourists and locals regularly.

Some of the amenities of this golf course include PRO shop, onsite PRO, car rental, chipping green, Restaurant etc. Many companies and organizations conduct their meeting or events in the morning and enjoy the golf course in the evening.

More details on Balboa Park Golf Course and its course details are available at http://balboapark.americangolf.com/. Tee time reservations can be done through phone or by contacting the Balboa golf Course Manager's Office.

For booking online you can visit http://www.golfsd.com/balboa.html. This website also provides information on the rates and the visitors timing

Balboa park museum is home for as many as 15 major museums. If that is overwhelming, you have more in the form of different venues for performing arts, beautiful gardens and also the San Diego Zoo all under the same umbrella. In drawing up an itinerary for your San Diego vacation, how many days are you going to provide for this attraction? One whole day will be too short and anything more cannot be long enough.

San Diego offers a cosmopolitan downtown to the accompaniment of a majestic seascape. For most part of the year, the weather is pleasant in 65-75 degrees region.

The Panama-California exposition of 1915 and the California Pacific Exposition of 1935 have contributed significantly towards most of the buildings in the park. At the park visitor center you can buy passes for a single day or a combo pass which will give you access to most of what Balboa Park offers at a single flat price.

To sample this wonderful attraction we will examine just one of the 15 museums, the San Diego Railroad museum. Your children will be enthralled and for any reason they are not accompanying you to the Balboa Park, you would still be transported to your own childhood days when you would have wished to possess the type of train sets which the museum proudly presents. Nostalgic memories will be flowing like a river all through your perambulation of this museum.

The museum consists of switching stations, passenger stations, freight yards, industrial locations, freight yards, and even model refineries. The thoughtfulness and care that has gone into the creation of this wonderful museum is indeed marvelous. Your Gastronomic needs are well catered to at the snack bar at the upper level of the museum. For a more relaxed kind of meal, you have the Prado restaurant in the close neighborhood.

From the railroad museum, we move to the Aerospace Museum for an equally if not more breathtaking experience.

http://www.balboapark.org/

The Balboa Park is a stunning place where you can sit back relax and have a lot of fun. Of all the places around San Diego this is an extremely popular haunt for all the tourists because there is plenty on offer to make your San Diego vacation complete.

What can you expect inside the Balboa Park?

Balboa Park has plenty of events and activities lined up for you. Take a look at the amazing things on offer so that you know exactly what to watch out for when you head down to the Balboa Park.

- There are several museums which have special exhibits of art and science which you are most certainly likely to enjoy a lot.

- The San Diego Zoo is located within the park and is extremely famous and popular because of its amazing collection of animals.

- You will find a whole lot of restaurants, recreation areas and plenty of opportunity to have a lot of fun with your family.

http://www.balboapark.org/

There are plenty of attractions around Balboa Park which are surely likely to help you have fun and enjoy the park:

- Carousel

- Photographics Art Building

- Sefton Plaza

- Spanish Village Art Centre

- San Diego Zoo

http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/organizations.php?catID=7

http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/organizations.php?catID=10

When you are planning a visit to San Diego, you will find there is a wealth of popular attractions in this popular Southern California city. Whether you are in the city for business or holiday, or even if you are a local who needs to entertain out-of-town visitors, you definitely won't run out of things to do. One of the best places you should go, especially if you like the outdoors, is Balboa Park.

Just minutes from downtown San Diego, Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the United States, covering 1,200 acres of land. The park serves as home to 15 major museums (like San Diego Natural History Museum and San Diego Air & Space Museum), renowned performing arts venues (like Civic Dance Arts and San Diego Junior Theater), beautiful gardens (like Rose Garden and Japanese Friendship Garden) and the San Diego Zoo.

For visitors who are planning on a visit to the park, Balboa Park grounds are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. However, the hours of other attractions may vary. Take some attractions for example,

Balboa Park Carousel - Located at 2920 Zoo Drive San Diego, the carousel is one of the few in the world still having the brass ring game for visitors taking the 5-minute ride. It is only open on Saturday, Sunday and school holidays. From mid-summer to Labor Day, it is open daily. The regular hours are from 11am to 5pm.

Balboa Park Miniature Railroad - This miniature railroad takes a 3-minute, 0.5-mile trip through 4-acre space of Balboa Park. As a model G16, the train is now a rare antique. Situated at 1800 Zoo Place San Diego, the train runs from 11am to 6:30pm from mid-summer to Labor Day and from 11am to 4:30pm on school holidays and on Saturday and Sunday of other days of the year.

Botanical Building - This historic building, together with the adjacent Lily Pond, is one of the world's largest lath structures, constructed for 1915 Exposition. The building also houses some of the park's vibrant seasonal flower displays. The hours of the building are from 10am to 4pm from Friday to Wednesday. During Thursdays and holidays, the building is closed.

House of Pacific Relations International Cottages - Located at 2191 Pan American Road, House of Pacific Relations comprises 32 national groups, many of which have their own small cottage in Balboa Park. Furnished and staffed, these cottages are open from 12pm to 4pm, presenting the national traditions from many lands. There are also lawn programs starting at 2pm each Sunday from March to October, featuring music, dance, traditional costumes, arts, crafts and ethnic foods.

House of Pacific Relations International Cottages

http://www.sdhpr.org/

Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden - As one of the most visited gardens in the park, the Rose Garden is home to about 2,500 roses of nearly 200 varieties. The peak blooming period is April and May. Located at 2525 Park Boulevard, the garden is open from 10am to dusk daily.

Marston House Museum - Founded in 1905, Marston House Museum is one of the finest examples of the Arts and Crafts movement in the state of California. Situated at 3525 Seventh Avenue, the museum is open from 10am to 5pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day).

Marston House Museum

http://sohosandiego.org/marston/index.htm

Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater - For those who take kids to the Balboa Park, Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is a must visit in the park. Located at 2130 Pan American Plaza, the theater is a longtime tradition for children in San Diego. There are puppet performances by a variety of troupes presented all year round. The detailed hours of the theater are:

- Winter Hours: 10am and 11:30am on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday & 11am, 1pm and 2:30pm on Saturday and Sunday

- Summer Hours (from June 15 to September 7): 11am, 1pm and 2:30pm on Wednesday through Sunday

Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater

http://www.balboaparkpuppets.com/index.html

Zoro Garden - Enter the world of a cluster of beautiful butterflies dancing in the air by visiting the Zoro Garden. This is a butterfly garden including both the larvae and nectar plants. You can admire a number of butterflies flying among the colorful perennials and majestic ficus trees surrounding the garden. The garden is open to the public for free 365 days a year, during the hours of 10am to dusk.

Pepper Grove - Named after numerous pepper trees, Pepper Grove is a place perfect for family events. The place features an extensive playground for children, picnic area with 15 tables and benches as well as grass turf area. To access the Pepper Grove, go across from the Balboa Park Activity Center. The available hours of the area are from 6am to 10pm daily.

You can check the attraction directory for more details.

Things to Do at Balboa Park

http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park

Visiting Tips: With so many things to see and do, the best way to start your time in Balboa Park is to make a stop at the Balboa Park Visitors Center, situated at 1549 El Prado, San Diego. You can get wind of the up-to-date and comprehensive information about the park's activities and attractions by visiting the center. Open from 9:30am to 4:40pm daily, the center also offers brochures, maps, audio tours, free guided tours of the park and more.

Balboa Park Visitors Center in the House of Hospitality

http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/balboa-park-visitors-center-house-hospitality

Dogs are allowed in the park. But they must be restrained or on a leash at all times throughout the park, including trails and canyons. However, there are two legal areas where dog owners are allowed with dog off-leash:

- Balboa Drive at El Prado, Nate's Point, south side of Cabrillo Bridge

- Morley Field, northwest of tennis courts

Balboa Park is a non-smoking facility. But alcohol is permitted from 12pm to 8pm in the following locations including Botanical Building East Lawn and West Lawn, House of Pacific Relations Lawn, International Lawn, Mall Lawn, Moreton Bay Fig Lawn, Pan American Plaza Lawn and Recital Hall Lawn.

Bicycles are allowed in the park excluding the areas of the Spanish Village, House of Pacific Relations International Cottages and the Rose and Desert Gardens east of the Park Boulevard. However, roller skates, skateboards and similar devices are prohibited on any roadway or sidewalk in Balboa Park, except at Park Boulevard, Richmond Street or Sixth Avenue.