There is so much to say about Balboa Park: Think of it as central park, without the hills. With all the positive points of a good park, and added bonuses including a double-digit of museums, and a world-renowned zoo, Balboa’s reputation as the biggest urban park in America may be only the tip of the iceberg.
A short walk from University Avenue, in Hillcrest, San Diego places it as the hot spot for activities to help San Diego residents unwind. On a given weekend, casual sports, family picnics, and dog-walking can all be witnessed from the clean, well-hoofed pathway that runs throughout the park.
Across the Cabrillo bridge, a rich cluster of culture and tourism exists. This area is commonly called El Prado. Museums and cultural exhibits are visible in every direction. Among these is the Old Globe Theater, a replica of the original Globe Theater built in London, England. Just like its inspired ancestor, it has hosted many shows for the public to see for a price, Shakespearean or otherwise.
Another large attraction is the huge Balboa Amphitheater. This amphitheater houses one of the largest organs in the world, and the unique music can be heard at designated times at different intervals during the weekend.
Just a few yards away from the amphitheater is the Japanese Friendship Garden museum. Outside the entrance to the garden, a tea house is located, selling Japanese teas, foods, and goods to the hungry clientele. The tea and food available are good, but at $4 per entry, the garden itself is an underwhelming ripoff. Skip it and visit an interesting and free garden like the Alcazar Garden, located on the far south end of the park.
My favorite museum in the Prado area, also happens to be free of charge and open to everyone each day of the week. This marvelously classy building is called the Timken Museum of Art. It can be found mirroring the San Diego Museum of Art, across the main street.
The Timken is, essentially, a perfectly-sized art gallery. It features two wings, each wing with a drastically different style of art. The reason for this, is that the art collected in each of the wings, was provided by two families: One family (the left wing) was the Timkens, and the other (the right wing) was the Putnams.
Though I do not like the Putnam’s collection very much, the Timken’s taste in art, is drastically similar to my own. Within the left wing of the museum can be seen works by famous artists such as Eastman Johnson (who is quickly becoming a favorite of mine), Peter Paul Rubens (who I do not care for much, but other people seem to), and even Petrus Christus.
My favorite painting in the Timken is called The Cranberry Harvest. The painting portraits a feild of reds and yellows, with men, women, and children picking cranberries clinging to bushes underfoot. The painting is set on the island of Nantucket in the year 1874 and was painted from life. I admire the artists use of reds throughout the painting to create a temperate look for the painting. Please, do yourself a favor and DO NOT look this painting up online. Please visit the painting in its original splendor at the Temkin museum at Balboa park, it is worth it.
Slightly north and across the street, the Museum of Photographic Arts can be found. The Museum of Photographic Arts (or MOPA) is worth the price of admission ($6 per entry or completely free on the second Tuesday of each month) and has a stellar display of DNA photography, as well as a show of some art taken in rural India. Photography buff or otherwise, an average visitor to this museum will walk away feeling like they got their money’s worth.
Heading north and sidling up the main walkway a bit will bring you to the Science Museum. Considering the $9 admission price, this place is fairly disappointing. The museum features an IMAX theater, showing (for an extra $3) historical and scientific films. The exhibits in the main portion of the museum look more like an over-polished middle school art/science collaboration project than anything else.
The one cool feature of the museum was a booth set up with aging software. A machine will take a visitor’s photo, and try to accurately render its prediction of how they will look in a set amount of years. The results from this machine can be frighteningly detailed and, during the course of my observation, caused several middle-aged women to eject themselves hurriedly from the seat and walk away, muttering to themselves.
If in the mood, Hosteling International members (or people who SAY they are Hosteling International members…*wink*) can rent a bicycle from the bike shop at 509, 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp District at only $10 for the entire day. From the shop, Balboa park is a pleasant (though somewhat physically exhertive) sloping 20 minute ride. This can be a great way to experience the park.
While I did not visit every exhibit and facility at Balboa park, I did spend over three days there. The well-kept landscape, cultural exhibits, and jam-packed museums make it a must-visit place in San Diego. A concentration of attractions where both tourists and locals can be found, backpackers will find a visit to Balboa park time-efficient and exciting.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Wow! Great post. Thanks for the review.
My only suggestion would be a bit more brevity
next time.
With aloha and love,
Dad