The ever-enchanting Balboa Park is a great place to enjoy the day. Scattered throughout the park, across an astonishing 1,200 acres are museums, gardens, statues, exhibits and various horticultural delights. You can learn about natures wonders at the Natural Museum of History, examine carnivorous plants in the Botanical Building, peer upon miniature cities as toy trains rustle through the San Diego Railroad Museum, or enjoy the sheer tranquility of the Japanese Friendship Garden.The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park as well. Click here for hotels located Near Balboa Park
>
Natural History Museum (Open daily 9.30am-4.30pm; 619.232.3821)
If you enjoy the history and stories of nature, than this museum is a must-see. Year after year, the Natural History Museum continually creates new and intriguing exhibits to showcase. Current exhibits include: Backyard Monsters (where tiny insects are magnified and turned into simulated robots), the Wildlife Art Exhibition (a presentation of local artists and their depiction of wildlife), and Earth Wind & Wildfire (discussing the co-existence of people and wildfire disasters). Future exhibits will present Genome: the Secret of How Life Works and Fossil Mysteries.
>
The Botanical Building (Open Fri-Wed 10:00am-4:00pm; Free)
Stretching 250 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 60 feet tall; Balboa Park's Botanical Building is one of the largest in the world. Constructed in 1915, it is currently home to nearly 2,100 varieties of orchids, flowers, plants, and miniature gardens, along with seasonal flora. Certain plants you can even scratch and sniff, while others are quite fragile and can be harmed from the natural oils on the human skin. Also, located in front of the Botanical Building is the tranquil Lily Pond, featuring a variety of fascinating lilies and brightly-colored goldfish.
>
San Diego Model Railroad Museum (Open Tue-Fri 11:00am-4:00pm - Sat &; Sun 11:00am-5:00pm)
Explore one of the world's greatest model railroad museums. It's amazing how enlightening it can be to follow a toy train through the tunnels and towns of a mini-model countryside. See the trains rustle around the track through miniature landscapes that portray the Southern California railroad system from long ago. Zero in closely and you can see all the tiny real-life intricacies including: people, trees, traffic lights, road signs and animals. For some exhibits, you can even be the conductor and control the train as it barrels down the track.
>
Japanese Friendship Garden (Open Tues-Sun 10:00am to 4:00pm)
Discover the spiritual depths of the Japanese Friendship Garden. Designed to portray the universe embodying earth, wind, fire, water, and animal and plant life; these unique gardens also incorporate the principles of simplicity, maturity, serenity and the subtly profound. As you walk through try to see if you can identify the elements and deeper meanings behind each garden.
>
San Diego Museum of Art (Open Tues-Sun 10:00am to 6:00pm Thurs 10:00am-9:00pm)
One of San Diego's premier art museum's the San Diego Museum of Art has spectacular rotating exhibitions as well as a very interesting permanent collection. It houses an array of art from works by old European masters to more modern 20th Century art to Asian and Indian pieces. Be prepared to be inspired.
>
>
>
>
>
