"VIEWS OF BALBOA PARK" Top 5 Page for this destination San Diego Travelogue by lmkluque

This is a San Diego Landmark in BALBOA PARK, which is one of the largest urban parks in the USA.

The tower shown here is part of the Museum of Man and can be seen from the Interstate 5 freeway as it curves around downtown San Diego. The SD Zoo also is in Balboa Park and is about three miles from the San Diego Harbor downtown SD.

AZTEC DESIGNS

Art Mart. Bi-monthly casual art shows held on the lawn near the Federal Building. Sponsored by the Balboa Park Art Guild and the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department.

Free. 1st and 3rd Saturday and Sunday of each month. A place to view, or purchase original art work.

House of Pacific Relations Lawn Programs.
From the first Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, each cottage, more than 30 national groups, takes turns holding lawn programs featuring traditional costumes, arts, crafts and ethnic foods. This is especially interesting for those of us whose families originated from a country represented here. Programs are presented at 2:00 p.m. Phone: 619 234-0739.

A few of the countries represented are: House of Poland, House of Norway, House of Puerto Rico, House of Denmark, House of Philippine Islands, House of Finland, House of Sweden, House of USA, House of Lithuania. House of France, House of Colombia, House of Argentina.

HOUSE OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Here I was able to learn a few traditional recipes.

Spreckels Organ Pavilion Concerts.

The Spreckels Organ Pavilion, housing the world's largest outdoor pipe organ, and provides comfortable seating for 2,400, with wheelchair access.

Free year-round organ concerts every Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Each year a free summer International Organ Festival is presented from mid-June through August on Monday evenings at 8:00 p.m.
Phone: 619 702-8138.

Music:Carpe Noche
Begins June 19- Twilight in the Park
Free musical programs ranging from flamenco and jazz to barbershop quartet and banjo bands. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6:15-7:15 p.m.

RESTAURANTS FOUND IN BALBOA PARK, INCLUDING THE S.D. ZOO:

Albert's Restaurant located near Gorilla Tropics at the San Diego Zoo. This full-service eatery and bar is located amidst a tropical garden.
Please call 619 685-3200 for reservations.

Cafe in the Park is a delightful, friendly cafe located in the lobby of the Casa de Balboa.
Phone: 619 237-0322.

Galileo Cafe Located off of the new east rotunda in the the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center with tables outside next to the fountain.
Phone: 619 238-1233.

Lady Carolyn's Pub is The Globe Theatres’ outdoor food and beverage pavilion.
Phone: 619 231-1941, ext. 2751.

The Prado at Balboa Park located in the historic House of Hospitality, is a full-service restaurant offering indoor and outdoor seating and is open daily for lunch and dinner.
Please call 619 557-9441.
1549 El Prado
San Diego, CA.

San Diego Museum of Art Sculpture Garden Cafe & Bistro Surround yourself with the exquisite sculpture of Rodin, Miro, Calder, and other masters in the charming courtyard restaurant. Stop by the Bistro for a light meal, cappuccino, and a fantastic dessert.

The Tea Pavilion at the Japanese Friendship Garden
Enjoy the magnificent views from inside the Tea Pavilion or from the outdoor courtyard and deck.
Phone: 619-231-0470.

Time Out Café
Located in the new Hall of Champions Sports Museum, is a full-service delicatessen.
Phone: 619 702-6240.

Village Grill
Located on the corner of Village Place and Old Globe Way.
Sit at the tile-decorated tables under the shady umbrellas and enjoy casual dining.

Snack carts along the Prado and Spreckels Organ Pavilion serve hotdogs, ice cream, nachos and soda.

Architectural Heritage Tours
one-hour tours on the first Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Tours meet in front
of the Visitors Center in the Park's House of Hospitality.
Phone 619 223-6568.

Balboa Birders Guided Walks
free monthly birding tours in parks, marshes, and canyons in and around Balboa Park and neighboring communities. Birders meet the first Thursday of every month from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Phone: 619 232-3821, ext. 7.

Canyoneers Guided Nature Walks
Walks range from one and one-half hours to six hours and are generally of moderate distance (1-6 miles) and difficulty, September through July in San Diego County's
mountain, canyon, lagoon and desert habitats. Phone: 619 232-3821 ext. 7.

Offshoot Tours
Offshoot tours run from the second Saturday in January through the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Meet in front of the Park's Visitors Center at 10:00 a.m. for an easy-paced one-hour walk.

Tour themes include:
Balboa Park history (first Saturdays of the month), Palm trees (second Saturdays), Other trees in the Park (third Saturdays),Desert vegetation (fourth Saturdays), Tour del dia, exploring the Park's Palisades area. (fifth Saturdays.)
A minimum of four people required. Phone: 619 235-1122.

Ranger - led Tours.
Approximately one hour long tours meet at 1:00 p.m. every Tuesday and Sunday at the Visitors Center in the Park's House of Hospitality. Tour leaders discuss the historical and botanical treasures of Balboa Park.
Phone: 619 235-1122.

Gardens of Balboa Park
Kate O. Sessions, in 1892, asked for 30 acres and pledged to plant 100 trees in the Park each year for 10 years and to donate other plants to be placed throughout the city.
On approximately 1,200 acres, there are currently about 15,000 trees in Balboa Park, of some 350 different species. The tallest trees are the eucalyptus and pines growing along Sixth Avenue, which range in height from 100-125 feet. The Park's landmark tree is the Moreton Bay fig growing north of the Natural History Museum. This tree, planted before 1915, is over 60 feet tall with a spread of 120 feet.
Alcazar Garden, Botanical Building, contains about 2,100 permanent tropical plants along with changing seasonal flowers.) Other garden areas include; Desert Garden, Japanese Friendship Garden, Marston House Garden, Palm Canyon, Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, San Diego Zoo Botanical Collection, and the Zoro Garden.

ON A RAINY DAY!

FREE DAY FIRST TUESDAY:
Museum of Contemporary Art

There is a charge/donation to enter most of the museums in Balboa Park, but each museum offers at least one free day during each month.

FREE DAY AT THE MUSEUMS:

FIRST TUESDAY:
Natural History Museum
Ruben H. Fleet Science Center
Model Railroad Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art

SECOND TUESDAY:
Museum of Photographic Art
Hall of Champions
Museum of San Diego History

THIRD TUESDAY:
Musuem of Art
Museum of Man
Mingei International Museum
Japanese Frendship Garden

FOURTH TUESDAY:
San Diego Aerospace Museum
San Diego Automotive Museum

FREE EVERYDAY

FREE DAY THIRD TUESDAY:

Mingei International Museum, an interesting mix of folk art offered here.

This theater is very popular for San Diegians. It is under the flight path of planes landing at Lindberg Field and the actors stop in mid-sentence while any plane passes over, it's an interesting experience.

This museum offers displays from the first attempts at flight to today's space programs, including many planes and scenes from the world of air travel.

FREE DAY FOURTH TUESDAY:
San Diego Aerospace Museum

This helicopter is displayed in the huge atrium located in the center of the museum.

FREE DAY SECOND TUESDAY:
Hall of Champions.