Balboa Park

Park San Diego, California, United States

What to expect

Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre historic urban cultural park in San Diego, California. The park hosts various museums, theaters, restaurants, and the San Diego Zoo. It is managed and maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Diego. The park contains multiple gardens, including the 1935 Cactus Garden, Alcazar Garden, and Japanese Friendship Garden. It also features several attractions and venues, such as the Balboa Park Carousel, Balboa Park Club, and the Old Globe Theatre. The park offers something historical, horticultural, educational, and recreational for everyone, with over 14 million visitors annually. Many museums along Balboa Park's Prado are housed in magnificent Spanish Colonial Revival buildings, and the park's sports complex includes USTA-awarded tennis courts, a velodrome, and a disc golf course. The park also offers family play and picnic areas, three leash-free dog parks, lawn bowling, canyon trails for hiking, and a golf course, making it a family-friendly destination

Plan your family visit to the Balboa Park with these blog insights 👇

30 Exciting Things To Do In San Diego With Kids (2023)

This family's experience:

Activities: We visited Balboa Park and explored the museums and gardens

Highlights: The kids loved the interactive exhibits, and the parents enjoyed the people-watching and food options ✨

Spending 2 Days in San Diego? Fun-Filled Itinerary for Family with Teens

This family's experience:

Activities: We visited Balboa Park and explored its many museums, gardens, and attractions

Highlights: We enjoyed the Natural History Museum and the beautiful Spanish Architecture ✨

The Best Places for Family Fun in San Diego

This family's experience:

Activities: We spent a few hours in Balboa Park, exploring the gardens, walking the trails, and admiring the beautiful architecture

Highlights: The kids enjoyed playing in the gardens and exploring the park. We all loved the beautiful architecture and the peaceful atmosphere ✨

18 Best Things To Do In San Diego With Kids

This family's experience:

Activities: We visited the park and explored the museums, gardens, and trails

Highlights: The kids loved the museums and gardens, and we enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of the park ✨

25+ Fabulous Family Attractions in San Diego & Southern California

This family's experience:

Activities: We visited Balboa Park, where we enjoyed the historic Balboa Park Carousel and several museums

Highlights: The kids loved the carousel and the opportunity to learn about science and history at the museums ✨

San Diego to Joshua Tree National Park Road Trip

This family's experience:

Activities: We stopped by Balboa Park before hitting the road, and enjoyed the various attractions, including the famous San Diego Zoo

Highlights: The kids loved the San Diego Zoo, and we all enjoyed the beautiful gardens and museums ✨

The Best 3 Day San Diego Itinerary with Kids

This family's experience:

Activities: We left the zoo in the early afternoon to check out some of the other sites in the park and just wandered around enjoying the green space, playgrounds, and carousel

Highlights: The kids loved the variety of things to see and do, the green space, playgrounds, and carousel. We also enjoyed seeing all the different types of architecture ✨

San Diego with Kids: How to Plan Your Perfect Getaway

This family's experience:

Activities: We visited Balboa Park, which boasts 17 museums and a playground

Highlights: The park is 1200 acres of green space, gorgeous architecture, and different museums ✨

Spring at San Diego Japanese Friendship Garden and Balboa Park

This family's experience:

Activities: We visited the park and saw the explosion of colors along the median and fuzzy looking plants

Highlights: We loved the beautiful day and the colors everywhere ✨

5 Fun and Free Things to do in San Diego with Kids

This family's experience:

Activities: We strolled around the park to admire the Spanish architecture, see festivals and street performers, feed the fish, watch the turtles and play in the fountains

Highlights: My daughter likes coming here to admire the blooms and smell some of them. The kids will enjoy seeing the venus fly trap ✨