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Tag: art

Balboa Park

 

Essential San Diego sightseeing. Where culture, science, and nature collide, Balboa Park is home to more than 17 museums, multiple performing arts venues, lovely gardens, trails, and many other creative and recreational attractions, including the San Diego Zoo. With a variety of cultural institutions among its 1,200 beautiful and lushly planted acres, there is something for everyone.

 

 

Explore the diverse textures and vegetation native to California–meander through the Old cactus garden, the rose gardens, or sit and have a picnic in the grass with friends.

For those who enjoy more naturalistic jaunts, Balboa Park also offers a number of scenic hiking trails which removing you from the hustle and bustle of the downtown area–you’ll forget you’re even in an urban area as soon as you find yourself on one of these trails.

During the summer Balboa Park offers a free concert series, Twilight in the Park–here you can experience an eclectic array of acts, ranging from swing music to jazz and salsa.  These concerts take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Cabrillo Bridge

The Cabrillo Bridge in San Diego, California is a historic pedestrian and automobile bridge providing access between Balboa Park and the Uptown area of San Diego. It was built for the 1915 Panama–California Exposition. The bridge was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

 

Airplane landing taken from the Cabrillo Bridge (Laurel Street)

Museums

From the fine arts, including classical, contemporary and folk art, to science and natural history, San Diego’s museum and galleries world offers an abundance of experiences. Wherever your interests may lie, you’re sure to find a collection that will provide you with deeper insight, engagement and inspiration.

Balboa Park

Often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the West,” Balboa Park is the largest urban park with cultural institutions in the United States. Fifteen museums devoted to topics as varied as anthropology, art, aviation, natural science and technology are spread throughout the pristine gardens and historic Spanish Colonial architecture in Balboa Park.

The USS Midway Museum

A former naval aircraft carrier, the Midway was America’s longest serving naval warship; it is the only carrier to have served through the entire length of the Cold War and beyond, active from 1945-1992.  Consistently voted the best museum in San Diego, admission includes a self-guided audio tour of over 60 exhibits—access to the crew’s former sleeping quarters, the ship’s jail, a grandiose galley, the engine room, etc., as well as a tour of 29 restored aircrafts.

Unconditional Surrender Statue

Lifelike waterside sculpture resembling the famed “V-J day in Times Square” photo from 1945

National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military

Outdoor bronze statues depicting armed forces personnel listening to comedian Bob Hope