San Diego, Part 3: The Architecture and Indoor Gardens of Balboa Park

Balboa Park is a massive urban park in the middle of the city, containing gardens, buildings, museums, and more. Much of it is dominated by the Spanish Baroque architecture created for the 1915 – 1917 Panama-California Exposition. I spent a day wandering there and took a ridiculous number of pictures as usual, but really didn’t pay so much attention to what was what so my captions might be a little lacking. The park is an attraction in and of itself and you could easily spend a week there visiting all the museums, gardens, the zoo, and just strolling down El Prado, the main street running between the arcaded Casa de Balboa. My day there was unexpectedly amazing.

Casa de Balboa, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Casa de Balboa, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Casa de Balboa, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Casa de Balboa, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Reflecting Pool at Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Reflecting Pool at Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Underwater shot of koi fish in Reflecting Pool at Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Underwater shot of koi fish in Reflecting Pool at Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Botanical Garden, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Botanical Garden, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Botanical Garden, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Botanical Garden, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Courtyard in Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Courtyard in Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Sculpture Garden looking out to Museum of Man, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Sculpture Garden looking out to Museum of Man, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Façade of Museum of Man, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Façade of Museum of Man, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Museum of Man, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Museum of Man, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Colonnade of Spreckels Organ, Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Colonnade of Spreckels Organ, Balboa Park, San Diego, California