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Miniature Train – This pint-sized train, located to the
south of the main entrance to the Zoo, is just a delight for the toddler
set. The ride is short but the experience is sweet. |
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Carousel – Your little ones will enjoy a ride
on this old fashioned carousel, in operation since 1922. If you get the
brass ring, you get a free ride. |
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Museum of Natural History – Get a great introduction
to the San Diego region in the "Ocean Oasis," a wide screen movie
about the Baja California desert and Sea of Cortes. Other exhibits focus
on rocks, plants, animals and the landscape of Southern California and Baja
California, from Pleistocene era fossils to regional habitats, from the
the coast, mountains, desert, Colorado River delta, to the Gulf of California. |
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Ruben H. Fleet Science Center – The
Science Center features a space theater with IMAX films (click here for
the schedule). The younger set will enjoy the Little Learner's Lab (kids
2-6) with puppets and soft blocks. Bigger kids can head over to the interactive
exhibit galleries, "Contraptions A to Z" – 26 mechanical
contraptions to play on, "Meteor Storm," a virtual reality experience,
or "Impact!" a simulation ride into the future. |
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Pepper Grove Playground – South of
the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center is a large kid's playground and picnic
area. |
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Model Railway Museum – This model
railway museum has long been a favorite with kids in San Diego. The train
layouts highlight the American Southwest. Watch the model trains as they
puff through the mountains in the Tehachapi Pass, chug over the Goat Canyon
trestle high above the Carrizo Gorge, or stop at the San Diego Santa Fe
train depot at the turn the century. |
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Mingei International Museum – The
Mingei museum features traditional and contemporary folk art. There is a
wonderful collection of paper kites from India. Don't miss the "Artes
de Mexico," folk art with toys, masks and colorful ceramic scenes,
a glimpse of life in Mexico, San Diego's next-door neighbor. |
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San Diego Museum of Man – Get a taste
of other cultures around the world. As you come in, you can't miss the extraordinary
26 ft high Maya stele from Quirigua in Guatemala. Upstairs, find out about
the Kumeyaay, the native Americans that lived in San Diego county, -- what
they ate, what kinds of dolls they played with, what kinds of games they
played. The Ancient Egypt and Mummies exhibit is fascinating, plus an excellent
Children's Discovery Center, with hands-on Egyptian activities for little
kids. Also at the museum, you can watch how tortillas are made, and weaving
demonstrations (Wednesday to Sunday). |
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 Listen
to the bells chiming in the California Tower, next to the Museum of Man.
It will always remind you of Balboa Park. |
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Palm Canyon – Take a run down Palm Canyon, a walkway lined
with huge fan palm trees. Cool and shady on a hot day, and there are benches
to relax. |
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Spreckels Organ Pavilion – Since 1914,
outdoor performances of the big (over 4,000 pipes) Spreckels organ have
entertained families with rousing marches and other popular tunes. Free
organ concerts are held year round, Sunday afternoons 2:00-3:00 pm, and
in the summer Monday evenings, 7:30-9:00. |
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International Cottages (House of Pacific Relations) – Each week, a different country from Europe, Middle East and South
America hosts folk dancing, music and typical food. Homey and delightful.
Houses are open Sundays, Noon - 4:00pm. |
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San Diego Automotive Museum – California
is a center of car culture, and the Automotive Museum is a wonderful place
to see the history of cars in their "natural habitat." Check out
the horseless carriages, big cars of the Fifties, one-of-a-kind motorcycles,
" muscle cars," and "art cars." Kids can see what family
cars were like before seat belts – the VW bus, a 1952 Nash with foldout
beds, a 1937 "woody" station wagon, the first economical family
car, the 1914 Model T Ford. |
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Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater – There's
always puppet shows happening here, presented by a wide variety of puppeteers
from around the world. You might see marionettes, shadow puppets or hand
puppets. Shows are (Summer) Wed. - Sun. 11:00am, 1:00pm, 2:30pm, (Winter)
Wed. - Fri. 10:00am &11:30am, Sat. and Sun. 11:00am, 1:00pm & 2:30pm,
. Call for tickets, (619) 685-5990 or click
here for the schedule. |
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San Diego Aerospace Museum – Follow
the history of aviation, starting with hot air balloons and the Wright brothers,
to W.W.I planes, 20's and 30's barnstorming planes, W.W.II Spitfires and
Hellcats, to state-of-the-art jets – MIGs and Skyhawk jets, and the
Blackbird spy plane, out into space with the Apollo space capsules and models
of the Mars Rover. Toddlers will enjoy a section with planes to climb on,
knobs to push and pull. Don't miss the full-size replica of the Spirit of
St. Louis. Tip: Free with a Go San Diego Card |
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Gardens – The temperate climate in San Diego is a bonanza
for gardens – with a little water, almost anything will grow here.
Spend some time just rambling through these very different gardens: |
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Alcazar
Garden – You'll feel like you're at the Alcazar Castle in Seville,
Spain. Any time of year, the garden is planted with bright colored plants,
and you'll want to dip your fingers in the star-shaped blue tiled fountain
in the center. |
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Editor's note: When I was a kid, this was my favorite garden
in Balboa Park. |
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Zoro
Garden – This is a butterfly garden, planted with milkweed, sunflower
and passion vines for butterfly larvae, and nectar plans for the adult butterflies.
Look for monarch, sulfur and swallowtail butterflies! |
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Botanical
Building and Lotus Pond – In the arboretum, step into a lush tropical
rainforest. In front of the Botanical Building, the Lily Pond is endlessly
fascinating, the peaceful reflections in the water and blooming water lilies. |
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Desert
Garden – If you can't Anza Borrego Desert east of San Diego, this
is a good substitute. The desert garden is planted with succulents and plants
that need little water from deserts all over the world. |
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Ride the Balboa Park Tram – Balboa
Park is big place. Hop on the free red tram to ride around the park.
The Park Tram goes in a loop from Inspiration Point where you can park,
to the Aerospace Museum (Pan American Plaza), to the main Plaza de Panama,
right by the Visitor's Center. (You can't miss the dramatic statue of El
Cid on horseback). |
