Balboa Park, San Diego (must see)

If you only have time to visit one location while in the San Diego area, then you will want to go to Balboa Park. In many respects, it is the cultural center of the town. This place is a 1,200-acre urban cultural area filled with every kind of entertainment that you can think of. The location is named after Vasco Nunez de Balboa, who was a famous Spanish explorer. Balboa traveled all up and down the western side of North America.

This location was also the spot for the 1915 Panama California Exposition. It was also used as the venue for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. Each of these two significant events has left a certain architectural footprint on the area. In the present day, 14 million people a year come to visit the gardens, museums, theatres and recreation areas located inside the grounds.

The land was set aside for the park in 1835. As such, it is one of the oldest recreational areas in the United States. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It is maintained by the Park and Recreation Department of San Diego.

Tip:
Consider checking what events are being held on the dates you want to go, in case something you want to see is closed. Also, many attractions are free, but not all, so check into which ones you would be willing to pay for before your visit.