Presidio Park is easy to find. Not only is it adjacent to Interstate 5 (with its exit clearly marked), but also its imposing Spanish-style main building can be clearly seen from the Interstate (and used as a visual guide.) Despite being frequently seen by passersby, Presidio Park remains one of those sights that many people never get around to exploring. Why not? Well, perhaps because the park isn't "exciting." Its main feature is lots and lots of greenery, but no playgrounds or sports fields. Here, you can picnic, stroll along the park's trails, and just "feel tranquil." The park's other main attraction is its one beautiful building. Sad to say, that building isn't the original Presidio (fort), nor even a copy! (It's just called Presidio Park, because this was the SITE of San Diego's original Presidio.)
The attractive building is actually a museum, the Junipero Serra Museum, named after the Franciscan friar who led the religious portion of the expedition to California (that resulted in the founding of 21 missions spread out--a day's journey apart--between San Diego and San Francisco.) Presidio Hill was also the site of the original 1769 Mission San Diego, which soon moved to its own site further inland. Excavations at the park continue so that further remnants of the past can be discovered. Inside the Serra museum are house wares and other artifacts relating to various periods of San Diego's history: Native American, Spanish, independent Mexico, and finally, American. The museum's cost is $5/adults and $2/children. (The park's grounds, however, are free.)
The park itself is quite large, so if you have come to picnic or stroll, you may wish to drive along the park's loop-shaped road first (so you can preview the entire park and decide which part you'd best like to explore.) Several parts of the park have formal names. There's Inspiration Point at the hill's summit, where you can get an outstanding view of Mission Valley and Mission Bay below. Back down the hill, there's Palm Canyon, an area that has lush landscaping, with plenty of palms, as the name suggests. It's adjacent to the Eucalyptus Grove, which features the fragrant eucalyptus tree. The Padre Cross is an area featuring a cross built in 1913 and made out of floor tile pieces from the original Presidio. In this area, you'll find trails and other statuary. The Arbor, of course, is a supportive structure for plants, and it's a beautiful example of an arbor. When you're finished seeing the museum, taking your stroll, and eating your picnic, you might wish to visit the Old Town State Historic Park, featuring homes and stores from San Diego of the past, which is only a few blocks away from Presidio Park.