This place was overrun with kids when we visited one afternoon during spring break. My 7-year-old daughter had a tough time competing to get her hands on the interactive exhibits on the main floor.

We decided to watch the IMAX movie "Hurricane on the Bayou" first. The person who ran the IMAX film gave interesting background information on the IMAX theatre prior to the show.

After the movie, we returned to the exhibits and learned about vision and "grossology" (the ickier aspects of the body that, not surprisingly, was a big hit with most kids). Some of the vision displays were quite intriguing: how so much of what we "see" is not as it is in reality since it has been interpreted by our minds.

The lower level contained a large "video game" that allowed kids to travel in space, participate in an archaeological dig, and explore the ocean. This fun *but educational* activity occupied my kid for hours! Mom liked it and learned a lot, too.

Overall, a fun visit. It's educational too but your kid won't mind. In fact, my daughter spent the ENTIRE day there (we left shortly before it closed) because she wanted to see EVERYTHING. If it's busy, it will be a tiring but worthwhile day.

This is a huge pipe organ built into an outdoor pavilion and it's said to be the largest in the world. There are free concerts held here every Sunday at 2pm.They give a brief history of the organ and the concerts before the music starts. The concert lasts about one hour and is mostly classical music and familiar patriotic music – America the Beautiful and the Star Spangled Banner. The setting is beautiful. Water is directly behind the pavilion and you can see people enjoying water sports as you enjoy the music. There are lots of metal benches. The day we visited, there were plenty of empty seats available. Food carts are located at the entrance for snacks during the concert.

After the concert, you can go backstage to tour the inner workings of the organ. They also had photos displayed along the wall that showed the construction phase of the pavilion as well as some significant historical events. They also had a small gift shop. Arrive early to find parking since many people enjoy Balboa Park on Sundays. We found a big parking lot off of Presidents Way. We had a great time. If you enjoy music, this is a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

With a park as big and varied as Balboa Park is, I don't even know how to BEGIN to talk about it! After two trips to the park--once to see the world-class San Diego Zoo and another time to visit the San Diego Aerospace Museum--I still felt that I knew next to NOTHING about the park. I decided it was time to return to the park just to walk around and get an "overview" of all the many things available. As it turned out, just ONE time walking and "overviewing" STILL wasn't enough to see all that was there! I'm thinking that the giant, attraction-filled Balboa Park could provide for DAYS of budget-conscious activities, rather than just one or two visits!

First of all, the park has all the usual attractions that any city park has--children's playgrounds, sports fields, places to picnic, spacious green lawns for Frisbee, and trails for hiking and biking. Then there are a few more unusual activities: a dog park, lawn bowling, golf courses, a kiddie train and carousel, a puppet theater, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, and a rose garden. Last, we get to the category of "completely-one-of-a-kind" items, the biggest of these being Museum Row. There are more museums than anyone could tour in DAYS! But, even just touring the outside of the buildings is a day-trip in itself. They're such lovely buildings, I just wanted to linger, stare, and take photos of them. These Spanish Colonial-style buildings were built originally for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, but they've been painstakingly cared for throughout the years, so that they're still as beautiful now as when the fair first opened! Or, more so because of the beautiful, mature landscaping that adorns each of them.

There are 10 museums alone that deal with various arts and cultures, plus three science museums (Aerospace, Natural History, and Reuben Fleet Science Center). Plus, there are museums covering anthropology, model railroading, sports, cars, San Diego history, international relations, and veteran's affairs. There are four theaters, including the gorgeous Casa del Prado and the Old Globe, a reproduction of the famous English original. Completing the picture are grand fountains, a Japanese garden, and a large pipe organ that gives free concerts every Sunday afternoon. At this point, I'm totally stumped as to what I'll try to see next whenever I return to Balboa Park! There are just too many possibilities!

I love city parks, but three U.S. parks that stand head and shoulders above all the rest and should not be missed are Central Park in New York, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and Balboa Park in San Diego.

Balboa Park is a city onto itself. You can explore here for a week and still not feel like you have scratched the surface. The park is a massive 1,200 acres and has 15 museums!

The park was the sight of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, a sort of World's Fair to celebrate the completion of The Panama Canal. The fair was build around a number of Spanish Colonial Revival Buildings. The interesting fact is none of these buildings were ever meant to be permanent. They were built out of a sort of hybrid papier-mâché and plaster. They need constant attention, but almost 100 years later, they are still standing! You will often notice scaffolding in front of many of the buildings here to mend and repair them.

Exploring the park is an adventure and takes a little planning, especially if you are on a time frame. My suggestion is to start in the Park's Information Office on the Prado. You can talk to informed hosts and pick up a multitude of brochures. They will also inform you of any special events happening in the park that day.

Of course, you can't miss the zoo. I have written about it in a separate review, but many will agree that this is the best zoo in the world. But my favorite corner NOT to miss is the House of Pacific Relations and the International Cottages. This is a UN project to promote world cultures and understanding. Each country has a small cottage where volunteers and natives give an overview of their unique culture and heritage. Because it's all volunteers, some of the cottages are not open during the week. But on Sundays the village rocks! You can often catch costumed performers in the courtyard or try unique and tasty food from that country. I never miss stopping by the Denmark cottage for their tasty danish! Also try to make it on a feast or celebration day. An example is St Patrick's Day, when you can't miss The Irish Cottage, where dancers are doing jigs and you are offered a taste of corned beef and cabbage!

These suggestions just scratch the surface. Each time I visit the park I see something new and have a new adventure. Of course, the park is free (the zoo has an admission fee) and is one of the best free things to do in Southern California. The park changes all the time, but no visitor to San Diego should miss a few minutes here!

Balboa Park has a lot going on. There are museums to check out and the Spanish Village is right next door, where you can buy expensive artisan art. Or you could just stroll around to relax.