Don't Forget Balboa Park

I sometimes forget that we have one of the most beautiful parks in America right in our own backyard. Balboa Park is comprised of a variety of museums, theatres, restaurants and of course, the zoo. Today I spent several hours visiting the Timken Museum and lunching with friends at Waters Cafe.

For those on a budget, Tuesday is the best day to visit Balboa Park. Entrance to museums is free on Tuesdays. The Timken is actually free everyday! What a little gem. We were lucky to have Maggi, our docent, show us the museum, tell us the history of the museum and how it came to be, and explain in detail the Russian icons and European art we viewed.

One of my favorite parts of the day was people watching. Living in North County one often loses sight of the fact that San Diego is a big city, with huge diversity. I love that, and the chance to see groups of school children, tourists, and just a cross section of people of all races, ages and backgrounds made me really happy to be there and be part of it. The park was packed today, which also made me very happy. So many people are interested in learning about art, culture, and science.

After the museum we went to Waters Cafe, just across the square, for lunch. It is a casual dining restaurant, where you order your food at the register, then they bring your food to your table. We sat in the sculpture garden on a sunny afternoon, and enjoyed a delicious meal and great conversation. Home made tomato soup, chicken curry soup, waldorf chicken salad, cobb salad, pizza, and many panini choices were available. For those that don't want to purchase food, you can bring your own food, sit in the garden, or on one of the many benches around the park, and just enjoy. There are plenty of other restaurant choices, including The Prado and the Japanese Tea Garden. In all, Balboa Park is a great way to spend a few leisure hours. There is always something new to experience there, and did I mention that parking is free? That makes it very special.