Balboa Park is right next to the San Diego Zoo. We had no expectations about what to expect, but a friend recommended it. And we are always up for another adventure.
The first place we found was the Spanish Village Art Center. We loved it immediately. Surrounded on either side by little art shops full of paintings, glass work, jewelry, and more. Even the courtyard was colorful.
We continued walking and found some ornate buildings. And a little entrance into another area. A central pond full of lily pads, koi, and even turtles, was surrounded by other buildings. One of them was a botanical garden.
The botanical garden was full of beautiful tropical plants and foliage. We had fun taking lots of pictures.
Look at all the unique colors and spots on these orchids.
About a block farther on, venders lined the street for face painting, fortune telling, posing with parrots, selling items, etc. Some of the surrounding buildings included museums and theaters.
It would have been fun to spend more time here. But we had a busy schedule.