Visited the park today and it never gets old. The culture is rich and the park is beautiful. I only…read morewish it was cleaner. It's sad to see such a beautiful place get so grimy and full of spider webs and weeds. However it is always being used and I love to see people outdoors enjoying time with family and friends. This park's atmosphere makes that easy. For those with little kids 3hrs and under this is one of my favorite parks of all time for them. The area is on top of the hill separated so it's not easy for them to get away. The structures are great even for newer walkers and there's a big wall for sitting parents as well as close trash cans and some benches. 4 swings and 3 slides, all in all a really great park and normally the little kids are left out but not here. It's not super shady so depending on the time it can be full sun and get quite hot but the breeze from the freeways and whatnot is usually nice.

Was very nice. Little museum in honor of the chicanos. Loved the murals outside the parkread more

The Doctor Who Museum is AWESOME!! I have never watched this show, but going to this Exhibit has…read moregot me wanting to watch the show! It was really fun and so much cool things to check out or be interactive with. The Museum also does a Scavenger Hunt which was a lot of fun because it makes you look closer to the items on display. There's 3 floors and plenty to look at. The staff is super nice and everyone is very informative plus helpful. There's a lot of cool finds in the Gift Shop.

I stopped by the Comic-Con Museum because I wanted to practice some photography, and I casually…read morelove comic book and pop culture stuff like Marvel, DC, Sonic, and more. As someone who also likes to cosplay from time to time, I was pretty excited to check this place out. The people at the front desk were very nice and got me situated even though I arrived about 45 minutes before closing. To be honest, that ended up being plenty of time. I was able to walk through the entire museum, take a lot of nice pictures, and still had time to sit in the theater area and watch a few shorts before they closed. My biggest issue is the price. General admission is $30, or $20 with a qualifying student or military ID, and that feels pretty steep for what you actually get. There really aren't many interactive exhibits, guided tour options, or separate activity spaces where you can actually learn or participate in something. Give us a costume makeup demonstration, a how to draw session, a cosplay workshop, some comic book history activities, SOMETHING! San Diego Comic-Con is one of the biggest and most recognizable comic conventions in the world, so I feel like this museum could be doing so much more with the space and the brand behind it. Right now, it just doesn't live up to its full potential. It's worth checking out if you're already walking around Balboa Park, have about half an hour to spare, and you're only paying for yourself. But don't go in expecting a whole lot of "oohs and aahs." You might get an "oh, that's cool" or two.

This review reflects the perspective of a swing dancer. Swing dance happens at Queen Bee's on…read moreTuesday evenings and consists of a lesson with a small dance party afterwards. The fee for the lesson and party is $15, for party only - $10. The announcement (https://www.queenbeessd.com/swign-dance) places the lesson at 6:30-7:30PM, the dance with DJ music is supposed to start at 7:30PM. On the day of my visit, the times were shifted by half an hour, so if you want to just dance, 8PM is the good time. The dance lesson by Mercedes Moore (yes, the great San Diego singer!) is excellent, most of the 20+ dancers appeared to be regulars and thus had accumulated significant amount of skill, yet due to small size of group, a true beginner should feel OK. Unlike most places in San Diego, this one has noticeably more leads (traditionally men) than follows (women), so this venue might be great for a true beginner follower. During the social party few more dancers appeared, but the group remained pretty small, and by 9PM it became hard to find a dance partner (the music was still going on). Some logistics: the free (street) parking is very limited. The best paid parking is across the street in a well-lit parking lot ($5 for two hours). The wooden floor is of OK quality, the seating is adequate for the small crowd. As always for small gatherings, bringing one's own dance partner is recommended, although on the day I have visited, it was easy for follows to find a lead. Overall: a true beginner follow should definitely check out this venue. An intermediate lead that wants just to dance, should consider bringing his own follower.

Queen Bee's definitely has character... and by character, I mean you can tell this place has been…read morearound for a minute. Came here for a wrestling event and the place was PACKED. No AC, shoulder-to-shoulder with everyone, and moving around felt like being in a battle royal before the matches even started. Parking...Well, it's North Park, so you already know that's part of the adventure. Expect to do a few laps and maybe say a quick prayer. That said, we made it happen and had a great time. The crowd brought the energy, the wrestling was entertaining, and honestly, the packed-out atmosphere made it feel like a big event. Just come prepared to sweat a little and earn your parking

Love coming here with my 3-year-old son! We have WIC, so we were able to get in for free for up to…read more4 people, which is a HUGE benefit if you have WIC or CalFresh. There are several floors to explore with lots to see and plenty of fun play areas for kids. My son especially loves all the dinosaurs! They also have little scavenger hunts in several of the exhibits, which is a fun way to keep kids engaged while walking through. It's educational without being boring and easily keeps us entertained for a few hours. Definitely a great place to take younger kids!

I came here over the weekend to escape the heat since I don't have AC. From that respect it was…read moremission accomplished. The theater has a great assortment of movies and they are free with admission. The exhibits themselves are really well done. Their current traveling exhibit is the trash in the ocean. It actually is making me rethink the amount of single use plastic I use. Overall it's a great 2-3 hour museum to see everything. Maybe a bit longer if you see all the movies. Also the cafe has some great options at a reasonable price.

The Japanese Friendship Garden was easily one of the prettiest and most peaceful stops during my…read moretime in San Diego. If you enjoy walking around, taking in beautiful scenery, and getting some great photos along the way, this place is absolutely worth visiting. The garden is very walkable, and there are gorgeous views around seemingly every corner. As someone who loves photography, I had my camera working overtime. Between the landscaping, bridges, waterfalls, plants, and all of the little details throughout the garden, there are so many great opportunities for photos. The koi pond was probably my favorite part. The koi were BEAUTIFUL, and I could have stood there watching them swim around forever. It was easily one of the most relaxing parts of my visit. A fun fact I learned is that the garden opened in 1991 and was created as an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, Japan. The garden continued to expand over the years, including the addition of a grove with around 200 cherry trees in 2015. So there is actually quite a bit of history and meaning behind all of the beauty. Definitely a 5 star experience for me. Peaceful, gorgeous, easy to explore, and an absolute dream if you enjoy photography. I would gladly come back, especially during cherry blossom season!

We visited during our trip to San Diego & oh my goodness, it was absolutely amazing…read more This is such a peaceful place to sit and enjoy the beauty of nature. Located inside Balboa Park, you can tour the museums in the area, but don't forget to stop and take a moment to smell the flowers at the Japanese Friendship Garden... There were so many beautiful birds, butterflies, koi, and plants I've never seen before. The grounds were very clean and well manicured. Pricing to get in was about $60 for a family of 4 (including student pricing for our children) which may be a bit steep if you have young children with thin patience.. however, if you are able to come in and find your Zen for a couple hours, this is the spot to do so. They offer free crafts for visitors- when we were there they were doing an origami workshop, which seemed very fun. However, our kids weren't up For it- so we did not participate. Would definitely visit again in the future!

The Old Globe Theater is located in Balboa Park, very near the California Tower, which is by far…read morethe tallest building in the entire Balboa Park complex. The Old Globe Theater Complex actually consists of three very separate theaters. In fact, one of those theaters is an outdoor amphitheater. Parking can be very difficult, so you will want to arrive early if you are able to do so. The Shakespeare Festival is particularly well known.

First time here at the Old Globe! The online ordering platform was wonky and annoying but my…read moreexperience here at the venue was wonderful. I picked up my ticket from the box office, wondered around the area; they have a restaurant where you can enjoy some drinks and food if you like and also your ticket gets you a discount for the Prado! I was here to watched The Hombres, which is shown in their smaller theater. It's very intimate, but even the furthest and worst seat seems good to me. I can see everything clearly and the seat was adequately comfortable.

Centro Cultural de la Raza is one of my absolute favorite places in San Diego. I love it so much…read morethat I always bring anyone visiting from out of town here because there is always something happening. From art exhibits and pottery showcases to live performances and community events, this space is constantly alive with culture. Every third Sunday they host a tianguis that is truly special, sound baths, massage therapy, card readings, and small business vendors all in one place. It feels grounding, healing, and deeply rooted in community. With a diverse selection of dance classes, Centro truly welcomes everyone. Whether you arrive to uplift local artists, expand your creativity, or simply exist in a space filled with culture, you will always leave inspired. Centro Cultural de la Raza continues to pour into the community, offering a space rooted in expression, healing, and belonging. They also offer opportunities to volunteer, making it easy to get involved and truly connect with the space and the community around it. From helping in their garden to assisting with exhibit setup and events, there are so many ways to be part of what Centro offers.

This is a great place. I was able to see art from local artists. They have a cute store inside too…read more Would definitely recommend this place to anyone. This place is located in balboa park which has more museums.

Yesterday I experienced an outstanding tour with Scott Smith. He did a remarkable job sharing the…read morehistory and his abundance of knowledge of the Midway. It opened my eyes to many details that I was not aware of and painted a very clear picture of the volume of men and women that have served our country through many generations. I am grateful to have had that experience and to be able to share that history with my Grandchildren and future generations. Scott was a fabulous Docent.

If you think you understand the size of an aircraft carrier, go stand on the USS Midway. That's…read morewhat I thought! You do not understand the size of an aircraft carrier. This thing is basically a floating city. At its peak, thousands of people lived and worked aboard, and there is an ACTUAL FULL ASS RUNWAY on the flight deck. You can walk through the ship, see where people lived, worked, ate and slept, and then walk upstairs and find yourself standing next to fighter jets. The ship is named for the Battle of Midway, the WWII battle where the United States sank four Japanese aircraft carriers and turned the tide in the Pacific. I don't know how many miles you could walk on this thing, but it's several. Fascinating!

Educational house curated monthly to feature different cities from Mexico. I've visited twice now…read moreand have chatted for a long time about current events in Mexico, infrastructure changes, and history regarding the city of subject. I've always enjoyed interacting with their volunteers and admire the detail to decorations they display. Friendly house!

Beautiful Casa de México that has art and lots of things from here! They feature a different state…read moreof México every 3 to 4 months so you can learn all about the art and culture of that state. Highly recommend. Very beautiful with the kindest woman working here!

Was out walking around and saw this place so I stopped in for a chai latte. Then I saw they had…read moreapple turnovers so I had to get one of those too. Nowhere's near as pricey as I was expecting it to be. Nice little outdoor location with a dog park next to it so if you like dogs you're in luck!

The ambiance was awesome, especially if you like dogs…read more 3 stars because the oat milk is pretty chalky and the cold brew is bitter. Other than that there is a very cute little shop that only has Italian imported goods that is super fun to take a look at!