Found this on Viator (TripAdvisor), a 10:00 AM San Diego Balboa Park Highlights Small Group Tour…read morewith Coffee led by guide Jennifer (Jenn) for $45, of "San Diego Walks". Depending on how big of a group, sometimes there is also an afternoon one scheduled; otherwise, she also does tours at other locations like Coronado Island, Old Town, and Liberty Station. The tour takes approximately 2 hours long to complete.
The meeting point was at the Founders Statues near the west entrance of Balboa Park (destination: Sefton Plaza for rideshares). Our group had only 4 people total plus the guide, one person out of state, two locals, and me from Northern California.
Balboa Park is a must-do if you're visiting San Diego. This guided tour took us deeper into the many museums, gardens, architecture, and park attractions; it was detailed enough with interesting history/facts about how the park came to be, and a good starting point for planning out what else you want to explore more/return to within the park after the guided tour portion (same day, or a later time during your visit). Jenn really knows her stuff and I had a wonderful time.
This tour was fun, educational, and professional, and included a beverage of your choice at a cute local coffee cart called Daniel's Coffee. The iced Mexican Mocha I got was delicious! A leisurely walking pace and we covered a lot of urban ground! From the Founder's Statues, to the Zoro Gardens, the Spanish Village Art Center, the theater, the San Diego Zoo entrance, the Natural History Museum, Fleet Science Center, but also fountains and early blossoming trees, the Museum of Man, and of course the Lily Pond/Botanical Building. Incredible sights all along the way and the tour ended at Plaza de Panama (El Prado).
The California Tower building plays bells/chimes every so often, my favorite melody that I caught at the end of our tour was "Tomorrow' from the musical "Annie."
Definitely bring comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, light jacket, water, and money for tips/gratuities/souvenirs. The weather that week was strange (rain!) but sunny the day of. I did purchase some postcards and prints from local artists, although I didn't stay and try any of the restaurants within the park.