Balboa Park is easily one of my favorite outdoor spots in San Diego and, in my opinion, one of the…read morebest urban parks in the country. There is SO much to do here, and the park is absolutely stunning and very well maintained. When living downtown, I was here pretty much every weekend. I love walking through the park, running the trails, and bringing my dog. The dog park is huge and gives them plenty of room to run around, which is a major plus. You could easily spend hours just walking and exploring everything Balboa Park has to offer. Between the trails, architecture, museums, gardens, recreational areas, and incredible history, there is always something to see or do. Even after coming here so often, I still enjoy simply walking around and taking it all in. The history and architecture are really what make Balboa Park special. It's beautiful, full of character, and such an incredible part of San Diego. Whether you want to exercise, walk your dog, explore, have a picnic, visit a museum, or just enjoy being outside, this park has something for everyone. An easy 5/5 for me. One of the places that makes me love San Diego!

Balboa Park is always such a great place to get away and enjoy a relaxing walk. There's just…read moresomething so calming about being here. The park is beautifully maintained, and everything feels clean and well cared for. The newly renovated botanical garden is especially peaceful and definitely worth visiting. It's also a great place to bring kids they'll love seeing the turtles, fish, and ducks around the park. There are plenty of vendor stands to check out as well, making it easy to spend a few hours exploring. Whether you're looking to unwind, enjoy nature, or spend quality time with family, Balboa Park is always a wonderful destination.

The Japanese Friendship Garden was a stunning place to get married. We got married on the koi pond…read moredeck this past Saturday. The location felt very private and serene with the way Marina sections off garden paths. Plenty of beautiful photo opportunities throughout the garden. Marina, as venue manager, was professional, communicative, and very warm and friendly. She made us feel comfortable and confident that we would have a beautiful wedding, and we did.

Dropped in during a Tuesday which had donation based admission for SD residents (aka it was busy!)…read more Had a great time walking the different paths and taking in the beautiful scenery. You can really see the intention behind the art and arrangements. I think if you are looking for a more quiet and peaceful experience, avoid the 3rd Tuesday of the month so you can take your time. Love that this is another gem tucked into Balboa Park. Worth checking out if you appreciate nature and art. Will be back!

I had the opportunity to experience the botanical garden both as a general visitor and as a…read moreprospective wedding venue. It was one of the most beautiful venues we toured, though there were some limitations regarding event spaces and accessibility. There were two primary areas capable of accommodating our guest count of 150: the Lawn Garden and the Dickinson Family Education Conservatory. I preferred the ceremony setup at the Conservatory, while the Lawn Garden offered a more appealing space for cocktail hour. However, the Lawn Garden is entirely outdoors, so couples should have a weather contingency plan. The amphitheater adjacent to the Conservatory felt relatively plain and undersized compared to the lush surroundings. Both venues were conveniently located near parking lots and restrooms, though the restrooms themselves resembled standard public facilities. The garden grounds were expansive and quite hilly. The Lawn Garden parking area required navigating a significant incline that could be difficult for some guests. While a shuttle service exists, we were informed it is volunteer operated and unavailable for private events. Venue rentals included ceremony chairs and cocktail hour belly bar tables. Most other services and rentals must be booked through approved vendors. During our tour, we explored many of the garden's attractions and found it to be highly family friendly, though less accommodating for elderly guests or those with mobility concerns. Children would love the children's garden, streams, and treehouse areas. Meanwhile, sections such as the Rainforest Garden and New Zealand Garden featured steep pathways that may be challenging to navigate. My favorite areas were the Walled Garden and the dancing topiaries, where flowers were sculpted into whimsical musicians and dancers. We also attended the Orchid Showcase inside the Conservatory, which featured an impressive collection of orchids. The volunteers were exceptionally knowledgeable and eager to share information beyond what was available on the website, adding a great deal to the experience. The gift shop was an underrated highlight. I picked up a pressed flower magnet where each one featured a unique arrangement. Ultimately, the venue felt a bit too small for our wedding, but it remained one of our top contenders. For couples who value greenery and natural beauty, this would be an incredible choice for a smaller guest count. Just be aware that much of the planning, design, and personalization will fall on the couple.

Had very unpleasant attempt to visit botanical gardens. We…read morebrought our service dog with us and had all the documents to prove it. The women at the front desk kept asking millions questions and expressing unreasonably doubts. Ny kids and I felt like being on lie detector.Very humiliating feeling. After finally being admitted, we left shortly. Our experience were ruined.It was no place for enjoyment. Very bitter,sad feeling... I didn't know people can be so mean at botanical gardens. This woman should work somewhere else,like border patrol or security check point. It would be better for everyone. Never come back to this place.

I needed a new lawn and got my standard five bids for the job. Michael stood out for all of his…read moreinitial input on the options and then for the details of his bid. He was the only one who detailed every item involved in the bid, including update of irrigation. I've had issues in the past with bids for other projects that I assumed included the little details but didn't and then I had to pay extra. Michael's bid included every detail in writing that you would assume would be a part of a new lawn job and it was very reasonable. He also showed up on time for the initial appointment! His crew was great! Their work was very detailed and clean. The job was done within three days and all of the work area, including the driveway, was cleaned up. They even noted my falling-apart fence gate so Michael gave me a very reasonable quote and they did a great job fixing it for me. There were a lot of details for after-care and I've texted Michael multiple times to confirm. He texts back quickly and I never get the impression he's annoyed (I've sent a lot of texts!). I almost wish I had more yard renovations so that I could hire him again! I did discuss a whole-yard mulch job and will absolutely hire Michael when I'm ready for that. No more getting multiple bids for future yard renovations. I'll just call Michael.

Pacific Landscaping and Maintenance went above and beyond! Our lawn was a disaster and they made it…read morebeautiful. They quickly responded to our request and made great suggestions for how to make it perfect. Everyone working on the team was friendly and helpful. We will use them for all landscaping needs in the future.

So fun we drove up some scary hills to get to these beautifully manicured topiaries. If you're ever…read morein San Diego, it's a fun sight to see. There's plenty of parking (residential), but please be mindful that this is a private residence so be respectful to not trespass in the bushes or anywhere indicated.

Overall rating: 4.85…read more Such a cute spot, for a drive-by. Don't expect it to take longer than 5 minutes. It's just a sight in front of really nice houses. All the animals are so fun and highly recommend!

Tinh kindly referred me to a Hardscaper when I needed one, who ended up being great. I really…read moreappreciated how helpful he was despite my project not being a fit for him, so I'll definitely call him once I need a dedicated landscaper for my new yard!

Trinh is very knowledgeable and fixed my sprinklers within a week of me reaching out. He was very…read morenice as well! We will hire him again in the future!

The Marston House is 8,500 sqft and is on 5 acres of property. The home was built in 1905 and it is…read moreconsidered to be a home designed in the architecture from the Arts and Crafts Movement. It is considered to be #40 on the San Diego Historic Landmark list. It is also on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It was home to George White Marston and his wife Anna Gunn Marston. The family of George and Anna donated the house to the City of San Diego and it was converted into a museum in 1987. We kind of stumbled onto the Marston House. The majority of us wanted to explore other parts of San Diego while we were killing time before our check-in at our Vrbo, but my mother insisted on us staying at Balboa Park after already spending half a day there. We were all tired and ready to go somewhere else, but nobody says No to my Mother. LOL. We decided to wonder down to the George W. Marston House. I will say I'm glad we did. We didn't go inside, but we wandered the grounds. We explored the garden and checked out the different flowers. We took in the architecture of the Marston House. Mom, you were right this time! It was worth the visit! I wish we took a tour inside. Next time!

Surrounded by five acres of rolling lawns, manicured formal gardens, and rustic canyon gardens,…read morethis 8,500 square-foot home became a house museum in 1987 after the Marston family gifted it to the City of San Diego for the enjoyment of the public. Marston House was constructed in 1905 for George W. Marston and his wife, Anna Gunn Marston. George Marston is noted for many things but most prominently as a civic leader whose interest and work in historic preservation and conservation. The house is a craftsman style and has been maintained as a museum exhibit for the public. About 45 minutes long and an interesting narration by the tour guide provides historical facts about the Marston family as well as details of the house and gardens. Tickets ($10) for the house tour may be purchased from the gift shop carriage house. Noteworthy house tours open only on weekends! While in the area, my furbaby Fendi and I stroll through the outdoor grounds and rose garden. The collection of roses are spectacular and fragrant. Many seasonal blooming plants to see and appreciate. Recommend.

After hearing about this spot from a friend, I have always wanted to come. I was able to on a hot…read moreday, despite it being hot, it was also very windy (cool). I would recommend a light jacket-- of course depending on the day. They have clean restrooms with sinks to wash your hands outside, but no paper towels or drying station. They had many choices of where to sit, where to play, even tables to eat, and more. People rollerblading, skateboarding, yoga, playing soccer, this spot is full of life! I really enjoyed my time here as even the birds and butterflies were all flying around. I will happily come back to explore more of what this park has to offer.

Pros: Spacious, plenty of walking paths, with nice clean facilities, which include 2 family…read morebathrooms with baby diaper changing stations and several drinking fountains. There's also a row of small fountains for kids to play, run through and splash in. Cons: It's a really nice park ON A COOL DAY. Lately, with temperatures 10 to 19° above "normal average" - or maybe it's just the new normal - it's hard to recall the last time we got to experience a cool day. But here, the way the gazebos, tables, and benches are set up reflects a pretty severe case of denial that this is Southern California, and not quite within walking distance from the beach. It WILL get hot whenever it damn pleases, with or without notice. It did so in February already, in case you missed it. We came a few times for the farmers market. Both days were unfortunately " 80°F" her weather report, which in reality feels like 92°F, and we had to scramble to find a little bit of shade, so that we could eat our street food without passing out from heat stroke. We huddled awkwardly on the curb under a small tree. Other people passing by with food in their hands looked at us with envy. NOT A SINGLE PERSON sat on the readily available benches with tables, because they were in the blazing sun, yet lacked any shade. Never mind an umbrella, not even holes to put one in!! Denial much?? It's really sad, because it's a beautiful place. It just DESPERATELY needs more shade for the visitors to feel comfortable without clinging to trees or the bathroom walls.