Experience a slice of San Diego's history and culture with tickets for a guided walking tour of historic Balboa Park. Originally founded in 1868, Balboa Park's 1,200 acres lie in the heart of downtown San Diego, standing as a cultural symbol of the city for decades
Admire the iconic California Tower, built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition; its face depicts the early history of the city, and the tower itself is a San Diego landmark.
Head to Alcazar Garden, inspired by the same-named gardens in Spain. Used for both the 1915 and 1935 expositions, the garden offered fair-goers a respite from the hustle and bustle of the exposition, and it provides a picturesque foreground to photos of the California Tower. Keep your cameras handy for Insta-worthy photos around every corner.
Soak in the Spanish-style architecture unique to southern California at Prado and follow the colorful tiles to the Spanish Village Art Center. Featuring over 200 contemporary artists, you'll browse local crafts under terracotta roofs as you sip your included coffee.
On your way to the Botanical Garden, look up to see one of the largest Moreton Bay fig trees in California. As of 1915, the Balboa Park Botanical Building was the largest wooden lath-roofed building, and its craftsmanship has withstood the test of time. While the adjacent lily pond – and the photogenic koi fish – may be a beautiful photo opportunity, the pond served as an important part of the war effort and helped injured soldiers and sailors during WWII.
