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Balboa Park is one of the United States' oldest dedicated urban public park spaces, set aside for future development in 1835 and officially developed into a park following the passing of protective legislation in 1870.

Today, the park spans 1,200 acres northeast of the city's downtown center and is home to a vast number of cultural and family-friendly attractions, including the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Natural History Museum, and the internationally-renowned San Diego Zoo. 17 landscaped garden spaces are displayed throughout the park, which is traversed by Cabrillo and Florida Canyons and divided into three separate mesa spaces. Other major attractions include the Balboa Park Carousel and Miniature Railroad, the Casa del Prado, which features buildings reconstructed from the 1915-1916 Panama-California Exposition, and a number of theatrical and concert amphitheater venues. Visitors should note that while park admission is free daily, many of the park's attractions require an individual ticketed upcharge.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Balboa Park Old Town San Diego The Timken Museum of Art The Spruce Street Suspension Bridge The Botanical Building The Torrey Pines Gliderport Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego The Seeley Stable Coronado Municipal Beach The Children's Pool San Diego Public Libraries The San Diego Embarcadero Torrey Pines State Beach Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Dog Beach First San Diego Courthouse The Gaslamp Quarter Harper's Topiary Garden Julian La Jolla Shores Beach Mission Bay Park Moonlight State Beach 59 Mile Scenic Drive

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