San Diego’s Balboa Park is a favorite place to spend an afternoon with the Pilgrim Pouch. Opened in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition, the park encompasses 1,200 acres & includes museums, an organ pavilion, art studios, tea house, gardens, & a Lily Pond with koi fish (& ducks!). The buildings feature architecture that combines the Spanish Baroque style with Mexican, Moorish, & Persian decorative influences.
Colorful chairs are ready to use at Balboa Park’s Plaza de Panama. This area once had been a parking lot but now is a big open space similar to plazas found in European cities. Tables with umbrellas were added for the park’s 100th anniversary in 2015, and the plaza has become a popular spot to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
Nearby is the lovely Alcazar Garden where benches with Moorish tiles line flower beds filled with annuals. Fountains create a peaceful atmosphere, & it’s a perfect place to stroll. Then check out the adjacent Mingei International Musuem where folk art, craft, & design exhibits are displayed.
The park’s Spanish Village Art Center showcases over 200 local artisans with studios that exhibit an assortment of art treasures, including paintings, sculpture, glass, jewelry, prints, photography, & woodwork. Studios are open daily from 11-4:00; visitors can see artists at work & their art pieces available for purchase.
Studios also host classes & summer art camps for both kids & adults offered through the Village Arts & Education Foundation. Students explore painting, printmaking, bookmaking, and more. Art Parties can also be arranged for birthdays and other special occasions.
Special studio shows happen throughout the year as well, including at Balboa Park’s December Nights. This park-wide event is scheduled the first weekend in December and celebrates the holiday season with musical performances, international foods, & free admission to all the museums.
A ‘wishing well’ & fountain are behind the House of Hospitality, which includes Balboa Park Visitors Center & Gift Shop. Wedding services are often held in this picturesque outdoor setting that overlooks the park & downtown SD.
The park’s Japanese Friendship Garden was built in honor of San Diego’s sister city of Yokohama. The 11 acre garden has a tea house, koi pond, & an ornamental tree collection. Japanese language classes & other cultural education programs are sponsored by the Japanese Friendship Garden Society of San Diego.
The last stop of the afternoon was at the House of Sweden, one of the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages in Balboa Park. This consortium of ‘tiny houses’ was originally established in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition & represents cultures from around the world. Each cottage has a unique design and is decorated with items from the country.
The cottages host educational & cultural events throughout the year to celebrate international art, music, food, & dance. In 2021 nine new buildings were added, including those representing Mexico, India, & the Philippines.