Mention Balboa Park and most people think of museums, Spanish-Moorish architecture and gardens with immaculate landscaping. However, if you venture west from the park over the graceful Cabrillo Bridge towards Bankers Hill, you’ll discover a quieter section, an urban oasis perfect for picnics and peaceful strolls.
A one-mile picturesque and mostly flat paved pathway winds through the manicured green lawn sandwiched between Balboa Drive and Sixth Avenue – ideal for those using strollers or mobility aids.
Our two-mile out-and-back walk in Balboa Park West starts at the south end of Balboa Park Drive in a small parking lot (immediately below the San Diego International Airport flight path). For this outing, we start here and walked north. At the north end of Balboa Drive is the Sixth Avenue Playground.
One of the first buildings we pass is the Balboa Park Chess Club near Juniper Street. It’s located next to a bunch of horseshoe pits, and upon further inspection, I see a sign advertising the Balboa Park Horseshoe Pitching Club. These isn’t be the last recreational clubs we’ll pass on this short walk.
Upon approaching Laurel Street/El Prado, you can’t miss the sounds of barking and yipping dogs. They’re having a dog-gone good time at Nate’s Point Dog Park. Before you make a detour to check out their antics, take a look at the easy-to-miss sculptures paying homage to Kate Sessions (considered the “Mother of Balboa Park”) and the other visionaries credited with bringing Balboa Park to life.
Immediately past El Prado, look east to catch the emerald “rinks” of the Balboa Park Lawn Bowling Club. On most mornings between 9 and 11 a.m., you’ll see folks lining the boundaries and waiting for their turn to bowl.
Trek on and you’ll pass the Trees for Health Garden featuring medicinal plants from around the world. It’s located next to the site of my daughter’s favorite out-of-school day camp adventure – Camp CaHiTo. It’s across from the Redwood Bridge Club, which offers classes on multiple levels for card players.
Just past the Bridge Club is the Sixth Avenue Playground. A little further, tucked away behind a row of trees, is the Marston House. This beautiful house-turned-museum was designed by renowned architects William Hebbard and Irving Gill. Tours are available through the Save Our Heritage Organization.
Once we make it back to our starting point, we savor a picnic on the grass-carpeted hillside with shade from one of Kate Session’s towering trees. With our backs on the cushy lawn, we enjoy plane spotting and comparing the undercarriage of the different aircraft that soar overhead. Though we are smack dab in the heart of high-density housing, freeways and airport traffic, the greenery on the western side of Balboa Park provides an excuse to slow down and enjoy our surroundings.
Tips for visiting Balboa Park West. Parking along Sixth Avenue and Balboa Drive is free. If you’re visiting during the week, parking can be challenging due to nearby construction projects. Also, take a look at the signs indicating street cleaning days to ensure you don’t return to your vehicle…and a parking ticket. Additionally, there are two public restrooms; both are north of El Prado. Lately, both have been open, but sometimes the city closes one, leaving you with only one facility for this entire park section. SDSun
Deanna Ratnikova is a downtown San Diego mom and the creator of The GO Deck. Grab a deck today and be inspired to get outdoors and go on new adventures.
