| 1 of 6 | Balboa Park, San Diego | View All 6 Photos |
Balboa Park is a Spanish Colonial Revival style urban garden that's home to museums, theaters, restaurants, an 18-hole golf course, the San Diego Zoo and a major hospital. Livey Hillcrest, the heart of the LGBT community, is to the northwest of the park, and offers plenty of restaurants, shops and a vibrant nightlife scne. Park West to the west and Burlingame to the east are quiet residential areas with some good restaurants, a few stores and a number of bars. Cortez Hill, directly south of the park, has seen a lot of development in the last few years and features some interesting architecture. It's a short drive away from the beach and from Downtown San Diego, but it’s relatively easy to find parking.
There are few hotels in the immediate neighborhood of Balboa Park, but for easiest access to the park’s entrance, stay in the area between First and Fifth Avenues, which run along the western border of the park. For better nightlife, stay closer to the northwestern side, where Hillcrest begins.
| Languages: | English, Spanish |
| Airports: | |
| Time Zone: | |
| Peak: | Dec. 15 - April 15 |
| Off-Peak: | April 15 - Dec. 15 |
| Visa: | No, for nationalities included in the Visa Waiver Program |
| Vaccines: | No |
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| Electricity: | 120 V, 60 Hz |
| Tipping: | 15-20% in restaurants and cabs |