Exploring Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
This post is sponsored by palm trees and the colour green.
During
my time in the US, my blog was in a bit of a break. I didn't have the
motivation to write, and rather wanted to focus on spending time with
my boyfriend. Thus, now that I am back in France for the month of
August, it is time to share more about the places we saw!
First
off is Balboa Park, a major San Diego highlight. As you may know, I
am obsessed with museums. I love visiting museums wherever I go, so
this was a must for me. There are many museums and gardens to see,
all in a beautiful area where the architecture reminded me of Europe.
Even just walking around is a treat in itself...
Oh, and don't forget to look up. There's a lot going on there. There's a lot
to see, so take your time to walk around.
When
the heat gets too much and you want to escape (but also educate
yourself because that's what museums are for), head to the Museum of
Man. It was a fascinating museum, the exhibits were all interesting
and made complex ideas really easy to understand. My favourite was
the exhibit called Race: are we all so different? It
was a well-researched, clever study about the concept of race in
human sciences and it showed how the term, often used in a discriminating way today, is a social construct. Truly
amazing and eye-opening. There are also an exhibit about monsters that was really fun. All throughout the museum, the displays were on point and you can tell a lot of work is done to make the museum both informative and interactive.
We
also went to the National History Museum. The parts about pre-historic animals were the most
fun! The entry fees for the museums are quite expensive, but
definitely worth it.
Once
you've had your fair share of indoors fun for the day, head back
outside and visit the gardens around Balboa Park. Opposite the main
area of the park is the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, which gathers
an incredible number of roses, of all varieties, shapes and
colours. There is a rose for everyone, quite literally!
Don't
forget to stop and smell the roses. And check out their names too,
they're pretty fun!
However,
the main attraction of the Park has to be the Botanical Building,
standing right in front of a beautiful lily pond. Probably the most
photographed view of the park, and it all makes sense when you see it in its full exotic glory...
Like
everything else in Balboa Park, the greenhouse is full of
colours. Bright oranges, pinks, and over fifty shades of green. All
blended together in the most excentric, vibrant way. (I
apologise for the fifty shades joke, but it was too easy. Couldn't
help myself.)
If
you haven't had enough of gardens yet, walk a few meters (or miles as
they say on the other side of the Atlantic) and visit the Japanese
Friendship Garden. You can avoid the crowds there and find yourself
in a peaceful environment where you can rest and contemplate. Or just
debate over which bonsai tree is the cutest.
The
classic walking-on-rocks shot. I just did another one of these
yesterday in Paris, but you'll have to wait a bit to see.
I
think everybody enjoys Japanese gardens. There's something about the
streams of water, the paths of stones and the sand displays that just
feel right. You just want to hang out and look at koi
fish swimming around their pond.
The
right way to end a whole day of museum-hopping. Of course, I would
encourage you to come back if you can - there was so much more to
discover at Balboa Park, I only wish I had more time to do so!
LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL GUIDES ABOUT THE US? CHECK THESE OUT:
LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL GUIDES ABOUT THE US? CHECK THESE OUT:
What would be your favourite place at Balboa Park among all these?
Lots of love,
Julia x
