Balboa Park is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

1. Balboa Park

9.6
1549 El Prado (at Park Blvd), San Diego, CA
Park · Balboa Park · 334 tips and reviews

Maya B.Maya Byrne: Beautiful park with clean restrooms. Perfect place to spend an afternoon

The Most Interesting Man in the WorldThe Most Interesting Man in the World: According to my good friend Nayang in Botswana, there’s a meerkat wandering this place that stole his nana’s wedding band. So if you see a meerkat with a ring, grab him and contact me immediately.

HISTORYHISTORY: Placed in reserve in 1835, this is one of the oldest sites in the U.S. dedicated to public recreational usage. It is named after the Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa.

Elephant Odyssey is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

2. Elephant Odyssey

9.5
2920 Zoo Dr (San Diego Zoo), San Diego, CA
Zoo Exhibit · Balboa Park · 10 tips and reviews

Katie M.Katie M: The whole exhibit is amazing but be sure to check out the tar pit demo/replica in addition to admiring the elephants. Fascinating historical stuff!

San Diego ZooSan Diego Zoo: Watch the elephants play in their 7-foot pool, stop by the Elephant Care Center to see the keepers give the elephants pedicures, don’t miss the busy dung beetles & admire the condors’ 9-foot wingspan.

CharlieCharlie: Check out the elephants getting a bath at noon

USS Midway Flight Deck is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

3. USS Midway Flight Deck

9.5
San Diego, CA
History Museum · 42 tips and reviews

Miguel J.Miguel Johnson: Tons to see and do. Audio tour comes with admission. Great historical ship and a great time

Ashleigh A.Ashleigh Adams: Lots of cool info to learn here

Sean F.Sean Floyd: Such an amazing experience...give yourself at least 4 hrs to do the whole ship.

Koala Exhibit is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

4. Koala Exhibit

9.5
2920 Zoo Dr (Australian Outback, San Diego Zoo), San Diego, CA
Zoo Exhibit · Balboa Park · 5 tips and reviews

Ren M.Ren Moss: San Diego zoo has the largest collection koalas outside of Australia! Crazy! It's because San Diego is perfect for growing eucalyptus!

San Diego ZooSan Diego Zoo: We received our 1st koalas as a gift from Australia in 1925. These fuzzy marsupials are not bears, and not as cuddly as you think. They're actually independent, feisty, and often grumpy.

Tiger L.Tiger Leatherwood: Amazing theatrics

Embracing Peace Statue is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

5. Embracing Peace Statue

9.4
Tuna Ln (at N Harbor Dr), San Diego, CA
Outdoor Sculpture · Marina · 26 tips and reviews

Aysin K.Aysin Keser: The sculpture is beautiful and it is also minutes away from Bob Hope memorial and US midway marine ship😊

RossRoss: The iconic photo appeared on Aug 27 1945 in LIFE magazine. "In the middle of Times Square a white-clad girl clutches her purse and skirt as an uninhibited sailor plants his lips squarely on hers" Read more.

Emrah Y.Emrah Yalcinalp: Cool place. Make sure you've seen the statues at the end of the deck.

Africa Rocks is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

6. Africa Rocks

9.4
2920 Zoo Dr (San Diego Zoo), San Diego, CA
Zoo Exhibit · Balboa Park · 2 tips and reviews

Sean M.Sean Miller: One of my favorite parts of the zoo

💕Linds💕💕Linds💕: Penguins! :)

San Diego Zoo is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

7. San Diego Zoo

9.4
2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA
Zoo · Balboa Park · 563 tips and reviews

Kim N.Kim Nichols: Have lunch or a snack at the Treetop restaurant. It has some of the best views in the zoo.

D J.D J: Free parking! What's free anymore?? San Diego Zoo parking. That's what!

HISTORYHISTORY: This zoo opened in 1915 & covers over 100 acres with more than 4000 animals. In the 80s an orangutan named Ken Allen became famous for repeatedly escaping from the 'escape-proof' orangutan enclosure.

Waterfront Park is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

8. Waterfront Park

9.4
1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA
Park · Harborview · 41 tips and reviews

Juan L.Juan Lalinde: Great park! The water fountains are fun for the kids!

Astri A.Astri Aparicio: Great playground with restrooms and a café for the parents!

Rosemary B.Rosemary Bystrak: Don't let security bully your kids! Playground has age "recommendations", but parents can stand up to security depending on your kids age and ability.

Mission Beach Park is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

9. Mission Beach Park

9.3
W Mission Bay Dr (Ocean Front Walk), San Diego, CA
Park · Mission Beach · 14 tips and reviews

JanaJana: Walk the beach instead of the promanade. Bikers and skaters make it hard to relax while strolling.

Libby H.Libby Hall: Don't leave food unattended - the seagulls WILL dig through your bags, rip open your containers, and devour it.

EceEce: Well, I love this place but Uber/Lyft is highly recommended on summer. Parking would drive you crazy!

Giraffe Exhibit is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

10. Giraffe Exhibit

9.3
2920 Zoo Dr (Urban Jungle, San Diego Zoo), San Diego, CA
Zoo Exhibit · Balboa Park · 3 tips and reviews

San Diego ZooSan Diego Zoo: The Zoo’s adult male giraffe, Silver, is more than 17 feet tall. With such a long neck, it’s surprising that giraffes have the same number of vertebrae that we do—each one is just much bigger!

CynCyn: Feed the giraffes!

Paul F.Paul Fu: Two new baby giraffes! Robert and Makali! Also here: Silver, Nicky, Harriet, and Bahati.

Petco Park is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

11. Petco Park

9.3
100 Park Blvd (at Tony Gwynn Dr), San Diego, CA
Baseball Stadium · East Village · 260 tips and reviews

Abi P.Abi Panicker: Really nice, clean stadium. Great for kids and families.

HISTORYHISTORY: The first baseball game ever played at Petco Park, on March 11, 2004, was the first game of a four-team NCAA invitational tournament hosted by San Diego State University.

The Most Interesting Man in the WorldThe Most Interesting Man in the World: I had the honor of throwing out the first pitch at this very stadium. As soon as I left the mound I was offered a 7-year contract. Unfortunately, I was not able fulfill due to a prior engagement.

House of Blues San Diego is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

12. House of Blues San Diego

9.4
1055 5th Ave (btwn Broadway & C St), San Diego, CA
Music Venue · Central San Diego · 91 tips and reviews

AlfaAlfa: Great concert venue; small and intimate.

VH1VH1: Best Happy Hour in San Diego 7 days a week from 4-7 p.m. Grab a pint or martini and be sure to try some of the rosemary cornbread! – Team Live Nation

Lauren :.Lauren :D: great venue :D

Lion and Jaguar Habitat is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

13. Lion and Jaguar Habitat

9.2
2920 Zoo Dr (Elephant Odyssey, San Diego Zoo), San Diego, CA
Zoo Exhibit · Balboa Park · 3 tips and reviews

Victor M.Victor Medina: We love it!!!

Torrey J.Torrey Jewett: They spray

Clinton™Clinton™: Spray advice.

Gorilla Exhibit is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

14. Gorilla Exhibit

9.2
2920 Zoo Dr (Lost Forest, San Diego Zoo), San Diego, CA
Zoo Exhibit · Balboa Park · 6 tips and reviews

San Diego ZooSan Diego Zoo: We have 2 gorilla family troops, and they trade off on exhibit. Each is led by a mature male known as a silverback. One troop is led by Paul Donn and the other by Memba.

Katie M.Katie M: Fantastically designed exhibit with multiple places to watch the gorillas from. Such a lively bunch.

Miriam G.Miriam Goldman: Beautiful. They're so humanoid, it's stunning.

Cabrillo National Monument is one of The 15 Best Fun Activities in San Diego.

15. Cabrillo National Monument

9.2
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego, CA
National Park · 86 tips and reviews

billy o.billy o: Great trails, best views of San Diego, the bay, Coronado, and Mexico!

HISTORYHISTORY: This overlooks the spot where European explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped ashore in 1542 naming the bay San Miguel; explorer Sebastian Vizcaino changed the name to San Diego in 1602.

NamNam: Your entrance ticket is good for 7 days!