h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

While Balboa Park is mostly known for being the home of the world-famous San Diego Zoo, it is actually a fairly nice urban park. There are large groves of eucalyptus trees and big grassy areas to sit and picnic.

There are also a large number of friendly museums (sometimes with free admission) in Balboa Park. My favorite is the Rueben H. Fleet Space Museum, but it is a big museum and not for people "getting back to nature." The Museum of Man also has some interesting exhibits (although they are small).

Also in Balboa Park is the Old Globe Theater, a good-sized theater (three stages--one regular, one outdoor, and one in the round) which sometimes has quality productions. Belying its name, the Globe only sometimes shows Shakespeare. It is _really_ hard to say whether a Globe show will be good.

Probably the biggest place to avoid, if you are looking for the park experience is the San Diego Zoo. It is a really great place to visit, but it can get very crowded--especially in the summer. Parking at the Park can also be a pain, almost impossible during an Old Globe show. I would recommend taking the bus, but that is just me. (The 7 line runs around/through the park.)

Balboa Park is almost in the middle of the downtown San Diego, and a good website to visit on the park is:

http://www.sannet.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/balboa.shtml