Popular Gardens in Rancho Peñasquitos

"In the heart of downtown San Diego, Balboa Park is 1,400 gorgeous acres of green space. (By comparison, New York City’s Central Park is 842 acres.) In 1915, Balboa Park was the setting for the Panama-California Exposition celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal and securing San Diego’s place as a port, which is why several of the city’s oldest and most ornate buildings can be found here. Many of those historic buildings now house robust museums such as the San Diego Museum of Man, San Diego Museum of Art and family-friendly San Diego Natural History Museum (theNAT)."

"A post shared by Daniel Deming (@grubyoface619) on May 10, 2016 at 9:44pm PDT. Wander through the attractions in Balboa Park before you make your way to The Prado. This full-service restaurant is perfect for a relaxing dinner where you can spend quality time together."

"Balboa Park is incredibly overdone, unless you are going to venture out some little bit. You will love spending your time walking around it's less popular locations. There are attractive gardens and lawns surrounding the park."

"Every spring locals and tourists alike flock to the Flower Fields at Carlsbad to smell the ranunculus and pose for amazing photo opportunities among thousands of blooms. In these gardens, you can tiptoe through a maze made of sweet peas and ride a tractor-pulled wagon through more than 50 acres of rainbow-colored rows of flowers. Older kids who like a challenge can fill paper passports at stamp stations throughout the Flower Fields."

"A seasonal attraction, The Carlsbad Flower Fields provide an amazing seaside show of color between March and May of each year, showcasing the Giant Tecolote Ranunculus. It's one of the only working ranunculus farms in the world that allows the public to run through the fields, take photos, and ride on an antique tractor. Kids love exploring the maze of flowers, too."

"In bloom during the summer months, 50 acres (20 hectares) of nature’s best will captivate your gaze. Thousands of Ranunculus flowers decorate the space overlooking the pristine waters of the Pacific Ocean. Frequented by more than 100,000 visitors a year, the Flower Fields at the Carlsbad Ranch promise to upgrade your definition of true beauty."

"Located in Balboa Park, the Japanese Friendship Garden is a relaxing spot to spend an afternoon in San Diego. The garden was built to represent the friendship between San Diego and its sister city in Japan, Yokohama, and provides a unique and chilled out experience for visitors. Besides its zen atmosphere and impressive garden and architecture designs, the Japanese Friendship Garden hosts regular events throughout the year, such as yoga classes, meditation sessions, and the San Diego Sake Day."

"There is an extra fee to enter the Japanese Friendship Garden, which is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama. There’s an upper and lower strolling path where you can see koi pond, landscaped gardens and a Zen garden viewing deck. It’s a very tranquil space."

"Feel the beauty of the waterfalls and greenery as you stroll the pathways of the Japanese Friendship Garden. Skip right past the entrance fee the third Tuesday of every month. As well, explore the Japanese rock garden and take in the current indoor display."

"Study humankind at the San Diego Museum of Man, marvel at aeronautic engineering in the San Diego Air and Space Museum, then catch your breath in the Botanical Building. Head up to North Park for happy hour at Polite Provisions; its beautiful cocktail lounge may hook you up with some small plates if you’re hungry. Save the appetite, though—North Park’s Restaurant Row is nearby."

"The lath building was built for the 1915-1916 Exposition and now houses over 2100 tropical plants and palms (I recommend it if you like orchids). It is open every day except for Thursdays and one of the most photographed spots in San Diego. You can picnic on the grassy areas in front of it, too."

"The park was named after Christopher (Kit) Carson, the famous scout who guided Captain John C. Fremont over the Sierra Nevada Mountains during a government exploration expedition. The City of Escondido acquired the land for its largest regional park from the City of San Diego in 1967. Address:3333 Bear Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025"

"Peaceful, aromatic, and oh so colorful, the San Diego Botanic Gardens are where we go when we just need some time to ourselves. Stroll through gardens in different stages of bloom, admiring the beauty that surrounds you as you feel your mind quiet down. Open every day from 9-5 (closed on Christmas!), you can’t have the same experience twice!"

"Whenever we are in the area on vacation, we always make a point to go to Chins. They have the best fresh chinese food. My black pepper c..."