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Spreckels Organ Pavilion houses the Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park, San Diego. The Spreckels Organ is the world's largest pipe organ in a fully outdoor venue. |
UNIQUE CITY PARK BREAKS THE MOLD WITH INVENTIVE BLEND OF NATURE, CULTURE AND 'PEOPLE PLACES'
STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS
PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER
MORE THAN 150 years ago, a handful of visionary San Diego citizens strolled through the California scrub and decided to set aside 1,400 acres for a city park. It became an oasis of culture, architecture, nature and the arts. Today, Balboa Park is one of America's largest urban parks and considered by many the jewel in San Diego's crown.
Balboa Park offers several modes of transportation, including walking, for getting around to the museums and a fine zoo. |
WITH ITS 17 museums, in fact, Balboa Park is a museum lovers mecca. Known for its widely diverse collections and cultural institutions, Balboa Park's museums attract scientists, theater lovers and fans of flight, automobiles, trains and art of all kinds.
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The San Diego Model Railroad Museum's marketing man, Fernando Beltran, and young train buff James Ganner. |
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Penelope Ganner, left, and her brother James, had a private tour of the huge Model Railroad museum with Fernando Beltran. |
ANY ONE of the museums would be a drawing card, but don't forget the world renowned San Diego Zoo, also part of this unique park.
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Balboa Park at night is a fairyland, with the Old
Globe Theatre, center-right, lit up for a performance |
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A STROLL through the park feels like a walk through the United Nations Assembly Room. You will hear languages from all over Europe, the Far East and Russia (San Diego boasts a large Russian population and there are frequent visitors from that part of the world.)
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Lunch time for a beloved gorilla. Maka is a star at San Diego Zoo. |
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San Diego Zoo is world famous, visited recently by three generations -- from left, Olivia Cosgriffe, Peny Ganner, Christene "Cookie Meyers, James Ganner and Amarylla Ganner, mother of the kids. |
WE TOOK a break in the pleasant coffee shop, and headed to the zoo, our second adventure and a 20-minute walk from the railroad museum.
We eyed the bounty of animals from atop the zoo's double-decker bus, with a lively, eco-friendly commentary from Lee, who knows the zoo like the back of her hand and stressed what young and old can do to help preserve animals and habitats worldwide.. We hopped off to watch Maka for an hour.
She gave us helpful directions to see the panda before she returns to China, delighted in telling about a precious baby porcupette and pointed out antelope calves, mini meerkats and tortoises, whose beautiful patterned shells shown in the sunlight.