El Prado walk, Balboa Park
Many people walk or jog along El Prado in Balboa Park in the early evening. It's lovely to see the soft light on the Spanish Baroque architecture. Half of the way you are on a pedestrian-only street with golden architecture, musicians and food stands, and then walking through the main square with fountain called Plaza de Panama. The other half of the way you are on a sidewalk walking past more gorgeous architecture, including California tower, then over Cabrillo Bridge, which is arched like an aqueduct and takes you over a canyon with trees galore, landing you in downtown. El Prado runs from Bea Everson Fountain on the eastern edge of Balboa Park, to Sixth Avenue on Banker's Hill in downtown.
If you don't live near Balboa Park, you can park in the Veteran's Museum Parking lot, which almost always has spaces (see directions below).
The California Tower stands out as one of the prettiest sights along the way. It is a Spanish tower with Mexican colors and tiles, called California Tower, that stretches to the blue sky. It has three tiers, from the bottom: quadrangle, octagon, then round. In the tower is a carillon that sounds every fifteen minutes with the Westminster Chimes. If you walk past at noon, you can hear a musician play three songs on the carillon. The tower has a glorious blue and gold dome, built to resemble a church in Taxco, Mexico. Its transcription, in Latin, speaks of a land of oil and honey, where wheat, barley, wines, and trees such as fig, pomegranate, and olive grow.
Golden architecture.
Riding along El Prado.
Arches and palms.
The lovely architecture.
Decorated columns and arches.
Wrought iron balconies of Casa de Balboa.
Sculptures of women holding up the roof of the Casa de Balboa.
California Tower silhouette.
Natural History Museum.
Bea Everson Fountain, on the far east end of El Prado.
El Prado, at its east end.
Plaza de Panama, the main square in Balboa Park, which El Prado runs through.
You pass The Old Globe, a theater.
California Tower.
The Old Globe is on El Prado.
Seating outside at The Old Globe.
The Old Globe theater is fun to check out, on El Prado.
Seating where you can rest, outside The Old Globe theater.
California tower and its blue and gold dome.
Blue and gold dome, with Latin inscription about a land of oil and honey, where wheat, barley, wines, and trees such as fig, pomegranate, and olive grow.
A couple walks near The Old Globe.
Details on the blue and gold dome of the California Tower.
Alcazar Garden, which you pass. It is in the California Quadrangle. Take a peek inside!
Alcazar Garden, a lovely spot.
Banana trees and arches.
Trumpet flowers in the Alcazar Garden.
Flowers in the Alcazar Garden.
Afternoon light in the Alcazar Garden.
Multi-colored flowers in the Alcazar Garden.
Arched gate in the Alcazar Garden.
California Tower and curved palm. So whimsical!
California Tower and Canary palm.
Details of the building that houses the Museum of Us.
You are up high when on the Cabrillo Bridge.
View of the canyon with flowers and eucalyptus, from the Cabrillo Bridge.
View of tall, skinny palms in the canyon, like a tropical wonderland, from the Cabrillo Bridge.
View from the Cabrillo Bridge, which look like an aqueduct.
View from the Cabrillo Bridge, of the canyon below.
Eucalyptus trees, as seen from the Cabrillo Bridge.
Museum of Us ornate doorway, with flowers in a pot in the foreground.
Star fountain in Alcazar Garden, across the street from the California Tower.
House of Hospitality, in the main square called Plaza de Panama.
House of Hospitality building, in the main square.
The House of Hospitality, in the main square. Such beautiful architecture and trees!
Purple and white flowers.
Daisies and Canary Island Dragon tree, outside Mingei Intl Museum.
Daisies outside Mingei Intl Museum.
Beautiful details on House of Hospitality.
Bougainvillea flowers and Spanish buildings.
Details of a honeycomb building.
Shady walkway along El Prado, near Timken Museum of Art.
The Plaza de Panama Fountain in the center of the square.
Park in the Veteran's Museum parking lot. Then walk uphill ten minutes to Bea Everson Fountain, which is the eastern edge of El Prado.
Ellen Crowe
Sun, 14 Jan 2024
very informative as always thank you.
Last Updated: Sun, 14 Jan 2024 22:20:56 GMT
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