Running tour · San Diego

Balboa Park

3.5 mi run

Open in Stride Stories

The stories on this route

1. Balboa Park and the 1915 Exposition

   Look along El Prado, at the arcaded, Spanish-style buildings and the trees between them.

2. Cabrillo Bridge

   Look past the end of the bridge, at the tower and the tiled dome. The fair's entrance was approached across a long bridge over a canyon, up to what appears to be a fortified European town. The bridge was dedicated in April 1914 by Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

3. California Tower

   Look up at the California Tower. It's about 200 feet from the pavement to the top of the weathervane, a great wrought-iron Spanish ship. Now follow the tile. The bottom is plain, with a few small windows. The decoration and coloured tile start sparingly, grow as the tower climbs, and peak in the dome.

4. The Old Globe

   Just off El Prado, look for the Old Globe. It began at the 1935 fair as a copy of a copy. It was based on a Globe built for Chicago's fair, which copied Shakespeare's Globe in London. Like the original, it was open in the middle. Fairgoers got 50-minute versions of Shakespeare.

5. Botanical Building and Lily Pond

   Look across the Lily Pond at the Botanical Building: a big dome of open lath, with long arched wings either side. On a still day, the whole thing is mirrored in the water. It was built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.

6. Spreckels Organ Pavilion

   Look at the big arch. At the corners, columns wrapped in spiraling vines, each topped by a winged angel blowing twin trumpets. Now find the bronze plaque by the arch. It's a gift note. The pavilion and organ are presented 'to the people of San Diego', and dedicated 'to them and the people of all the world', by John D.

7. San Diego Zoo

   Look at the bronze lion on the plaza. It's named after the lion that inspired this whole zoo.

Stories researched October 2026 · every fact checked against a source