We enjoyed the park here! It had more people than usual when we play at parks but it was downtime…read moreand comic con weekend. Great play structures. Built with probably age 7+ in mind but my toddler was able to enjoy everything easily. The slides were metal but it didn't burn anyone going down. I was happy there was a good amount of shade! Bring your own food and snacks. Prices are ridiculous. The ice cream truck was $6 for an ice cream sandwich. Prices are not posted and I didn't have the heart to say nevermind and disappoint the kiddos. Great park!

This is more based on the dog park that's on the same lot as the Children's Park. This one uses…read moreturf, which i find has it's benefits on the days after a rainstorm since it doesn't get muddy. There are four big pine trees with separate retaining walls around three of them for owners to sit down. With it being so close to the bay, there's often a nice breeze that goes through the park. There's no divide between small dogs and big dogs, so it's best to just keep an eye on your dog, and many owners around here are usually respectful. The street parking immediately adjacent to the park is free, however, it has a limit of 30 minutes, and the parking meter workers are strict on it if they're around. I bring my dog here around lunch time because those who live/ work in the area tend to bring their dogs during their break time and my dog gets his socialization time. They close 8am-11am MWF for maintenance/ cleaning. Currently, both gates are broken so it's not as secure as it should be, and who knows when the city will actually fix it. There're a few agility structures and a water dispenser. The children's park itself looks pretty cool for kids with a lot of structures with slides and swings. There's also another separate area with fixed exercise equipment that looks well- maintained. The water feature in the park is a water feature, not a pool.

After hearing about this spot from a friend, I have always wanted to come. I was able to on a hot…read moreday, despite it being hot, it was also very windy (cool). I would recommend a light jacket-- of course depending on the day. They have clean restrooms with sinks to wash your hands outside, but no paper towels or drying station. They had many choices of where to sit, where to play, even tables to eat, and more. People rollerblading, skateboarding, yoga, playing soccer, this spot is full of life! I really enjoyed my time here as even the birds and butterflies were all flying around. I will happily come back to explore more of what this park has to offer.

Pros: Spacious, plenty of walking paths, with nice clean facilities, which include 2 family…read morebathrooms with baby diaper changing stations and several drinking fountains. There's also a row of small fountains for kids to play, run through and splash in. Cons: It's a really nice park ON A COOL DAY. Lately, with temperatures 10 to 19° above "normal average" - or maybe it's just the new normal - it's hard to recall the last time we got to experience a cool day. But here, the way the gazebos, tables, and benches are set up reflects a pretty severe case of denial that this is Southern California, and not quite within walking distance from the beach. It WILL get hot whenever it damn pleases, with or without notice. It did so in February already, in case you missed it. We came a few times for the farmers market. Both days were unfortunately " 80°F" her weather report, which in reality feels like 92°F, and we had to scramble to find a little bit of shade, so that we could eat our street food without passing out from heat stroke. We huddled awkwardly on the curb under a small tree. Other people passing by with food in their hands looked at us with envy. NOT A SINGLE PERSON sat on the readily available benches with tables, because they were in the blazing sun, yet lacked any shade. Never mind an umbrella, not even holes to put one in!! Denial much?? It's really sad, because it's a beautiful place. It just DESPERATELY needs more shade for the visitors to feel comfortable without clinging to trees or the bathroom walls.

The most amazing park my toddler and I have ever had the pleasure of visiting- thus far!!!…read more As we were driving to Old Town, we passed by a few playgrounds prompting my little monster's request for some play time. After we were doing doing some basic tourist-y things, I hopped on Yelp in search of a few parks located withing the vicinity. Maruta Gardner Playgound seemed to be the most entertaining and appropriate for my wild child. Parking was plentiful and the size of this particular playground was great. Not only was the look and design very unique, you really couldn't ask for a better view. Seating was plentiful and again, the design of things were so cool. Shade is easily found and the play structure is great for children + adults of all ages. Lastly, there are restrooms and water fountain located not too far. Shout out to Ms. Maruta Gardner!! My daughter and I thank you because this place wouldn't have been possible without you. Your dedications and love for your community was undeniable. Thank you for beautifying everything around you and rest in paradise. 5/5 Stars!! Definitely a must if you are in San Diego!!

This is a fantastic park! Truly has activities for all ages and lots of seating for parents. The…read moreswings and climbing structure are so fun! I also love that it's right across the street from mission beach. We love to walk along the beach then come and play or vice versa. Generally safe area and haven't seen many homeless loitering about. Pretty clean and minimal litter.

My wife wanted to stopped by here the moment we arrived to San Diego. We been here before like five…read moreyears ago when we first started dating. There different parking lot you can park at but I chose the parking lot near the Organ Pavilion area. Since we came before lunch time, I was able to find a good spot and you'll have to pay for parking here. My wife wanted to check out the Botanical Garden building first and then we went to the Art Center so my wife can shop over there. We also saw a long line of people looking to buy plants at Casa Del Prado. We didn't stay long because the sun was starting to come out and our daughter was getting fussy.

Balboa Park is one of my favorite places to visit in San Diego. Every time I come down here to…read morevisit my daughter who is studying in San Diego, I try to stop by if I have some free time just to walk around and relax. This place is more than just a park. I really enjoy the beautiful gardens, historic buildings, and unique Spanish style architecture. The area around the California Tower is especially beautiful. Walking around here and taking in the peaceful atmosphere is always a nice experience. I usually park in one of the parking lots inside the park (around $10). If you are lucky, you may find free parking in the surrounding areas, but honestly, parking can be difficult, especially on busy days. What I like most about Balboa Park is that you don't need to visit all the museums to enjoy this place. You can simply walk around, enjoy the gardens, take pictures, and relax. One thing to keep in mind is that the park is very large. If you don't plan ahead, you may end up walking more than expected. But that is also what makes this place special , every visit gives you a chance to see something different.

Great park with tons of grassy square footage and a wonderful playground, adequate shade trees…read morealso. Great for simply hanging out and letting the kids run and play. 4.5 stars, would be 5 stars if it had restrooms though.

I always have a positive experience at this clean and safe park filled with rich history. It's the…read moreperrrfect size for a neighborhood park.There's always something fun going on...a party...an event by local businesses...an activity from a FB group...a picnic since there's tables scattered around...a concert...you name it. The majority of the times, I'm people watching, walking, reading/relaxing, and/or taking nature pictures. It's sooo green with grass, trees and flowers. You'll see a beauuutiful view of Mission Valley. For the kiddos, there are playground with slides, swing set, and climbing. It's dog friendly too but have your fur babies on leash. The only down side is no public restrooms.

i'm conflicted about this place. i love Point Loma, SO beautiful but i was shocked and kinda sad…read morethat kids are STILL jumping off the cliffs even though someone just got hurt here. We saw the lifeguards come and talk to them and they just waited and jumped anyway. SO dumb. but I guess that's what you do when you're young and foolish lol I'll try to post pics here. I don't have instagram bc i locked myself out of it! lol. Anyway it's really pretty here and def worth checking out.

We live by Pt. Loma and Sunset Cliffs is our go-to spot for a quick weekend walk. This is the…read moreperfect spot to watch the stunning California sunset and the ocean. It's even more beautiful in Spring! I knew about SC when I was living abroad and immediately fell in love then told myself that is where I'm gonna get married! I DID!! It's also a perfect spot for tide pooling. We found cute shells on the shore while exploring the cave. So if you see me, say hello!

Wow what a great park. We stopped by to check out the out the play ground, and there was also a…read morehuge panda event. Which resulted in the playground being loaded with children and families having fun and relaxing in the cool breeze. There are ton of play activities for the kids: blue climbing mountain with slides, cool spaceship looking merry go rounds, swings, climbing, obstacle courses, etc. There are tons of tables, benches, and lots of shady areas for picnics or relaxing while the kids play. It was awesome to find this playground ride down the road from where we were staying. Too bad this is our last full day in San Diego.

The panda event was fun. Lots of food, mostly bad choices but good time to try food i normally…read morewouldn't eat. Prices are always high during events.

Everyone has to admit it,the view from Kate O Sessions Memorial Park is quite amazing, and there…read moreare plenty of spots in the park to enjoy it from. The grass is very well maintained, and the park is dotted with a variety of large mature trees for plenty of shade. The view at the top of the park, where the parking lots lay, the view sends you all the way to downtown San Diego and most of Mission Bay. The park offers restrooms and a playground nearby. You may bring your pet dog, but it must remain on a leash. Unfortunately, I observed many individuals ignoring that rule. The park offers several picnic tables in and around the park.

OBSESSED! I came here when I first moved to SD and somehow forgot just how gorgeous this park is…read more I've been back twice recently and just soaked it all in. The weather was perfect, sun was out and it was one of those places where it's easy to lose track of time. Sooo soo peaceful ! One disclaimer.. be careful where you walk and where you step. There's a pretty big gap between the grass and the edge of the pavement in one area that is easily hidden. I wasn't paying attention, tripped and scraped both of my knees. Thankfully my ankle ended up being okay after icing it at home. Be careful lol. There's so much space in the park so don't worry about nabbing a great spot. Bring a blanket or beach chair, have a picnic, take in the city views, or just sit and relax for a while. Before you get all the way up the main overlook, there's a large flat grassy area before you enter that looked perfect for birthday parties or small get togethers. Both times I visited were during the day and it wasn't crowded. I did see quite a few people sunbathing lol don't think I've ever seen that at a park before. If you're looking for a peaceful spot to unwind and enjoy some of the best views in San Diego, definitely make some time for Kate Sessions Park!

This park is so much fun! Best to come early or on a weekday because the parking is a bit small and…read morefills pretty quick. The playground is HUGE! There's one on each end of the bay and both have a ton of fun stuff for the kids to do. The far end even has some workout equipment for adults. You get an awesome breeze from the bay and a beautiful view ahead of you of the waters. They even have 2 little zip lines which the kids adore. Just a great way to spend the day. I'd give 5 stars of there was more parking but otherwise its a great place to visit. A bit hard to watch the kids since its so big but highly recommend!

Love love love this sturdy, well made, accessible park. The options for kids of all abilities is…read moreamazing, and should be highlighted. I'm kicking myself for not taking better pictures. Next time, promise! We bring my daughter here to get her energy out when we come to Sea World, and honestly, I always find myself wishing Fresno would put something like this in. There are two areas and it's unclear if it's all Tecolote or another park all together but you can't miss the options. Large grass area. This one is further from restrooms but the area more south (that doesn't have the outdoor gym equipment) is right next to a children's restroom -all individual locking stalls. Hand washing station outside. We love these parks!!

Great spot for a relaxing weekend outing! We come here all the time with friends for BBQ since it's…read morea convenient location for families with kids. Plenty of space for the kids to play, at the sand area or the playground. It can get crowded so parking can be tricky but we always manage to find a spot so no complains. Piece of advice...stay away from the public restrooms there!

Mission Bay Park is a huge, beautiful area right on the water. Instead of crashing ocean waves, the…read morebay has super calm water that is perfect for paddleboarding or just wading in to cool off. There are miles of flat, paved paths all around the water where you can ride a bike or take a long walk. It is also an amazing place to bring dogs, especially with Fiesta Island right there.