Spent about an hour in Balboa Park after landing in San Diego, and I'm glad we made the stop…read more We parked at the Lower Inspiration Point parking lot for free, and the shuttle arrived within 5 minutes to take us to the main entrance. Our driver was nice enough to give us a short tour on the way, which was a nice touch. We ended up seeing the Botanical Building and lily pond area, and both were lovely and picturesque. I honestly felt like I was in Europe with the architecture of the buildings. Next, we made our way to the Spanish Village Art Center, and it felt like I had stepped into a movie set, very surreal and colorful. I would highly recommend Balboa Park for any first-time visitors to San Diego!

Yes - park and museums are lovely, but for me, I just didn't love Balboa Park…read more Didn't hate it but if you are someone with just a weekend in town, I think there are better options for afternoon activities in the zillions of things there are to do in SD. All I'm saying is don't get fooled making this a top of your list, must do-thing. Go if you REALLY want to, but don't feel like you missed out if you made a different selection.

I stumbled upon this little park while visiting Coronado Island for the first time and I am so glad…read moreI did. It was so serene and peaceful- the perfect spot to rest if you need some peace and quiet. We went on a weekday afternoon and there was only one other person there. The views are absolutely stunning. They have a few benches to sit down, but I would say bring a small blanket to lie down on the grass next to the water. We parked right across the street in the residential area. I would assume this place gets really busy on the weekends and parking might be tough. It's super worth a visit, even if you can only stop by for a minute to take in the views!

Such a great little park. Perfectly quiet in the morning and a superb place to pray and do…read moredevotions. Lovely benches and unobstructed views of the city. All types of waterfowl to enjoy. Easy parking and a joy to bike to. Bike paths all across Coronado make this a must see spot.

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.

Civita Park in Mission Valley has quickly become one of my go-to spots, especially since it's just…read morea short drive from home. It's super accessible with ample parking, and I love that there are multiple entry points and routes you can take depending on how long of a walk you're in the mood for. This park truly has something for everyone. There's a splash pad, basketball courts, a great playground for kids, and even a giant chess game, which is such a fun and unique touch. It's also an amazing place to walk your dog--I bring mine here all the time, and he absolutely loves all the open grass and the variety of paths we can explore. One of my favorite features is the set of stairs that lead up toward the residential areas and the dog park. If you take them all the way up, you're rewarded with really pretty views at the top, which makes the little climb totally worth it. Overall, Civita Park is clean, well-designed, and perfect whether you're looking to be active or just enjoy a relaxing afternoon outdoors. Definitely a Mission Valley gem!

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.

Sunset Cliffs is a San Diego institution! I frequently go for walks in this area. A lot of of it…read moreis parallel to the street but at the end there is a nice open park with a few trails that butt up to Point Loma Nazarene university. It is especially beautiful right now in the spring... All the flowers are starting to come out and everything is green. This is also a great area to come out with a picnic and watch the sunset. And if you don't bring a picnic, there are lots of great taco and brunch spots in Ocean Beach for after your walk!

I love Sunset Cliffs! It's one of my favorite spots for photoshoots. Parking has never really been…read morean issue for me, and the area is so big that you can walk around, explore, and take photos without feeling crowded. The views are absolutely gorgeous--especially around sunset--and there are so many beautiful backdrops. I've had so much fun running around with friends here capturing photos. Overall, it's such a peaceful, scenic spot and definitely one of my go-to locations!

We also enjoyed The Children's Park in Downtown, San Diego, CA…read more When you walk towards the Children's Park, you'll be going through a walkway surrounded by water and you'll see birds swimming. The park is gated and safe for kids. Our son loved the playground. The park is across from The Children's Museum. They also have public bathrooms available with security. The park was nice and clean. There are a few picnic tables outside the park. Check it out! Happy Yelping :)

ONE PARK FITS ALL (4 stars)…read more Thanks for including dogs as many of us, our dogs are our children. The dog park is next to the Children's Park. - parking sucks if you don't live in the area - park is small and there is no divide between big and small dogs, one park fits all Owners here are very respectful. They have agility climbing structure. It can get a little crowded and rowdy when the big dog packs like to dominate, there is seating but no shade. It's turf, no grass or dirt. We like coming here when we are in the area roaming the waterfront.

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.

This is a big park with a lot of grass area, a fountain, basketball and pickle ball courts, plus an…read moreoff leash dog park. What more can you ask for? What about great views of the harbor and city skyline on the other side? Yup it has that too. I come here many times with my dogs, as the dog park is a decent size for medium dogs to run around in. The dog area may not have grass, but it has dirt, and is usually kept clean. I actually prefer the dirt compared to artificial turf. Something to note is that there is only one park, so big dogs are combined with small ones. Theres a small obstacle course for dogs to jump and run through. And for the humans, there's also a few benches on the side to sit at.

Gotta love Mission Bay Park. I have been here a few times after hanging out at the beach. Park is…read morestill near the ocean, but it is still a short break to get away from everything. Nice running and biking trails we have indulged inside before. Great scenery of the ocean and city here. I just love it.

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!

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.

Recently walked throughout the private townhomes available at Liberty Station and was impressed…read more The grounds are meticulously maintained and managed. The inner courtyards have water features and outside patios and communal benches. Private parking for residents is a bonus! The best part is being so close to all the area businesses! Trader Joe's, Vons, Scripps Medical and urgent care, the Joan, the Lot, Sephora, Chick-fil, Tender Greens and many, many more! There are also three schools within walking distance and so many restaurants too! There are also open sports park fields used for soccer and other sports! It's a family friendly and safe neighborhood.

Well-kept park with plenty of trees for shade and beautiful waterfront views. It's a nice spot to…read morestroll through or relax on the grass. During my visit, I saw people riding bikes, roller skating, and paddle boarding nearby, which added to the fun and lively atmosphere. A great place to enjoy the outdoors and the scenery.