Lots of smiles, fun and beauty in Balboa Park!

Photographer aims at beautiful fountain in the Casa del Rey Moro Garden in Balboa Park.

Today I found lots of smiles, fun and beauty as I walked around Balboa Park! But what else is new? Every visit is wonderful!

People walk down El Prado past the amazing Casa del Prado.

Heavenly wedding photography near the Lily Pond in Balboa Park.

Smiling ladies with the San Diego Museum of Art were getting art supplies ready for a youth event this evening.

More smiles from volunteers at a table outside the Balboa Park Visitors Center.

A coffee mug with hearts for eyes outside the House of Hospitality. It must be almost Valentine’s Day.

Bonsai in the always beautiful Japanese Friendship Garden.

For fun, enter the San Diego Air and Space Museum! They’ve got a new interactive exhibit about Speed!

Fantastic beauty seen by few visitors, from the parking lot behind the Casa de Balboa.

Almost time to head home. I hopped on the green Balboa Park shuttle at the Plaza de Panama.

And as I departed, I got a bonus smile!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

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Another day gently ends in Balboa Park.

Another day nears its end in beautiful Balboa Park.

I got off work a couple hours early today. To enjoy the remaining daylight, I headed over to Balboa Park.

A late January weekday was gently drawing to a close.

Late light on the Casa del Prado’s colonnade.

A bit of daylight remains. People meditate on some grass in Balboa Park.

A quiet late January afternoon at the Plaza de Balboa and Bea Evenson Fountain. The San Diego Natural History Museum shines in the last rays of sunlight.

Joggers pass through the Plaza de Panama as the sun falls behind the House of Charm.

Sunlight illuminates the rear of buildings lining El Prado, as seen from the Japanese Friendship Garden.

A group of smiling mariachis walks near the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.

The Tea Pavilion has closed for the day. Time to sweep leaves from the patio.

People enjoy the remaining daylight near Joan Miro’s sculpted Solar Bird, near the entrance of the San Diego Museum of Art.

The sun is getting ready to set. Clouds become luminous behind the California Tower.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

Passion, life and inspiration in Balboa Park.

Walk around beautiful Balboa Park and you will discover passion, life and inspiration. Everywhere.

Please enjoy some photographs that I took over the weekend.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

Do you like to read original, thought-provoking fiction? To read a few stories about life that I’ve written, click Short Stories by Richard.

A beautiful, magical walk between buildings.

Visitors to Balboa Park walk down a short pathway between the Casa de Balboa and the House of Hospitality.

My walk through Balboa Park today included a few restful moments in a magical place.

Between the Casa de Balboa and the House of Hospitality you will discover a space filled with beauty, strange wonder and peace. A dreamlike place where the soul can find nourishment.

A family making their way to the colorful tile fountain at one end of the walkway.

Looking back toward the arched colonnade that connects two sunlit buildings.

Photo through the elegant colonnade. On the other side of El Prado you will find the reflecting pool and Botanical Building.

Fantastic plaster ornamentation atop columns.

Many beautiful sights await curious eyes in this space between buildings.

A tree casts a magical shadow against windows.

A breathtaking look up at one corner of the Casa de Balboa.

Looking upward at the opposing tower, which rises from a corner of the House of Hospitality.

Lavish, fantastic Spanish Colonial Revival architectural touches on the House of Hospitality.

A mysterious delivery (and a tree’s shadow) enter an open door.

A lonely door and single light seem out of reach . . . painted magically on a canvas . . . afloat in bright space.

Natural beauty along a curving ramp between the buildings.

A heavenly flower near one dreamlike window.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

Late sunlight on Balboa Park’s trees and towers.

The House of Charm’s tower rises like a bright dream.

I took these photos yesterday shortly before sunset. I strolled from Balboa Park’s grassy West Mesa to the Cabrillo Bridge, then down El Prado to the reflecting pool. Late sunlight touched trees and dreamlike towers.

Late afternoon light brings out the curvaceous shape of a tree near Sixth Avenue.

Slanting light touches trees at Sefton Plaza.

The California Tower even more beautiful in late sunlight.

Light on the tiled dome of the California Building.

People in growing shadow near the beautiful House of Hospitality.

Tower of Casa del Prado in San Diego sunshine, shortly before sunset.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

Beautiful photos outside the Balboa Park Club.

Cacti in front of the Balboa Park Club. The building was created in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition to showcase the state of New Mexico.

Last Sunday, during my walk through the Palisades area of the park, I circled the Balboa Park Club searching for interesting photos. The earthy, very distinctive Pueblo Revival architecture of this building contrasts beautifully with the green plants that surround it.

The Balboa Park Club is located in the park’s Palisades area. The building was enlarged and remodeled for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition.

Once called the New Mexico State Building, the architecture is in the eye-pleasing Pueblo Revival style.

Green leaves and shadows against earthy colors and textures.

Behind the Balboa Park Club is the 1935 (Old) Cactus Garden.

White flowers contrasted with the Balboa Park Club’s rain-streaked exterior.

Looking upward at one corner of the Pueblo Revival-style building. Ornamental wooden beam “vigas” project outward and cast slanting shadows.

A beautiful taste of the American Southwest in Balboa Park.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

Fun works of art discovered around Balboa Park!

A cat snoozes near the front door of Studio 13 in Spanish Village Art Center.

Here are some random photos of fun artwork around Balboa Park. Mind you, the park is jammed with beautiful art from one end to the other. New discoveries await around every corner.

These few glances I happen to like. I hope you enjoy them, too!

A mirror by the moon reflects colorful patio tiles near Studio 18.

Enchanting mermaid artwork on a wall near the entrance of Studio 18.

A fun artistic bench awaits walkers with tired feet in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village.  (I guess a dog’s appreciation of art requires a nose.)

Studio 6 in Spanish Village has clay classes for kids! Call the painted phone number!

A drinking fountain on El Prado built into the House of Charm features elegant shell-like artwork.

This fun street art was painted on an electrical box next to the building that is home to the San Diego Chess Club and Balboa Park Horseshoe Club.

The friendly face of a Scotsman gazes upon visitors to the House of Scotland!

This stunning stained glass artwork depicting Budapest can be found inside the House of Hungary. The artist is Isabel Piczek.

Art deco image underfoot at the entrance to the Municipal Gymnasium. In 1935, the new building was called the Palace of Electricity and Varied Industries, erected for Balboa Park’s California Pacific International Exposition.

Section of frieze on the Federal Building, now home to the San Diego Hall of Champions. The artwork was designed in 1935 by architect Richard Requa, who was fascinated by pre-Columbian Mayan motifs.

Tibetan art on display in a glass case outside the Mingei Museum. A fierce deity with a frightful appearance!

Looking upward at rich Spanish Colonial Revival ornamentation on the Casa de Balboa.

Artistic leaves among fallen leaves. Photo taken on stairs between Casa de Balboa and the House of Hospitality.

A colorfully spotted giraffe greets visitors to Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

To read a short story that I wrote about how to paint angels, click here!