Traveling through San Diego's famous Balboa Park, Route 163- Cabrillo Freeway is well known for its cultural and scenic attractions. Balboa Park is not your typical park. With fifteen museums, the San Diego Zoo, world-renowned rose gardens, delicious restaurants, and arts and cultures associations, Balboa Park is an experience that will fill an entire day. This huge cultural center is bordered by rows of palm trees and historic buildings, dotted with botanical gardens, and the hub of entertainment in San Diego.
Find time for nature, even in the chaos of city life, at Balboa Park. There are 15 themed gardens at the park. The Australia Garden contains plants native to Australia, which happen to flourish in the San Diego climate. The desert garden includes 1,300 species of plants that are drought-resistant. The Japanese Friendship Garden blends Japanese concepts and symbols like a tea stand, koi pond, and strolling paths right into the landscape of California. And the Zoro Garden, sunken into the ground and comprised of nectar plants and other species important to the life cycle of a butterfly, is home to many butterfly species.
If historical adventures are more your forte, try one of the many museums! Learn more about some of the colorful cultures that make up the diverse history of San Diego at one of the cultural preservation museums. Learn more about the fascinating Chicano, Japanese, South American, and Native American cultures that are so influential to the area. Or for an unusual museum experience, check out the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater, where you can see an entertaining puppet or marionette show put on by a theater troupe.
The Cabrillo Freeway is a truly unique byway experience. With so much to do right at your fingertips, you can experience the history, culture and landscapes of the San Diego area without ever leaving the byway.
