Balboa Park, San Diego

Overflowing with history, Balboa Park is a must-see when visiting San Diego. Named after Spanish maritime explorer Vasco Núño de Balboa, at 1200 acres, it is the nation's largest urban cultural park. The Casa del Prado, one of the architectural hightlights of the park, was originally built for the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition, which celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal. Today, Balboa Park contains 15 major museums, several performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and many other cultural and recreational attractions making  it the perfect spot for a quick city escape.