I lived in San Diego for 40 years and, honestly, some of my greatest memories occurred in Balboa Park.
As a child, of course, we would go to the zoo, and if I was lucky, behaved well enough and my mom was in the right mood, I would be able to ride the little train and the carousel. Those were my favorites. Of course, over the years, I would visit the science center and space theater on school field trips and the Starlight Bowl for Halloween. I remember getting separated from my group in the haunted house when I was about 6 and a (seemingly) giant monster came over and scared the daylights out of me!
As an adult, I had my little jogging route from Sixth Avenue over to Upas Street, and my fiancée and I spent many afternoons wandering the park, listening to the musicians (including the guy who played guitar with his feet).
In fact, that's exactly what we did on New Year's Day 2001, the day after I proposed to her. We got married at the Japanese Botanical Garden August 24, 2002, the greatest day and night of my life. Guests often remark to us that it was the best wedding they ever attended. I would agree. We had a Taoist/Christian wedding, complete with Chinese lion dancers. What a night!
Not long after our wedding, we moved to Escondido for more affordable housing, but I really missed the park. I took my boy, Jackson, then about 1, to the park every weekend for months. I missed the atmosphere, and maybe the memories. We spent many daddy and son weekends together that fall. Jackson loved the music, the puppet shows and the little cottages from around the world. He also loved to scare Daddy by pretending to dive into the koi pond, which nearly gave me a heart attack. I chased him all over that park.
I can remember him watching a Mexican family near our blanket kicking a soccer ball to each other. Mom, dad, the kids. I encouraged him to walk over but he was too shy. They noticed his interest as well and graciously invited him over to play with them, which he shyly did. What a wonderful memory that is.
We moved out of state about a year later and now, nearly seven years have gone since. We get to San Diego once a year to visit Grandma and Grandpa, and I always make it a point to visit Balboa Park. My two boys, Jackson and Colton, go to the zoo, ride the carousel, ride the train, visit the model train museum and watch the musicians just like I did. They even got to see the Grinch last Christmas.
It means a lot to me, being able to share such great memories and places with my boys. Maybe they'll do the same.
KPBS is collecting your Balboa Park memories as the city marks the 100th anniversary of Balboa Park's 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
Share yours here: Tell us about your Balboa Park memory
