Popular Gardens in Hillcrest

"Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre cultural destination a few minutes by car from Downtown San Diego that suits a variety of travel styles. Each of the 16 museums are fantastic in their own right and some are enumerated separately on this list, such as the kid-friendly favorites including Fleet Science Center and San Diego Natural History Museum. Culture enthusiasts may want to step into the San Diego Museum of Art or Museum of Photographic Arts."

"Balboa Park is San Diego’s biggest park. In fact, it’s bigger than Central Park!. There are a ton of activities to do here depending on what you’re interested in."

"There is an extra fee to enter the Japanese Friendship Garden, which is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama. There’s an upper and lower strolling path where you can see koi pond, landscaped gardens and a Zen garden viewing deck. It’s a very tranquil space."

"Feel the beauty of the waterfalls and greenery as you stroll the pathways of the Japanese Friendship Garden. Skip right past the entrance fee the third Tuesday of every month. As well, explore the Japanese rock garden and take in the current indoor display."

"The elegant Japanese Friendship Garden is also worth a visit. Grab lunch at The Prado, located within Balboa Park., and try to get a table on the outdoor terrace."

"Study humankind at the San Diego Museum of Man, marvel at aeronautic engineering in the San Diego Air and Space Museum, then catch your breath in the Botanical Building. Head up to North Park for happy hour at Polite Provisions; its beautiful cocktail lounge may hook you up with some small plates if you’re hungry. Save the appetite, though—North Park’s Restaurant Row is nearby."

"The Botanical Building houses more than 2,000 tropical plants. Capturing the wood structure with the lily pond in front is one of the most photographed sections of Balboa Park."

"Located in Balboa Park, this place deserves its own spot on my list of Instagrammable places in San Diego!. Cacti are super photo-worthy, and that San Diego sunshine will give you the perfect lighting for an epic photo. (PS. Check out this post on how to pose for Instagram photos!)"

"Jimbo Someck (yes, there really is a real guy behind the name) came to San Diego over 40 years ago. He started in the food business breaking down cardboard boxes. Jimbo opened his first store in 1984 in North Park (now sold) and has opened five San Diego stores since then; four of them here in North County: Carmel Valley, Escondido, Carlsbad, 4S Ranch."

"If you’re looking for vegan Chinese delivery, consider taking a look at Sipz Vegetarian Fusion Cafe in North Park."

"Heartwork Coffee Bar is located in a cozy corner of the Mission Hills neighborhood of San Diego, serving locally sourced coffee and baked goods in a beautiful space. A family-run business that serves coffee and kindness, the decor is sleek wood and white honeycomb tiles accented by warm smiles. Photo:The Daily Cupp"

"A post shared by Heartwork Coffee (@heartworkcoffeebar) on Jul 23, 2020 at 10:35am PDT. Heartwork Coffee Bar is a family-run business located in Mission Hills. The shop has been roasting its own beans in Chula Vista since 2018 and offers a variety of options with complex flavors."

"Heartwork Coffee Bar is also a place you should see if you're looking for coffee in San Diego. Especially if you want to find cute coffee shops in San Diego, you'll love this one!. The place serves delicious roasted coffee from a local source."

"You don’t need to look further than the menu to see why Litl’ Pepper is gourmet. Sporting a full host of options including breakfast, soups, salads, wraps, desserts, and of course, gourmet sandwiches, this restaurant is more than just a sandwich shop. With sandwich choices like The Barcelona, Jurassic Pork, and The Firework, you won’t get bored."