Whenever we book a trip to San Diego, the iconic zoo is usually number one on our agenda, but we also plan to spend at least half a day exploring Balboa Park. With museums, theaters, shops, and restaurants, there’s plenty to do and see, and it’s easy to get around on foot.
If you’re looking for a breathtaking view of the city and park, we recommend checking out the Museum of Us and scheduling a tour of the California Tower. The tallest structure in Balboa Park, this ornate tower is hard to miss and offers an amazing 360-view if you’re up for a climb. Perusing the exhibits in the anthropology museum is well worth your time too.
Be aware, though, if you book the tour, there are several flights of stairs, and unfortunately no accessible alternatives to the top. You will also be required to sign waivers for yourself and any minors accompanying you because of the physically demanding climb. Tips and instructions are available on the Museum of Us website.
On the day we visited, we had spent the morning and part of the afternoon at the zoo, but weren’t quite ready to head back to our hotel. We decided to check out the museum, and even though our stop was spontaneous, Nate had no trouble booking the next available tower tour.
After checking out a few of the exhibits on the first level before the start, we met our tour guide at the base of the tower stairs, where we signed our waivers and put our belongings in lockers. He explained what we should expect, and we began our ascent.
We were relieved to find out it wasn’t a non-stop climb (especially after our morning at the zoo). On each landing, the tour guide pauses to share the history of the building that houses the Museum of Us, the origins of Balboa Park, and the diverse communities that have inhabited the San Diego area.
The tour took us to the first viewing deck of the tower where we had 15 minutes to enjoy the view. There are two higher viewing decks, but they’re closed to the public. We weren’t disappointed, though, because the first does offer a great view.
Our morning had started off overcast and drizzly, but by the time of our tour, the sky had cleared up for a beautiful fall afternoon. We were able to see for miles in all four directions.
Overall, the tower tour was a great start to our visit to the Museum of Us. There’s much more to the museum, though, including a PostSecret exhibit and an important and thought provoking display on undocumented migration, so plan to spend at least a couple of hours there to take it all in. We’ll share more in another post.
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