The greatest concentration of art galleries and museums is in Balboa Park. The 1,200 4.9 km² urban cultural park is a cultural complex within green open areas and natural vegetation. It contains a variety of cultural attractions including museums, theaters, gardens, shops and restaurants as well as the world-renowned San Diego Zoo. Balboa Park has been declared a National Historic Landmark.
Many of the park's attractions are along El Prado, a long, wide promenade running through the center of the park. Along this boulevard are many of the park's museums, including the Museum of Man, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Photographic Arts, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and Timken Museum of Art.
There are a number of gardens located in the park. These include Alcazar Garden, Botanical Building, Cactus Garden, Casa del Rey Moro Garden, Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, Japanese Friendship Garden, Marston House Garden, Palm Canyon and Zoro Garden.
Other attractions include the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, which includes the world's largest outdoor pipe organ; The Old Globe Theatre, a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre; a collection of "international cottages"; the Botanical Building with its accompanying reflecting pool; the Starlight Bowl; and the largest tenant of the park, the Balboa Park Golf Complex with an 18-hole golf course and a 9-hole executive golf course.
La Jolla's Museum of Contemporary Art showcases works created after 1950 with an emphasis on California. The museum houses some 3000 pieces, only a fraction of these are on exhibition at any time.
The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library also in La Jolla is housed in a graceful Spanish renaissance structure and is devoted exclusively to art and music. You can relax here while reading daily newspapers from around the globe.
La Jolla Playhouse - now UCSD's Mandell Weiss Center for the Perfoming Arts, includes a state-of -the-art theatre, rehearsal halls and a restaurant.
Movie lovers will be happy to check out the latest Hollywood releases or small independent movies at one of the many cinemas across San Diego. Most malls have a multi-screen movie theatre with the added benefit of American cinemas being some of the cheapest in the world.
The Horton Plaza is home to the San Diego Repertory Theatre who put on a wide array of productions from cutting edge to classic.
San Diego Opera's performances take place at the Civic Theatre, at the intersection of Third Avenue and B Street in downtown San Diego.
UCSD Mandeville in La Jolla is a common venue for the San Diego Ballet although they do appear at other venues in the city.
