San Diego is known for many things: tacos, beaches, perfect weather . . . but did you know that we are also on the map for remarkable architecture? Just look at the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge at Petco Park, the longest self-anchored pedestrian bridges in the world, to know that we take architecture seriously.
A modern stone path floats over six lanes of traffic suspended by a diagonal monolith that seems to be shooting into the sky, all connected by steel poles that look like they’re curving in midair. Harbor Drive Bridge is just the tip of the iceberg
as far as gorgeous buildings and structures go. Here are some of our favorite places to visit:
First stop is the crown jewel of San Diego, a place we can’t stop writing about or visiting: Balboa Park. This esplanade has so much beauty and history, it’s impossible to cover everything in just one tour, which is convenient since they offer six different walking tours. On the first Friday of each month at 10:00am, there is the Architecture Heritage Tour led by the Committee of 100, an organization devoted to preserve the beauty of Balboa Park.
You can also join the Balboa Park History Stroll, presented by the San Diego History Center (Thursdays 11am and 1pm), for a one-hour tour walking down the park’s El Prado. The History stroll costs $12 and reservations are recommended. There are so many diverse edifices, from the Spanish colonial Museum of Man to the 1960s Modern Air & Space Museum, you truly cannot visit Balboa Park enough.
The University of California San Diego might be one of the state’s younger universities but thanks to a stellar medical program, engineering school, and the world famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, they are one of the top educational facilities in the country. UCSD is also on the map for having one of the most architecturally daring layouts on the planet. Their unique buildings offer a history of modernism (from the 1950s to today), and their campus is dotted with larger than life sculptures and installation art pieces.
The Library that stands in the middle of the school is like its own stunning work of art. Named after one of La Jolla’s most famous residents, Theodor Geisel, who you might know by his pen name, Dr. Seuss. The library resembles a futurist tree growing out of the concrete, definitely something you would see in a Dr. Seuss book. The works of art are part of the Stuart Collection and feature 18 unbelievable pieces from artists all over the globe. This MAP of the campus will weave you around the distinct buildings and take you by all the works of art; we suggest you do not miss Tim Hawkinson’s ‘Bear,’ a 23 foot tall teddy bear made of stone!
Tour Guide Tim’s ‘Explore San Diego Series’ is an amalgamation of the best tours around San Diego that highlight different neighborhoods and their surrounding buildings. Their website offers links to specific tours as well as lists of notable stops and locations that architecture and history buffs won’t want to miss. For example, there’s a link to the Heritage Park Victorian Village tour, which lists the Victorian-style homes and San Diego’s first Synagogue in Old Town San Diego.
