Trees ready for planting in new park on Embarcadero.
Major improvements to the North Embarcadero are well underway, and I was able to get some interesting pics yesterday!
Harbor Drive is undergoing a facelift from the Coast Guard Station down to the USS Midway Museum. This area is considered San Diego’s front doorstep, but until this renovation it’s been more parking lot than park.
Many large-scale changes are going to make San Diego even more beautiful! The two ugly parking lots on either side of the County Administration Building are being transformed into grassy waterfront parks; Harbor Drive is being made more pedestrian friendly with pavilions, flower beds and new restrooms; most of the traffic on Harbor Drive will now be diverted onto Pacific Highway.
I’m really looking forward to the project’s completion!
Workers prepare public park near Star of India.County Administration Building will have grass parks on either side.Working on a new pavilion on San Diego’s front doorstep.New pavilion being built behind the Bay Cafe.Sign near Broadway Pier describes Embarcadero improvements.Anchor on Harbor Drive near USS Midway Museum.
Here are two pics I took on 5/24/14…
New waterfront pavilion under construction.Building made of words to be part of new Embarcadero.
And two more pics from 9/20/14…
Pavilion near Broadway will complete part of North Embarcadero Visionary Plan.The word SKY allows light to shine in from the sky!
UPDATE!
I took the following pictures on November 9, 2014. The improvements around the Broadway Pier appear to be nearly finished!
New pavilion near Broadway Pier is almost finished in early November 2014.Colorful glass, shiny surfaces and word-shaped skylights are a delight!Worker putting final touches on a ticket booth to be used by harbor cruise company.Word shining from roof of pavilion spells JOY.Restroom walls are formed of crazy letters spelling various words.A new hotel is rising across Harbor Drive, at site of old Lane Field, north of Broadway.
This hidden gem is the perfect spot for a picnic or quiet relaxation.
This morning I headed out to enjoy a special event in Balboa Park: the Japanese Friendship Garden’s Cherry Blossom Festival. Unfortunately, lots and lots of people were in line at the front entrance, and my feet didn’t want to stop. So I kept moseying along, pointing my nose toward the park’s Gymnasium, where I believed the big annual Rummage Sale was being held. This massive fundraiser is put on every year by the Thursday Club, and attracts thousands of eager bargain-seekers. Well, what do you know? The only thing going on in the Gymnasium was a basketball game. Strike Two. Okay, I thought to myself, I’ll just keep on going and have a leisurely walk…
Thursday Club Rummage Sale banner on Park Boulevard.
Wham! Suddenly in front of my eyeballs loomed a gigantic banner–the Rummage Sale was being held this year across Park Boulevard, in Balboa Park’s Activity Center, a building I’d never visited. In fact, I’ve seldom walked about the park’s Inspiration Point area, except to visit the Veteran’s Museum. My restless feet were once again redirected…
People descend stairs of Balboa Park Administration Building.
The handsome Spanish Colonial Revival style Balboa Park Administration Building (which originally was headquarters for San Diego’s Naval Hospital, built in the early 1920s) lured me forward into uncharted territory. Several people leaving the Rummage Sale were heading down the stairs. So up the stairs I went, around the quiet building and…WOW!
Gazebo with colored tile roof near entrance to hidden park.
I’d stumbled upon a corner of heaven.
Balboa Park Administrative Courtyard’s benches are empty.
After a bit of research, I learned this beautiful and seldom-visited area is called the Balboa Park Administrative Courtyard. One website calls it a San Diego hidden gem, and I must concur. The place was stunningly beautiful–and completely empty. Nobody was present. Not a soul. On this warm Saturday, the rest of Balboa Park was crowded with people.
Fountain in the Balboa Park Administrative Courtyard was once part of San Diego’s United States Naval Hospital.
The park-like courtyard and three nearby buildings–the old Navy chapel (now the Veteran’s Museum), the administration building, and an old medical library and auditorium building–used to be part of a sprawling Navy Hospital campus. Today the modern hospital is located just east of the courtyard, down in Florida Canyon. You can see a small part of it in the first photo. Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) is also known as Bob Wilson Naval Hospital or Balboa Hospital.
Palms line the tranquil courtyard behind Balboa Park’s Administration Building.Another view of Balboa Park’s seldom-visited paradise.
I’m glad I randomly walked in a new direction! Adventures and discoveries await in unexpected places!
Trees, flowers, walkways, blue sky and a small corner of heaven.
I revisited this beautiful place in late 2014…
Plane approaching Lindbergh Field flies above Balboa Park Administration Building.A pleasant stroll through an arbor past bird of paradise flowers.This fountain is near the center of a large, quiet grassy space. A second, slightly smaller fountain can be found to the north.Some people rest on a bench in the sunny courtyard.
Two more pics from September 2015. Still as beautiful and peaceful as ever!
Have a picnic.Read (or write) a book.
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Sculpture and cannon at entrance to the Mormon Battalion Historic Site.
Just east of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park one can find the Mormon Battalion Historic Site, an attraction created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The location itself seems a bit arbitrary, as the Mormon Battalion manned Fort Stockton up on the hill by the old, abandoned Presidio when they arrived in San Diego in 1847.
Young lady missionaries guide visitors through a series of rooms and outdoor areas which are designed to tell a sympathetic version of the Mormon Battalion’s difficult 2000 mile march from Iowa. The ulterior motive is to promote their beliefs, and there are frequent religious references, but there is no hard sell and the tour guides are warm and friendly. One can absorb a little bit of history while experiencing a good-humored, Disney-like presentation.
A friendly missionary lady comes outside to welcome a new visitor.Girl in a pioneer dress begins the tour with talking, moving portraits.
Much of the tour is spent watching professionally produced dramatic videos. Several real historical artifacts can be found near the tour’s end.
Taking pictures of visitors with a large antique camera.Girls pose for a picture in front of a western scene.
A lot of families and kids were smiling and enjoying the tour. Many appeared to be members of the LDS Church.
Young visitors near end of the tour pan for glittery iron pyrite.Covered wagon in front of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site.
Sun rises between palm trees above Mission Valley Resort.
Greetings to the folks at Mission Valley Resort! Thanks for following my blog! My walk to work takes me down Bachman Place, so today I decided to take a small detour and pass by the resort to check it out! Great location! I took several quick pics and the one above turned out best!
The Greatest Generation Walk, roughly between the USS Midway Museum and the Fish Market Restaurant, is always a hub of activity during the weekend. There’s a huge load of stuff to do and see! Lots of people were out and about yesterday!
Bikers and tour bus in parking lot on Embarcadero.People look at USS San Diego Memorial.Guys check out the USS San Diego Memorial.Photo being taken of USS Midway aircraft carrier.In concrete. I shall return. General Douglas MacArthur. 1942.People in a tiny GoCar enjoy a GPS tour of San Diego.Falun Gong activist holds up sign on sidewalk.Falun Gong poster on sidewalk near Unconditional Surrender statue.Mingling among bronze soldiers at the Bob Hope Tribute.Fishing from a small boat near USS Midway Museum.Small cute dog enjoys a ride on a San Diego pedicab.
A carefree day near the center of San Diego’s Old Town!
Just some random pics taken around the central plaza of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park…
Shoppers emerge from pottery shop in Old Town central plaza.Silver jewelry, beef jerky and root beer!The Robinson-Rose house is the park Visitor Center.Tall flagpole at the center of historic Old Town.The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant.The Rust General Store with patriotic red, white and blue.Folks walk past historical buildings in Old Town’s plaza.Tourists pose for a picture in an old covered wagon in Old Town.
Corn husk roses, crosses, scepters and dragonflies.
A carefree walk with open eyes is a feast. One meanders into endless discoveries. Even cheap wares on the sidewalk or cart are worth a moment’s attention.
These photos of crafts, curios and colorful clutter were taken during an ordinary walk along San Diego’s Embarcadero.
Dazzled by sunglasses shining in the sun.Painted skulls, beads and assorted Mexican trinkets.Beads are a common product on sidewalks along the Embarcadero.Shells and dangling ornaments for sale on small vendor’s cart near the Midway.A rainbow of colors! Name bracelets alphabetically ordered.Layered dreamcatchers might catch really big dreams.Combination of football helmets and skulls on display for passing tourists.Bright piles of tie-dye shirts for sale on Embarcadero sidewalk.Whiskery, crazy, colorful faces painted on palm fronds.
While walking through Mission Valley in the early morning, I did a double take when I saw this unusual sight! I assume the motel is undergoing a name change. Or perhaps the driver hauling the Super 8 sign stayed a night at Quality Inn!
Here comes a fun batch of photos taken Saturday during my walk along San Diego’s beautiful Embarcadero!
Glowing green Urban Trees artwork on San Diego’s Embarcadero. Green Fire, Robert Verhees, 2006.
This sculpture was originally part of an Urban Trees bayside art exhibit some years ago. A few remain on display here and there along the bay and elsewhere in San Diego. In this photo, the sun is directly behind the translucent green material, making it glow!
Coast Guard cutter docked at San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal.Tourists at the Visitor Information shack.Kid kicks a ball on the grass in Ruocco Park.Stone and steel ants by an artist near Seaport Village.Balloon Mario, Little Mermaid and Hulk attract kids.Children’s Miracle Network volunteers near Tuna Harbor.Heron stands on rocks beside San Diego Bay.Colorful pedicab drivers wait on Embarcadero for riders.Street performer plays sax by the USS Midway.Balloon twister guy sits patiently on the Embarcadero.
What could be more cool than biking along a city street with a dozen of your buddies? These folks are sitting around a table enjoying drinks and conversation while pedaling away and taking in the sights. This twelve-person bicycle might not be suitable for your typical family, but lots of tourists and fun-seekers enjoy it!
I spotted two of these cool contraptions in East Village!
Cool San Diego Sights! 