At one of the largest urban cultural parks in the world, you’re brought across time and space from outer space to the farthest corners of earth and to eras several centuries past. You begin with an exploration of the starry sky and the dizzying heights of the stratosphere from an Air and Space museum. Hanging on wires are dusty gray Cobra Helicopters and the original Module Spacecraft of the Apollo 9. Here, you see the world as you would from the moon through the only GPS satellite on display in the world. On closer inspection you dive in, shrinking to match the size of a toy train so as to explore the various tracks and complicated paths setup. Though dwarfed, it fills you with wonder to know that this is the largest indoor model railroad display in the world. From automobiles your attention shifts to the land giants of the world instead at the zoo, again one of the best in the world. Biological machines and astounding creations by mother nature, this zoo holds 4000 animals hailing from 800 species. Creatures such as the 25 koalas of the Australian outback and the gentle black-eyed pandas are made to feel right at home continents away. And we move finally to our quieter neighbors whom we share this planet with through themed gardens and floral arrangements at the botanic gardens within. No longer are roses just red but pink, beige and buttercup yellow with 130 varieties numbering 1600 rose bushes at the Inez Grant Parker Rose Memorial.

As you can see, from the farthest reaches of space to the smallest living species on earth, San Diego’s Balboa Park covers it all.