The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is located on the Prado in the Casa de Balboa building, this museum is the largest permanent operating model railroad exhibit in North America with 27,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. The San Diego Model Railroad Museum features interactive toy trains, "Lionel"-style electric trains, a 20 scale mile long rail crossing of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and a railroad-themed Gift Shop.

An essential Balboa Park experience is a visit to the San Diego Natural History Museum. Each year, the Museum features several blockbuster traveling exhibitions in addition to its permanent exhibitions. Enjoy Dinosaur which is open March 27th to September 5th: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries, taking a journey of discovery into the exciting world of modern paleontology. Stroll through the enormous 700 sq. ft. re-creation of a prehistoric jungle, and marvel at 35 life-sized models of dinosaurs and other bizarre extinct species.

The San Diego Air & Space Museum displays famous aircraft, engines, spacecraft and aviation artifacts from the dawn of aviation through the space age. Within the museum is the intriguing International Aerospace Hall of Fame that honors the heroes of aviation and aerospace history in a gallery of portraits, personal mementos and records of their achievements. You’ll also see the original Apollo 9 as well as the only GPS satellite on display in the world.

A must-see attraction in Balboa Park is the San Diego Zoo, this 100-acre facility is an international animal experience where guests will see some of the earth's rarest wildlife including giant pandas from China, tree kangaroos from New Guinea and river hippos from Africa. The zoo is home to over 4,000 animals and many exhibits including the new Elephant Exhibit.

Nestled in beautiful gardens enhanced by majestic palm and eucalyptus trees, are most of the park’s impressive museums, galleries and other attractions. All are within walking distance of each other. The rest of the park is spread out over hundreds of acres. There is also a Free Balboa Park Tram that circulates throughout the park for your convenience. It operates daily 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m. with extended hours during the summer. Look for the red and white tram signs.

Located in the House of Hospitality is The Prado Restaurant at Balboa Park (619-557-9441). This 400-seat restaurant is in beautiful Balboa Park. On warm sunny days, be sure to dine on the patio overlooking the lush greenery of the park. Their unique menu featuring Latin American cuisine and charming setting make it a great place to dine while strolling through Balboa Park. It's also a great place to hold banquets and events.