Lily Pond

The Lily Pond in front of Balboa Park's Botanical Building is one of those simple outdoor spaces that consistently delights young children in ways that expensive attractions sometimes don't. It's a large reflecting pool surrounded by lily pads, with goldfish and turtles visible just below the water's surface.

There's no admission charge. There's no structured activity. You walk to the railing at the edge of the pond, and then you watch fish.

Young children — particularly toddlers and preschoolers who are at the age where fish in a picture book are exciting — often spend 20 minutes at this pond without prompting, watching the fish dart between lily pads and looking for turtles on the rocks at the far edge.

The setting is visually striking: the 1915 Botanical Building looms behind the pond and creates a beautiful reflection in the still water. The grounds around the pond are well-maintained and the lath structure filtered light gives the whole area a distinctly tranquil quality compared to the busier sections of Balboa Park.

This works best as a spontaneous stop during a Balboa Park day rather than a destination in itself. If you're walking between museums, passing through the plaza, or just need five minutes to let a restless child find something to focus on, the Lily Pond reliably delivers. It's free, it's calm, and it's in the middle of one of the great urban parks in America.