Spanish Village Art Center

Tucked between the San Diego Natural History Museum and the San Diego Zoo is the Spanish Village Art Center with its numerous studios and galleries.

Just walking into the central plaza of the center is a visual delight, with the hand-painted concrete, displayed art, and, right now, the jacaranda and bougainvillea in bloom. The eye-popping colors are reason enough for a short stroll through the center just to brighten your day.

Really talented artists display their works in almost any medium imaginable—beads, ceramics, textiles, glass, jewelry, tiles, wood, photography, painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Often you’ll see the artists at work in their studios. During my visit, a glass blower was working on his next creation, and he talked through the steps needed to those of us fascinated watching that glowing orange blob of molten glass being transformed.

Some of the studios offer classes to learn that particular art form.

If you want to perk up your day by visiting a colorful, creative place, explore Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park.

What You Need To Know

Location: 1770 Village Pl, San Diego, CA 92101

Hours: 11 a.m.–4 p.m., daily

Cost: Free

Phone: (619) 233-9050

Website: spanishvillageart.com

Tips: There is parking adjacent to the center, but parking in Balboa Park is always a challenge. The #7 SDMTS Bus stops at the pedestrian overpass near the Natural History Museum, and both the #7 bus and #215 Rapid bus stop at Zoo Place.