San Diego boasts artistic, distinctive, and intriguing secret spots. It’s suggested that they be located, however few people know about them. Munchkins in homes? What happened to the pooped-on art? Footbridges connect which cities? Music beneath the bridge? Here are some of San Diego’s most unique and stunning hidden gems.
Mission Hills’ Harper Topiary Garden
San Diego may have the world’s best topiary garden. Edna and Alex Harper of Mission Hills created Harper’s Topiary Garden. The Harpers’ garden is more. More than 50 species and forms live on a mountainside. Anybody can look. The Harpers’ garden is much more than a few topiary-shaped shrubs.
Balboa Park
Balboa Park in San Diego is home to 13 museums. There’s no reason for San Diego residents to avoid Balboa Park’s museums and galleries. Free admission. Exactly. Most Balboa Park museums are free to San Diego residents on Tuesdays.
Coronado Dunes
Coronado Beach’s sand dunes north of the Hotel Del Coronado stand out. Coronado Beach is hard to not visit for atmosphere and experience. High dunes form a maze-like barrier in front of the sandy beach. Some call the dune plant pickleweed. We also recommend booking a beach picnic San Diego experience at the nearby beach and enjoying the immaculate sunset views. Talk about hitting 2 birds with 1 stone.
Home Depot
If you’ve been in San Diego for a time, you’ve definitely heard urban legends about the munchkin mansions. People dubbed these dwellings “Munchkin Houses” because the munchkins from The Wizard of Oz dwelt in them in La Jolla. Most people assume this is a myth and that the architect who designed the buildings merely preferred low roofs. One house remains on Hillside Drive.
Magical Circle Garden
Nikki de Saint Phalle’s public art is undoubtedly familiar. Her paintings have been presented in San Diego, and two are presently in front of the Mingei Museum. Her innovative sculptures are generally embellished with brilliant colors, mosaic, or mirror tiles. Nikki de Saint Phalle’s sole American sculpture garden and last global project are at Escondido’s Kit Carson Park. Kit Carson Park was the site (she died in 2002). Its design was influenced by California’s stories, history, and culture.
Banker’s Hill and Hillcrest Footbridges
San Diego isn’t usually walkable. Even in the city’s metropolitan districts, canyons split the streets, making it difficult to go straight. This problem isn’t from city sprawl. Back then, footbridges connected various places. You won’t see these footbridges unless you live in the region. Hillcrest and Banker’s Hill have antique footbridges that contribute to their charm.
Mission Dam
San Diego schools undoubtedly taught about Mission San Diego de Alcala. It’s one of the California Missions. Missions are where California’s Spanish roots began. It connects to the state’s early history. Few people know about the Old Mission Dam. It helped form the mission community.