Joy Ride
Cruise around Balboa Park with your family. It's a fun 3 mile ride with scavenger hunt activities along the way!
Self-Guided Joy Ride
Come take a self guided* tour around Balboa Park, with scavenger hunt tasks, photo ops and bike safety skills practice along the way.
Start at the Panama 66 (see map) and follow the 3 mile around around Balboa Park, completing challenges and answering questions along the way.**
*This is a family friendly event and we’re keeping things COVID-safe by inviting you to ride our pre-planned route whenever you want. Please follow county guidelines, wear a mask and keep 6 feet distance from other park visitors.*
**Please obey the rules of the road, stop at all stop signs, look both ways before cross the street, be cautious when riding in parking areas and foot paths.**
Take a ride anytime!
Panama 66
Panama 66 . Click to expand.
Start here!
The Old Globe
The Old Globe. Click to expand.
Visit the Old Globe Plaza. Look down at the engraved tiles and see if you can find one with your first name on it!
Lily Pond
Lily Pond. Click to expand.
Can you spot a koi (fish) in the Lily Pond in front of the Botanical Building?
Photo Op!
Photo Op!. Click to expand.
Get your photo taken!
Spanish Village Art Center
Spanish Village Art Center. Click to expand.
Walk your bicycles through the Spanish Village Art Center to find the giant heart.
Golden Lion at the Zoo
Golden Lion at the Zoo. Click to expand.
Take a photo of yourself with the Golden Lion and post it to Love to Ride for your chance to win a prize in May 2021.
Balboa Park Carousel
Balboa Park Carousel. Click to expand.
Find out when and where the Herschell-Spillman menagerie carousel was built.
Bea Evanson Fountain
Bea Evanson Fountain. Click to expand.
Ride a lap around the fountain and see if you can spot the gardens across the street.
Pepper Grove Playground
Pepper Grove Playground. Click to expand.
There are four sculptures at the four corners of the playground. What are they?
Centro Cultural de La Raza Lawn
Centro Cultural de La Raza Lawn. Click to expand.
Take a stretch break on the lawn between the World Beat Center and the Centro Cultural de la Raza. What is your favorite mural on these two repurposed water towers?
Palisades Plaza
Palisades Plaza. Click to expand.
What does the sign on the Air and Space Museum say?
Spreckels Organ Pavilion
Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Click to expand.
When was the Organ Pavilion dedicated to "The People of San Diego and the people of the world?"
Plaza de Panama Fountain
Plaza de Panama Fountain. Click to expand.
Return to the Plaza de Panama Fountain
Panama 66
Start here!
Do a little ABC Quick Check on your bike before you ride out.
A: Check that you have enough air in your tires
B: Make sure all your brakes work correctly
C: Make sure your chain is well lubricated, clean and when you pedal the wheels spin smoothly
Quick: Make sure the quick release skewers on your wheels are closed and tight. If you have axle nuts to lock your wheel instead, make sure those are nice and tight.
Check: Give you bike a shake and make sure that none of the parts or accessories are loose or rattling.
The Old Globe
Visit the Old Globe Plaza. Look down at the engraved tiles and see if you can find one with your first name on it!
Lily Pond
Can you spot a koi (fish) in the Lily Pond in front of the Botanical Building?
Keep in mind that sidewalk areas are for pedestrians, so be courteous and walk your bike past the pond.
Photo Op!
Get your photo taken!
Take a selfie or have a friend take a photo of you and your bike with the iconic Botanical Building in the background. (Share on social media and tag @sdbikecoalition)
Spanish Village Art Center
Walk your bicycles through the Spanish Village Art Center to find the giant heart.
Golden Lion at the Zoo
Take a photo of yourself with the Golden Lion and post it to Love to Ride for your chance to win a prize in May 2021.
https://www.lovetoride.net/sandiegocounty/gallery_photos
Balboa Park Carousel
Find out when and where the Herschell-Spillman menagerie carousel was built.
Bea Evanson Fountain
Ride a lap around the fountain and see if you can spot the gardens across the street.
Pepper Grove Playground
There are four sculptures at the four corners of the playground. What are they?
Centro Cultural de La Raza Lawn
Take a stretch break on the lawn between the World Beat Center and the Centro Cultural de la Raza. What is your favorite mural on these two repurposed water towers?
As you ride down Park Blvd make sure to signal with your outstretched right arm to indicate that you are turning onto Presidents Way.
Palisades Plaza
What does the sign on the Air and Space Museum say?
Spreckels Organ Pavilion
When was the Organ Pavilion dedicated to "The People of San Diego and the people of the world?"
Plaza de Panama Fountain
Return to the Plaza de Panama Fountain