San Diego's Balboa Park named Yelp's second most popular business
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A view from Balboa Park's Botanical Building that's being renovated. Photo: Daniel Knighton/Getty Images
Balboa Park is the country's second most popular business of all time on Yelp.
Why it matters: We know the park is San Diego's gem, but it's nice to see the Yelpers give this cultural landmark the credit it deserves.
The big picture: Balboa Park is home to more than a dozen museums, hiking trails, dog parks, sports fields, a golf course, gardens (including one where butterflies replaced nudist performers), and the San Diego Zoo – which you may have heard recently got its giant pandas back.
Between the lines: A popular spot for out-of-towners, it sees about 14 million visitors each year, according to the city.
- Yes, but: There are a few perks for residents, including free admission to some museums on Tuesdays each month.
- Plus, kids go for free at several museums and the Japanese Friendship Garden in October.
What we're watching: The $21 million renovation of the park's iconic Botanical Building is expected to be completed this fall.
Fun fact: Balboa Park was renamed from "City Park" ahead of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, which spurred the construction of the park's iconic Spanish Colonial Revival buildings.
- It's named in honor of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, the first European to spot the Pacific Ocean while exploring Panama.
Go deeper: Yelp released a list of the top 20 most photographed businesses and top 20 most popular businesses this week to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Zoom out: California has 12 of the top 20 businesses on the list, mostly tourist attractions and restaurants around Los Angeles.
- Yelp's most photographed business is California's Disneyland, with over 49,000 photos shared by users.
