Balboa Park in San Diego, California

Balboa Park is an expansive 1200 acre urban park complete with museums, venues, gardens, and attractions within San Diego, California. The park hosted the 1915 to 1916 Panama - California Exposition touting San Diego as the first United States port-of-call following the completion of the Panama Canal. The 1935 to 1936 California Pacific International Exposition was also hosted at Balboa Park, and both events resulted in a number of architecturally significant structures that gave the park an impressive aesthetic that still remains to this day. 

Balboa Park is clearly a source of pride in San Diego. From buskers to artists to concerts and community gatherings, the area is alive with all kinds of things happening in close proximity. It's also incredibly picturesque with lush gardens, fountains, reflecting pools, and elaborate architectural embellishments that encourage you to keep exploring. 

There's so much located here that it would take numerous visits to see it all. Balboa Park is home to the world famous San Diego Zoo, as well as other major attractions like the Museum of Man and the Natural History Museum. If you only have time to visit one place in San Diego, you won't be disappointed spending an afternoon wandering around Balboa Park.

Complete photo series: PART 2 | PART 3

Panama - California Exposition in Balboa Park ca. 1915

Dr. Seuss Christmas Tree. 

Hoover Dam at the Nevada / Arizona Border

Constructed between 1931 to 1936, the Hoover Dam (once the Boulder Dam) was an engineering feat and a massive undertaking when it was built during the Great Depression. Over 5,000 people worked on the project, and the town of Boulder, Nevada had to be established to house them all. Spanning the border between Nevada and Arizona, the Hoover Dam is still a hugely popular landmark and stop along the Colorado River.

These images are a combination of two visits I made to the Hoover Dam in 2008 and 2010. During that time I saw the construction and completion of the Hoover Dam Bypass project (Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge), which rerouted the interstate from crossing the dam to a brand new bridge spanning the canyon.

Located just a short drive from Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam also resulted in the creation of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. Water demands and drought have taken a toll, and as of 2016 the lake has reached its lowest level since being filled in the 1930's. There are very real concerns, as in addition to water supply, the Hoover Dam is still a massive generator of hydroelectricity providing power to nearly 8 million people in Arizona, southern California, and southern Nevada. The "bathtub ring" around Lake Mead shows the devastating drop.  

Construction of the Hoover Dam Bypass project in 2008.

Inside the tunnels of the Hoover Dam.

Completed Hoover Dam Bypass in 2010.

Victoria Public Market at the Hudson

Located in the old Hudson's Bay Building in downtown Victoria, British Columbia, the Victoria Public Market is a community gathering space full of fresh food, entertainment, art, and a variety of local vendors. I love spaces like this as you never know what you might come across. 

As it turned out the Victoria Public Market was the perfect spot to stop for a snack and listen to some live music while exploring the city. Opened in 2013, this market has a great local vibe about it and is just far enough from the harbour to escape the tourist-only shops. It's worth checking out the Victoria Public Market the next time you're in downtown Victoria.