Balboa Park/ Spruce Street Suspension Bridge

So, after going to The Carlsbad Flower Fields last weekend, we wanted to keep taking pictures. Balboa Park was another option last weekend, instead of the flower fields, so we decided to go there this weekend. We go to Balboa Park a couple times a year but we have never been to The Spruce Street Suspension Bridge.

I have always wanted to go to the Suspension Bridge with Darlyn, but I was never able to find it until now. I always thought it was "attached" to Balboa Park, but it's like a half mile from it. Amazingly enough, parking was easy! Now, as for the bridge, it is wobbly when people rock it. There was a big dog that was so scared walking on it LOL.

Darlyn was a bit scared at first, and it was hard for me to stay still to get decent pictures but I think it was successful. After taking a picture like this one last week, I needed to take another one. This time, with the focus area in the correct place. Last week was on our hands, this time on her face, where the focus should be. The more I take pictures and the more we do these small shoots, the more I get better. I notice the small details that need to be adjusted to get a better shot (her camera strap around her neck, the angle of her hands, the hair in her face, my pinky sticking out).

So apparently, a popular thing to do on this bridge is to lock away a lock with your loved one, and toss the key so no one can open it. It's a really cute idea, and I wanted to do the same, but I believe the city eventually cut open the locks and throw them away because the bridge is city property. Totally understandable, I respect that. But there are still some locks there when we went, it adds a little pizzazz to the bridge.

It was a challenge to get a clean picture at the bridge because many people do visit it, so avoiding photo bombers just takes patience, but it was all worth it!

Like I said in the beginning, we go to Balboa Park a couple times a year. We are very fortunate to have such great landmarks here in San Diego, might as well take advantage of them! Every time we go here, a photo shoot is a must. It gets better and better every time we go because we discover new angles and new places. I mean, many places are still the same, but the angle at which we take the pictures, makes all the difference.

Unfortunately, the botanical gardens closed a couple minutes before we got there. We wanted to go there because I have never been. But I guess it just gives us another reason to come back!

As for the Japanese Friendship Gardens, we wanted to go there last week to see the cherry blossoms. We weren't sure if they blossomed, or when they blossom, but passing by it today, we didn't see much flowers on the trees so maybe we missed it? Not sure, but it is definitely on our bucket list.

Lastly, The Spanish Village at Balboa Park. I wanted to come here because of all the color within it. The tiles on the floor and on the buildings, all full of color. Unfortunately, once again, the stores were already closing prior to our arrival, but the pictures were our main goal anyways. Of all the pictures we took today, it is difficult to choose my favorite. But I think if I had to pick one, this would be it because this was taken at the very end of the day, and Darlyn was still able to give me the same great smile she gave me on pictures number one.

Well, that wraps up our photo shoot from Balboa Park and The Spruce Street Suspension Bridge! I think we will take a break from picture taking for the next couple of week and get ready for Darlyn's Birthday on April 16th!

Until then... feel free to view the gallery of today's adventure and if you haven't already, view and read the blog from The Carlsbad Flower Fields.

Thanks for reading!