Lightscape returns to San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas on November 20 for its fifth season, an evening trail of light installations through the garden, running through January 3. Entry is by timed ticket, prices vary by date, and the organizers warn some nights sell out. Before the drive north, spend the day in Balboa Park: the 1914 Botanical Building is free, and the Japanese Friendship Garden next door covers 10 acres. Here is what each costs and a table at each end of the day.
We run Botanical Garden Near Me, a directory of public gardens and arboretums across the United States, and we are a guest here. Top of San Diego asked for the gardens. They supplied the restaurants.
The plan, in order
Start in Balboa Park. The Botanical Building opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m., and the Japanese Friendship Garden is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with last admission at 5. Balboa Park’s lots charge for parking through the end of 2026. Then drive north to Encinitas for your Lightscape entry time. Lightscape parking is $15 a car bought in advance or $20 on site, if space remains, and it applies to every car after 4 p.m. If you are going on December 4 or 5, Balboa Park’s December Nights festival is on, and the Japanese Friendship Garden’s upper garden is free from 3 to 9 p.m.
Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden
San Diego Botanic Garden is at 300 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. Lightscape runs November 20 through January 3 on a lit trail of about a mile with 20 new art installations, live music, food and drinks. Adult tickets start at $28 and children 3 to 12 at $18, each plus a booking fee; children 2 and under are free, military tickets are discounted, and an Anytime Access ticket with parking is $50. Members get 20 percent off standard tickets. Sales are final, with exchanges allowed up to 48 hours before for a fee. By day the garden is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Tuesdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas; adults are $20 and the garden recommends booking online.
The Botanical Building
The Botanical Building, at 1550 El Prado in Balboa Park, was completed in 1914 and holds hundreds of plant species from around the world, with the Lily Pond in front. It is free and open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on City of San Diego holidays.
Japanese Friendship Garden
The Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum, at 2215 Pan American Road East, covers 10 acres. It opened to the public in 1991; a 1999 phase added the upper koi pond and exhibit hall, and a 2015 phase added the Inamori Pavilion and a grove of 200 cherry trees. It is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last admission at 5; adults are $16, students, seniors and military $14, and children 6 and under free, with no reservation needed. It is closed on Thanksgiving. Expect uneven ground and steep paths, though accessible routes are available.
The full list
Hours, prices and directions for each of these, with the official page for each, are on our side. The botanical gardens near San Diego page on Botanical Garden Near Me lists them, closest first.
Where to eat after
One table near Balboa Park and one in Encinitas for before or after Lightscape, each checked against its hours. They come from Top of San Diego lists: family restaurants and burgers. The scores are theirs, not ours.
The Waves Taco Club
Insider Score9.1
Tacos · San Diego
Near Balboa Park. About a mile away, opening at 11 a.m. Monday to Thursday, 1 p.m. on Sunday and 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Fast-casual tacos with no reservation needed; carne asada and al pastor are the orders.
Eat Crispy Burger Encinitas
Insider Score9.3
Burgers · Encinitas
Before or after Lightscape. About a mile from the garden, open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (10 on Friday and Saturday). Onion rings are the standout; the mushroom and Swiss and the crispy fish burger are the orders.
Scores are Top of San Diego Insider Scores. Restaurant photographs from Yelp and Tripadvisor.
Sources. San Diego Botanic Garden, Lightscape and Hours and Admissions pages, and the Lightscape ticket pages it links (Lightscape US and Fever), checked October 23, 2026. Forever Balboa Park, Botanical Building pages; Balboa Park, December Nights and parking pages; Japanese Friendship Garden, Visit, About, December Nights and early closures pages, checked October 23, 2026. Restaurant hours from Top of San Diego records. Top photo: San Diego Botanic Garden by cultivar413, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; other photo credits are under each photo.
Botanical Garden Near Me writes for Botanical Garden Near Me. Botanical Garden Near Me lists public botanical gardens, arboretums and conservatories across the United States, with hours, admission and directions taken from each garden's official site. This piece was written for Top of San Diego.