I stopped by Balboa Park on my way to lunch. Highlights were the Trees for Health Garden (medicinal plants from around the world), the Fire Alarm Building (from 1928-1970 the home of the city’s fire alarm telegraph communications center), and the El Cortez Hotel which used to be the tallest building in the city.

After lunch I walked around Vacation Isle in Mission Bay. I started at the memorial to hydroplane racing legend Bill Muncey. It is located next to the Ski Beach boat ramp which is still the staging area for hydroplane races.