As a native San Diegan, I often hear transplanted bipeds complain that the seasons don’t really change here. While that may be true for some, Balboa Park’s gardens and vast grounds display ample seasonal colors that even a semi-colorblind canine can see. In fact, this time of year my usual ground-level attentions are often pulled skyward by the colorful foliage and flowers that are now emerging throughout the Park.

For instance, strolling along Sixth Avenue near Quince St. this week, I noticed the leaves in a grove of American Sweetgum trees already undergoing their fall transformation to red and orange. Heading back south on Balboa Drive (toward Nate’s Point Dog Park, of course), my eyes and nose were diverted into the Trees for Health Garden. Here I caught a glimpse of new fall hues in the Pecan Tree, the graceful Idaho Locust Tree, and the Weeping Willow.

Fortunately I don’t have to strain my neck as much to see brilliant fall colors in Balboa Park’s many gardens. For example, right now there are multiple varieties of sage blooming in the Zoro and Alcazar Gardens. Also lighting up the Alcazar is the “Golden Delicious” sage with its lime green foliage and bright red tubular flowers. In addition, the Alcazar’s African Tulip Tree (pictured) is now producing dazzling blooms to create an amazing photo-op with the California Tower in the background.

Heck, even the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden is still bursting with vibrant roses thanks to San Diego’s “lack of seasons.”

I can’t tell you how pleased I am to finally see such an important chapter in U.S. space exploration history given its just due in a major travelling exhibition. To the Moon: Snoopy Soars with NASA at the San Diego Air & Space Museum chronicles the pivotal moment in the race to the moon when my idol Snoopy joined the Apollo 10 mission.

It all started back in 1968 when the Silver Snoopy Award program was instituted to reward NASA employees and contractors for important contributions to the safety of space flight missions. Snoopy has faithfully been on the job ever since, 40-plus years and counting, as NASA’s official safety mascot.

Just as significant was the honor NASA bestowed on Snoopy when it named the Apollo 10 lunar module after the world’s most famous beagle. On May 22, 1969, “Snoopy” flew within 50,000 feet of the lunar surface to scout an ideal landing site for the Apollo 11 astronauts, who arrived two months later.

A family-friendly exhibition, Snoopy Soars with NASA brings together a vast array of photographs, memorabilia, artifacts, and models to tell the story of Snoopy’s role in making one giant step for animal-kind possible. It even includes a Peanuts comic-strip series from March 1969 that reveals Snoopy was in fact the very first earthling to reach the moon. Now that’s what I call out of this world!

Don’t you just love it when Halloween falls on a weekend? In addition to dressing up the kiddies in their cute costumes for the usual evening trick-or-treat excursion, you can now max out your camera batteries by having them in costume throughout the day as well.

All dressed up and nowhere to go, you say? Thankfully this year, Balboa Park is presenting a park-wide Family Day on Saturday, October 31, chocked full of safe, kid-friendly treats offered by dozens of park attractions.

Headlining the festivities are 15 different museums that will open their doors free to children 17 and under with a paid adult admission. Each museum will also present a variety of hands-on activities and special programs to keep tails wagging throughout the day. For example, at the Air & Space Museum, children can build paper pumpkins with parachutes and visit the Snoopy Soars with NASA exhibition. Meanwhile, the Museum of Photographic Arts will show films in conjunction with the San Diego Children’s Film Festival.

Outside the museums, there will be no shortage of short-attention-filling fun either. On the Spanish Village Art Center patio, for instance, artists will turn pumpkins into magical Jack O’ Lanterns, while the nearby Village Grill churns out free ice cream to anyone presenting proof of a paid museum admission.

I know where I’ll be on October 31, and now you know where you should be as well!

Leroy writes: Dear Cosmos, now that all the kids are spending their weekdays in school, can you suggest some ways my family can share quality time together on the weekend in Balboa Park so I can get some quality naptime at home.

Cosmos: I’m so glad you asked as I would like to put to bed the common misconception that summertime offers the most opportunities for families in Balboa Park. Thanks to the many cultural institutions that present family-oriented programming year round, the park-wide Family Day, and other special programs, there is an endless supply of family fun throughout the Park.

To start, I suggest your family picks up some Balboa Park Passports at the Visitors Center. They are discounted for children ages 3–12, and one option includes a visit to the Zoo. Then, for example, if someone in the pack wants to see planes, they can all head over to the Air & Space Museum. Trains? The Model Railroad Museum, of course. Dinosaurs? The Natural History Museum. Playful folk arts? The Mingei Museum. You get the picture. And be sure to check the Balboa Park Web site’s calendar page for special activities just for kids.

But wait there’s more! The San Diego Junior Theatre and the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater are always presenting quality entertainment for kids of all ages. And if it’s too cold to go to the beach, everyone can still enjoy the great outdoors at any number of scenic picnic areas in Balboa Park, which feature green lawns for throwing and chasing a ball and even safe play equipment to climb, swing, and crawl around on.

So I see no reason that you should have to go off your regular catnap schedule this fall.

Everyone who lives in San Diego knows that Labor Day weekend doesn’t really signal the end of summer-like weather and outdoor fun. It does, however, bring to a close several wonderful things to do in Balboa Park. So without further ado, here’s a short list of what my bipedal friends should check out before it’s too late:

Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power at the San Diego Museum of Art showcases 200 iconic portraits by the famed 20th-century photographer. (Through 9/6)

Nighttime Zoo presents a rare glimpse into what my four-legged colleagues at the San Diego Zoo are up to when the sun goes down, and believe me, they aren’t exactly sleeping! (through 9/6)

India Adorned and Doors of our Four Cultures explores colorful decorative objects from Asia used in everyday life. On view at the Mingei International Museum through 9/6.

Giant Worlds provides an interactive 3-D experience of our solar system’s outer planets at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center through 9/7. Your paid gallery admission will also get you into an IMAX film free!

If that isn’t enough, don’t forget these other major shows that are now on a short leash: Ansel Adams: A Life’s Work at the Museum of Photographic Arts (through 10/4/09), Body Worlds at the San Diego Natural History Museum (through 10/4/09), The Da Vinci Experience at the Air & Space Museum (through 1/3/10).

And of course, when you go museum hopping, always be sure to pick up a Balboa Park Passport or Stay-for-the-Day Pass and allow plenty of quality dog time before and after your visit.