Sunny
and mild. That's not just the weather report: It also describes
San
Diego's personality. As the city's convention and visitors
bureau puts it, "If San Diego were a shoe, it would be
a flip-flop; if it were a car, it would be a convertible;
and if it were a dog, it would be a golden retriever."
This is a place where the people are friendly and the insects
don't bite. To top it off, San Diego is blessed with considerable
natural beauty: broad, gorgeous beaches on its west side,
creviced canyons on the east and sweet-smelling tropical flowers
everywhere.
It's also booming. New buildings are springing up all over.
In fact, the amount of office space in San Diego has doubled
in the past few years. And a trendy downtown neighborhood
called the Gaslamp Quarter pulls in locals and tourists alike.
North of downtown in La Jolla, prestigious science institutes
with names like Salk and Scripps attract top researchers.
Unfortunately, this growth brings traffic -- highway congestion
there now rivals Los Angeles at morning and evening rush hours.
The
greater San Diego area is actually a series of individual
towns, each with its own personality. La Jolla is San Diego's
answer to Beverly Hills. Coronado, a pristine spit of land
connected to downtown by the Coronado Bay Bridge, has the
palatial Hotel del Coronado and broad avenues running past
Victorian homes; it is also home to several aircraft carriers.
Then there are the beaches: Ocean Beach, Mission Beach,
Pacific Beach, La Jolla Cove and many more.
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Mission Beach
Near
the manmade islands of Mission Bay, this beach runs along
Mission Boulevard and boasts a fabulous boardwalk. One of
the best places in San Diego to soak up the city's beach
lifestyle, this is an unsurpassed area for people watching
or building sandcastles. For a faster pace, rent a bike
or in-line roller skates. Or better yet, take a ride on
Belmont Park's world-famous wooden roller coaster. Whatever
attraction you choose, be prepared for large crowds and
limited parking. Dogs allowed on leashes before 9am and
after 6pm
Balboa Park
The
world-renowned San Diego Zoo is only one part of this magnificent
1,200-acre city park that was built for the 1915-1916 Panama-California
Expo. California's Hispanic roots were celebrated as the
city erected breathtakingly ornate Spanish-style buildings.
The California Building was modeled after a Spanish colonial
church and is topped off with a polychrome tile dome. The
park is home to the zoo, 14 museums, a pipe organ pavilion,
botanical gardens, a Tony award winning theater, an antique
carousel and a miniature-scale train. Of particular interest
is Balboa Park's Christmas on the Prado that is held the
first weekend of December each year. It is a popular event
the first Firday and Saturday evenings of December and it
is an opportunity for the whole family to enjoy pagents,
plays, food and music all in the tradition of the Christmas
holidays. Credit card acceptance varies
Old Town
History,
food and fun are all within easy walking distance. Father
Serra established the first mission here more than 225 years
ago; Kit Carson helped to raise the first American flag
in 1846. Now there are 37 restaurants and entertainment
is abundant with artisans, dancers, galleries, hotels, mariachis,
professional theatre and shops. Most restaurants and shops
accept major credit cards. You can access this area from
Interstate-5 by taking the Old Town Avenue exit, driving
east and turning left on San Diego Avenue.
Hotel del Coronado
Built
in 1888, this world-famous all-wood Victorian beauty is
worth a visit from all San Diego tourists. In the original
building, no two rooms are alike but all are breathtaking
and well appointed with antique furniture. Fine dining includes
the Prince of Wales Restaurant and the Crown Room. There
is dancing at the hotel on weekends. Popular with presidents,
royalty and movie stars, rumor claims The "Del"
is a favorite with ghosts, as well.
SeaWorld
There's
no place in the world like SeaWorld San Diego where you
can touch and feed dolphins, count the teeth on a shark
and come face-to-face with a polar bear. You can brave the
waves on Shipwreck Rapids and experience spine-tingling
R.L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse 4-D. If you like you can
ride adventure to new heights on Journey To Atlantis, open
spring 2004! Twist around serpentine turns, plunge down
an eight-story rush of adrenaline-pumping exhilaration,
and get drenched in mystery. And, just try to stay dry when
world-famous Shamu comes a-splashing! SeaWorld San Diego
- touch a world that touches you. Where else but SeaWorld
can you feed a dolphin, count the teeth on a shark and come
face-to-face with a polar bear? Ride adventure to new heights
on Journey To Atlantis, open spring 2004! Twist around serpentine
turns, plunge down an eight-story rush of adrenaline-pumping
exhilaration, and get drenched in mystery. And, just try
to stay dry when world-famous Shamu comes a-splashing! SeaWorld
San Diego - touch a world that touches you.
Sand Castle Days
Perhaps
the most amazing sandcastle competition in the world is
held each year in San Diego. Fantastic artistic creations
rise from piles of sand. Within a few short hours, mythological
animals, sea creatures and seascapes appear as if by magic.
Teams from across the country converge on this beach to
create their masterpieces in sand. Family activities are
planned for Saturday, including a parade and a kiddie sand
castle competition. Come Sunday morning, avid builders are
hard at work preparing for the judging later in the day.
The event is free and fun for folks of all ages.
Little Italy District
San
Diegans of Italian ancestry are working hard to restore
and revitalize this seaside district just off downtown San
Diego and the results are fabulous. Visitors will enjoy
the plethora of Italian markets and bakeries, may watch
a game of bolla at the local park or light a candle at the
Our Lady of the Rosary Church where Italian fishermen of
San Diego's once-massive tuna fleet used to seek blessings.
In October, a three-day festival brings 50,000 visitors
to the area. Credit card acceptance varies.
Seaport Village
Take
a leisurely walk (10 minutes) from the Gaslamp Quarter or
Horton Plaza and escape the madness of the city for awhile.
Stroll down miles of cobblestone paths taking in the greenery,
ponds and fountains as you make your way around 75 specialty
shops, 13 eateries and four full-service restaurants. Unsurpassed
views of the bay, its ships and the San Diego-Coronado Bridge
surround the park. Complete with a carousel dating from
the 1890s, this is a sight you will not want to miss.
LEGOLAND California
Just
30 miles north of San Diego, you can spend an entire day
living in the land of imagination experiencing more than
40 fun-filled rides and adventures. "Activity"
is the word for the day with 128 acres of displays including
MiniLand where replicas of famous sites (Hollywood Bowl,
Washington, D.C.) are created from Legos. In the Imagination
Zone, children under six can play with Duplos to their hearts'
content. Kids over six can check out the "Build &
Test" center.
San Diego Zoo (The)
This
world-famous establishment is clearly no ordinary zoo. Walk
or ride a double-decker bus throughout this expansive park,
home to over 4,000 rare and exotic animals exhibited in
beautiful garden habitats. More than a park, this zoo is
a major research facility although it is cleverly disguised
with entertaining shows and inspiring exhibits like Polar
Bear Plunge and Hippo Beach.
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