San Diego is California's second largest city
and one of the top visitor destinations in the United States—with good
reason. San Diego offers a beautiful convention center located along the water,
world-class San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World marine and entertainment
park, art and space museums in an historic Balboa Park, a mission, Point
Loma Lighthouse, historic Old Town, the San Diego Padres baseball team,
the red trolley for day trips to Tijuana, Mexico and scenic Coronado Island. And
that's just for starters! We've researched all of California and
have determined that hands down, San Diego is the number one beach
resort in all of California. No other city compares with the number of
hotel rooms, unique beach locations and amenities at a variety of beach
resorts that include boat cruises, gondola rides, sailing, swimming,
skating and amusement rides outside your resort hotel door.
Avg. temp. 70º F. Visitors: (619) 236-1212 San Diego, California enjoys a southern
warmth all year long and holds onto some of the Hispanic cultural
influences seen in architecture, infused food dishes and events with
mariachis, margaritas and mucho fun. San Diegans are passionate about
their home and share enthusiasm for their local beach neighborhoods such
as Ocean Beach "OB", Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and Mission Bay. On
any given day, you'll see folks of all ages out walking, jogging,
sailing, swimming, surfing and even singing.
Another influence you will notice in
San Diego is the military presence in huge berths where Naval ships
docks, in military statues commemorating service to the USA, and in
military facilities both active and for retired service women and men.
San Diego also features some of
America's favorite beaches. With a local feel and friendly appeal, San Diego
beaches stretch for miles from Borderfield State Beach to beautiful La Jolla
and beyond. Unlike Los Angeles and Orange County beaches to the north,
San Diego beaches generally are opened longer each day and permit alcohol
consumption.
For gambling, you can go to nearby
Alpine and for amusements, check out the cool Belmont Park. Nightlife is
authentic and enjoyed on foot in the Gaslamp District. You can't see all of
San Diego in a day, but we wouldn't want you to miss seeing it so when L.A.
be sure to take an Amtrak train ride, automobile drive or even a flight
south to San Diego. It is well worth your time.
Sailing, swimming, surfing and shopping
are some of the favorite activities in the city by the bay where the sun
almost always shines and the temperature hovers around a perfect 70º
F nearly all year long.
Getting there: Located in the southwest
corner of California, 120 miles south of Los Angeles and 20 miles north
of Tijuana, Mexico, San Diego is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from L.A. via
Interstate 5, which stretches from Canada to the Mexico border. Interstate
15 provides access from Riverside County, Nevada and other western states.
San Diego International Airport is near downtown and is served by over
15 airlines. Amtrak passenger trains, Coaster and San Diego Trolley provide
service to and around San Diego and the Mexican border at Tijuana. Greyhound
provides bus service, too.
When you arrive in San Diego, you have
decide how you'll spend your time. Unless you stay for three or four days,
you just can't do and see everything. San Diego is a casual place filled
with color and fun. From the harbor where you can tour the Star of
India ship, catch a ferry to Coronado Island for under $5 / one direction,
depart a cruise ship, take a harbor cruise or hop on a pedicab and catch
an open air tour of the city, you're only a few blocks walking distance
to colorful Horton Plaza open air shopping mall. You are also within
walking distance to Seaport Village, another open air mall with several
restaurants overlooking the bay.
Would you like to get around without driving?
San Diego has an incredible public transportation system and local senior
citizens who have given up driving tell us it is a wonderful network of
buses and trolleys that will take you anywhere you want to go. There's
a train station right near the action, a few blocks from Horton Plaza and
the harbor.
Do you like beaches? San Diego has lots
of them. From Border Field State Park, the southernmost beach that actually
touches the Mexico border and is divided by a big wall running out into
the ocean, north through Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado, San Diego's
popular Pacific Beach, Mission Beach with its roller coaster and famous
"Plunge", Ocean Beach with "Dog Beach", Mission Bay with jet skis and boating,
north to La Jolla Cove, Children's Beach and a spot where seals like to
hang out, San Diego loves its beaches.
No matter what you chose, the things
you'll find in San Diego are an abundance of amusements and attractions, plenty
of ocean and bay views offered at dozens of hotels, lots of waterfront dining
and some wonderful foods. Serving tourists for over 100 years makes San Diego a
friendly place, accustomed to catering to tourists. In fact, one local told us
that when you drive in San Diego, drive defensively and be prepared for the car
in front of you to stop in the road and ask for directions because it happens so
often (drive to a gas station or pull over to a parking lot or side of the road
for help - it's safer). Finally, to insure that you have fun, don't forget to
take a jacket. It can get cool in San Diego so if you dress in layers with tanks
and T-shirts, sweaters and jackets, you can peel off the layers of clothing as
the day gets warm and put them back on as night returns.
San Diego Hotels
