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VISITING SAN DIEGO
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California's second largest city and the United States' eighth largest, San Diego boasts a citywide population of nearly 1.3 million residents and more than 2.8 million residents countywide. San Diego County encompasses 18 incorporated cities and numerous other charming neighborhoods and communities, including downtown's historic Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Coronado, La Jolla, Hillcrest, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Escondido, La Mesa, Chula Vista and more.
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Known for it's near-idyllic climate, pristine beaches and dazzling array of world-class family attractions, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California, San Diego offers a wide variety of things to see and do, appealing to guests from around the world.
The one thing we don't have is weather - it's more like climate. For residents, it is the most boring part of San Diego. The average year-round temperature is about 64 degrees, varying by little more than 16 degrees. The average rainfall is less than 10 inches and most of that is spread between November and April. |
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The county has 70 miles of public beaches -- 25 miles of which are in the city of San Diego. Surfers have hundreds of challenging breaks to choose from. Divers can explore underwater preserves and a "park" with a half-dozen sunken ships. There are 25 major recreational lakes and reservoirs in the county, offering boating and fishing opportunities.
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San Diego's arts and culture are making a name for themselves, both nationally and internationally. Balboa Park, the largest urban cultural park in the U.S., features 15 museums, numerous art galleries, beautiful gardens, the Tony Award-winning The Globe Theatres and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
The city has more than 34,000 acres of park land, including Mission Bay, the largest aquatic recreational area in the world, and Mission Trails Regional Park, the biggest and least developed park that is laced with hiking and biking trails. |
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One of the city's most beautiful gems is Torrey Pines State Reserve, along the cliffs just north of La Jolla. Its numerous hiking trails take visitors through scrub growth and rare pines to breathtaking views of the Pacific and gently zig-zag down to beaches below.
There are more than 25 major shopping complexes and specialty neighborhoods in the county. The Gaslamp Quarter has dozens of chic nightclubs and restaurants. The beach towns -- Ocean Beach, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach -- offer a less-formal night out. Hillcrest is becoming a major center for fine and fun dining, much as La Jolla always has been the magnate for upscale restaurants.
Fashion Valley Center and Mission Valley Center offer the best shopping for clothing you'll find anywhere. Seaport Village is a touristy but attractive collection of buildings along the harbor. Horton Plaza is a giddy pileup of architectural styles in a unique vertical mall setting. Old Town offers a uniquely Mexican experience, its many arts and crafts shops intermingled with some of the finest Mexican restaurants in the region. Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach and Adams Avenue in the North Park area are filled with antique stores.
San Diego County also features 92 golf courses and offers more opportunities to play golf than anywhere but Florida. You can play a different course every day for three months and not repeat a hole.
San Diego offers a variety of exciting participatory and spectator sports, beachfront resorts and luxury spas, casino gaming, a dynamic downtown district, unique holiday offerings, multicultural festivals and celebrations, colorful neighborhoods and communities, a rich military history, accessibility for travelers with disabilities and much more. |
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