San Diego Travel Guide, California

Set around a gracefully curving bay, with an easily navigable central area, San Diego is the second biggest city in California. It represents the acceptable face of southern California and embodies both work-hard and play-hard lifestyles. A navy city graced with 70 miles of fabulous sandy coastline, near-perfect climate and Mediterranean façade, scenic bay, 42 miles of beaches and plentiful parks and museums, San Diego is hard not to like from the moment you arrive.

Despite the city's poverty, the housing markets are the nation's priciest and biotech, tourism, and telecom economy is booming.

New buildings are transforming formerly downtown neighborhoods into upscale wonders. San Diego's dining, shopping, and entertainment options are improved by the rich residents and shop owners they attract.

Good food in a fun atmosphere and at reasonable prices is easy to find everywhere in San Diego. Whether you're looking for crusty coffee shops or stylish ethnic restaurants, San Diego restaurants are sure to satisfy. Seafood is at its best around Mission Beach and the Gaslamp District, and the latter home to the greatest concentration of restaurants.

It is a place that makes it hard on one to decide what to do first. You can swim, snorkel, windsurf, kayak, bicycle, in-line skate, and partake of other diversions in or near the water, as you like or if you feel like walking, the boredom-beating museums, zoos, animal parks and beaches are bound to keep you busy for a good few days.

Having a worldwide reputation San Diego's zoo is one of biggest attractions. Among the big draws are: the Tiger River bioclimatic exhibit, which realistically re-creates an Asian rainforest environment, and Gorilla Tropics, which does the same with an African rainforest. It is home to more than 3000 animals. Kids will love this zoo as they can touch small animals at the children's zoo exhibit, and they can peek at the zoo's latest arrivals in the nursery. If you’re even just a bit interested in the natural world, take a full day to explore this wonderful place.

A great way to get a real feel for the city is to head out to the various festivals and fairs. The Ocean Beach Kite Festival makes the most of the wind, with kite making, decorating and flying competitions in March. There’re Native American dancing, music and art exhibits at the American Indian Cultural Days held in Balboa Park in May. The Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chilli Cook-Off is a popular two-day street bash in June and if you stick around you’ll also experience the three-week Del Mar Fair, a huge county fair held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, with headline musical acts and hundreds of carnival rides. And what kind of beach town would it be without a US Open Sandcastle Competition that is held in Imperial Beach, south of Coronado. There’s plenty to see and do all year round with San Diego events.

So pack a laid-back attitude along with your sandals and swimsuit, forget the pace, price and pollution of your town and prepare for a warm welcome to San Diego beach town.

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Read our members' reviews about San Diego

• The vibrant San Diego
  review by mohds2 posted more then 30 days ago
  San Diego is very robust and vibrant place to visit, in contrast to other towns of same size. Maybe it’s due to ideal climate, which is experienced by San Diego citizens, who always want an excuse to move into the city and take a look of it's area. San Diego possesses various outdoor...
• And so it bacame San Diego...
  review by mohds2 posted more then 30 days ago
  In the past, just the Kumeyaay people colonized the small city, which is currently recognized as San Diego. This city is now famous for being the largest and richest town in the U. S. Its current population is up to 1,255,240 and is thought to be the 2nd biggest town in California as well as the...
• Thanksgiving in Carlsbad and visit in San Diego
  review by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  I drove down to San Diego on the 22nd for another business meeting. I was meeting with a group hotel company. San Diego has changed quite a bit. LA is still the same somehow but San Diego is being redeveloped over and over again. New office space everywhere, I should move down there sometime. ...

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Read our members' travel tips about San Diego

• Seaport Village
  travel tip by marius_f posted more then 30 days ago
  Seaport Village is one of the greatest places in San Diego. It located in San Diego Harbor and is very nice. It has got some kind of a rustic seaport town feeling, and it is very pleasant. There are lots of shops and all kinds of...
• The Old Town Esplanade
  travel tip by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  The Old Town Esplanade is situated right in the heart of historic Old Town. There are a variety of shops, galleries and the Coyote Cafe, which offer excellent Mexican food and Mariachi music.
• When to visit
  travel tip by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  Throughout the year, visitors to San Diego can expect a mild and sunny climate. It's especially recommended to visit San Diego in the summer when temperatures around 77° Fahrenheit (25° C) can be expected and the umbrella can be left...

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