Although a good-sized metropolis by any standard, as well as one of the fastest-growing cities in America, San Diego still retains its slow-paced, beach-town ambience. San Diego is in fact geographically different from the rest of Southern California, with alpine hills just inland, great beaches, gentle bays, and some of the best weather in the country. Worthwhile attractions (and there are many) include Balboa Park, Mission Bay and Sea World, Old Town, and the Maritime Museum.
In addition to its geographical position and particularly balmy climate, the city is famous for its zoo in Balboa Park, which has an exceptionally large number of animals, kept in conditions that are as close as possible to those of their natural habitat. It is frequently used to film nature documentaries, as well as by cartoon animators who need to study their subjects’ movements.
The main sights worth seeing in the city proper are the Gaslamp Quarter, a restored section of the Old Town, and the earliest Spanish mission in California, obviously dedicated to San Diego.
History
The area of San Diego is known as one of the oldest settlements by Europeans on the west coast. In 1542, a Portuguese "conquistador" by the name of Joao Rodriguez Cabrillo cruised from Guatemala to the American west coast on behalf of the Spanish crown. Cabrillo explored San Diego bay with his two tall ships "San Salvador" and "Victoria", and was the first European who stepped onto California grounds at a peninsula known today as Point Loma.
However, the entire Point Loma area appeared not very interesting for "conquistadors" because it lacked valuable treasures such as gold and other precious metals. Hence Cabrillo decided to turn away from San Diego soon after his arrival. More than 200 years later, the first settlers began to move to California, again with San Diego as their starting point.
In 1769, the Spanish
monk Junipero Serra founded the mission "San Diego de Alcala" on an
elevated area called Presidio Hill. Moving on north from Presidio Hill,
Serra founded many more missions, each at a distance of approximately one
travel day
1867 was the beginning of a strong period of growth, when
Alonzo Horton, a gold digger, began buying up large areas south of Old Town,
paying for it with profits from his gold exploration business. Mr. Horton
was a man with a vision, he saw his capital investment grow and multiply as
soon as the San Diego City Government moved to this New Town four years
later
The largest increase in
numbers of new San Diego settlers started in 1885. That year the rail road
arrived in San Diego and soon became the preferred mode of transportation
for people, and started improving San Diego's infro- structure for movement
of goods considerably
In 1888, San Diego
already had a population of 40,000. And it was the year of inauguration of
the world famous luxury hotel "Del Coronado" on the peninsula of lovely
Coronado
Highlights of San Diego
- Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá (10818 San Diego Mission Rd. 619-281-8449. Adm. fee) Dating from 1774, this plain white mission features a wall of bells and Padre Serra's original quarters. Built in 1769 under the direction of Father Junâpero Serra, and the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (4002 Wallace St. 619-220-5422), which dates back to 1821, shortly after Mexico gained independence from Spain.
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (Off I-5 at Old Town Ave. Visitor Center at Robinson-Rose House. 619-220-5422) Surrounded by adobe-and-wood buildings, this plaza is an outdoor museum of mid-19th-century San Diego. Highlights include the 1867 Seeley Stable, with its collection of stagecoaches and Western gear, and the furnished 1827 adobe hacienda of a presidio comandante.
- Cabrillo National Monument (1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr. 619-557-5450. Adm. fee) Located on the lofty point where Cabrillo first made landfall are a Visitor Center focused on Spanish exploration and the 1855 Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which has been refurbished. Cabrillo National Monument commemorates Cabrillo's discovery; this is also a favorite spot to view the gray whale migrations in spring and fall.
- Gaslamp Quarter (Bounded by 4th and 6th Aves., Broadway, and Harbor Dr.) The 16-block national historic district known as the Gaslamp Quarter (Between 4th and 6th Aves. from Broadway to Harbor Dr.), with its many 1880s Victorian commercial buildings, was once the site of San Diego's notorious red-light district. In its heyday the Gaslamp Quarter counted more than 70 saloons and 120 bawdy houses, as well as opium dens, dance halls, and gambling houses. For information on walking tours, contact the Gaslamp Quarter Association (614 5th St. Suite E. 619-233-5227. Adm. fee). Saturday walking tours leave the William Heath Davis House Museum (410 Island Ave. 619-233-4692. Adm. fee), a New England saltbox house shipped around Cape Horn in 1850.
- In 1868, San Diego set aside 1,400 acres of cactus and chaparral as a public park. Today Balboa Park (619-239-0512), the city's most elegant public space, provides a lush setting for serene gardens, striking architecture, picnic grounds, golf courses, and the world-class San Diego Zoo (619-234-3153. Adm. fee), which showcases pygmy chimps, sun bears from Malaysia, and 22 new aviaries called the Wings of Australasia. This most famous Zoo in the World, features over 4,000 rare birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians await you, with over 100 acres of award-winning gardens, entertaining tours and shows. Another star attraction, the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center (619-238-1233. Adm. fee) houses an Omnimax theater and hands-on exhibits. Also on the grounds are the Museum of Photographic Arts (619-238-7559. Adm. fee), the Natural History Museum (619-232-3821. Adm. fee), the Model Railroad Museum (619-696-0199. Closed Mon.-Tues.; adm. fee), and the San Diego Museum of Art (619-232-7931. Closed Mon.; adm. fee).
- Down on the Embarcadero waterfront, sailors will delight in the three historic ships moored at the
Maritime Museum ( 1492 N. Harbor Drive. 619-234-9153. Adm. fee): the 1863 tall ship Star of
India (the oldest iron-hulled vessel afloat), the 1898 San Francisco Bay ferry Berkeley, and the 1904 steam-powered yacht Medea.
Sea World (1720 S. Shores Rd. 619-226-3901. Adm. fee) ranks as one of California's top attractions. The marine life park features six shows daily (its most famous star is Shamu the killer whale) and more than 30 educational exhibits, including the largest collection of penguins north of Antarctica, live sharks, a whale and dolphin petting zoo, and the new Rocky Point Preserve, a Pacific Northwest habitat where you look at sea otters and other marine creatures
close-up. Ready to soak up some sun ? Sea World
is open
year around, visitors of all ages enjoy the two acres of Splash and Fun.
Wade, train, feed, and
- Take the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge (toll) or a pedestrian ferry (San Diego Harbor Excursions leave from Broadway Pier. 619-234-4111. Fare charge) to Coronado Island (Visitor Center, 1047 B Ave. Coronado. 619-437-8788), which is not really an island but a low, narrow peninsula that separates San Diego Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Be sure to visit the castle-like Victorian Hotel del Coronado (1500 Orange Ave. 619-435-6611. Tours Thurs.-Sat.; fee) and take a stroll along the lovely beach. This elegant Victorian seaside resort (1888) boasts an early Otis elevator. The cupola roof line inspired guest L. Frank Baum in describing Oz.
Attractions outside town
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Chula Vista Nature Cente, 316 acre bird watcher paradise, 215 species of birds, leopard sharks, horn sharks, batrays, stingray, interactive exhibits. To view these birds bring your binoculars or rent a pair at the center bookstore.
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The many beaches California is famous for are just close to town. You can enjoy
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Catch the Trolley to Tijuana, Mexico, and wander through
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The Wild Animal Park is a leisurely 30 minute drive North. A trip to the Wild Animal Park is like
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San Pascual Battlefield S.H.P. (40 miles NE via I-15 and Calif. 78. 619-220-5430. Sat.-Sun.) In the roughest encounter of the Mexican-American War, U.S. troops were routed by Californios in 1846. A Visitor Center at the 50-acre site explains the battle.
Arrival, information and getting around
Getting around without a car, by day at least, is comparatively easy. Seven companies operate an integrated bus system; the Transit Store, 449 Broadway (Mon–Sat 8.30am–5.30pm, Sun noon–4pm, tel 619/234-1060), has detailed timetables and sells passes such as the one-day ($5), two-day ($8) and four-day ($12) Day Tripper Transit Pass. The passes apply also to the tram-like San Diego Trolley, which covers the sixteen miles from the Santa Fe Depot to the Mexican border crossing at San Ysidro. It’s a forty-five minute trip ($1.75; every 15min from 5am–midnight). The last trolley back leaves at 3am on Saturday night, facilitating evenings out south of the border. Bicycle rental shops include Rent-a-Bike, at 523 Island St (tel 619/232-4700), and Hamel’s Action Sport Center, 704 Ventura Place, Mission Beach (tel 619/488-5050).
The International Visitor Information Center is downtown at 11 Horton Plaza (Mon–Sat 8.30am–5pm; tel 619/236-1212; www.sandiego.org). The poste restante post office is at 2535 Midway Drive, between downtown and Mission Beach (Mon 7am–5pm, Tues–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 8am–4pm; tel 1-800-275-8777; zip code 92138).
Accommodation
- Balboa Park Inn, 3402 Park Blvd, Hillcrest. Elegant, gay-oriented B&B, within walking distance of Balboa Park and museums. All are romantic one- and two-bedroom suites with coffee makers and mini-fridges.
- Beach Haven Inn, 4740 Mission Blvd, Pacific Beach. Nice rooms around a pool and spa; continental breakfast included. With air conditioning, kitchenettes, and cable TV, it’s one of the best places at the beach.
- BW Bayside Inn
- BW Seven Seas
- BW Palms Hotel & Marina
- Crystal Pier Hotel and Cottages, 4500 0cean Blvd, Pacific Beach. Beautiful, deluxe cottages situated on Pacific Beach pier. All units are suites with private deck, and most have kitchenettes.
- Horton Grand, 311 Island Ave at 3rd. Classy, modernized amalgam of two century-old hotels, with fireplaces in most rooms.
- J Street Inn, 222 J St, downtown. Near the Gaslamp District, Greyhound station and waterfront, this little-known bargain has units with microwaves, refrigerator and cable TV.
- Ocean Beach Motel, 5080 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach. Not beautiful by any means, but right across the street from the sand, with ocean-view and kitchenettes available.
- Quality Inn Airport / Seaworld
- Ramada Inn North
- Surf & Sand Motel, 4666 Mission Blvd, Pacific Beach. Clean, comfortable motel close to the beach; offers pool, cable TV, mini fridge or kitchenette.
- US Grant Hotel
For more regional information on San Diego, go to:
For more travel information on San Diego, go to: