San Diego

Pack your sunglasses! This magnificent city is an ideal year-round destination with over 300 days of sun and a mild climate. Don’t forget your camera as well, you’ll need it as you visit Balboa Park, The San Diego Zoo, The Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld, LegoLand, or any of the other great attractions on offer. Nearby you can discover the east county’s casinos, Temecula Valley, and Mexico.

Once you arrive, whether by plane, train, or automobile, you’ll probably be asking yourself, “Where should I start?” Start anywhere you’d like because there is a lot to see and do. To get started, here’s the scoop on the major attractions:

The San Diego Zoo

Did someone say animals? This world-renowned zoo houses approximately 4,000 animals of nearly 800 species in its 100 acres. Recognized as one of the world's best zoos, the Zoological Society of San Diego is accredited as a museum. In addition to giant pandas on loan from the Republic of China, spectacular bioclimatic exhibits include Gorilla Tropics, Sun Bear Forest, Tiger River, Hippo Beach, Ituri Forest and Polar Bear Plunge. The San Diego Zoo also features popular attractions like a three-mile guided bus tour, a children’s petting zoo and baby animal nursery.

The San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park

The park is a 2,200-acre nature preserve, operated by the Zoological Society of San Diego, located 30 miles north of downtown. More than 3,000 wild animals, representing many endangered species, roam free over expanses resembling their native habitats in Africa and Asia.

SeaWorld San Diego

Located on Mission Bay, the 189-acre marine park features trained killer whales, manatees, seals, dolphins, sea lions, sea otters and penguins. Five major shows, with performing animals, are staged throughout the day at outdoor and indoor auditoriums.

LEGOLAND California

With 128-acres, this "country just for kids," is located in Carlsbad, a 30-minute drive from downtown. The only family park of its kind in North America, LEGOLAND California is a place to discover, explore, practice and enjoy.

Museums and other Attractions

While everyone loves the big attractions, did you know there are 70 miles of beaches? Other leading attractions include downtown's historic Gaslamp Quarter, the Big Bay, Old Town, Balboa Park, Cabrillo National Monument, Mission Bay Park, a variety of museums and performing arts venues, and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps.

Balboa Park is a great area if you like museums. Among the museums in the park are the Centro Cultural de La Raza, Mingei International Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Air & Space Museum, San Diego Automotive Museum, San Diego Hall of Champions, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Museum of Man, San Diego Historical Society Museum & Research Archives and the Timken Museum of Art.

The display is notable down in Big Bay where you’ll find The Maritime Museum of San Diego. Here you’ll find six ships anchored along the Embarcadero on the Big Bay. The Museum's flagship Star of India, the oldest active tall ship in the world, was built in 1863 and is a magnificent sight. Docked in San Diego Bay, the USS Midway houses the new San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum. Visitors can enjoy 15 restored aircrafts and access to the hangar and flight decks of the nation’s longest-serving aircraft carrier.

Shopping & Dining

Horton Plaza is a dramatic 6.5-block shopping and entertainment complex in the heart of downtown. Parks and mixed-use commercial complexes, many in historic landmark structures, house restaurants, shops, galleries, nightclubs and hotels, and complement modern high-rise office and residential buildings.

Throughout the county you will find modern shopping centers, sparkling malls, country villages, exclusive boutiques, name brand outlet stores and unusual shops in authentic historical settings provide shopping opportunities. Remember, Mexico is just miles away and in Tijuana you will find values on Mexican crafts and imports.

If you’re hungry, don’t worry – SD features approximately 6,700 restaurants countywide, from the borders of Mexico to North County, with the neighbourhoods Coronado, Old Town, Little Italy, Hillcrest, La Jolla, Del Mar, Escondido and downtown's historic Gaslamp Quarter, which boasts over 100 restaurants, sandwiched in between. Over the last few years, numerous accomplished chefs have moved to San Diego for its near-idyllic lifestyle and "hot" restaurant scene, with several San Diego chefs gaining national recognition.

Getting around San Diego

An excellent freeway system makes travel by car or bus easy throughout the county. San Diego's Metropolitan Transit Development Corporation buses serve the metro area, and the San Diego Trolley provides service from downtown to Old Town, Mission Valley and Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego State University and to the Mexican border at Tijuana. The trolley’s East Line serves the San Diego Convention Center area and San Diego’s East County. Taxi service, rental cars and tours are readily available.

Getting to San Diego

San Diego International Airport-Lindbergh Field (SAN) is near downtown and is serviced by all major US carriers.

If you’ll be driving, San Diego is approximately a 2 1/2-hour drive from downtown Los Angeles via freeway on route Interstate 5, which stretches from Canada to the Mexican border. Interstate 8 serves drivers from Yuma, Arizona, and beyond from the East Coast. Interstate 15 provides access from Riverside County, Nevada and the Inter-mountain West.

Amtrak passenger trains provide service to and from Los Angeles. The Coaster provides commuter service from Oceanside to downtown San Diego. Greyhound provides bus service.