San Diego, California
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Introduction
Long known as "America's Finest City," San Diego is home to miles of sandy beaches, parks, world-class attractions, and natural preserves.
San Diego also offers great weather year-round. Morning fog quickly gives way to sunny summer days. Cool breezes usually pick back up in the early evening. California's southernmost city is also just a hop away from sunny Mexico beaches where seafood dinners are half the price! Every year more than 26 million visitors confirm that San Diego is truly the place to be.
San Diego is California's second-largest city, and the Nation's seventh-largest. With a city-wide population of 1.3 million inhabitants, San Diego still has that small-town relaxed feel to it. Among San Diego’s many charming neighborhoods, visitors and locals alike delight in spending their time in and around Mission Bay, Pacific Beach, Little Italy, Old Town, Coronado Island, the Gaslamp District, Point Loma, Escondido, and La Jolla.
San Diego’s largest attraction, dubbed The Big Bay, features 27 miles of waterfront parks, marinas, bikeways, beaches, shops, restaurants, and stunning views of the bay that are “picture perfect.” San Diego’s Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park, is home to more than 15 museums and is adjacent to the World Famous San Diego Zoo, a must see when visiting San Diego. SeaWorld Adventure Park and Legoland are among the area’s most popular family friendly attractions, along with the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park and the beachfront Belmont Park.
With pristine beaches, the country's finest golf courses, historic parks, world-class shopping centers, tantalizing restaurants, and famous theme parks, San Diego is the ideal vacation destination with something in store for everyone.
Read more about San Diego from Great American Holidays here: [1]
San Diego History
In 1542, when a Portuguese explorer named Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo entered San Diego Bay, the land he found had already been inhabited for centuries by the San Dieguito people and the Kumeyaay Indians. Cabrillo, who was sailing under the Spanish flag, was looking for the elusive Northwest Passage. The Northwest Passage was fabled to link the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. Cabrillo did not find this, however, he discovered a bay that he then named San Miguel.
In 1602, another Spanish expedition led by Sebastián Vizcaíno, entered San Miguel. He renamed his discovery San Diego in honor of the patron saint of his flagship, San Diego de Alcalá. The actual colonization of the area by Spain did not happen until a century and a half later, with the arrival of Father Junípero Serra. Father Junipero Serra was the one who eventually established the 21 missions that can be found throughout California. The dedication of the first mission in the state, San Diego Alcalá, took place on on July 16, 1769. This was essentially the dedication of the city of San Diego as well.
The Spanish retained control of California until Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, at which time the Mexican flag was raised over San Diego. The following year the area that we now know as Old Town San Diego began to be settled. By 1846, the war between Mexico and the United States was raging, and the U.S. took San Diego and raised the American flag over the city. In 1850 California became a state. San Diego had a population of 650.
Years later, in 1867, real estate speculator Alonzo Horton bought 960 acres of land in San Diego and set out to make the land into a new American city. Indeed, by 1884, when the transcontinental railroad reached San Diego, the city was booming. The fortunes of San Diego, however, waned with lack of interest in land speculation and little industrial development. But the city's fortunes rose again with tourism resulting from the Panama-California Exposition, and when the U.S. military recognized San Diego's strategic importance-and perfect flying weather-they moved in to stay.
Today the city's population numbers almost 1.5 million and houses one of the world's largest military complexes, which continues to attract economic growth. The future of San Diego is also closely tied to the new high-tech industries, and tourism is still strong. The zoo and the weather and the city's natural beauty are powerful attractions-and all of that's not likely to change.
Attractions: Balboa Park
A visit so San Diego isn’t complete without a stop at its crown jewel, Balboa Park. Balboa Park is a 1,174-acre city-owned playground and the largest urban cultural park in the nation. Originally known as City Park, San Diego could win awards on Balboa Park alone. The park was established in 1868 in the heart of the city, and its buildings modeled after the Spanish Baroque Churrigueresque style. As the city’s cultural hub, it is host to various festivals and exhibits year round.
The building facades in the park are so impressive, that legend has it a Spanish diplomat, upon visiting the park in 1915, remarked "you have out-Spained Spain," admitting that nowhere in Spain did architecture and gardens come together as in Balboa Park. The beautiful buildings along El Prado, a long walkway where most of the park’s museums are located, include the Museum of Man, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Photographic Arts, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and the Timken Museum of Art. The main walkway leads into the courtyard where the impressive Plaza de Panama fountain makes for a perfect photo opportunity. During the summer months, the fountain lights up at with different colors after the sunset, a very pleasing sight after a day of exploring the park.
A must-see attraction in Balboa Park is the World-Famous San Diego Zoo, which is home to more than 4,000 animals from all over the world. Other attractions include the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, The Old Globe Theatre, the Botanical Building with its accompanying reflecting pool, and the Balboa Park Golf Complex. There are many hiking trails throughout the park, as well as desert gardens that offer a prime location for a nice afternoon stroll. Balboa Park is a must-see attraction; don’t miss it during your visit to San Diego!
Buy your Balboa Park Passport - San Diego’s best cultural value, offers visitors the chance to experience 13 museums in the Park, with a savings of more than fifty percent![[2]]
Balboa Park Museums:
Centro Cultural de la Raza Japanese Friendship Garden Marston House Mingei International Museum Museum of Photographic Arts Museum of San Diego History Reuben H. Fleet Science Center San Diego Air & Space Museum San Diego Art Institute (SDAI): Museum of the Living Artist San Diego Automotive Museum San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum San Diego Model Railroad Museum San Diego Museum of Art San Diego Museum of Man San Diego Natural History Museum San Diego Zoo Timken Museum of Art Veterans Museum & Memorial Center WorldBeat Center
Attractions: Downtown San Diego
There is always something happening Downtown San Diego. Many of the city’s most important and historic buildings are located in this area. With more than 1.3 million people calling it home, the city of San Diego is the nation’s seventh-largest city. Among downtown’s more popular places to visit are the newly-built PETCO Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, Horton Plaza, the San Diego Convention Center, Seaport Village, and the Embarcadero.
With the completion of the Padres’ PETCO Park In 2004, downtown San Diego completed a huge construction project that has revitalized the area, and seen an influx of new visitors and businesses.
Downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter offers a mix of modern and old architecture. The Gaslamp Quarter is made up of 16 1/2 blocks of historic Victorian-style buildings from the late 1800’s, and gets its name from the old-fashioned street lamps that line its sidewalks. You'll find many of San Diego's best restaurants and its most vigorous nightlife scene here. The Horton Plaza shopping center is the most visited shopping center in San Diego, and offers a unique look at architect Jon Jerde’s so called “experience architecture.” When this shopping center first opened, its radical look shattered the standard of mall design. At Horton Plaza, you can shop, stroll, snack or dine, enjoy free entertainment, see a movie, and people-watch -- all within a unique and playful village framework.
The San Diego Convention Center is located in downtown’s waterfront, just a few blocks from the Gaslamp Quarter, and attracts some of the nation’s premier events and conventions. Located adjacent to the Convention center, another waterfront complex, Seaport Village is a scenic outdoor shopping mall. The village itself was originally designed to look like a New England seaport community, and it doesn’t disappoint with stunning views of the San Diego bay and passerby ships. If you find the views across the water alluring, another way to experience San Diego's waterfront is with one of several harbor tours and cruises . Many tours depart from this location, and if in season, you can catch migrating whales on a whale watching excursion!
The Embarcadero Marine Park, along San Diego’s Big Bay, is a must see. It is a 22 acre man-made park extending into the bay with great views of the marina. Concerts are held here during the summer.
Attractions: Gaslamp Quarter
The Gaslamp Quarter, a neighborhood in downtown San Diego, is the place to be to experience the best dining and nightlife this city has to offer. The Gaslamp Quarter has been known by many names: Rabbitville, Flea Town, New Town San Diego, Davis' Folly, Stingaree, Chinatown, S.O.B. (South of Broadway), and finally, The Gaslamp Quarter. It history has shaped the 16 1/2 blocks that make up the Historic city center today. Its Victorian-style buildings, along with its history, date back to the late 1800’s. The Gaslamp Quarter gets its name from the old-fashioned street lamps that line its sidewalks. There are over 94 historic buildings that are still in use, and house the areas shops, restaurants and nightclubs.
The Gaslamp Quarter is host to many events throughout the year, including Mardi Gras, Taste of Gaslamp, ShamROCK (St. Patrick’s Day), and until recently Street Scene. Just a few blocks away, in San Diego’s East Village, PETCO Park is a fun place to catch a game when the San Diego Padres are in town. Gaslamp Quarter Hotels
The Horton Plaza shopping center, also in the Gaslamp Quarter, is the most visited shopping center in San Diego. Horton Plaza offers a unique look at architect Jon Jerde’s so called “experience architecture.” When this shopping center first opened, its radical look shattered the standard of mall design. At Horton Plaza, you can shop, stroll, snack or dine, enjoy free entertainment, see a movie, and people-watch -- all within a unique and playful village framework. . At 410 Island Avenue is the William Heath Davis house, a restored 19th-century saltbox. Across the street, at Island and Third, is the century-old Horton Grand Hotel. The Golden Lion Tavern, at Fourth and F streets, has a spectacular stained-glass domed ceiling.
Attractions: Sea World
SeaWorld San Diego is one of the areas top attractions. Since opening its doors in 1964, SeaWorld San Diego has hosted more than 100 million visitors with amazing marine animals and world-class shows. SeaWorld San Diego’s aquatic paradise rests on 190 acres situated on the shores of picturesque Mission Bay. SeaWorld offers you the chance to interact with all sorts of marine life, learn about their role in the environment, and experience them in action first hand. The park is also home to some pretty thrilling rides, which will certainly add to the excitement of your day.
The animals are the main focus of the park, and the attractions here not only show off these beautiful creatures, but also help educate and preserve these animals for generations yet to come. Among the exhibits is Forbidden Reef, which allows you to feed California bat rays and come face to face with Moray eels and the hundreds of other inhabitants of the world's underwater caverns. Both the Penguin and Shark encounter exhibits offer you the opportunity to come up close and personally experience these two fascinating creatures.
The star of the show, Shamu, is certain to amaze you with his spectacular show. “Believe” takes you on an amazing journey where you see the close relationship the killer whales have with their trainers, and also offers the watcher an amazing display of behaviors. Shamu is sure to provide an incredible show!
One of the things that make Sea World such an attraction, are the park's amusement rides. Part theme park and part giant aquarium, Sea World does offer some thrilling rides that will certainly get your blood running. Journey to Atlantis, Shipwreck Rapids, Wild Artic, Bayside Skyride, and the infamous Skytower offer thrill seekers a chance to get a bit of a rush in-between Shamu shows, lunch and Dolphin feedings. Of note: Journey to Atlantis is part roller coaster, part Commerson's dolphin exhibit where the coasters cars double up as Greek fishing boats (get ready to get wet!) and speed you around an elevated track, down roaring rapids and splashing into large pools and ponds. This is not for the faint of heart and is a great relief from those hot, summer days.
Get your SeaWorld San Diego Discounted Tickets today, and experience it all for yourself! Just follow the link: [3]
