The City of San Diego, California, USA

Downtown San Diego from the ferry to Coronado, California Photo by en.wikipedia.org

The city of San Diego, historically the home of the Kumeyaay people, is the 8^th largest city in the United States and the 2^nd largest city of California, located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, roughly 120 miles (193.1213 km) south of Los Angeles and proximately adjacent to the Mexican border. The city of San Diego which is also the county seat of San Diego County is known for its year-round mild climate, natural deep water harbor, beaches and historically its long association with US Navy. Its main driver of economic growth is the presence of military and defense-related activities, global trade, manufacturing and tourism.

Sightseeing tours, San Diego

Activities

1. San Diego Fly Rides Tours

            Travel around San Diego in comfort and style with Hybrid Electric Bikes that travels at a speed of up to 20 mph and a range of 20 mph. Professional guided tours are offered covering La Jolla, Balboa Park, San Diego and many more. Joining an E-Bike Tour and Bike rental are also available at La Jolla Village across George’s On the Cove.  See you in San Diego.

2. Speed Boat Adventures

            Join a Speed Boat Adventure Tour, a guided-narrated San Diego Harbor Tour and experienced an adventure of a lifetime. You will be able to navigate and captain your own speedboat for the whole tour while subsequently following trained and knowledgeable guides through witty, historical narration done through 2-way communication systems installed in each boat.

3. Offshore Blue Adventures

            Experience San Diego whale watching at its best! Everyone gets a front row seat in a fast expedition style boats to the whales. Join sunset tours of San Diego Bay for two hours especially during summer and fall.

           

Sea World, San Diego 

Top Attractions

1. Sea World San Diego

            Embark on a journey to the ocean's surface at Sea World San Diego. Touch a dolphin’s fin, gaze down some giant sea creatures like whales and sharks or connect with all the sea's creatures. Encounter polar bears at Wild Arctic Interaction and try some daring drop on the Journey to Atlantis water coaster.

2. San Diego Zoo

            Mind you, this is no ordinary Zoo! It is a zoo like no other. This is the world well-known zoo where you can stroll its vast expanse or ride a double- deck bus throughout the zoo cum park. This zoo is home to over 4,000 exotic and rare animals showed in beautiful, natural environments. The San Diego Zoo is also a major research facility disguise with entertainment shows and exhibits like the Polar Bear Plunge and the Hippo beach.

Balboa Park, San Diego

3. The Balboa Park

            The San Diego Zoo is only a part of this magnificent 1,200 acres Balboa Park built for the 1915-1916 Panama-California Expo. At the park, Spanish-styled buildings were erected in honor of California's Hispanic roots, notably the California Building modeled after a Spanish colonial church topped with polychrome tiled dome. The Balboa Park is filled with green space, beautiful landscapes and cultural establishments. You can’t help in admiring the wonderful displays of art pieces found in the San Diego Natural History Museum.  If you are a fan of Rembrandt works then you have to visit the Timken Museum of Art.  You can know more about the Apollo 9 spacecraft by going to the Air & Space Museum.  People who love the theater would surely regret if they can’t visit the Old Globe. Balboa Park has truly the best amazing places that can make your entire vacation exciting.

The park is also home to 14 museums, botanical gardens, a pipe organ pavilion, miniature-scale train, an antique carousel and a Tony award theatre. One particular event that most people got interested in is Balboa Park’s long-standing traditions of Christmas on the Prado held every first weekend of December each year.

Top Foods & Drinks

 

1. Filippi’s Pizza Groto

This is one of the well-loved Italian restaurants in San Diego area because of its highly celebrated pizza being served since 50 years ago. One has to pass through the front of the restaurant where an Italian shop is selling canned goods, olives, dried pasta, wines, and a deli selling Italian cheese and sausages. The restaurant has all the classic lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, ravioli and more or paired it with imported and domestic wine and beer.

2. Ponces Mexican Restaurant

            This is a 1950’s era building recently renovated to accommodate a more dramatic rust-colored walls where scores of patrons dine-in during weekend particularly when an independent film is premiering at the Ken Cinema directly across the street. This is a family-run restaurant that still continues to serve unique, wholly Mexican menus such as fresh made tortilla chips in spicy salsa, a bowl of jalapenos and mild carrots. Try handmade Chile Rellenos for your entrée, it’s a good bet!

3. Mona Lisa Italian Restaurant

            This authentic Italian restaurant is a family owned and run restaurant specializing in homemade submarines, pasta and pizza. If you are salivating for Union Square pizza, some little Italian meatballs and spaghetti, this is it!

           

Getting There

Airport – The San Diego International Airport is one of the busiest single runway airports in the USA, is also called as Lindbergh Field. This airport is at a short distance from the central district of San Diego.  It has three terminals with the latest facilities and high-end security measures such as lounges, baggage counters and information screens. Flights in San Diego are available with all leading airlines and are usually packed due to the availability of attractive offers on airfare to San Diego.

Mass Transit – From San Diego airport, commuters do not have any trouble because the airport has its own Shuttle buses, government owned and private for inter-terminal transportation. There is also a public transportation available to any part of San Diego including buses, Coaster and Amtrak rail link. Tourists can also reserve private cars and limos from the airport. Cabs are also readily available. Rates are on the base on distance covered.

Getting Around San Diego

San Diego has several networks of freeways and highways, including interstate 5, which runs to Tijuana in the south and to Los Angeles in the north, Interstate 8, which runs to Imperial County in the east and the Arizona corridor, Interstate 15, which runs through the Inland Empire in the northeast to Las Vegas and Interstate 805, which splits at the junction of I-5 near the Mexican border and reconnects i-5 at Sorrento Valley.

There are 965 vacation rentals in San Diego starting at US $70 per night.