San Diego located at the southern coast of California on the Pacific Ocean
Set
around a graceful curving bay, free from the smog and the crowded
sprawling freeways of Los Angeles, sits the beautiful city of San Diego.
The site of the first mission in California, it was not until the arrival
of the Santa Fe Railroad in the 1880s that the city became a significant
trading port. The second largest city in California, it has farms, state
parks and forests, desert areas and mountains rising above the snow line,
as well as kilometers of stunning Pacific coast beaches. It has an
eclectic mix of architectural styles from Spanish Colonial Renaissance to
neo-Gothic and Moorish and offers a wide array of art and culture.
Balboa Park is home to San Diego Zoo and its 4,000 or so animals. The
city is also home to Sea World, where Shamu the Orca performs and there
are sea lion and dolphin shows.
Mission Beach Boardwalk is another highlight, with roller coasters, an
arcade, restaurants and surf shops. You can hire bikes, surfboards,
roller skates and roller blades or just enjoy the white sandy coastline.
Another lovely beach is Pacific Beach. Known as the 'PB' by local
residents, it is also home to one of San Diego's larger nightlife areas,
with dozens of bars and cafés lining Garnet, the main street. A golden
beach stretches for miles from the Mission Bay jetty up to the stunning
cliffs of ritzy La Jolla. For a different atmosphere, try the historic Gaslamp Quarter, where many of the buildings are Victorian-inspired.
San Diego also has many naval bases, including Miramar, where Top Gun was
made. Silver Strand Beach National Park and Mt Soledad are other
highlights. San Diego is a city with something for everyone. San Diego
enjoys mild, sunny weather throughout the year.
