Attractions
Balboa Park
Balboa Park has several museums in some wonderful Spanish-Mexican buildings, as well as many performing arts, cultural institutions and art galleries. Some of the museums include the world famous San Diego Zoo, the Reuben H Fleet Science Centre and the Spanish Village Art Centre. The park also has golf courses, hiking and biking trails, promenades, a Japanese Friendship Garden, fountains, restaurants and a pavilion holding concerts on Sunday afternoons.
Address: 1549 El Prado.
Telephone: (619) 239 0512.
Website:www.balboapark.org
Getting there: From downtown take bus 7 or 120. A free tram can take you around the park. Hours of Operation: The visitor centre is open daily 9:30am – 4:30pm. Some museums are closed on Mondays.
Admission: Park entrance is free. Museum prices start at $5. You can buy a $35 Balboa Park Passport for admission to 14 attractions. Tuesdays have free admission for museums on a rotating schedule.
San Diego Zoo
One of San Diego’s biggest attractions is the world-famous San Diego Zoo, known for its conservation efforts, natural animal environments and successful breeding of endangered species. It’s the only zoo in the world to successfully breed Chinese great pandas. You can visit more than 4,000 animals, many of them wandering in simulated natural habitats spread out over 100 acres. One of the best sections is the Tiger River Asian rainforest, which features tigers, pythons, tapirs and crocodiles visible from misty trails winding through waterfalls and exotic plants. You can also visit exhibits like the Gorilla Tropics, Sun Bear Forest, polar bears and the Ituri Forest Exhibit. The zoo’s smallest visitors might enjoy the Children’s Zoo, where they can pet bunnies, goats and sheep. Sea lions and other animals perform at an outdoor amphitheater.
Address: 2929 Zoo Drive, Balboa Park.
Telephone: (619) 231 1515.
Website:www.sandiegozoo.org
Getting there: From downtown take bus 7.
Hours of operation: Opens daily at 9am, closing hours vary by season.
Admission: Adults - $40, Children (ages 3 to 11) - $30.
Sea World
Sea World and its famous killer whale Shamu are one of San Diego’s most iconic attractions. The marine park has several shows with talented performing sea lions, otters, dolphins and killer whales. It also educates people about marine conversation with its important work in rescuing injured or stranded animals. You can walk through the Antarctica in the Penguin Encounter or look sharks in the face in the glass-enclosed Shark House. There are also adventure rides like Shipwreck Rapids and Journey to Atlantis. During the summer lines can get very long and exhibits crowded.
Address: 500 Sea World Drive, Mission Bay.
Telephone: (800) 257 4268.
Website:www.seaworld.com
Getting there: From downtown take bus 9 or 24.
Hours of operation: Daily, park hours vary.
Admission: Adults - $69.99, Children (ages 3 to 9) - $61.99.
Downtown
San Diego’s downtown area includes the business district, the historic Gaslamp Quarter and the waterfront Embarcadero is small enough to walk around. The Gaslamp District is a trendy 16-block shopping and dining area filled with historic buildings and the wrought-iron street lamps that give it its name. There are also many performing and visual art centres and several blues and jazz festivals. In the summer there are crowds of people sitting at outdoor tables, but you should watch your surroundings at night. The Beaches
San Diego’s beaches are the heart of the city, stretching across 70 miles. There are plenty of shops and cafes to stop at or you can spend your time tanning, swimming or snorkeling. Rollerbladers, joggers and bikers flock to the boardwalk running from Mission beach to Pacific Beach, and there’s plenty of waterskiing, sailing and windsurfing in Mission Bay. Just north of the city is La Jolla, an oceanfront suburb with classy restaurants and expensive real estate along a beautiful stretch of coastline. The ocean is clear and the beaches have coves, cliffs and great surfing. Coronado Island
Coronado Island is home to the famous historic Hotel del Coronado, a National Historic Landmark from 1888. The building is a San Diego institution with distinctive Victorian turrets and conical towers. Many films have been shot here over the years and celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra were once guests. You can stay at the hotel or just take a tour, wandering through the grounds and the award-winning Silver Strand State Beach. Across the bay, at Point Loma, is the site of the first European landing in 1542.
Address: Coronado Visitor Centre, 1100 Orange Ave., Coronado.
Telephone: (619) 437 8788.
Website:www.coronadovisitorcentre.com
Getting there: Ferries depart from San Diego’s Broadway Pier.
Hours of operation: The visitor’s centre is open Monday to Friday 9am–5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am–5pm.
Tijuana, Mexico
Tijuana is a typical Mexican border town with lots of noise and activity. It’s an easy trip from San Diego to cut loose. It will only take you 30 minutes to get there. There are plenty of bars, restaurants and dance clubs, as well as bullfighting and Jai Alai. The city has a bad reputation for an excess of prostitution, drugs and sex shows, but recent efforts have been made to clean it up.
Website:www.seetijuana.com
Getting there: From downtown San Diego, take the trolley or board bus 932 at the Santa Fe Railroad Depot.
