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Discovering "America's Finest City": San Diego
by Sarah Mudd,
PassPorter Message Board Guide and Guest Contributor
When a lot of folks hear the word California
the first thing that pops into their mind is Los Angeles, movie stars .
. . maybe even Disneyland. But how many think of the beautiful jewel of
a city just 90 miles away from Hollywood? San Diego is nicknamed “America’s
Finest City," and for good reason.
Bordered in the south by Mexico, the west
by the Pacific Ocean and the east by the Anza-Borrego Desert and Laguna
Mountains, San Diego has something
for everyone.
San Diego is California’s second largest
city and the seventh largest in the United States with a population of
over 1.3 million. Originally inhabited by the Kumeyaay people, the area
was “discovered” by explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542, then named
“San Diego” by Sebastian Vizcaino in 1602, when the California coastline
was first mapped. The first colonists settled in the city in late 1774.
Mission
San Diego de Alcala, the first of 21 missions to be established on
the California coast, was founded in 1769 on Presidio Hill, which overlooks
Old Town. In 1774, it was relocated to its current location and is one
of the most beautiful buildings in the city. It is also an active Catholic
parish in the Diocese of San Diego.
Old
Town San Diego State Historic Park recreates Mexican and American life
from 1821 to 1872. There are many shops, restaurants, museums, historic
buildings (including San Diego’s first newspaper office) and the Whaley
House, which is the most haunted house in America! Some of the tastiest
authentic Mexican food can be found in Old Town at the Old
Town Mexican Café!
Balboa
Park is a museum lover’s dream. In total, there are 15 museums in Balboa
Park, including the Reuben H. Fleet Science
Center, San Diego Aerospace
Museum and San Diego Art Museum.
In addition, there are over 85 performing arts and international culture
organizations, hiking and biking trails, restaurants and the World-Famous
San Diego Zoo. There are so many
things to do in Balboa Park alone; it could take you days to see everything!
In the Downtown area you will find the
Gaslamp Quarter, which is one of
southern California’s premier dining, shopping and entertainment districts.
Horton Plaza is an open-air mall, which looks similar to a European marketplace
with elements of an amusement park and touches of historical San Diego.
Seaport Village is an intimate
waterfront shopping village with some great shops and restaurants. Some
favorites at Seaport Village are the carousel and the shop that makes homemade
fudge while you watch.
The San
Diego Bay has 34 total miles of shoreline with hotels, parks, shopping
and museums, including the San Diego
Maritime Museum (aboard the Star of India) and the San
Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum (aboard the USS Midway). There are quite
a few ways to tour the bay area - PediCab, the Old Town Trolley Tours and
horse-drawn carriages will take you around the area on shore and there
are a handful of options for harbor cruises.
San Diego beaches
can often be found packed with surfers. Some of the best beaches for surfing
are Pacific Beach, La Jolla,
Mission Beach and Ocean Beach.
At Ocean Beach, there is even a section of beach just for dogs called,
what else but Dog Beach. “OB” is a laid-back beach town and it is likely
you will find mostly locally owned and operated shops and restaurants.
At Mission Beach, you will find Belmont
Park, a historic amusement park with the Giant Dipper, a wooden roller
coaster built in 1925.
Whenever someone mentions they are heading
on a trip to San Diego, and I am asked for tips, one of the first things
I mention is where they should eat. My recommendations are that, at least
once, you need to experience authentic Mexican food. My favorite place
is Old Town Mexican Café in Old Town. I also recommend a trip to
In-N-Out Burger, as well as a trip
to Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill. Rubio’s
is the home of the fish taco, as well as other tasty creations. It is a
favorite food stop in our family.
If sports are your thing, you are in luck!
There’s a sports team for everyone! Like baseball? Catch the Major League
Baseball San
Diego Padres at PETCO Park between April and October. Is football more
your thing? The NFL’s San Diego Chargers
play in the fall and winter! There are teams representing nearly everything
from Major League Baseball to the National Premier Soccer League to the
Women’s Professional Football League!
Cross the Coronado
Bay Bridge from downtown San Diego and you’ll find one of the jewels
of the San Diego area . . . the Hotel
del Coronado. “The Del” was built in 1888 on Coronado
Island and was the inspiration for the Grand Floridian resort at Walt
Disney World! Further to the north of the city, in Escondido, is the San
Diego Wild Animal Park. There, most animals are kept in their “natural”
habitat and guests are brought through the “Serengeti” on safari trains.
There are also walk-through exhibits and shows to check out. Also north
of San Diego, in Carlsbad is Legoland
California, with rides, attractions and shows for people of all ages all
themed to Lego building bricks!
Head up Point Loma and you will find Fort
Rosecrans National Cemetery and, further up the Point, Cabrillo
National Monument. Cabrillo National Monument celebrates the 1542 landing
of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo on the land that became San Diego. The monument
was dedicated in 1913 and includes the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and a
visitor’s center with historical displays and a gift shop/bookstore. The
monument offers gorgeous views of the city of San Diego as well as the
San Diego Bay, Coronado and Naval Air Station North Island. On the sea-side
of the Point, gray whales can be seen migrating off the coast during the
winter time and there is also a small stretch of rocky coastline and tide
pools that can be seen during low tide. The entrance fee for the park is
$5 per car (or $3 if you are on a bicycle, motorcycle or come up on foot
or bus) and that is good for 7 days of access to the park! An excellent
bargain for some fantastic views and peace and quiet!
Other attractions in the Point Loma area
include Sea World
San Diego and the iPayOne Center,
where you’ll often find shows, concerts and, on weekends, the Kobey’s
Swap Meet. The Swap Meet is my favorite place to find odds and ends
as well as San Diego souvenir tee shirts! Most vendors sell their souvenir
tees for 3 adult tees for $10 and kids’ tees for 3 for $9. Some a bit more,
some a bit less, but all great deals for great shirts!
San Diego truly is a melting pot of people
and cultures with something for everyone. Beaches, mountains, museums,
great food and fantastic weather year-round make this a wonderful vacation
destination where you will never be without something to do. I am proud
to call it my hometown and enjoy exploring the city whenever I am able
to get back there. I know you will enjoy exploring as well!
Tip: You'll find more information and tips on San Diego in our guidebook,
"PassPorter's Disneyland Resort and
Southern California Attractions.".
Sarah Mudd is the Guide
for the Disneyland: Getting There (and Back!) forum on the PassPorter Message
Boards. She is a stay-at-home mom, Navy wife, and displaced San Diego
native who looks forward to the day when she can move back to her beautiful
hometown!
This article appeared in our June 15, 2006 newsletter -- subscribe to our popular newsletter today for free!
Related Articles:
Disneyland: Fabulous at 50
Grand Californian Hotel
White Water Snacks
Westin Century Plaza Hotel
San Diego
San Francisco
Alcatraz
Future of Disneyland
Disneyland Homecoming
Disneyland Sidetrip
Discover the Magic Tour
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Updated 12/31/06
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