San Diego showcase

70 miles of beach, parks, nature trails, casinos, art galleries, shopping…San Diego has it all

There are a number of things going for San Diego, California's second largest city and the United States' seventh largest. For starters, it has a near-idyllic climate, then there is 70 miles of pristine beaches followed by a dazzling array of world-class family attractions, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California.

In fact, the most difficult decision to make during a vacation to San Diego is determining what to do and see among the region's vast and diverse variety of offerings. San Diego offers a vacation experience for everyone. Let's start with the landscape. In San Diego's East County, the terrain varies from gentle foothills to mile-high mountains and the historic mining town, Julian, down to the 600,000-acre Anza Borrego Desert State Park, offers nature-conscious visitors endless opportunities to hike, camp, fish, observe wildlife and much more. In San Diego's North County, the land produces varieties of flowers as well as quality grapes that become excellent wines, which are served at some of the most elegant restaurants and resorts in the region. Along the west, 70 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline supports year-round outdoor recreation, such as surfing, boating, sailing and swimming.

If you are into beaches, then in San Diego, the beach is a way of life. For some, the mere memory of a mid-summer sunset melting into the Pacific is reward enough. Others have a more intimate relationship with the sea: surfing and sailing, biking and running, swimming and diving along San Diego's many beaches and bays.
However if your scene is the green outdoors, then again the diverse landscape, which includes mountains, deserts and rural backcountry, offer a number of attractions to choose from. The San Diego County Park System offers a variety of parks and lakes for your enjoyment.

To the compulsive shopper, San Diego offers the kind of shopping that begs comfortable shoes and may require an extension to your visit. From sprawling discount outlet centres to quaint upscale boutiques, your options are incredibly varied. Your range of shopping includes antiques, apparels, books, art, fashion jewellery, factory outlet malls, sports equipment, cellular phones and much more.

After doing the shopping rounds you can unwind with some entertainment. When the sun goes down, San Diego´s nightlife comes alive with neon lights, kinetic energy and the hustle of clubgoers seeking the ideal place to listen to live music. Downtown´s historic Gaslamp Quarter is San Diego´s most electrifying and eclectic entertainment hub featuring more than 80 nightclubs, restaurants, theatres and galleries.

Alternatively you can opt for some award-winning meals in many of the region's 6,400 eating establishments.
Since there is too much of San Diego to list every thing down, suffice it to say that there are 92 golf courses and a variety of exciting participatory and spectator sports, beachfront resorts and luxury spas, gaming, a dynamic downtown district, annual special events and unique holiday offerings, multicultural festivals and celebrations, colourful neighbourhoods and communities, a rich military history, accessibility for travellers with disabilities and much more.

A good way to discover the place is by using the public transportation. The Online Transit Information System Trip Planner (www.sdcommute.com) is a great tool for navigating your way around San Diego using public transportation.