General description
With more than forty miles of coastal beaches and a much less elegant atmosphere than Los Angeles, San Diego, California’s second largest city, can be a fantastic destination for the California tourist. There are several districts in San Diego that are worth visiting. Old Town is the most popular district among tourists, home to most of the city’s museums and theaters, as well as many shopping, dining, and drinking establishments. Balboa Park is home to the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Air and Space Museum, the Museum of Man, and the Old Globe Theatre. The Gaslamp is an artsy district where you’ll find many art galleries, boutiques, corner cafes, and over 90 restaurants. Little Italy is home to some of the best Italian food in San Diego, and it also offers fabulous views of the harbor. Kenningston is a great place to relax and while you’re there you should take some time to visit the Ken Landmark Theatre, a theater that features classic movies. Mission Bay is home to Sea World and is a great place to sail. Finally, for a day at the beach, the most popular spots are Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, and Pacific Beach.
Sights
San Diego is home to several museums, and each has its own appeal. However, for a classic San Diego experience, head to Del Mar Plaza, an all-in-one plaza built with the Pacific Ocean landscape in mind. Inside the plaza, visitors can eat, visit a spa, drink, shop at luxury department stores, and even dry clean their clothes. The San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Wild Animal Park, and Birch Aquarium are great destinations for animal lovers. Mount Soledad is also a beautiful natural attraction and a great place for mountain climbing and other outdoor activities.
Night life
San Diego is a great place to go shopping, and the city is full of malls and districts. Some notable malls include Seaport Village, University Town Center, Horton Plaza, North County Fair, Plaza Bonita, Mission Valley Center, Fashion Valley, Grossmont Center, and Del Mar Plaza. You won’t have any trouble finding a good, affordable restaurant in San Diego, though both Mission Beach and the Gaslamp District have the best selection of fresh fish dinners. The Gaslamp District is also home to the largest selection of restaurants in the city. However, for Italian cuisine, you’ll want to head to Little Italy. For the most part, San Diego locals tend to spend more time in theaters and museums than drinking; however, when they go out on the town, they prefer discos and live music venues to more traditional bars and pubs. Many of these establishments are clustered along the beaches, though the Gaslamp, Old City, and Downtown districts are also lively spots.
