Travel Destination San Diego

Published: 10/14/2013

San Diego is located in the very lowest southwest corner of California.  It is on the coast of the Pacific Ocean and just above the border with Mexico and Tijuana. 

 

San Diego is California’s second largest city with a population of 1.3 million city-wide and 3 million throughout the county.  It is the eighth largest city in the United States and encompasses 18 incorporated cities.  Europeans first set foot there in 1542 although it has been inhabited by natives since as early as 20,000 years ago.  The city enjoys many cultural influences.

 

The climate in San Diego is idyllic.  It is tempered by the Pacific Ocean air, keeping the summers cool and the winters warm.  Severe weather is rare in the area and snow is almost unknown.  The city averages only three thunderstorms a year.   September and October often bring hot eastern winds from the desert which produce what are usually the hottest days of the year.

 


Because of its ethnic and cultural mix, San Diego has a wide range of cuisines.  Mexican, Italian, Spanish, French, Filipino, Vietnamese, Greek, Latin, German, Indian, Central and East Asian, Middle Eastern and Pacific Islander throughout the city.  With the year-round perfect weather San Diego offers up a bevy of delicious gourmet options on the food truck front.  Eating at these mobile restaurants has become very popular in the city.

 

Some interesting facts about San Diego: It is home to seventy miles of quaint and picturesque beaches; Hua Mei, the first baby panda, was born in San Diego’s Zoo to a pair of giant pandas.  She was the first panda to be born in the Western Hemisphere since 1990; the United States of America’s largest wooden structure, the Hotel Del Coronado, is in San Diego on Coronado Island.

 

There is a lot to see in San Diego but for locals and visitors alike, the shorter must-see list include the San Diego Zoo:  100 acres of lush landscaping with bio-climatic exhibits such as Tiger River, Polar Bear Plunge and Monkey Trails; Sea World: Home of Shamu (the killer whale), dolphin interaction and shark and penguin encounters and of course amusement rides too; Legoland: located in Carlsbad, this super building block empire includes replicas of famous cities made from lego; Balboa Park: the crown jewel of San Diego.  It is an enormous greenbelt in the middle of the city and the community’s gathering place.  It is also adorned with features such as the Old Globe Theatre, the San Diego Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, the Hall of Champions, the Fleet Science Centre and the Museum of Natural History; The Waterfront: San Diego’s Embarcadero is a scenic stroll where you’ll see cruise ships in port, the historic Star of India sailing ship and the County Administration Building.  If you’re lucky you’ll see a navy ship or two docked south from Broadway pier.  And last but certainly not least, the beaches in San Diego are a huge attraction.  Each one has its own flavour and personality.  

 
Posted in: Travel Destinations
 
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