The interior, or back country, holds a wealth of surprises,
ranging from the impressive Wild Animal Park to the
old-fashioned mining village of Julian. The City of San Diego, home to the Chargers and the Padres, is the
6th most populous city in the US with a population 1,197,676.
San Diego County with a population of over 2,720,906
has an economy bigger than Portugal or Israel.
From its world-famous zoo and aquarium to its bountiful beaches, San Diego's
vibrant and exciting lifestyle has plenty to offer visitors
and their whole families.
(Stay at San Diego Hotels next
to the Zoo)
It's the kind of city where every day is a beach day,
and where everyone is busy having as much fun as possible.
A relaxed atmosphere pervades the
city, probably one of the reasons that draw more than
30 million visitors a year to San Diego. Given the beautiful weather and outdoor activities abound, San Diego is probably one of the most pedestrian
friendly cities in America. Families walk, skate, and
bike their way to over 70 miles of beaches or any one
of San Diego's numerous attractions .
San Diego's natural beauty is one of
the city's greatest attractions. An officially designated
52-mile long Scenic Drive brings visitors through the
city and its many neighborhoods.
From the Harbor Islands through Old Town and Balboa Park all the way to La Jolla, the Scenic Drive
is a great way to see all of the city's beautiful districts
and neighborhoods.
Balboa Park itself is the 1,200 acre home to the world-famous
Zoo and museums . This
park is the cultural center of the city. The Rose Garden
has more than 2,000 rosebushes, and the entire park
is really one giant botanical garden full of beautiful
flowers and trees. The Zoo , one of the best in the world, holds nearly 4,000
animals representing more than 800 species.
The animal habitats are designed to replicate each animal's
original ecosystem as closely as possible, down to the
type of grass used. Birds, gorillas, tigers, bears,
hippos and other animals have helped make this one of
the most admired zoos in the world. In addition to the
zoo, Balboa Park is home to over a dozen museums dedicated
to history, science, art, cars, railroads, mankind,
and of course, San Diego itself. Visitors who want to
spend as much time as possible near the glittering Pacific
Ocean will love the Mission Bay area and its greatest
attraction: Sea World.
The Mission Bay aquatic park covers 4,600 acres, and
includes 27 miles of bay shore beaches and 17 miles
of ocean front beaches. Admission to the beaches is
free, and swimming, sunning, and windsurfing are the
preferred activities. Playgrounds and picnic spots are
found throughout the park, but the best place for kids
has to be Sea World. Covering over 100 bay-front acres,
this park features the world famous killer whale Shamu,
as well as hundreds of other water animals, like penguins,
fish, and sharks. Sea World is one of the most famous
aquatic parks in the world, and kids and adults alike
will love it.
The Spanish and Mexican heritage of the city is celebrated
here, amidst the famous Presidio fortress, the historical
park, and the adobe houses with Spanish tile roofs.
San Diego has evolved immeasurably since those early
days as a Spanish settlement on the Pacific, and that
evolution has produced one of the most beautiful and
happy cities in the world.
SAN
DIEGO ZOO.gif)
