San Diego became the first
Spanish Franciscan settlement in 1769 when Father
Junipero Serra established the Mission San Diego de
Alcala. The Presidio -- in what is now known as Old Town
-- was soon after built as the government center.
Old Town is now a state historic
park, retaining many of the original buildings, which
function as museums, shops and restaurants. San Diego has
a wealth of attraction for visitors, including many
features which appeal to the whole family. Add to this
the appeal of several great side trips -- into the desert
to the east, and to other resort communities and historic
places to the north, and the southwestern corner of
California becomes a tourist haven, attracting hundreds
of thousands of visitors each year.
What to See & Do
Old Town
A walk through the historic quarter in the
Mission Valley (north of downtown) takes you back to the
days of Hispanic settlement in Southern California. The
six blocks have been preserved as a living museum, filled
with galleries, restored homes, period shops and
restaurants serving early-California cuisine. The Bazaar
del Mundo is a mercado&emdash;a shopping
area&emdash;where you'll often see strolling mariachi
musicians and dancers in costume. Many of the city's
motels and hotels are located on Hotel Circle Drive,
close to Old Town in the Mission Valley.
Balboa Park
Just north of the city's business district,
this outstanding park is a legacy of the
Panama-California Exposition of 1915. The 1200-acre civic
park contains fine gardens, 13 museums, the famed San
Diego Zoo, art galleries, a science center and the
Spreckels Organ Pavilion which features outdoor concerts
on Sunday afternoons and on Monday evenings during summer
months. The Edison Center for the Performing Arts
contains three theatres devoted to music and drama. The
park is one of the finest urban parks in the West,
combining lush landscaping, period buildings, 13 museums
and many other family attractions.
Coronado
This curving spit of land is at the outer
edge of San Diego Harbor and is a long-time resort and
residential community. This is the home of the wonderful
Hotel del Coronado, which has attracted the rich and
famous since it opened in 1888. Two more recent resort
hotels have been added to the scene, which includes
streets of boutiques and cafes and a park where Sunday
concerts are staged on the bandstand. Other amenities
include a golf course, bicycle paths, three public
beaches, marinas, camping and RV facilities.
Gaslamp Quarter
This 16-block downtown district preserves
the Victorian era with restored buildings containing
antique and crafts shops, restaurants, offices and other
businesses that take advantage of the authentic
atmosphere. A two-hour escorted walking tour departs each
Sunday at 11 am from the old William Heath Davis House on
Island Street and features a walk down San Diego's main
street of the 19th Century. This is a fine part of town
to stay in period establishments and to eat in the
Victorian style restaurants.
The Embarcadero
San Diego's harbor is a busy place with
cruise ships, pleasure craft and ferries linking the
downtown and Coronado. The San Diego Maritime Museum
features several historic ships that are tied up along
the waterfront, including the Star of India (a sailing
ship), the steam ferry Berkeley and Medea, a luxury
yacht. As you tour Harbor Drive, you'll see seafood
markets, shops and restaurants. Seaport Village recreates
the harborside as it was 100 years ago with a collection
of shops, cafes and restaurants.
La Jolla
This northern suburb on the ocean is the
site of the university campus and the Scripps Oceanic
Institute which includes the Stephen Birch
Aquarium and Museum. Outstanding features of La Jolla
include the Mingei International Museum of Folk
Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art on
Prospect Street, and many upscale fashion, art and craft
boutiques (also on Prospect St.). If you're in La Jolla
only for a short time, head to the seaside promenade that
stretches several miles along bluffs overlooking the
ocean, passing small beaches, sea lions relaxing on the
rocks, Scripps Park, and another beach that is rookery
for Harbor Seals. The promenade separates the town from
the sea.
Torrey Pines Golf Course is one of
the finest municipal links in the country. La Jolla
Shores (another neighborhood) has a long flat beach,
perfect for families and prized by surfers, with a
restaurant row featuring a block of sidewalk cafes..
La Jolla Cove (with its cliffside coastal walkway)
and the Torrey Pines State Reserve feature parks,
and bicycle and walking trails.
There are many cozy B&B inns, along
with luxury hotels and mid-range accommodations along the
La Jolla coastline. the most striking resort hotel is the
Lodge at Torrey Pines, locatd just outsidfe of the
preserve. It is a stunning Craftsman style complex,
overlooking the 18th hole of the golf course. It's great
to stay in and very nice to just visit.
San Diego Wild Animal Park
Operated by the same Zoological Society
which operates the zoo, this 2150-acre nature preserve is
located 30 miles north of the downtown area. The park
houses more than 3,000 wild animals in realistic and
expansive settings. The newest attraction in the park is
the Hidden Jungle, a large greenhouse exhibit which
recreates a Central American rain forest habitat.
Sea World
Part of the action at Mission Bay (a
man-made park, marina, beach and picnic oasis north of
downtown via I-5) is Sea World, the marine attraction. A
theme park version of the public aquarium, Sea World
features a show with performing creatures including
Shamu, the killer whale. Rocky Point Preserve, which
opened in 1993, is an impressive display of dolphins and
sea otters in a natural setting which simulates a
wilderness nature reserve.
Where to Eat
Croce's is an extensive dining
complex at Fifth and F in the Gaslamp Quarter --
encompassing four separate venues including a Croce's
Restaurant with a Jazz Bar, the Top Hat Bar and Grill,
the Cantina and a coffee house. The establishment is
owned by the wife of the late singer-songwriter Jim
Croce. Their son A.J. Croce has made several records and
is often a featured performer.
Rancho el Nopal, Casa de Pico
and the Old Town Mexican Cafe are all in the
historic Old Town, serving Mexican food in a relaxed
environment with indoor and outdoor dining in garden
patios. Entertainment is often featured. Dobson's Bar
and Restaurant has long been a top-ranked bar and
grill, at 956 Broadway Circle, downtown, serving fine
continental cuisine.
There are so many good, scenic seafood
places in the San Diego area that we can only skim the
surface here. Cafe Pacifica is an excellent
seafood restaurant in Old Town, at 2414 San Diego Ave.
For seafood with a shoreline ambience, try Tom Ham's
Lighthouse, 2150 Harbor Island Drive, or the nearby
Boathouse Harbor Island, which has a great view of San
Diego Bay and serves seafood and pasta.
Anthony's chain of seafood
restaurants has eight places -- in La Jolla, on the
harbor, in Rancho Bernardo and in Chula Vista. Anthony's
has been in the area in one form or another for almost 50
years.
Top of the Market is located at 750
North Harbor Drive with a scenic view of the harbor.
There's a good California wine list as well as a range of
seafood dishes. For totally relaxed and informal seafood
dining, try the Beach House, north of San Diego in
Cardiff by the Sea. You can sit outside, close to the
ocean, or inside. There's an oyster bar, and the main
dining room has a wide-ranging menu, which includes
pasta, grilled seafood and a Sunday brunch.
You have a wide variety of hotels and inns in
downtown San Diego, and around the perimeter of the
downtown/old town area including the Mission Bay/Hotel
Circle area.
Chief among the best hotels is the famous and fabulous
Hotel Del Coronado -- the long-time resort on a
spit of land stretching into San Diego Bay. If you have
the money and the time to enjoy at least two days in the
classic Southern California hotel, you should reserve a
room in this classic resort hotel, at 1500 Orange Ave.,
Coronado. You get there by taking the Coronado Bridge,
located just south of San Diego's downtown area. This
superb old hotel has it all. It's an historic landmark on
the beach, with its own fine dining room and other good
restaurants nearby, plus tennis courts, a spa, bike
rentals and the relaxed resort life of Coronado
La Pensione, at 1700 India Street, is a
celebrated budget hotel -- a continental style guesthouse
located in the downtown area known as "Little Italy."
Great restaurants abound in this part of town, and the
hotel is a ten minute drive from Sea World, the Zoo, and
the airport. You can take the San Diego Trolly around the
city -- it stops two blocks from La Pensione. The hotel
has drawn raves from every travelguide covering San
Diego, because of its atmosphere, low rates, and its two
fine restaurants.
Lots of other
hotels are included in our
reservations service.
Camping
State beach campgrounds include South Carlsbad,
San Elijo and Silver Strand (south of
Coronado). For reservations call 800-444-7275.
Campland on the Bay RV & Tent Resort and
De Anza Bay Resort are on Mission Bay. The nearest
KOA is in Chula Vista.
