SAN DIEGO
Area: California
Country: United States of America


Location:
On the Pacific W coast of the United States, in the SW corner of the state of California. 120 mls S of Los Angeles; 20 mls from the Mexican border. 2 mls from Lindberg Field International airport.

Telephone code from UK:
1 619

Website:
http://www.sandiego.org

Position:
Nestled among rolling hills and canyons, between the Pacific Ocean to the W and the Cuyamaca Mountains to the E.

Description:
San Diego has a temperate climate, casual atmosphere and attractive appearance that ensure its status as a popular year-round holiday destination. The greater San Diego area, which measures roughly 36 mls by 16 mls at its widest, has a great deal of scenic beauty, from wide, sandy beaches and ocean cliffs to wilderness areas such as the Anza-Borrego desert. The city's downtown area and Gaslamp Quarter were extensively redeveloped in the early 90s. As a result, California's oldest and second largest inner city is alive with restaurants and night-spots in former abandoned warehouses. The Hyatt Regency and Seaport Village (an entertainment complex and park on West Harbor Drive) put the finishing touches to a vastly improved downtown and harbour area where major cruise ships regularly dock. The climate is near perfect, with an average temperature of 70 ?F (21 ?C) but significant rainfall in winter. Summer days can get quite hot, but generally cool off in the evening. Frost is virtually unheard of.

Suitability:
Families, mature visitors and sports-minded tourists. Widely regarded as the nation's sports and fitness capital.

Accommodation:
Accommodation generally becomes cheaper the farther E one travels. With newer hotels in downtown, Hotel Circle in Mission Valley is no longer the centre of the action. Most downtown hotels are within easy walking distance of restaurants, entertainment and shopping.

Shopping:
Horton Plaza, a 4-block downtown shopping and entertainment centre, has the feel of a festival marketplace. Seaport Village overlooks the harbour in a quaint village-like setting. Mission Valley has added yet another shopping centre, the Hazard Center. Little Italy, one of the oldest areas of San Diego, has fashionable shops and restaurants.

Beach:
Coronado, accessible by the Coronado Bay Bridge or ferry from Seaport Village. Coronado's beaches are wide and long, with the fewest people. La Jolla Shores (12 mls N of San Diego) offers outstanding swimming, sunning and surfing.

Entertainments:
Daytime: many opportunities for boating, sailboarding, skiing, fishing and surfing. Year-round golf, tennis, hiking, jogging, cycling and roller-skating. Major attractions include Sea World, San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, Balboa Park (a recreational and cultural centre with large, newly refurbished museums) and Cabrillo National Monument (commemorating the 16th-century explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo). Old Town San Diego State Historic Park contains many of San Diego's original buildings. Nightlife: jazz and comedy clubs; nightclubs and discos. Street performers are to be found everywhere. Casinos have also started to spring up.

Eating:
Dozens of international restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter are thriving and increasing in number. Plentiful fast-food restaurants.

Public-transport:
Public bus service throughout the metropolitan area and county. Amtrak station (downtown) has daily service N to Los Angeles, stopping at all cities N to Oceanside. Trolley service in downtown, running S to the Mexican border and E to Lemon Grove (20 mls).

Local-excursions:
Many organised tours to Disneyland, the LA garment district and other major attractions. Daily "trolley" tours throughout the city. Several bay and harbour excursions from the B Street Pier, where cruises to Ensenada and Mexico can be booked.