San Diego, CA Hotels

See, San Diego is growing – as the Downtown skyscrapers attest. But as well as fast becoming a business hub, the city is rapidly gaining a reputation as a party town, both for businesspeople seeking to unwind and college students seeking to, well, do what college students love to do.

Unlike most party towns, though, San Diego is big enough to have large doses of family-appeal. Activities centre on the marinas and beaches, including Coronado and Chula Vista. The city’s history of conservation is proudly celebrated at popular attractions San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld,but Birch Aquarium and Children’s Cove both provide a more up-close-and-personal experience with the marine exhibits.

San Diego’s weather is perfect for surfing and swimming, while sports fans can take in a Chargers NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium. If you’re feeling brave (and, judging by numbers, most visitors to San Diego are), the Mexican border and Tijuana are just a bus drive – or a 20-minute walk – away.

As tempting as it may be to pick up some prescription meds over the counter south of the border, beware that customs officers are more than prepared to search you upon re-entry. If you are holding illegal drugs, let’s just say that you might not be the only one making a southern entry. ¿Comprende?

San Diego’s Top 10

Located between the ocean and Mission Bay, Mission Beach is a trendier, more relaxed version of Los Angeles’ famous Venice Beach. The beach itself provides a plethora of activities, including swimming and scuba diving, and if sun-worshipping is on the agenda, rest assured it provides the perfect opportunity for soaking up the rays.

Nearby Belmont Park is equipped with the iconic Giant Dipper rollercoaster, plus as the city’s largest indoor swimming pool, The Plunge. Mission Beach is enormously popular with locals seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of Downtown.

Mission Beach is also the place to head is want to try a hookah (not to be confused with the hookers who used to populate the Gaslamp Quarter from frontier times to the 1970s). Head to Sinbad’s to smoke flavoured tobacco through a traditional Middle Eastern pipe. Worth it if only for the photo op.

Old Town

Technically the birthplace of San Diego, Old Town is now a popular tourist site, allowing you a glimpse of the history behind the Spanish origins of the city. The Old Town was originally a series of Catholic missions established by monks from south of the border. TheMission San Diego de Alcala was the first of these and today features a museum explaining the religious foundations of the city. If you’re still interested in learning more, the Juniper Serra Museum provides a more detailed historical exploration of the missions.

Whaley House is San Diego’s most famous haunted house, and well worth a visit for otherworldly enthusiasts. Built in 1856 and retaining its original furnishings, the place exudes a Spanish Gothic vibe that will raise the hairs on your neck before you even walk in.

Balboa Park

Situated in the heart of Downtown, Balboa Park is an oasis of calm amidst the skyscrapers. The park is filled with an enormous collection of museums and child-friendly attractions, including Balboa Park Carousel and the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad. Also, an exact replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre was commissioned in the early 1940s, and theOld Globe Theatre has three stages, each used year-round for different dramatic productions.

Downtown

The central business district of San Diego transforms into a nightlife hub as soon as the sun goes down – and it’s just as busy by day.

TheMaritime Museum of San Diego is the perfect way to explore the harbour and includes the world’s oldest active sailing ship among its exhibits. Also Downtown is theVilla Montezuma. Built in the 1880s, this palatial house with massive turrets and glass windows offers an intriguing insight into the mindset of expansionist San Diego.

If you’re after a sporty day, head over to the PETCO Park where the San Diego Padres baseball team holds court. Or field. Point Loma

Often overlooked by tourists as it’s not near the popular beaches, Point Loma is a welcome distraction from other carbon-copy locations around San Diego. A slower pace means exploring the locations can be done at your leisure. Worth visiting are Fort Rosecrans, a former World War II outpost protecting San Diego from attack by sea and the adjacent Fort Rosencrans National Cemetery. For the eco-minded, the Tidepool at Ocean Beach is like Disneyland!

San Diego Eat & Drink

San Diego Events

Every February, Mardi Gras lights up the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter with fresh and wonderful colours celebrating the end of the cold winter months.

Staged on the fourth weekend of April, ArtWalk is a celebration of San Diego’s thriving local art scene. In collaboration with neighbouring Tijuana, hundreds musicians, artists and dancers pack the streets for two days of extroverted expression.

San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual (LGBT) Pride is celebrated in Balboa Park on the last weekend in July. San Diego’s largest annual event, the weekend is packed with political meaning as it fights to reenergise debate over equal rights.

StreetScene bursts into San Diego every September, and the huge music event sees local and international music acts fill massive stages, as well as buskers and visitors filling the streets. The atmosphere is undeniably electric.

When To Go

San Diego is blessed with a pleasant climate year-round. With no extreme hot or extreme cold seasons, it is mostly sunny and warm.

Autumn is the best time to visit. The days are warm but the nights have a bit of bite to them, so remember to pack accordingly!

What To Miss

Although tempting, the Mexican city of Tijuana is a very dangerous place. The nights are filled with murders, kidnapping and drug trafficking, while the days provide countless opportunities for the unsuspecting tourist to be swindled. If you must visit, stick with a tour group.

Bus tours are a safe and convenient to travel around San Diego, but they often leave out the more interesting cultural attractions in favour of the bigger names like LegoLand and SeaWorld.

Getting Around

San Diego has begun a new initiative to provide unique ways to see the city, including small buggies, segues and kayaks. If you’ve got time, this is a must.

A classic rental car can be the best way to visit places in the city. Balboa Park, for example, could take a day to explore by car but even longer without, because it is so spread out.

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