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. 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.

San Diego has it all: sunny weather, great beaches, wonderful museums, zoos, and aquariums, and history too. Old Town is the historical heart of San Diego, and a great place to finish up a visit to the city. 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. Visitors to San Diego are always sorry to leave behind what residents know is heaven on earth.

Population: 1,223,400
Time Zone:  Pacific Standard Time
Language:  English

Average Temperatures:

How to get around:

By Car
San Diego is easily reached via Interstate Highway 5 from the north (Los Angeles), Interstate 15 from the northwest (San Bernardino), and Interstate 8 from the east (Yuma). The Mexican border is just south of the city.

By Air

San Diego International Airport
619-400-2400. The airport is located just minutes from the center of the city as well as close to virtually all of the major attractions. It is served by many of the national and internationally known airlines as well as certain local and regional carriers.

Ground Transportation:
All of the major rental car companies, as well as taxis and limousine service are available at the airport.

By Train

Amtrak
1050 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101, 900-USA-RAIL

Greyhound
120 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101. 619-239-3266

How to Get Around:
Like most southern California cities, the best way to get around is by car; either personal or rental. Rental cars are readily available at both the airport as well as throughout the city. There is also Trolley service as well as local bus service in and around the city. The trolley route is the 16 miles between the Mexican border and the Santa Fe Depot in town. 619-234-1060, Call for schedule and additional information

San Diego New Year's Day Race - Held on New Year’s Day. Location:  Shelter Island Yacht Club 619-221-8400. Traditional regatta with all classes and multi-hull boats.

Buick Invitational - Held in early February. Location:  Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla
800-888-BUICK. Annual PGA Tour men's golf tournament.  Buick Invitational Pro-Am with local and national professionals.

Held in early February - Location: Lyceum Theatre, Horton Plaza, downtown San Diego 619-544-1000. A black history month celebration of African-American arts, creativity and cultural heritage. Co-produced with the San Diego Repertory Theatre's African-American Council. Showcases African American art and cultural heritage, with a variety of drama, song and poetry. 

Held in mid February - Location: San Diego Convention Center 619-525-5000. Features foreign and domestic cars, futuristic concept cars, never-before seen models and many others.

World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship
Held in late February Location: La Costa Resort 800-918-GOLF. The Accenture Match Play Championship returns to the La Costa Resort and Spa. The prestigious event features the world's top 64 players from the Official World Golf ranking in dramatic head-to-head, single elimination match play competition. Mon and Tues: practice rounds, Wed-Sat am: competition rounds, Sat pm: Semifinal Match and Sun: Championship

Held early – mid April -Location: San Diego Wild Animal Park's Hidden Jungle exhibit 619-234-6541. Thousands of butterflies from around the world swarm the San Diego Wild Animal Park's Hidden Jungle exhibit. The Crevasse, adjacent to Hidden Jungle, features stick insects, leaf bugs and leaf cutters ants. More than 300 orchids are displayed during this two week spring fling and the horticulture staff gives daily presentations on orchid care and cultivation during park hours.

Held in late April - Location: San Diego,619-282-7329. Free vintage blues, folk, jazz, country and international music on 6 stages. Annual Union-Tribune San Diego A La Carte Festival.

Location: Presidents Way & Park Blvd, Balboa Park - 619-338-1726. Food from San Diego's best restaurants, unique micro beers, live music, entertainment, special activities for kids and celebrity chef demonstrations.

Held all of May - Location:  Balboa Park, 619-235-1100. The magnificent horticulture of Balboa Park is the centerpiece for this annual spring celebration. Features floral-themed activities, museum exhibits, tours, performances and free outdoor family activities. 

Score Baja 500 - Usually held in early May. Location: Ensenada 818-225-8402 Admission Free. Annual off-road car, motorcycle, truck loop race in Baja California, Mexico. Starts and ends in Ensenada.

Annual Fiesta Del Sol - Held in June, Location: Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach, 858-755-4775. Celebrate the beginning of summer with music, entertainment, children's games, arts and crafts.

Annual San Diego Lesbian and Gay Parade, Rally and Festival
Held in late July Location: Balboa Park 619-297-7683. Annual San Diego Lesbian and Gay Parade, Rally and Festival include a rally, parade, 5k run, and a 1.5 mile walk.

Annual US Open Sandcastle Competition
Usually held in mid July Location: Imperial Beach Pier 619-424-6663. Saturday events include parade at 10am and children's sandcastle contest at 2pm with a fireworks display at dusk. Sandcastle competition is Sunday starting at 7:30am-12:30pm, with awards following the contest.

Annual World Championship Over-The-Line Tournament
Held in mid July Location: Fiesta Island, Mission Bay. Over-the-line softball is played on a small field and is unique to San Diego. There is free viewing of San Diego's original beach softball event at Fiesta Island, Mission Bay.

Annual World Body Surfing Championships
Held the entire month of August Location: Oceanside Pier and Beach International and U.S. bodysurfers, equipped with swim fins, ride and perform on ocean waves. Open to all ages 12 and up.

November

San Diego Historical Society Holiday Home Tours - Held November – early January Location: Varies 619-232-6203. View the period style decorations that adorn the ornate, historic Villa Montezuma & the historic Marston House. Tours are given Thursday through Sunday.

San Diego Historical Society Holiday Home Tours - Held November – early January Location: Varies 619-232-6203. View the period style decorations that adorn the ornate, historic Villa Montezuma & the historic Marston House. Tours are given Thursday through Sunday.

Arts and Entertainment:

San Diego Opera
Civic Center Plaza, 1200 Third Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 619-232-7636.Call for schedule of performances. San Diego Opera, ranked by Opera America as one of the top 10 opera companies in the United States, is a widely respected member of the international opera community and an invaluable cultural resource to the San Diego community.

San Diego Symphony
1245 Seventh Ave. San Diego, CA 92101 619-235-0800. Call for schedule of performances. The San Diego Symphony has become one of the leading orchestras in the United States. It is committed to providing musical experiences of superior quality for the greater San Diego community and beyond. Through a rich mixture of innovative and educational programming designed to appeal to all ages and cultures, the Symphony makes music an integral part of the cultural and intellectual fabric of the San Diego Region. The Symphony offers wide range of concert experiences and performs over 100 concerts each season. 

San Diego Civic Theatre
1100 Third Ave. San Diego, CA  92101 619-615-4000 . Premiere venue for productions, presentations of San Diego Opera, California Ballet, La Jolla Music Society and Broadway/San Diego.

San Diego Junior Theatre
Casa del Prado, Balboa Park, 1650 El Prado, Suite 208 San Diego, CA  92101, 619-239-1311 
Provides engaging, innovative, high-quality theater education and productions for children of all cultural heritages, ages, abilities and levels of interest.

Season run September - June.

Starlight Theatre, San Diego Civic Light Opera
1549 el Prado Balboa Park San Diego, CA 92101, 619-544-7827. An established professional musical theater company producing large-scale Broadway- quality musicals at Starlight Bowl in Balboa Park under the stars.

Triple Espresso...a highly caffeinated comedy
444 Fourth Ave. Horton Grand Theatre, San Diego, A  92101, 619-234-9583. Every Wednesday through Sunday, this family-friendly comedy keeps audiences of all ages laughing from start to finish. Absolutely hilarious!

Professional Football (NFL) - Games played at Qualcom Stadium, 4020 Murphy Canyon Rd.
San Diego, CA 92123, 858-874-4500. Season runs September – January

San Diego Gulls - Ice Hockey, 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, San Diego, California 92110 619-224-GOAL. Call for schedule and additional information. Games played at the Sports Arena

San Diego Sockers - Indoor MISL soccer team, 9606 Aero Drive San Diego, CA 92123
858-836-GOAL Call for schedule and additional information.

Belmont Park
3100 block of Mission Boulevard Phone: 619-491-2988. Located directly on the Mission Bay Boardwalk, this park features a beautifully restored wooden roller coaster guaranteed to delight enthusiasts of classic amusement park rides.

Sea World
World Drive off I-5, Phone: 619-226-3901. One of San Diego's premier attractions, Sea World gives visitors the opportunity to view impressive performances by Shamu the killer whale, be amazed and amused by the acrobatic antics of dolphins, and come face to face with fearsome looking sharks in the Shark Encounter. Those who wish to keep nature at a slightly greater distance can view one of the bird shows occurring periodically throughout the day. Other featured attractions include the Penguin Encounter, Manatee Rescue, Wild Arctic and Shipwreck Rapids ride.

San Diego Harbor Excursion Whale Watching
1050 N. Harbor Dr , Phone: 619-234-4111. Seemingly placid by comparison to the more widely known killer whale, the California gray whale is by no means less beautiful. Those wishing to observe the California grays during their southerly migration can do so by means of daily tours departing both morning and afternoon from the foot of Broadway (downtown).

San Diego Wild Animal Park
Highway 163/I-15 to Via Rancho Parkway (in Escondido), Phone: 619-234-6541. For those wishing to see nature in an uninterrupted state, the Wild Animal Park is the place to go. With two animal shows, a quiet monorail, and unobtrusive paths, this 851 hectare (2,100 acre) preserve dedicated to the preservation of endangered species strikes a balance of preserving nature while still allowing visitors to appreciate the beauty of the animals and exotic plants found within its grounds.

San Diego Zoo
In Balboa Park, Phone: 619-234-3153. One of the most widely known zoos in the entire world, the San Diego Zoo is also one of the largest. Numbering among its eight hundred species of animals are some of the rarest and most exotic species in captivity. Most widely known for the animals it houses, the Zoo also contains a wide variety of tropical and semitropical plants. Its 40 hectares (100 acres) feature over 6,500 species of plants. Some of the featured exhibits at the Zoo include the Tiger River, Sun Bear Forest, Gorilla Tropics, Polar Bear Plunge and the new Ituri Forest and RainForest Aviary. Also available to visitors at no additional price are a guided bus tour and a skytram.

Stephen Birch Aquarium Museum
2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, Phone: 858-534-3474. The Stephen Birch Aquarium Museum, associated with the world-renowned Scripps Institute of Oceanography, is the largest oceanographic exhibit in the U.S. With over 3,000 fish from waters cold to tropical, the museum features enough species to keep even Jacques Cousteau busy. The museum's bookshop sells a variety of works focusing on marine science and oceanography and includes teaching materials.

Balboa Park
Phone: 619-232-2721, With perhaps the most to offer of any area of San Diego, the beautifully landscaped acres of Balboa Park include museums featuring world class collections, the San Diego Zoo, the Starlight Bowl outdoor theater, the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, the Old Globe Theatre complex, rose and cactus gardens, and the Japanese Friendship Garden, where the occasional traditional tea ceremony can be observed. If you are in the mood for a walk or a picnic, this is the area for you. Even the open areas feature entertainment with both artists and street performers being common sights during the weekend.

San Diego Museum of Art
1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, Phone: 619-232-7931. The largest museum in San Diego, the Museum of Art features works by Old Masters from several continents.

San Diego Natural History Museum
In Balboa Park, Phone: 619-232-3821. For those who enjoy the collected works of nature more than the collected works of man, the San Diego Natural History Museum presents to its visitors a variety of environmental habitats. These include desert, ocean and shore habitats, as well as displays of a variety of gems and minerals.

Old Town State Historic Park
2510 Juan, Phone: 619-298-3317. The six blocks of San Diego's first settlement is a pedestrian-only zone that preserves the original site and Mexican influence of California's oldest city in its reconstructed and restored 1800s structures.

Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center
1875 El Prado, Balboa Park, Phone: 619-238-1233 . Fax: 619-231-8971
With activities both entertaining and educational, the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center has something for every member of the family. With the latest technology, giant OMNIMAX films treat visitors to a variety of entertaining, educational topics. From the comfort of their seats, visitors can go on exciting adventures or view planetarium shows. The Science Center portion of the facility is definitely a hands-on experience, where visitors are both invited and encouraged to experience the variety of exhibits firsthand.

San Diego Aerospace Museum
2001 Pan American Plaza, Phone: 619-234-8291. Fax: 619-233-4526
Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Aerospace Museum is the place to be for aviation enthusiasts both young and old. Whether it is an interest in historical flight or merely a child's fascination with the wonders of flying that brings one here, there is plenty here to view, entertain, and educate.

Cabrillo National Monument
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr., Point Loma, Phone: 619-557-5450.
With over 1.2 million visitors each year, the Cabrillo National Monument is one of the country's most visited national monuments. Dedicated to Juan Rodruiguez Cabrillo, who arrived in the San Diego area in 1542, the monument consists of a statue that sits at the tip of Point Loma. Visitors can also view the restored lighthouse (circa 1855), or visit the nearby Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Visitors are invited to partake in guided tours of the Cemetery or view one of the hourly films on Cabrillo, the history of San Diego, and the California gray whales, whose yearly migration can be seen from Point Loma from December through March.

Firehouse Museum
1572 Columbia St, Phone: 619-232-FIRE. Complete with shiny fire engines, hand and horse-drawn engines, a turn of the century steam pumper, and historical memorabilia such as antique alarms and fire hats, the Firehouse Museum is a complete collection of firefighting artifacts. In fact, the only thing missing is the Dalmatian.

Maritime Museum
1306 N. Harbor Dr., Phone: 619-234-9153. Consisting of three uniquely historical vessels, the Maritime Museum exhibits the variety of naval architecture and function of the 19th and early 20th century. Visitors can board each vessel and explore for themselves or view movies on-deck (April - October). The vessels that comprise the Museum are the full-rigged merchant vessel Star of India (1863), whose impressive masts are an integral part of the San Diego cityscape, the gleaming white San Francisco-Oakland steam-powered ferry Berkeley (1898), which worked round-the-clock to carry people to safety following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and the sleek Medea (1904), one of the world's few remaining large steam yachts.

San Diego Museum of Man
1350 El Prado, Balboa Park, Phone: 619-239-2001, FAX: 619-239-2749. Those interested in the early history of American Indian, Mayan, and Egyptian art and culture can view exhibits here. The exhibits vary from American Indian art to early Egyptian mummies. The museum also features a Children's' Discovery Center for younger museum patrons.

Mission San Luis Rey
4050 Mission Avenue, Phone: 760-757-3651. View a piece of the early history of California, as well as look through a window into the lives and culture of the early Californians. Beautifully maintained and restored, Mission San Luis Rey is the largest of California's missions. The main sanctuary is of particular interest, while the well cared-for grounds offer the opportunity for a picnic.

Coronado
1047 B Avenue, Visitor's Center, Coronado, CA 92118, 800-622-8300. If an interest in getting away from it all has led you to San Diego, let upscale shopping and beautiful white sand beaches bring you to Coronado. Spend a few hours strolling or shopping, explore the yacht harbor or visit the Imperial Beach, then relax and enjoy one of the many excellent restaurants located on this beautiful island.