CALIFORNIA,
EUREKA... I HAVE FOUND IT!
BY CLAY
LARROY
Traveling can
be a great way to meet new people and experience other cultures. New friends
are waiting to meet you in places you have only dreamed of traveling. It can be
a wonderful way to see all that the world has to offer. Travel can be a hobby
and an adventure that will lead you to unexpected places. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!
San Diego, "America's
Finest City"
About San Diego
Life in SoCal's
second city, San Diego, has a more laid-back edge than its frenetic northern neighbor.
Shake up historic neighborhoods, terrific eateries and the Pacific Ocean, and
you have an irresistible cocktail of urban hip and beachside utopia.
Surfboard-wielding
dudes, skinny-jeaned hipsters and Gucci-wearing stylists converge on the
southern-most corner of California's coastline to enjoy never-ending sunshine,
unspoilt beaches and a lifestyle most people only dream of.
Downtown's
distinctive neighborhoods are the epicenter for all that's cool and hip in San
Diego. You can amble around the shops and cafés of the historic Gaslamp
Quarter, pick up one-of-a-kind artworks and coffee in Little Italy, or climb
aboard historic ships in the Embarcadero District. Across the bridge from
Downtown, the island of Coronado has small-town charm by the bucket load, with
glittering beaches, the iconic Hotel del Coronado, and a beachfront boardwalk
for two-wheeled coasting. Hillcrest, meanwhile, is San Diego's LGBT hub, a
walkable neighborhood crammed with indie restaurants, vintage stores and wine
bars.
But what most
people come for is San Diego's 110km (70 miles) of coastline. Upmarket La Jolla
(think: luxury hotels, fine dining and championship golf courses) attracts
surfers in droves to its phenomenal beaches. At Mission Beach, you're more
likely to spot crowds of youngsters flaunting their stuff on the boardwalk, or
windsurfers, kayakers and water skiers whizzing across Mission Bay.
San Diego isn't
short of stellar attractions away from the beach either. Balboa Park is super
close to Downtown and home to 15 museums and a clutch of performing arts venues
amid 500 hectares (1,200 acres) of beautifully landscaped gardens. Whether
you're into space, natural history, art or cars, this park has it covered. Also
in the park is the fabulous San Diego Zoo, where you can tuck into breakfast
with the koalas in the Australian Outback or encounter cheetahs and rhinos in
the Urban Jungle.
Thirsty? San Diego
is churning out new craft breweries at a lip-smacking delicious rate, so grab
yourself a hoppy ale and plot a way to stay here for good.
City Attractions in San Diego
Balboa Park
The largest urban cultural park in the USA, this 485-hectare
(1,200-acre) park is located just north of Downtown San Diego and is a favorite
landmark for locals and visitors alike. Local developers set aside the land in
the early 1900s and commissioned some of the country's finest architects to
create exhibit spaces for the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition celebrating
the completion of the Panama Canal. Several buildings with ornate
colonial-style architecture, high archways and tiled walkways have been
meticulously preserved through the years and house excellent museums. The main
street in the park is El Prado, leading past museums, a lily pond and botanical
building, and several gardens. Walkways lead from El Prado to the park's other
areas, including an outdoor organ pavilion and the San Diego Zoo.
Among the park's 15 museums is the Reuben H Fleet Science Center, with a planetarium, IMAX wide-screen theatre and hands-on science exhibits. Some of the other most celebrated museums include the Automotive Museum (featuring over 80 classic models of car and motorbike), the Museum of Man (exceptional exhibits on anthropology and archaeology), the San Diego Air & Space Museum and the Museum of Art (regularly featuring artists from around the world).
Art lovers will find a wide range of topics, artists and mediums to explore throughout the park's many art museums, such as the Museum of Photographic Arts, the Timken Art Gallery and the Mingei International Museum featuring folk art from around the world. The Centro Cultural de la Raza provides resources for Mexican, Chicano and indigenous art and culture.
Other attractions include Japanese Friendship Garden, San Diego Hall of Champions, San Diego Historical Society Museum, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, San Diego Natural History Museum, The Globe Theatres, and the Veteran's Memorial Center Museum.
Among the park's 15 museums is the Reuben H Fleet Science Center, with a planetarium, IMAX wide-screen theatre and hands-on science exhibits. Some of the other most celebrated museums include the Automotive Museum (featuring over 80 classic models of car and motorbike), the Museum of Man (exceptional exhibits on anthropology and archaeology), the San Diego Air & Space Museum and the Museum of Art (regularly featuring artists from around the world).
Art lovers will find a wide range of topics, artists and mediums to explore throughout the park's many art museums, such as the Museum of Photographic Arts, the Timken Art Gallery and the Mingei International Museum featuring folk art from around the world. The Centro Cultural de la Raza provides resources for Mexican, Chicano and indigenous art and culture.
Other attractions include Japanese Friendship Garden, San Diego Hall of Champions, San Diego Historical Society Museum, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, San Diego Natural History Museum, The Globe Theatres, and the Veteran's Memorial Center Museum.
Website http://www.balboapark.org
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Scripps Institute of Oceanography is one of the pioneers in
oceanographic studies. Visitors can get a glimpse of some of the institute's
more unique projects at its Birch Aquarium. Public presentations and displays
include lectures, whale-watching expeditions, tide-pooling trips for families
and live cam demonstrations of the institute's current research programs.
Among its more impressive exhibits is the Kelp Forest, a giant live exhibit of one of nature's more impressive habitats. It is home to thousands of different kinds of sea life, from leopard sharks to the minuscule kelp fish that survive in camouflage along the leaves of the tall plant. A video camera provides a close-up view of many of the aquarium's inhabitants. The aquarium's Jelly Tanks are home to some of the more beautiful and exotic types of jellyfish in the world, such as moon jellies, the lion mane jellies and the purple-striped jellies.
Among its more impressive exhibits is the Kelp Forest, a giant live exhibit of one of nature's more impressive habitats. It is home to thousands of different kinds of sea life, from leopard sharks to the minuscule kelp fish that survive in camouflage along the leaves of the tall plant. A video camera provides a close-up view of many of the aquarium's inhabitants. The aquarium's Jelly Tanks are home to some of the more beautiful and exotic types of jellyfish in the world, such as moon jellies, the lion mane jellies and the purple-striped jellies.
Telephone (858) 534 3474.
Website http://www.aquarium.ucsd.edu
Website http://www.aquarium.ucsd.edu
Mission
Trails Regional Park
This 2,300-hectare (5,750-acre) park on the east side of San Diego
is a naturalist's paradise. On any given day, you can see animals indigenous to
this semi-arid landscape, including coyotes, fox, hummingbirds and the small
gecko lizard. The park hosts ecology and guided interpretive walks year round.
It is also possible to camp in the park during the summer (Thursday through
Sunday), as there are 46 fairly primitive campsites accessible to vehicles.
Reservations may only be made through the website.
Telephone (619) 668 3281.
Website http://www.mtrp.org
Website http://www.mtrp.org
Old Town State Park
San Diego's Old Town is where California's Spanish history first
began. The area is home to the famous Presidio (Spanish for fort), situated on
the grassy knolls above San Diego Bay. The Presidio commands a stunning view of
the city, Old Town proper and the Californian coastline. Visitors can wander
the Presidio's immaculately sculpted gardens or visit the historical museum.
The Old Town State Park includes a number of residential and commercial buildings down the hill from the Presidio in the main part of Old Town. The old school house and blacksmith's building, both of which were constructed of adobe in the early 1800s, are some of Old Town's last remaining pioneer structures. Early San Diego hacienda-style homes house restaurants and shops and art galleries and folk-art stores and cafes are scattered throughout the neighborhood.
The Old Town State Park includes a number of residential and commercial buildings down the hill from the Presidio in the main part of Old Town. The old school house and blacksmith's building, both of which were constructed of adobe in the early 1800s, are some of Old Town's last remaining pioneer structures. Early San Diego hacienda-style homes house restaurants and shops and art galleries and folk-art stores and cafes are scattered throughout the neighborhood.
Telephone (619) 220 5422.
Website http://www.parks.ca.gov
Website http://www.parks.ca.gov
San Diego Zoo
Known for its
conservation efforts, the San Diego Zoo maintains several endangered species
exhibits and works with conservation groups worldwide to encourage protection
of threatened wildlife. The enormous reserve has rambling scenic walkways and
narrated bus tours. 'Monkey Trails' at the heart of the zoo includes Asian and
African forests with more than 30 species of exotic birds, mammals, reptiles,
and amphibians. At 'Tiger River', misty trails wind amid waterfalls in a
tropical forest of more than 5,000 types of exotic plants and tigers, Burmese
pythons and Malaysian tapirs. The most popular exhibit is the Pacific Bell
Giant Panda Research Station, where several endangered pandas have given birth.
The baby pandas are a big hit and long lines often form at the enclosure. The
zoo hosts several 'after dark' events, including live music performances and
up-close animal encounters.
Telephone (619) 234 1515.
Website http://www.sandiegozoo.org
Website http://www.sandiegozoo.org
Seaport Village
Named for its historic waterfront setting on the shores of
San Diego Bay, Seaport Village is one of the city's more unusual 'malls'.
Located at the southern edge of the city's old Embarcadero wharf area, the
village is primarily a shopping and eating district with paths, ponds and lakes
providing scenic views of the waterfront. Telephone (619) 235 4014.
Website http://www.seaportvillage.com
Website http://www.seaportvillage.com
USS Midway Museum
In 2004 the longest-serving aircraft carrier in history
was turned into a museum. The venerable USS Midway was commissioned in 1945 and
served as a flagship during Desert Storm as late as 1992. More than 225,000
Americans served on her. The vessel is now a highly popular attraction offering
a self-guided audio tour, a wide range of exhibits and displays, access to the
mess deck, berthing spaces, hangar deck, flight deck and island superstructure,
Mach Combat F-8 and F-4 phantom flight simulators and flight stations, flight
avionics motion simulators and 15 restored aircraft, among other things.
Telephone (619) 544 9600.
Website http://www.midway.org
Telephone (619) 544 9600.
Website http://www.midway.org
REFERENCE SITES:
Well, when I was a kid, I grew
up in San Diego next to the ocean. The ocean was my friend - my best friend.
Robert Ballard
No comments:
Post a Comment