Beach Cities
During warm weather, crowds pack the waters off Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, two of the most popular stretches of San Diego sand. These laidback locales are known to host the occasional farmer’s market or arts festival. Mission Boulevard connects both beaches and leads north to La Jolla.
Carlsbad - Oceanside
In Carlsbad, everything’s coming up buttercups. These flowers cover 50 acres at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. Nearby, the Museum of Making Music highlights American composition and instruments. Directly north, Oceanside is midpoint between Los Angeles and San Diego. This beach town is known for its 1,954-foot pier, the longest wooden pier in the West Coast. Legoland theme park is nearby.
Central San Diego
San Diego’s downtown has undergone extensive urban renewal during the past 20-plus years, beginning with the opening of Horton Plaza and the revival of the Gaslamp Quarter. The San Diego Convention Center is here and the downtown area’s once abandoned area has been resurrected to include waterfront skyscrapers, expensive lofts, five-star hotels, and many cafes, restaurants, and boutiques.
Del Mar
Members of old Hollywood once jockeyed for seclusion in Del Mar. Now, real jockeys are the main attraction at this former Tinseltown getaway. Every summer, the Del Mar Racetrack comes to life with horse races. The racing season begins with the end of the San Diego County Fair in July. Del Mar is part of the North Country, the suburban area considered to be the outer edge of metropolitan San Diego.
Downtown - San Diego Intl Airport (SAN)
San Diego’s waterfront airport lies northwest of downtown, which is home to the San Diego Convention Center, PetCo Park stadium, and the Gaslamp Quarter’s. That historic neighborhood’s restaurants and bars are the hub of the city’s nightlife. Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo form a green swath in this urban jungle. Offshore, Coronado Island offers postcard views of the city skyline.
East County
The desert dominates East County. Here, wildflowers bloom in the spring at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This isolated stretch of land is California’s largest state park. Nearby, soothing mineral waters welcome visitors at a pair of hot springs, one in Jacumba and one in Agua Caliente. Nestled in the Cuyamaca Mountains, the historic town of Julian offers a glimpse of Gold Rush California.
El Cajon - La Mesa
East San Diego stretches into the foothills of the rugged Santa Rosa Mountains. Communities here include the satellite cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove. This area has one of the nation’s largest urban parks: the Mission Trails Regional Park, offering boating and more than 40 miles of walking trails. Sites include an historic dam that irrigated water to the Mission San Diego de Alcalá.
Escondido - Wild Animal Park Area
Escondido’s agricultural roots thrive in this city’s wineries. East of town, important research takes place amid the safari setting at the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park. There, researchers work to save endangered animals, such as giant pandas, cheetahs, and rhinos. Casinos line the road that leads to the Palomar Observatory. Open to the public, its centerpiece is the 200-inch Hale telescope.
La Jolla
Spanish for “The Jewel,” La Jolla is 13 miles north of downtown San Diego. One of the country’s most affluent communities, La Jolla is known for its fine homes, wonderful beaches, wonderful restaurants, and stunning natural scenery. It is home to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Stephen Birch Aquarium and Museum.
Mission Valley - Old Town
Spain’s foothold in California began here with Mission San Diego de Alcalá, a tourist-friendly church built in 1769. Nearby, Old Town’s historic buildings feature trendy bars and restaurants. Other major attractions include SeaWorld, Qualcomm Stadium, and Mission Bay Park, the nation’s largest waterfront park. South in Point Loma, the Cabrillo National Monument offers panoramic views of San Diego.
South Bay
The sprawling South Bay is known for its proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border. San Ysidro, north of the border, is home to the world’s busiest border crossing. Predominantly residential South Bay has pockets of industry, commerce, and military installations. Popular South Bay tourist venues include Knott’s Soak City Water Park and Coors Amphitheatre, which hosts large concerts.
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