| The city of San Diego is a world-class vacation | | | | would rather not take a tour you still can enjoy |
| destination with an inventory of activities that would | | | | Gaslamp by walking around. You'll find a wide array of |
| take literally weeks to investigate. This metropolitan | | | | restaurants, making it easy for everyone to discover |
| area lies approximately a 90-minute drive from Orange | | | | something they will enjoy. Along with the many dining |
| County (depending on traffic), and its distance to the | | | | options, the Gaslamp also features plentiful shopping, a |
| Mexican border is even less - perhaps a 30-minute | | | | vibrant nightlife, many hotels including Hilton, Marriott and |
| drive. | | | | Westin, and the Padres baseball stadium. |
| This beautiful harbor city is renowned for its beautiful | | | | You can also take some fun, short excursions during |
| weather and beaches, but as gorgeous as they are, | | | | your San Diego vacations. They don't require a whole |
| San Diego offers much more to a vacationer seeking | | | | day. You can get to Coronado Island, a beautiful little |
| a combination of rest and activity. While some folks | | | | community boasting the magnificent historic Hotel Del |
| are familiar with the many choices for a San Diego | | | | Coronado, by going over the Coronado Bridge. Rumor |
| vacation, many other people have never been there | | | | has it that the hotel is haunted, but there's no doubt |
| and are unfamiliar with its many charms. If its | | | | that it is stunning. Even if you don't stay as a paying |
| professional sports teams had better records the area | | | | guest, wander around its lobby. |
| might be more familiar to the rest of the country. We | | | | Sports fans will enjoy Petco Park, which is home to |
| have summarized just a few of the highlights. | | | | Padres baseball, as well as Qualcomm Stadium, the |
| San Diego is a fascinating place for those of us who | | | | humble home of Chargers football. You can have a |
| love history, mainly because it is the site of California's | | | | delightful afternoon or evening if these sports happen |
| first mission. That mission was the very first church in | | | | to be in season. |
| the State of California and was largely responsible for | | | | It is relatively easy to travel throughout the San Diego |
| bringing the Catholic religion to the Southwest. | | | | area, and there is plenty to explore. You always can |
| Sea World is one of San Diego's most popular and | | | | rent a car, but San Diego also has excellent public |
| well-known attractions. It features marine animals of | | | | transportation. Trolleys run throughout the city, stopping |
| many kinds, including cute penguins, and several land | | | | at many of the city's hotspots. |
| animals as well, such as Clydesdale horses. Travelers | | | | If you are willing to drive outside the center of San |
| of all ages find it interesting to get up close and | | | | Diego, there is the Del Mar Race Track up north along |
| personal with these most interesting critters. | | | | the I-5 freeway. The quaint town of Julian is beautiful, |
| People looking for creatures that are perhaps a bit | | | | especially in the fall when apples are getting ripe in the |
| more dangerous will find the Shark Encounter perfect, | | | | nearby fields. The wine country up in Temecula is |
| as it allows close-up views of live sharks. And Sea | | | | another draw for those who wish to do a bit of wine |
| World isn't just a bunch of exhibits and shows. An | | | | tasting; this region is becoming rather well known. |
| exciting selection of attractions, some of which will | | | | Actually, it's pretty easy to take the train up to the Los |
| leave you soaking wet, are there for the taking. If it is | | | | Angeles area; that opens up another couple of weeks |
| warm while you are there, you can ride the Shipwreck | | | | of vacation opportunities (at least). You could also take |
| Rapids or the Journey to Atlantis to get some relief | | | | an ocean cruise out of San Diego Harbor. Speaking of |
| from the summer heat. The Bayside Skyride is just as | | | | the harbor, there are military museums and many other |
| entertaining but more relaxing and offers a beautiful | | | | attractions to fill a day in that area. |
| view of San Diego Bay. Plenty of restaurants offering | | | | Hopefully it is evident from the few examples above |
| varying cuisine are available so you don't need to | | | | that there is much to enjoy on your San Diego |
| worry about bringing any food. | | | | vacation. We did the math, and actually found that you |
| The city also is rich in modern culture, but the Gaslamp | | | | could easily fill a sold three weeks of vacation by |
| Quarter is another interesting historical destination to | | | | visiting the primary attractions; that would leave in only |
| visit. Tours are available for those who would like to | | | | a small amount of time for actually relaxing, which is |
| learn more. They probably are the smartest way to | | | | one of the main blessings of a San Diego vacation. |
| experience all that this colorful quarter offers, but if you | | | | |