San Diego [1] is a city in San Diego County in Southern California.

Districts

• Balboa Park
• Banker's Hill
• Bay Park
• Centre City (Downtown)
• City Heights
• Del Cerro
• Fairbanks Ranch
• Gaslamp
• Golden Hill
• Hillcrest
• Kensington
• Kearny Mesa
• La Jolla
• Linda Vista
• Logan Heights/Barrio Logan
• Little Italy
• Mira Mesa
• Mission Bay
• Mission Beach
• Mission Hills
• Mission Valley
• Normal Heights
• North Park
• Ocean Beach
• Old Town
• Pacific Beach
• Point Loma
• Sorrento Valley
• South Park
• Talmadge
• Tierrasanta
• University City
• University Heights

Understand

San Diego was established in 1775 as the first Spanish mission in California.

Notice all the people in uniform? San Diego is home to the Navy's Pacific Fleet, and is a favorite leave location for sailors.

Climate: The San Diego area can be an incredible place to visit almost any time of the year. With coastal temperatures around 75 degrees (24°C) most of the time, the weather is ideal. The climate of Southern California is rather complex, however, and temperatures change rapidly as one travels from the coast eastward. In the summer during the day, the temperature might increase as much as one degree Fahrenheit for each mile going east. In the winter, especially at night, eastern areas are usually relatively cooler. Some valleys and other areas have significantly different weather due to terrain and other factors; this is often referred to as "microclimates".

Get in

By plane

San Diego International Airport (IATA: SAN) is less than 10 minutes from downtown San Diego. The descent into the airport, passing remarkably close to downtown buildings, can be a bit alarming for first-time visitors. It is served by Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airlines and most other major West Coast carriers. Beware that even discounted coach airfares between San Diego and Los Angeles (about 120 miles/190 km) can cost nearly as much a trip to the east coast.

There are a number of airport shuttle companies that handle transportation to and from the airport. They cost around $15 per person. Metro bus #992 ("the Flyer", $2.25) travels 10 minutes to downtown San Diego, and connects to the Coaster commuter train, the Trolley, and the Amtrak station.

Private pilots will prefer the nearby general aviation airports, Montgomery Field (ICAO: KMYF) in Clairemont Mesa, Gillespie Field (ICAO: KSEE) in El Cajon, or Brown Field (ICAO: KSDM) east of San Ysidro.

By train

San Diego's Amtrak station is at 1050 Kettner Blvd. It is within walking distance of downtown hotels and situated next to San Diego Bay. Shuttles offer service between the train depot and San Diego International Airport. Rail services include 'The Coaster', which is a daily commuter between northern San Diego County and downtown.

Trolley service is limited to certain sections of San Diego, although expansions in recent years have continued to improve service. Major stops include downtown, El Cajon, Santee, Mission Valley, Qualcomm Stadium and San Ysidro, the border crossing between the US and Mexico.

By car

San Diego is easily accessible by car using any one of the three major interstate roadways, the 5, 8, and 15 Freeways.

• The 5 Freeway (Interstate 5) begins in San Ysidro, at the US-Mexico border crossing, and continues northward through Los Angeles and Central California to Oregon and Washington, terminating in Blaine, Washington at the US-Canadian border crossing.

• The 8 Freeway (Interstate 8) begins near the coast in Ocean Beach and continues eastward through eastern San Diego and Imperial Counties into Arizona, where it connects with Interstate 10.

• The 15 Freeway (Interstate 15) begins in southern San Diego County and continues northward into the California deserts, through Nevada, Utah, and Idaho, eventually terminating at the US-Canadian border in northern Montana.

Additionally, there are numerous other freeways that crisscross the county, making access to most places in San Diego relatively easy.

By bus

Greyhound has a station in downtown San Diego, on Broadway St. Private charter lines operate service between other California cities (especially Los Angeles) and Mexico.

By boat

Current cruise services only offer excursions departing from San Diego to Baja Mexico and Los Angeles. These include dinner cruises, three-day gambling cruises and 'party excursions' to the Mexican coastal ports of Baja.

Get around

By car

The San Diego metropolitan area is large and sprawling. If possible, car travel is the most efficient way of navigating the city and county.

By bus

San Diego does offer bus service to almost all parts of the county. If you will be mainly in the areas around downtown, the bus will will be quite suitable. The fare is normally $2.25 and $2.50 for express busses. All downtown buses intersect with Broadway St. at some point. During the day all kinds of people will be taking the bus. At nights some people might feel a little less comfortable, but generally not unsafe on the main parts of downtown. The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has offices in downtown, on Broadway St.

By trolley (tram)

San Diego offers a trolley service, mainly for tourists and people living in the southern and eastern parts of the city that need to get to downtown areas. There are three trolley lines: blue, green, and orange. Blue operates from the US-Mexico border to Old Town, with service during rush hour to Qualcomm Stadium, where the San Diego Chargers play. The green line travels from Old Town past SDSU to Santee. The green line will also take you to popular shopping destinations in the Mission Valley area. The Orange line connects the eastern cities of El Cajon and La Mesa with Downtown. Generally not as usable for tourists except for getting around parts of downtown. Bus and trolley transfers are interchangeable. There's no formal system to check if you've purchased a ticket, but there are trolley guards that may come around and ask to see your ticket. The fine is normally around $150 for not having a ticket, although sometimes (not recommended) you can talk them into simply letting you get off at the next stop and purchase a ticket. A $5 all day pass is available, as are 2 and 3 day passes, valid on both bus and trolley.

See

• San Diego Zoo [2], 2920 Zoo Drive (Park Blvd. exit from the 5 Freeway), 619-234-3153. 9AM-4PM every day. Possibly the premier zoo in North America, the San Diego Zoo encompasses over 100 acres of displays and habitats. Animal shows run constantly, and there are creatures here that aren't visible in any other zoo on the planet. Definitely worth a visit, but you need a full day to really do it justice. $19.50 (general admission; some shows and attractions extra). Located in Balboa Park.
• Wild Animal Park [3] The sister park to the San Diego Zoo. The park is located about 30 miles north of San Diego in Escondido, and covers 1800 acres.
• Sea World [4]. Meet Shamu and almost get drowned in the Soak Zone. Around $55 for one entry.
• Mission San Diego in Old Town.
• Balboa Park [5]. A large urban park that is home to many museums, including the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of a Man, etc. This park is also home to world's largest pipe organ.
• Harbor seals, Children's Cove, La Jolla. A small beach built for children, now filled each day with furry lumps of blubber.
• Birch Aquarium [6], La Jolla, (at Scripps Institution of Oceanography).
• Belmont Park [7].
• Hotel Del Coronado [8]. Gorgeous hotel constructed in the late 1800's. Offers high class shops and service on one of San Diego's most beautiful and clean beaches. Take the Coronado bridge from downtown, the same bridge Baxter was booted off of in the comedy "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy"
• Mt. Soledad [9].

Sports

• San Diego State University Aztecs, college baseketball enthusiasts will recognize a familiar face coaching this team, National Champion Steve Fisher. They play their home games at Cox Arena, outside of the downtown area and in the SDSU campus.

Football

• San Diego Chargers [10], San Diego's Professional football team who can wow the fans by being bad one year and then great the next.

Baseball

• San Diego Padres [11], see the Padres play at their brand new stadium, Petco Park, in downtown San Diego.

Soccer

• San Diego Sockers [12], sadly as of right now the Sockers are on hiatus due to lack of funding and fan support.
• San Diego Spirit [13], this is a team for the ladies. This all girl soccer team rocks every year and are worth seeing. This team and league has also folded.

Hockey

• San Diego Gulls [14], for the hockey fan in all of us, watch one of the best triple-A hockey teams.

Do

• Seaport Village - Visit this beautiful 14-acre waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex recreating a harbor side setting of a century ago. It includes 54 one-of-a-kind shops, 13 casual dining eateries, and 4 fine-dining waterfront restaurants. Enjoy four miles of meandering cobblestone pathways bordered by ponds, lakes, fountains and colorful, lush landscaping and a quarter-mile slate boardwalk along the San Diego Bay. Located downtown on West Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway.

• Whale-watching - California gray whales migrate south along the coast each February.

• Scuba diving - San Diego has some great dives including the Yukon, Ruby E and others in Wreck Alley, kelp beds and much more. In addition several dive boat operators have regular runs to the Coronados Islands off the Mexican coast where you can dive with sea lions. Please be aware that diving here is usually considered cold water diving and the visibility is not always the greatest.

• Visit La Jolla - A coastal community of San Diego which includes secluded coves, beaches and ocean cliffs to explore. There are dozens of coffee shops, restaurants and high-end shopping outlets to be had in La Jolla.

• Hangliding - At the edge of cliffs towering above the Pacific Ocean, the Torrey Pines Glider Port [15] in La Jolla allows anyone to soar over one of the most pristine sections of coastline in southern California. Training and tandem glides with an expert are offered.

• San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park - The World Famous San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa Park, and the Wild Animal Park, located in north County, have some of the worlds finest collections of animals. Patrons can see animals from every continent as well as witness the breeding programs and conservation efforts that have made the Zoo and Wild Animal park famous.

• SeaWorld - Sea World San Diego allows visitors a chance to interact with aquatic animals in an exciting way. Through shows, displays and enclosures people can learn about the worlds oceans and the creatures that inhabit them.

• San Diego Maritime Museum - San Diego is steeped in nautical history and the Maritime Museum chronicles that history. Located across from the US Navy's North Island Naval Air Station (offering panoramic views of navy air craft carriers) the museum is home to a collection of 19th century sailing ships and the B-39, a former Soviet Union attack submarine.

• USS Midway Museum - Located just a short walk from the San Diego Maritime Museum is the USS Midway (CV-41), a former aircraft carrier of the US Navy. The Midway is home to a collection of former naval aircraft housed on her expansive flight deck. Guided tours and displays offer the public a unique look into the life aboard and of a powerful old warhorse.

• Balboa Park - An expansive campus of museums, parks, gardens and arboretums gives visitors a chance to expand their thinking. Museums include the Museum of Art, the Air and Space Museum, the Museum of Man and the Reuben H. Fleet Center (an Imax theater is located here.) Neo-classical Spanish architecture, flowering gardens and a beautiful clock tower make visiting Balboa Park a must.

• Old Town San Diego - Stepping into Old Town is taking a trip into the past. Preserved buildings and icons of the Spanish heritage of San Diego and the Old West will amaze visitors. From 19th century cannons to the haunted Whaley house there is much to explore and see in Old Town. Shopping and restaurants dot this historic district and living history performances help to make the past come alive.

• Point Loma Lighthouse, Cabrillo National Monument - From the sky high vantage point of Point Loma visitors can get the picture of a lifetime. The Naval Air Station, downtown San Diego, the Coronado Bridge and the distant mountains make for a panoramic picture you will never forget. The lighthouse is a short walk and allows stunning sunset views of the Pacific Ocean and off-shore islands. Cabrillo National Monument commemorates the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's expedition for Spain of California in 1542.

• Fort Rosecrans - Also located on Point Loma, Fort Rosecrans is a former WWII military outpost which contains bunkers, weapons emplacements and the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (Arlington of the West). A visit to Fort Rosecrans is a somber reminder of the price of freedom.

Learn

Universities in the area:

• University of California, San Diego [16] (State public university)
• San Diego State University [17] (State public university)
• University of San Diego [18] (private, Catholic university)
• Point Loma Nazarene [19] (private, Protestant Christian university)
• California Western School of Law [20] (Private university)
• The Salk Institute for Biological Research[21] (Prestigious nonprofit research institute)
• The Scripps Research Institute[22] (Private research institute)
• The Scripps Institution of Oceanography[23] (Famous marine biology institute)
• The Burnham Institute for Medical Research[24] (Private research institute)
• La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology[25] (Nonprofit research institute)

Work

San Diego is a major technology and defense hub of California and the United States. Major industries include defense, telecommunications, biotechnology, computers and scientific research. With five major military bases located within fifty miles of San Diego, defense related services and support are a key part of San Diego's prosperity.

Major employers located in San Diego are:

Defense:

• Department of the Navy
• General Atomics
• Raytheon
• National Steel and Shipbuilding (NASSCO)
• Dynacorp
• Lockheed Martin

Telecommunications and Technology:

• Qualcomm
• Sony
• Samsung
• LG Electronics
• Nokia
• Hewlett Packard
• Time Warner

Biotechnology:

• StressGen Biotechnology Corp.
• TriLink BioTechnologies, Inc.
• Aurora Biosciences Corp.
• Pfizer, Inc.
• Invitrogen Corporation
• BD Biosciences, Inc.
• Biogen IDEC, Inc.

Restaurant:

• Jack in the Box, Inc.
• Souplantation
• Island's
• Coco's Bakery
• Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill

Other:

• Jenny Craig, Inc
• Taylor Guitars
• Callaway Golf
• DC Shoes
• Reef Sandals
• PETCO
• Airwalk

Buy

San Diego is dotted with major shopping centers and upscale boutiques catering to nearly every style of dress and expression. The following is a list of a few of the major shopping centers in the San Diego area:

• Seaport Village [26]
• University Town Centre [27]
• Horton Plaza [28]
• North County Fair [29]
• Plaza Bonita [30]
• Mission Valley Center [31]
• Fashion Valley [32]
• Carlsbad Premium Outlets [33]
• Parkway [34]
• Grossmont Center [35]
• Del Mar Plaza [36]

A lot of stores also exist around the Gaslamp Quarter. The Gaslamp Quarter is a wonderful area to walk around.

Eat

The district sections of San Diego offer more details on local places to eat.

• Anthony's Harborside
• Hotel Del Coronado

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• Hawthorn San Diego Hotel, 1335 Hotel Circle South, [37]. Free Wifi, breakfast and other amenities. Find special offers for any Hawthorn location.
• Ocean Beach International Hostel, 4961 Newport Ave (In Ocean Beach), (619) 223-7873. A popular hostel with backpackers and budget travelers. There is a bus line on Cable St. that makes it possible to reach the San Diego airport.
• USA Hostels San Diego, 726 5th Avenue (In the Gaslamp Quarter), 619-232-3100, [38]. Small hostel in the middle of downtown - dorm beds start around $18/night, privates around $42/person. They run a tour to Tijuana on Satrudays.
• La Pensione Hotel, 606 West Date Street (at India), 619-236-8000, 619-236-8088 fax, 1-800-232-4683, [39]. In "Little Italy," 75 guest rooms, one of San Diego's best values.
• The Pacific View Motel, 610 Emerald Street (In Pacific Beach), (858) 483-6117. [40]. Repeat visitors have been staying at the Pacific View Motel for decades. It's located at the end of Emerald street right above the north end of Pacific Beach. Rooms are reasonably priced and include kitchenettes.
• Padre Trail Inn, 4200 Taylor Street • San Diego, CA 92110 • Phone: (619) 297-3291. [41]. 100-room hotel near Old Town San Diego, close to attractions such as Sea World, Balboa Park, Beaches, Gaslamp, Sea Port Village and San Diego's famous Trolley.

Mid-range

• Handlery Hotel, 950 Hotel Circle North, (Mission Valley), (619) 298-0511, [42]. A warm, friendly welcome and some big, lush rooms. Also has a hotel mini-bus to take you to SeaWorld. Around $100/room/night.

• Hawthorn Suites, 1335 Hotel Circle South, 619-299-3501, [43]. Enjoy our 50 luxury suites and wake up to our daily complimentary hot breakfast buffet each morning and in the evening, enjoy our social hour Monday through Thursday.

• Holiday Inn - Bayside, 4875 N. Harbor Drive (Point Loma), near San Diego International Airport, (619) 224-3621, (800) 662-8899, [44].

• Holiday Inn - On The Bay, 1355 N Harbor Drive, (619) 232-3861, [45]. Between the bustling downtown Gaslamp District and Lindberg Field, San Diego's airport. 600 newly renovated guestrooms and 17 suites, all with furnished balconies.

• The Inn at Mission Bay SeaWorld/San Diego, 4545 Mission Bay Drive San Diego, CA 92109 (858) 483-4222, [46]. Offers high-speed Internetand a free breakfast buffet.

• Town & Country, 500 Hotel Circle North (Mission Valley), 619-291-7131, 1-800-772-8527, [47]. Resort with swimming pools, restaurants, spa facilities, golf, and beautiful gardens. Adjacent to San Diego Trolley Station, and Fashion Valley shopping center.

• Wyndham - Downtown at Emerald Plaza, 400 West Broadway, (619) 239-4500, [48].

• Manchester Grand Hyatt Located on Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego. This hotel consists of two towers that are connected on the bottom four floors. The hotel has over 1600 rooms, making it the largest hotel in San Diego. The two towers that make up the hotel are among the tallest towers in San Diego.

• Vacation Rentals in San Diego, [49] offers a selection of private homes for short-term rental direct by owner

• Sommerset Suites, 606 Washington Street, San Diego, CA 92103, (800) 962-9665, [50]. Suites just minutes from the harbor and downtown, easy access to the major avenues and freeways, located in San Diego's "Uptown" district, shares the neighborhood with great restaurants and entertainment spots as well as two of San Diego's major medical centers.

• Best Western Blue Sea Lodge, 707 Pacific Beach Dr., San Diego, CA 92109, (800) 258-3732, [51]. A beachfront Pacific Beach hotel with oceanview rooms.

Splurge

• Hotel del Coronado, [52]. Luxury hotel and national historic landmark with a slightly dated art deco interior.
• W Hotel, [53]. Trendy and modern hotel located near Gaslamp Quarter.
• La Valencia, [54]. Luxury spanish style hotel, famed for its views of La Jolla Cove.

Contact

Stay safe

In an emergency (immediate danger to loss of life or limb), call 911.

Be aware that if you call from a cell phone, 911 calls are currently directed to the California Highway Patrol, which can result in delays in contacting city police. (911 calls made from land-line telephones are directed to the appropriate local agency.)

In many cases when within the city limits it may be more appropriate to directly dial the San Diego non-emergency number, (619) 531-2000. For example, to report a crime in progress when you are not in direct danger, it is probably best to call the San Diego Police (or other local municipality) directly.

San Diego is a relatively safe city, but use the same precautions as you would in any large metropolitan area. Avoid walking in Barrio Logan, Downtown, and especially Southeast San Diego at night. If you do, avoid walking down dark alleyways or approaching unknown people. Avoid the Normal Heights and Hillcrest area late at night due to the sudden increase in violent crime and robberies. Most people do not encounter any problems if they avoid buying illegal drugs or prostitution.

Police

San Diego is served by a professional police force [55] as well as a county sheriff department; additional protection is offered on the major highways by the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

Fire Department

The city of San Diego fire department is a top-rated service offering fire protection, emergency medical care, hazardous waste cleanup, and search and rescue functions. If you dial 911 for an emergency it is guaranteed that the first responders will be the San Diego Fire Department.

Hospitals

There are numerous public and private hospitals in San Diego. These range from state funded institutions such as UCSD-Hillcrest and Thorton to private, world-renowned hospitals of Scripps La Jolla and the Children's Hospital. First-rate, world-class medical care can be found at any of these hospitals, as well as interpreters for more than a dozen languages.

Beach Safety

Rip currents are notorious in San Diego for their strength and sudden appearance. Do not go out in the water without lifeguard supervision or at night. At La Jolla Shores, rip currents can be so strong that people standing (not swimming) in waist-deep water have been pulled out over their heads -- sometimes with deadly results (especially for non-swimmers). Except for sunbathing, avoid low tide like the plague at this beach. (This means the largest of the two daily tide cycles. Check newspaper weather page for Scripps Pier, or view the Weather Channel.) All of the major beaches have lifeguards on duty in the summertime, with only the more popular beaches having lifeguards year round.

Many of the ocean cliffs are made of a compressed sandstone and are prone to collapse, especially in rainy weather. Follow all signs. Access to the beaches is safely made by using any of the public stairways provided; they are well maintained (except at Black's Beach) and free. Always supervise children very closely at places such as Sunset Cliffs and the Torrey Pines Glider Port above Black's Beach. It may be necessary to hold their hand at all times. If you have unruly kids, don't go there.

Heavy rain may cause rising bacteria and chemical levels in the ocean waters. Care should be taken to read the newspapers or call the county health office to see if the water is safe for swimming. Generally most people keep away from the beaches for 24 to 72 hours after rain.

Thefts do occur at the beach, do not leave any purses or other personal items of value alone on the beach or in an open car.

Smoking

Smoking is banned in all restaurants, bars, public offices, and other places by order of California law. Take caution when smoking in public parks or beaches also. The city has passed a ban on smoking in parks, and it will take effect in late summer 2006.

Cope

Contact

In the area of the Westin Hotel there is free WiFi. The SSID is "turbonet".

Get out

San Diego is probably the best city in America for making a quick trip to Mexico. Tijuana, San Diego's twin city across the border, is only a short trip by car. Trolley service is also available from downtown San Diego to the US-Mexican border. Avoid driving hassles and long waits when returning by parking in pay lots near the border and walking across.

For a delightful, low-key alternative, drive 60 minutes on the American side to the small border crossing of Tecate (home of the Tecate brewery). It's a short walk to the town square. Coming back, there are typically only a couple of people in line at the pedestrian crossing. You can easily combine a trip to the train museum in nearby Campo with a quick trip across the border for lunch!

The greater San Diego County has a lot of smaller, more private beaches, and some great small towns to stay in and explore. Further east, the Imperial Valley and the California Desert give a change of scenery.

It's also relatively easy to get up to Los Angeles and other points in Southern California. The 5 freeway extends to the Oregon border. Although slower, Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway in most of Southern California) and the 101 Freeway, through the Central Coast, Monterey Bay, and the San Francisco Bay Area, make for more of a pleasant and fruitful trip.

Temecula Wine Country. Located about 60 minutes northeast of San Diego, there are about 20 vineyards (with tasting rooms) located fairly close to each other. This trip makes a good day trip from San Diego.