Vacation: San Diego, California
San Diego is located in Southern California along the Pacific Ocean and less than 30 minutes from Tijuana, Mexico. So, obviously, there is a large Spanish speaking population there. Tourism is the 3rd biggest industry there, largely because of the temperate climate (fairly consistent all year) and all the activities and attractions. One of the first things you will notice is the arid landscape. San Diego is basically in the desert after all! They do have a lot of green, but you can see lots of huge hills/mountains just covered in boulders. The other 2 big industries here are manufacturing and defense. Speaking of defense, there is a large port located here that has the only major submarine and shipbuilding yards on the West Coast. San Diego also has the largest naval fleet in the world. It is fun to walk along the pier and see the big ships! You will likely also see huge cruise ships constantly pulling up to the port.
Some of the more popular places to visit when you are in San Diego include the beaches, Wild Animal Park, the San Diego Zoo, Seaworld (one of only 3 left in the United States), Balboa Park, and Legoland. When I was there last, there was a huge buzz at the Zoo because they had a giant Panda bear on loan from China who had just given birth. Everyone was crowding around to see the baby! Balboa Park is a fun place to visit. It was declared a National Historic Landmark and contains lots of gardens, museums, theaters, shops, restaurants, the Morley Field Sports Complex, and the Zoo. Check out the San Diego Air & Space Museum while you are here. Wander down to the pier and check out the “Star of India”. It is a museum ship and is the oldest iron hulled merchant ship still floating (fourth oldest ship in the United States afloat). It has appeared in episodes of Dirty Jobs and Ghost Hunters. You can also see the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum (USS Midway) along this same stretch of pier. For some absolutely fantastic pizza, head down to Little Italy and grab a slice at Filippi’s Pizza Grotto. They usually have a line out the door, but it is worth it! Make sure you visit the Gaslamp District also. It is a historical neighborhood with lots of restaurants, night clubs, and shops. They have some annual festivals also, including Mardi Gras and Taste of Gaslamp.
Another city worth visiting is La Jolla. It is a seaside resort community with a beautiful view of the ocean and surrounding cliffs. They have elite shopping, dining, restaurants, and boutiques. They also have the Scripps Aquarium which is worth a visit. Skimboarding, surfing, and ocean swimming are very popular here as well.
Want some fun in the sun? Head over to Mission Bay, a 4,600 acre aquatic area, for sailing, power boating, swimming, fishing, and water skiing. Another option is to hang out at some of the popular beaches. There is Coronado Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, and Mission Beach. Mission Beach has Belmont Park that is home to the “Giant Dipper” roller coaster as well as a giant indoor swimming pool. The first time I was there, I took a trip out to Joshua Tree National Park. If you are into this sort of thing, the park includes 2 deserts with their own ecosystems. There are a few campgrounds and opportunities for hiking, climbing, and birding.
I highly recommend visiting San Diego for a great vacation. The nice thing about San Diego is that you can visit it year-round and the weather will almost always cooperate with you.
