From its world-famous zoo and
aquarium to its bountiful beaches, San Diego's vibrant and exciting
lifestyle has plenty to offer visitors and their whole families. It's the
kind of city where every day is a beach day, and where everyone is busy
having as much fun as possible. A relaxed atmosphere pervades the city,
probably one of the reasons that draw more than 30 million visitors a year
to San Diego. Given the beautiful weather and outdoor activities abound, San
Diego is probably one of the most pedestrian friendly cities in America.
Families walk, skate, and bike their way to over 70 miles of beaches or any
one of San Diego's numerous attractions.
San Diego's natural beauty
is one of the city's greatest attractions. An officially designated 52-mile
long Scenic Drive brings visitors through the city and its many
neighborhoods. From the Harbor Islands through Old Town and Balboa Park all
the way to La Jolla, the Scenic Drive is a great way to see all of the
city's beautiful districts and neighborhoods.
Balboa Park itself is the
1,200 acre home to the world-famous Zoo and museums. This park is the
cultural center of the city. The Rose Garden has more than 2,000 rosebushes,
and the entire park is really one giant botanical garden full of beautiful
flowers and trees. The Zoo, one of the best in the world, holds nearly 4,000
animals representing more than 800 species. The animal habitats are designed
to replicate each animal's original ecosystem as closely as possible, down
to the type of grass used. Birds, gorillas, tigers, bears, hippos and other
animals have helped make this one of the most admired zoos in the world. In
addition to the zoo, Balboa Park is home to over a dozen museums dedicated
to history, science, art, cars, railroads, mankind, and of course, San Diego
itself.
Visitors who want to spend
as much time as possible near the glittering Pacific Ocean will love the
Mission Bay area and its greatest attraction: Sea World. The Mission Bay
aquatic park covers 4,600 acres, and includes 27 miles of bay shore beaches
and 17 miles of ocean front beaches. Admission to the beaches is free, and
swimming, sunning, and windsurfing are the preferred activities. Playgrounds
and picnic spots are found throughout the park, but the best place for kids
has to be Sea World. Covering over 100 bay-front acres, this park features
the world famous killer whale Shamu, as well as hundreds of other water
animals, like penguins, fish, and sharks. Sea World is one of the most
famous aquatic parks in the world, and kids and adults alike will love it.
San Diego has it all:
sunny weather, great beaches, wonderful museums, zoos, and aquariums, and
history too. Old Town is the historical heart of San Diego, and a great
place to finish up a visit to the city. The Spanish and Mexican heritage of
the city is celebrated here, amidst the famous Presidio fortress, the
historical park, and the adobe houses with Spanish tile roofs. San Diego has
evolved immeasurably since those early days as a Spanish settlement on the
Pacific, and that evolution has produced one of the most beautiful and happy
cities in the world. Visitors to San Diego are always sorry to leave behind
what residents know is heaven on earth.
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