San Diego
San Diego is the birthplace of California. Given the nick-name “America’s Finest City” some years ago, beautiful San Diego is California’s second largest city and the eighth largest in the United States, and it is home to approximately 1,300,000 residents, just over 3,000,000 county-wide. San Diego County is renowned for its 70 miles of beaches, its idyllic climate and its exceptional attractions.
The area has a variety of communities offering diverse features and lifestyle. San Diego has it all – a vibrant downtown, a full and lively cultural life, excellent job opportunities, sparkling entertainment and limitless recreational options. From big business skyscrapers to quaint villages, from trendy nightclubs to peaceful parks, it’s all here, in and around “America’s Finest City.
San Diego has over 35,000 acres of open space, including scenic regional parks and hills and canyons. There are many picturesque city parks, including Mission Bay Park and Presidio Park. Mission Bay Park, half of which is water, is the largest man-made aquatic park in the nation and is home to Sea World.
The city’s greatest recreational feature is its beaches, each with its distinct personality. Aquatic sports and activities rank highest on the average resident’s pastimes. Popular year-round activities include swimming, diving, surfing, boating, sailing, picnicking and fishing. There are local charter companies offering dinner cruises and whale watching. The Star of India still sets sail annually with the tall ships. The Midway Museum is another popular attraction on San Diego’s water front.
Golf, tennis and racquetball facilities abound in San Diego, where fitness programs are a part of daily life. Joggers and bicyclists can be seen everywhere and roller skating is also popular around the bay. Soccer and softball are very popular and recreational leagues can be found throughout the county. In the winter, snow skiing can be enjoyed as the closest slopes are less than two hours away at Big Bear Mountain.
San Diego County boasts over 90 golf courses, with seaside, desert and inland valley settings. Torrey Pines has been called one of the top ten golf courses in San Diego and it is frequently host to world class championship play such as the U.S. Open.
There is an astounding range of attractions and events to choose from in San Diego, including world-renowned attractions such as the famous San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park, Sea World San Diego and Legoland of California. The San Diego Zoo is located at Balboa Park, which is the largest urban cultural park in the U.S. and home to 15 museums, several art galleries, beautiful gardens and the Old globe Theatre. Horse racing can be enjoyed in season at the Del Mar Race Track, made famous by Big Crosby’s “Where the Turf Meets the Surf at Old Del Mar.”
www.sandiego.org
www.sandiegovisitorcenter.com
http://sandiego.gov
