San Diego is a coastal city with a population of 1.2 million and over 30 million visitors a year. The city is located in south west California, not far from the Mexican border. It is a popular travel destination mainly due to a splendid, sunny climate and an everlasting coastline with well kept beaches.
It's easy to travel to San Diego. San Diego County has one international airport, conveniently located 3 miles (5 kilometres) northwest of the San Diego downtown area. If you are within driving distance to San Diego, take the I-5 freeway which is running parallel to the pacific coast until it reaches the San Diego city centre. Those travelling by Greyhound bus will arrive at the bus terminal, nicely located in the very centre of down town. The main railway station is called Santa Fe depot and is located in the western parts of the city centre.
Most travellers visit San Diego during the summer, which is between May and October, when the daily temperatures ranges from 70° to 85°F (22° to 30°C). The coolest months are December and January, but they are far from freezing with daily temperatures usually around 68°F (20°C). Those found of surfing usually pick September, October and November for their visits since those months provide superb surfing conditions due to the strong swells and offshore Santa Ana winds.
The San Diego coastline is virtually one long beach, beginning at the high cliffs of Blacks Beach in the North and stretching all the way down to Ocean Beach in the South. The biggest and most popular beaches are Blacks Beach, La Jolla Shores, La Jolla Cove, Children's Pool, Windansea Beach, North Pacific Beach, Pacific Beach, Mission Bay Beaches, Mission Beach, South Mission Beach and Ocean Beach. You can pick a new beach every day and experience all the different things the San Diego beaches has to offer; from sandy turfs to jagged cliffs and rock formations.
When you feel like doing something else than lying on the beach or playing in the water, San Diego offers you with plenty of alternatives. The nightlife is vibrant, with everything from cosy bars to trendy clubs and discotheque. A lot of nice restaurants are to be found along the beaches, as well as in the city area. The historical Gaslamp district is famous for its exquisite cuisine as well as for its high quality shopping, all framed by charming Victorian architecture.
If you are visiting San Diego from mid-December to late February you can go on a whale safari and watch the Gray Whales heading south past Point Loma. You also get a new chance to see them in March, when they return back north again.
The San Diego Zoo isyear round, but the hours change according to season. The zoo is located downtown, at 2920 Zoo Drive, and is home for over 4,000 animals of 800 species. The San Diego Zoo also has a remarkable plant collection with 6,500 different species. The newest addition to the San Diego Zoo is “Absolutely Apes”, a recently created area of lush “djungel” where arboreal orangutans and siamangs swing through the trees.
The SeaWorld Adventure Park in San Diego is great fun for children and grown-ups alike, and gives you the opportunity to feed dolphins and observe sharks, as well as enjoy a spectacular firework show and the Cirque de la Mer.
San Deigo has a large port where you can start an Alaska cruise or the very popular Mexican cruise. Which ever cruise you decide to go on be sure to book your reservation in advance.
