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| Antiquing |
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In the past few years more than ever before,
Antiquing has been converted into more and more popular. People look
high and low for collectible treasures and antique furnitures alike.
Perhaps the younger age group has learned to understand what their
ancestors owned. On Adams Avenue in the Kensington area, Ocean Beach,
Carlsbad, Leucadia, and Ramona one can find a number of small,
privately-owned boutiques. But, aside from the individual antique shops,
San Diego is home to many antique malls each hosting at least 85
vendors! From glassware to amazing desks and drawers, estate to vintage
jewelry, anything and everything can be found in these malls. Some of
the more popular malls include ones in Old Town, Ocean Beach, Lemon
Grove, El Cajon, San Marcos and Oceanside. |
| Baja California |
(800) 522-1516 www.bajatravel.com |
Baja California is directly south of San Diego and consists of many
popular tourist areas surrounding the border. Tijuana, Ensenada, Pureto
Nuevo and Rosarito Beach have multiple attractions including the Jai
alai games, sightseeing, shopping, gulf and ocean fishing as well as a
numerous selection of restaurants and nightclubs. If you�d rather not
drive and have to get Mexican insurance, San Diego�s Trolley stops just
north of the border which nicely creates easy walking access to Tijuana. |
| Cabrillo National Monument |
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr., San Diego (619)
557-5469 |
The Cabrillo National Monument is sited at the end of Point Loma and
it overlooks the entrance to San Diego Bay. Portuguese explorer Juan
Rodriques Cabrillo landed in California in 1542, commemorating the first
time Europeans found the state. The visitor�s center and monument are
right near the harbor and coastline from the Mexican border to La Jolla.
The area consists of a historic lighthouse open to visitors, hiking
trails, Coastal Defense (a former army radio station), tide-pools and
regular programs explaining the marine life such as the California gray
whale as well as the history of the area. |
| Gardening |
Quail Botanical Gardens: (760) 436-3036
San Diego Master Gardener Association: (858)
694-2860 |
For the green thumb that is dying to show off the wide variety of
flowers, shrubs, trees, fruits and vegetables that San Diego�s climate
can support all year long, there are numerous spring and summer shows
for their productions of flora and fauna. One popular show is the Del
Mar Fair Show at which gardeners show off their larger flowers. |
| Gaslamp Quarter |
Fifth Ave. between Market St. and Harbor Dr.
San Diego (619) 223-4692 |
16 blocks of notable gas lamps and Victorian style buildings make up
the Gaslamp Quarter. The area is home to over 40 unique restaurants many
times including live music and entertainments as well as many different
shopping places open late into the night providing a very fun nightspot.
In September, the quarter�s centerpiece, the Horton Grand Hotel, has the
three-day San Diego Street Scene festival. Bystanders can view over 100
performing acts on outdoor stages as well as food and live
entertainment. |
| Harbor Tours |
California Cruisin�: (619) 296-8000; (800)
44-YACHT (9-2248) Hornblower Cruises &
Events: (619) 686-8700; (619) 686-8715 - Reservations |
If you�re looking for a different way to watch the city, bay, and
harbor activities, Harbor Tours can do exactly that. Along with your
tour, you can pick from a number of occasions such as dinner dance
cruises, special event cruises, and even winter whale watching! |
| Hotel del Coronado |
1500 Orange Ave., Coronado (619) 435-6611 |
This hotel is one of the area�s oldest and most widely visited
attractions and has been historically named the �castle by the sea.� The
Hotel del Coronado, built in 1888, has been viewed in famous Hollywood
films such as, �Some Like it Hot.� The �Hotel Del� as it is often
referred to, has brought in guests including presidents, royalty and
many other rich and famous to it�s five star resort, 10 elegant
restaurants and multiple shops. |
| La Jolla |
From I-5 Ardath Ave. to Torrey Pines Rd. |
Previously, La Jolla was a unruffled beach town. Today the area is
booming with and even seaside and even, fine cuisine restaurants, and
even art galleries, as well as hotels and quaint shops. It is a great
area for tourists and sightseers alike. |
| Little Italy |
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What was once home to San Diego�s sky-rocketing tuna fishing
business and the Italian immigrants who manned its boats, is now
downtown�s Little Italy, full of inviting European charm. Along India
Street and Kettner Boulevard, the neighborhood�s main streets, guests
are bombarded with a wide variety of restaurants, cafes deli markets,
bakeries, shops and art galleries that make a visit here an Old-World
encounter.
Little Italy is home to some of the city�s finest traditional Italian
restaurants, delis and bakeries. Other culinary attractions include the
artful �American Native� cuisine of Indigo Grill; the quirky classic
fisherman�s dive, The Waterfront; and the British Princess pub, perfect
for a pint of ale and an order of traditional fish and chips.
Little Italy also is a haven for local artists and their work. All
around this exciting neighborhood visitors can look through gallery
showrooms, art supply stores, photography shops and unique home
furnishing establishments. Fun annual culture events include the Art Wak
in April, where guests can take self-guided tours into the work
environments of local artists, the Sicilian Street Festival in May and
the 13th annual Little Italy Precious Fiesta in October, with its
exciting street painting festival, Italian food and craft booths and
three stages of live entertainment among other activities. For more
information on Little Italy, visit www.littleitalysd.com
-- San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau |
| Military |
U.S. Naval Surface Shop, Public Information
Office: (619) 437-2735 |
Whether you're of a naval family or not, the U.S. Navy officers
offer naval surface tours of numerous different ships. One can view
guided missile cruisers, guided missile destroyers, destroyers, guided
missile frigates, amphibious assault ships and even amphibious landing
ships. Visiting the U.S. Naval ships can be a fantastic activity for
anyone and everyone. Bring the whole family or with a friend! It's sure
to be an informative time. |
| San Diego Area Missions |
Junipero Serra Museum
2727 Presidio Dr., San Diego (619) 297-3258
Mission San Antonio de Pala
Pala Mission Rd., Pala (760) 742-1600
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
10818 San Diego Mission Rd., San Diego (619) 281-8449
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Two blocks west of Hwy. 74 and I-5, San Juan Capistrano (714) 248-2048
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
4050 Mission Ave., Oceanside (760) 757-3651
Mission Santa Ysabel 23013
Highway 79, Santa Ysabel (760) 765-0810 |
The Spanish heritage of San Diego is thriving, alive, and well; this
area�s beautiful missions serve as a preservation of the hispanic
culture. Mission San Diego de Alcala holds daily services in the
originally built chapel of Father Junipero Serra. The largest of 21
California locations, Mission San luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside often
includes weekend affairs. Near Palomar Mountain is Mission San Antonia
de Pala which, along with Mission Santa Ysabel near Julian, amazingly
still serves as a place of worship for local Native Americans. |
| S.D. Military Towns |
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As one of the largest military complexes in the free world, San
Diego has 11 navy, Marine and Coast Guard installations, including Camp
Pendleton Marine Base, Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, Marine
Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, and Naval Station San Diego, which won
Navy Times� top honor as the 2004 Best Base in the US.
Two aircraft carriers, the USS Ronald Reagan and USS Nimitz, 50 surface
warfare ships and six submarines are additionally home ported in San
Diego�s great, natural anchorage. Furthermore, the USS Midway, a
decommissioned aircraft carrier, now calls San Diego home and is the
setting of the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum.
San Diego�s notable military presence and success have amazed visitors
and residents alike for decades, from the U.S. Navy�s prominent aviation
successes in Coronado in the early 1900�s, from the the first successful
sea-plane flight in 1911, to the founding of Top Gun, the infamous elite
Navy Fighter training school previously located at the Marine Corps Air
Station (MCAS) Miramar. |
| Seaport Village |
849 W. Harbor Dr., San Diego (619) 235-4013,
235-4014 |
This is a Amazing area of San Diego that offers waterfront
restaurants and shopping complexes which mimic the century-old
harborside. The area includes over 75 wonderful and unique shops and
boutiques, numerous galleries, 12 eateries and four major restaurants.
If you'd rather simply view the scenery, another fun side attraction is
the horse-drawn carriage rides that are available around the area.
Conveniently located right downtown and near many major hotels, Seaport
Village is a popular attraction for many tourists and locals alike. |
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