| When planning a trip to California, you might as well | | | | cost for the program is about $150 per person but |
| spend a good portion of it in San Diego. This city, | | | | many claim it is well worth every penny. Reservations |
| while famous for its trolley and being the home of | | | | should be made as early as possible as this gets fully |
| the world's most crooked road, offers more than | | | | booked very quickly. |
| just curiosities. Take the time to explore and it's | | | | Old Town San Diego |
| guaranteed to be a trip well worth the time. Here are | | | | If a stroll and the occasional shopping is more your |
| just some places to get you started. | | | | speed, Old Town can give you just that. The |
| San Diego Zoo | | | | buildings that house shops and museums in Old Town |
| The world-famous San Diego Zoo began as a | | | | take to the architecture of the period of California's |
| collection of plants and animals from the | | | | beginnings. And to keep with the tradition of laying |
| Panama-American Exposition back in the early 1900s. | | | | back and taking in the scenery, it is best to set aside |
| Today, it is a world-class research facility and home | | | | a day to just explore and enjoy the town. Old Town |
| to several endangered species, all the while still a fun | | | | can be reached using the San Diego Trolley that are |
| place for families to go to on vacation. | | | | marked red or take 10 short minutes from the |
| With such wide acreage, going through the entire zoo | | | | Gaslamp Quarter. |
| will take more than just a day trip. Fortunately, there | | | | Gaslamp Quarter |
| are several benches all over the zoo to give rest | | | | What used to be an area you didn't want to be in |
| tired feet a rest. Mei Sheng, the panda, is a tourist | | | | after dark is now a safe and fun place to spend both |
| favorite and the queue can take as long as an hour | | | | the day AND night. The Gaslamp Quarter is the result |
| during peak season. Zoo mascots are around for | | | | of San Diego City taking charge and saving a |
| photo ops with children (and adults, if they'd like too!). | | | | community from being run down. Now even the San |
| You can get there by car, bus or bike and the | | | | Diego Repertory Theater calls this part of the city |
| parking is free. You can enter via Zoo Place just off | | | | home. |
| Park Boulevard, which is located in Balboa Park, close | | | | Enjoy the place by just walking around and taking in |
| to downtown San Diego. | | | | the local color. You can even take a horse-drawn |
| Balboa Park | | | | carriage or ride the San Diego Trolley. If you are in |
| Balboa Park lies northeast of downtown San Diego. | | | | the area some time September, then you might |
| The park boasts of hiking and biking trails as well as | | | | want to check out the "Street Scene" which is a |
| play and picnic grounds. The Sixth Avenue and Laurel | | | | music, food and drinking festival that lasts for three |
| Street entrance has a bridge you can cross, which | | | | days. |
| will lead you to what is left of the Panama-American | | | | La Jolla |
| Exposition held in 1915 to 1916. The buildings in the | | | | If nature tripping is your kind of vacation, then by all |
| park are quaint and house gift shops, cafes and | | | | means visit La Jolla (pronounced La Hoya). The rarest |
| restaurants. The bigger and finer museums of San | | | | pine trees in the country call this place, just 30 |
| Diego are located here as well. | | | | minutes from downtown San Diego, home sweet |
| SeaWorld | | | | home. |
| Along with San Diego Zoo, Sea World is the most | | | | Hikers and trekkers will enjoy the path that takes |
| popular tourist spot in san Diego. What was started in | | | | them up cliffs and down the beaches. The village |
| the 1960s is now a very popular theme park with | | | | offers fine art museums and galleries as well as fine |
| Shamu, the killer whale, as practically the city's | | | | dining and shopping. A hike up Mt. Soledad will give |
| unofficial symbol. | | | | you a panoramic view of San Diego City down below. |
| The great thing about Sea World is how it allows a | | | | As you can see, San Diego has everything for |
| high level of interaction between the animals and their | | | | everyone. Young or old, nature-lover or shopaholic, |
| human visitors. For example, the Dolphin Interaction | | | | everyone who finds him or herself in this city will find |
| Program allows direct contact with dolphin after being | | | | some place he or she can and will enjoy. The happy |
| educated about the sea mammal and its habitat. To | | | | experiences and memories are just some of the |
| culminate the activity, access to holding tanks are | | | | things you can bring home with you along with the |
| granted where participants can touch and hold the | | | | ever-reliable souvenir T-shirt. |
| dolphin with supervision from the caretakers. The | | | | |