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