San Diego must be one of America’s best-kept secrets, at least on this side of the Atlantic. Very few Europeans would put it at the top of their list of places to visit and yet is has a climate unrivalled by Florida and a location to surpass Los Angeles. It also has a diversity of culture and sights to match Washingston, New York, San Francisco or any of the other “great” cities.
When to go
With an almost perfect climate – the average temperature in summer is 75C-80C, in winter around 65C – San Diego is an all year round resort and an ideal retreat for winter sun. The added advantages of a winter break are cheaper fligths and fewer people. January and February can be wet, but early spring is good as the State Parks, a couple of hours out of the city, burst into colour as the desert blooms.
The top attraction has to be the world famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park. Set in 100 subtropical acres, it’s home to one of the few baby pandas to be born recently in captivity. Admission, including a bus tour and the aerial tramway, is $34 for adults and $24. Standard admission is $24 for adults and $16.50 for children. For those also wishing to go to Sea World and the San Diego Wild Animal park, with more than 2,500 animals, a three for one pass can be purchased from £60 for adults and £50for children.
Balboa Park is made up of a magnificent collection of buildings, museums, gardens and a centre for the perfomaing arts. Downtown San Diego includes to Victorian-style Gaslam Quarter along with Horton Plaza and Seaport Viallage next to the marina all of which are stops on the Trolley Tour.
Harbor Cruses from Embarcadero offers excursions that allow vistors to see one of the world’s most sheltered harbours, as well as the famous Hotel del Coronada, where Marilyn Monroe cavored with Jack Lemmon in Some Like it Hot.
Food and drink
Seafood is a speciality of the area, notable in Anothony’s Fish Grotto, opposite the Holiday Inn, one of the most frequented fish eateries in town, with panoramic views over the harbour and reasonable prices. Main courses vary from $14 – $30. Reservations are necessary.
Fidel’s at Solana Beach offers Mexican cuisine in a friendly atmosphere. The Edgewater Grill at Seaport Village on the waterfront and serves everything from pasta to seafood. The margaritas are recommended.
Nightlife
The Gaslamp Quarter is the home of nightlife in the city. Croce’s Jazz Bar has the live jazz in the Victorian-style bar and Croce’s Top Hat Bar and Grill has live R’n'B nightly with an ambience reminiscent of the New Orleans French Quarter. The Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town has nightly perfomances of flamenco dancing.
Out of town
No Trip to San Diego would be compelte without a trip acrosss the boreder to Tijuana, in Mexico. The Trolley goes to the border and a bus takes you into Tijuana where you can sample bullfighting and jai alai, a tpye of pelota. But shopping is the main reason for a visit. Silver jewellery is a good buy, as well as crafts and duty-free alcohol.
So next time you are thinking of getting away, try a break to San Diego
Written by Jennifer Turnbull
