Vacationing in San Diego, California

There is so much to do in San Diego, you barely even know where to start.
But if you want to begin with a taste of the history of San Diego then old town and the Mission San Diego de Alcala overlooking the historic neighborhood from the hilltop is your best bet. Old town is like a time capsule preserving much of San Diego's Spanish heritage. It even has a haunted house . . . the Whaley house.
Another requisite stop on your vacation agenda if you want more of a taste of the history of San Diego would be the Point Loma Lighthouse, and Cabrillo National Monument. On a clear day, you can see practically forever.

Some of the more notable attractions in San Diego would be the world famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. And of course, Sea World, which is the home of Shamu and a myriad of other aquatic creatures. And if sea creatures are your cup of tea you should definitely also pay a visit to the Stephen Birch Aquarim in La Jolla. In the North County you can find a Lego Land Amusement park.


Balboa Park, located minutes from Downtown San Diego has something for everyone. With 15 museums ranging from art to natural history to aviation and model trains, you will be hard pressed to see everything in one visit. The science center is a favorite among kids, with plenty of hands on exhibits and experiments. The main promenade abounds with all sorts of street performers from fortune tellers to musicians to jugglers and magicians. The nightlife, restaraunts and shopping in downtown san diego can't be beat, and neither can the beauty of all the waterfront skyscrapers. Highlights include the gaslamp quarter, horton plaza, the downtown convention center and seaport village.

San Diego has some of the most beautiful and cleanest beaches in Southern California whether you like surfing, sailing or even scuba diving. If your vacation falls in the month of February you can even go whale watching. There are many spots along the coast where you can see the grey whales or you can go on a sailing tour for a much closer look.


If you like golf, then the Torrey Pines Golf Course is surely on your agenda.
And if you're looking for something more extreme, pay a visit to the Torrey Pines Glider port.

These beautiful cliffs will allow you to have the best possible view of the most beautiful beaches in San Diego. And yes, training is available.

There's a lot of things to do nearby San Diego as well. The popular mountain community of Julian and Cuyamaca in the beautiful Laguna Mountains is about an hour to the east. Be sure you sample some of their world famous apple pie. If wine tasting is on your menu, then you will want to head about an hour north to Temecula valley wine country. And if you're looking for some real bargains, Tijuana, Mexico is right across the border and the San Diego trolley will take you right to the border cross.

Vacationing in Los Angeles, California

Vacationing in San Francisco, California

San Francisco is the 4th most populated city in California and the night skyline is definitely a sight to behold. The city grew rapidly during California's Gold Rush and was rebuilt even faster after the cataclysmic earthquake and fire in 1906. The Golden Gate Bridge is the city's most recognizeable feature and was the world's largest suspension bridge when it was built in 1937. Even today it is the second largest in the United States. Golden Gate Park may be the city's next most recognizeable feature and at 1017 Acres, it is 174 acres larger than New York's Central Park. The Conservatory of Flowers pictured below contains around 1,700 plant species and is particularly famous for its orchid collection. It is one of the world's largest conservatories built from wood and glass. The park contains many other visitor interests like the 5 Acre Japanese Tea Garden.

California Vacations

The Sunshine State is most populated and third largest state in the United States. California has an extremely diverse geography spanning coastal beaches, parched deserts and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains. California has the lowest and hottest place in the western hemisphere, Death Valley, as well the highest point in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney. California is also home to the tallest living things on the planet, ancient Redwood trees, and the largest living organisms on the planet, the Giant Sequoia trees. California has great National Parks for the nature lover including Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, Redwood National Park, Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park. Big Sur, Big Bear, and Lake Tahoe are all very popular destinations for their natural beauty. Besides the tourist attractions offered by Mother Nature, California's major cities: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco offer travelers a near endless supply of activities. Southern California has a wide array of theme parks from Disneyland to SeaWorld to Knotts Berry Farm to Legoland. Whatever sort of vacation you desire, California is bound to have what you're looking for.