The three main beaches in Central San Diego attract surfers, swimmers and sunbathers from all over the country. Each beach seems to have its own personality and beachgoers have their own personal favorite. The paved boardwalk, Ocean Front Walk, runs from Pacific Beach south to Mission Beach and is popular for skating, bike-riding and dog-walking. Mission Beach is a small beach that is popular with surfers year-round. There are many rental cottages, condos and houses in Mission Beach.
Coronado
Coronado is a picturesque island accessible via the 2.2 mile long Coronado-San Diego Bridge. Orange Avenue, the main street in town, is lined with restaurants, theaters, and one-of-a kind boutiques.
Downtown San Diego
Massive redevelopment projects over the past twenty years have resulted in a vibrant downtown area and trendy neighborhoods. The Gaslamp Quarter is sixteen blocks of beautifully restored Victorian houses, art galleries, antique shops, boutiques, and more than 70 restaurants. The nightlife is hopping with the many popular nightclubs and cabarets that dot the area.
Hillcrest
has been revitalized and is now one of the trendiest areas of San Diego. There are several vintage clothing shops, bookstores, hip clubs, and fantastic restaurants.
La Jolla
La Jolla is a seaside community of million-dollar homes - many with gorgeous views of the Pacific, palm tree-lined streets, outstanding restaurants, art galleries, and trendy upscale shops.
Mission Bay
19 miles of sandy beaches make Mission Bay a popular place for swimmers, picnickers, and joggers. The Bay is perfect for boating, water skiing, fishing and other water sports. SeaWorld is also located in Mission Bay.
Mission Valley
Mission Valley is a sprawling residential area that features two of San Diego's favorite shopping malls, Fashion Valley Center and Westfield Shoppingtown Mission Center. Hotel Circle is also located in Mission Valley.
Ocean Beach
is a much larger beach that was popular with hippies in the 1960's. It has a beautiful public beach and the streets are lined with antique stores, unique shops, and cafes.
Old Town, Hillcrest, and Mission Valley
Historic Old Town celebrates San Diego's Spanish and Mexican heritage. Along the streets of Old Town there are art galleries, dozens of fine restaurants, gift shops as well as shops selling Mexican pottery and jewelry.
Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach is a continuous two miles of sand that is popular with the younger crowd and Tourmaline Surfing Park draws many surfers. It is the busiest beach during the summertime.
San Diego
Located right next to the Mexican border and the site of the first Spanish mission in California, San Diego has a flavor all its own, which can be decidedly spicy. It is known for its spectacular climate, historical sights, cultural arts, scenic beauty and casual, friendly feel. From white sand beaches to rocky canyons, the San Diego area has an incredible amount of natural beauty and diversity - the choices for a garden wedding are so many it is intimidating. There are countless man-made attractions to lure travelers as well. A short list includes the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wildlife Animal Park, Legoland California, Seaworld and the Gaslamp Quarter. If, on your honeymoon, you don't feel like being surrounded by crowds, no problem. San Diego has the largest urban parks in the country, with many hiking, biking and camping opportunities. If you want a truly active, even adventurous vacation, San Diego fits the bill again. An A to Z list of activities, including such things as balloon rides, golf, hang gliding, helicopter rides, parasailing, sailing, tennis and whale watching are there for the asking. As one of the country's ten largest cities, it also has world-class luxury resorts, if you are in the mood to be pampered. Sunset at the beach at La Jolla. Pandas playing at the zoo. A mariachi band in Old Town. The architecture and lush gardens in Balboa Park. The drive to Cabrillo Monument. San Diego Bay viewed from the Hotel Del Coronado. Fish tacos in Encinitas. Nightclubs in the Gaslamp Quarter. San Diego and the surrounding area offer a traveler so many colors, flavors, sounds and aromas that each day you can have a totally unique experience. This is a place that deserves a week at least, and two weeks, with a rental car, would be perfect. You might even want to drive into Mexico (skip Tijauna and head for Ensenada). You won't get bored and you'll fall in love all over again, with each other and the intoxicating area that encompasses San Diego and its environs.
San Diego Neighborhoods
Every neighborhood within San Diego has its own unique characteristics and the residents of each one have a strong sense of community pride.
a long-time resident picks the best and warns about the worst of the city for prospective visitors. Quite thorough, well-researched, no agenda and a sense of humor. Local Wally isn't afraid to tell it like (he thinks) it is, and if you don't agree - e-mail him. Good site for a different perspective.
A geyser of water spewing out of a broken fire hydrant alongside a Sorrento Valley commercial complex pooled atop a nearby building Thursday and caused part of its roof to collapse, prompting an evacuation but causing no reported injuries.
A woman was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday when federal officers staffing San Ysidro Port of Entry found a nine-pound stash of marijuana inside her daughter's stroller.
The family of a man struck and killed by a police car Monday morning in University City said the department is lacking in compassion and communication.
Friday, November 13, 2009 at 2:17 a.m. VISTA: i A 20-year-old Oceanside man charged in a fatal rollover crash early Sunday appeared in a courtroom yesterday in a wheelchair with a brace on his neck and back.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 7:03 p.m. SAN DIEGO - A pedestrian on the freeway was struck and killed by a vehicle at around 6 p.m. Wednesday, blocking several lanes of traffic on southbound state Route 163, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities announced today a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of a thief who robbed a North Park drugstore, stealing bottles of OxyContin instead of cash.
A Rancho Bernardo house was heavily damaged by an electrical fire in its kitchen Sunday, but no one was hurt, a dispatcher with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said.
A man and his brand new pit bull were snatched off a street in what may have been a case of mistaken identity -- the dog's. The man was walking his newly purchased dog, a blue-nosed pit bull, on Imperial Avenue in Encanto Saturday, when two cars pulled up and a man jumped out of one saying, "that is my dog," police said.
Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 11:10 a.m. SAN DIEGO - A pedestrian who was struck by a Super Shuttle van and killed Wednesday on state Route 163 has been identified as Diana Catherine Miles, 56, of San Diego, the Medical Examinera s Office said.
