Elegant and sunny San Diego is truly a city with something for everyone - it's one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. Parents and children alike love San Diego's wide range of fun and family-oriented activities - many of them free - most of them outdoors in the warm sunshine. From the theater to wild animals, San Diego has something for everyone. Here are six things to do in San Diego that every visitor should not miss when visiting our wonderful city.
1. Stroll through the historic Gaslamp Quarter and view the renovated turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture, home to boutiques, art galleries and specialty shops. Historic buildings have been relocated to Gaslamp from other parts of the San Diego, their nineteenth century architecture restored to its former glory. Restaurants, shops and clubs occupy former brothels and saloons. The nightlife is throbbing and vibrant 365 days a year. The Quarter is home to many events and festivals, including San Diego's Mardi Gras, Taste of Gaslamp and the city's St. Patrick's Day events ensuring that the Gaslamp Quarter will remain one of San Diego's favorite travel destinations.
2. John D. and Adolph Spreckels donated the Spreckels Organ, one of the world's largest outdoor pipe organs, to the City of San Diego in 1914 for the Panama-California Exposition. This unique organ contains 4,530 pipes ranging in length from the size of a pencil to 32 feet and is housed in an ornate vaulted structure with highly embellished gables. Since 1917, San Diego has had a civic organist who performs free weekly Sunday concerts.
3. Look at Jupiter's moons through a telescope in Balboa Park as the San Diego Astronomy Association sets up many of their big telescopes by the fountain in front of the Reuben Fleet Science Center. Because there are several amateur astronomy groups and professional observatories in San Diego, this is a great opportunity for you to explore the cosmos. Held each month on the first Wednesday after dark, you'll be able to see the rings of Saturn, the planet Neptune and the craters on the moon - and understand why San Diegans consider Balboa Park the Smithsonian of the West.
4. See things you never saw before at The Museum of Contemporary Art in LaJolla featuring an enormous collection of 4,000 works created after 1950. Here you'll find exhibits of all media and genres: painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, video and film. Designed in 1916 by world-famous Irving Gill and originally the home of distinguished philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, the 60,000 square-foot Museum will thrill you with its breathtaking coastal views.
5. Explore the tide pools just north of Swami's Beach in Encinitas when the tide is low and see things most people never see: Hairy hermit crabs, willowy sea anemones, yawning barnacles, and perhaps even a two-spot octopus are a few of the many species that might be discovered in the nooks and crannies of tide pools. Low tides during convenient daylight hours are most common in the winter during full and new moons. San Diego travel tip: check the newspaper tide tables.
6. Sun and Fun. There are more than seventy miles of coastline here in San Diego and the best part is that every one of them are free. They are all great for swimming, surfing, jogging, body surfing, boogie-boarding, reading that mystery novel, people watching, collecting seashells or just chilling.
1. Stroll through the historic Gaslamp Quarter and view the renovated turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture, home to boutiques, art galleries and specialty shops. Historic buildings have been relocated to Gaslamp from other parts of the San Diego, their nineteenth century architecture restored to its former glory. Restaurants, shops and clubs occupy former brothels and saloons. The nightlife is throbbing and vibrant 365 days a year. The Quarter is home to many events and festivals, including San Diego's Mardi Gras, Taste of Gaslamp and the city's St. Patrick's Day events ensuring that the Gaslamp Quarter will remain one of San Diego's favorite travel destinations.
2. John D. and Adolph Spreckels donated the Spreckels Organ, one of the world's largest outdoor pipe organs, to the City of San Diego in 1914 for the Panama-California Exposition. This unique organ contains 4,530 pipes ranging in length from the size of a pencil to 32 feet and is housed in an ornate vaulted structure with highly embellished gables. Since 1917, San Diego has had a civic organist who performs free weekly Sunday concerts.
3. Look at Jupiter's moons through a telescope in Balboa Park as the San Diego Astronomy Association sets up many of their big telescopes by the fountain in front of the Reuben Fleet Science Center. Because there are several amateur astronomy groups and professional observatories in San Diego, this is a great opportunity for you to explore the cosmos. Held each month on the first Wednesday after dark, you'll be able to see the rings of Saturn, the planet Neptune and the craters on the moon - and understand why San Diegans consider Balboa Park the Smithsonian of the West.
4. See things you never saw before at The Museum of Contemporary Art in LaJolla featuring an enormous collection of 4,000 works created after 1950. Here you'll find exhibits of all media and genres: painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, video and film. Designed in 1916 by world-famous Irving Gill and originally the home of distinguished philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, the 60,000 square-foot Museum will thrill you with its breathtaking coastal views.
5. Explore the tide pools just north of Swami's Beach in Encinitas when the tide is low and see things most people never see: Hairy hermit crabs, willowy sea anemones, yawning barnacles, and perhaps even a two-spot octopus are a few of the many species that might be discovered in the nooks and crannies of tide pools. Low tides during convenient daylight hours are most common in the winter during full and new moons. San Diego travel tip: check the newspaper tide tables.
6. Sun and Fun. There are more than seventy miles of coastline here in San Diego and the best part is that every one of them are free. They are all great for swimming, surfing, jogging, body surfing, boogie-boarding, reading that mystery novel, people watching, collecting seashells or just chilling.
About the Author:
Terry Hunefeld retired in 2007 from his job as a CEO to follow his bliss of sailing the Pacific Ocean to observe seabirds and mammals. Terry and his wife Ann Dunham purchased, renovated and run the romanticInn At Moonlight Beach Bed and Breakfast in the San Diego area. For more information visit: Bed and Breakfasts in San Diego or Encinitas Hotels.
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