San Diego Attractions
Balboa Park
Balboa Park Information Center: 1549 El Prado,
San Diego CA; Tel. 619.239.0512
Blocks from downtown San Diego and home to museums,
botanical gardens and
the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park is one of San Diego's top
attractions. Nearly 1400 acres large and named after the
first Spanish Conquistador thought to have glimpsed the
Pacific Ocean, Balboa Park is a green wonderland dotted
with architectural gems, from the Beaux Arts buildings
of the 1915 Panama-California Exhibition to the Spanish
Colonial (some with Pueblo and Mayan influences) of the
1935 Pacific-California Expo. In addition, Balboa Park
also houses sports facilities (Morley Field), tennis
courts, swimming pools and both a nine- and 18-hole golf
course.
Belmont Park
3146 Mission Blvd. (at West Mission Bay Dr.), San
Diego CA 92109; Tel. 858.488.0668
In Mission Beach, Belmont Park is a small, family-style
amusement park known for it's classic, white-wood roller
coaster and the Plunge, a large indoor pool. Surrounding
the park are plenty of Mission bars, pizza parlors and
taqueriaslate. Plus, Mission Beach, another San
Diego attraction, is just steps away.
Legoland California
One Legoland Dr., Carlsbad CA 92008; Tel.
760.918.5246
The only Legoland park in the United States (there are
three in Europe), San Diego's Legoland theme park is a
veritable wonderland, filled with rides, shows and more,
for children ages two to 14. Kids can climb the 30-foot
Power Tower, catch panoramic views of Legoland and the
Pacific Ocean and then "free fall" back down. Plus, kids
can ride in a Lego boat, fly lego planes, tour the lego
factory, and take a medieval roller coaster ride in the
sky on Spellbreaker.
Mission San Diego de Alcala
10818 San Diego Mission Rd., San Diego CA 92108;
Tel. 619.281.8449
In Mission Valley (near San Diego's Hotel Circle and
close to the beaches and Seaworld), the Mission San
Diego de Alcala was originally founded on July 16, 1769
by Father Junipero Serra. Dubbed a basilica (a church of
extreme importance) by the Pope, Mission San Diego de
Alcala was a main hub for the Spanish colonization of
the local Kumeyaay Native Americans (and was once burned
to ground by over 800 marauding Native Americans who
massacred Father Jaymes, currently buried under the
present-day altar). Today, the Mission San Diego de
Alcala serves as an active, all-faith parish and
important cultural San Diego attraction.
population of Spain
Old Town State Park
San Diego Ave. and Twiggs St., San Diego CA
92110; Tel. 619.220.5422
Downtown San Diego has been the "New Town" since the
late 1860s, but before that, what is still known as Old
Town was the epicenter of European civilization. Still
organized around Old Town Plaza, Old Town itself is now
mostly a San Diego spot for Mexican nouvelle dining in a
rustic, Spanish colonial setting and an import shopping
destination, most notably for the colorful and buoyant
Bazaar del Mundo, which islate and perfect for
pre-Margarita browsing. Of special note is Old Town's
bevy of haunted houses: Robinson-Rose House (the Old
Town Visitor Center), the La Casa de Estudillo , a
restored adobe home complete with period furnishing, and
the Whaley House Museum, a government-certified haunted
house since 1960, all of which house cold spots and
unexplained phenomena.
San Diego Wild Animal Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd., Escondido CA 92027;
Tel. 760.747.8702
The Serengeti meets North County San Diego for an
1800-acre San Diego safari experience. An actual
wildlife preserve in Escondido (30 miles northeast of
downtown San Diego), with exhibits like the Heart of
Africa, Condor Ridge, Kilimanjaro Safari and Kupanda
Falls Botanical Garden, visitors to the San Diego Wild
Animal Park get an upclose and personal look at the
native flora and fauna of Africa and Asia, sans cages
and plexi glass barriers. Plus, far from the coastal
breezes that moderate San Diego proper, Escondido's hot,
inland climate in summer months actually feels rather
Saharan.
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Drive (in Balboa Park), San Diego CA
92112; Tel. 619.234.3153
Pandas, polar bears, gorillas, tigers, bonobos and more
of the world's genetic spectrum call the 100-acre San
Diego Zoo in downtown San Diego's Balboa Park home.
Natural ravines and crevices in the park make for
barriers between animal groups, and in all, the
beautifully landscaped setting is home to more than 3000
animals from 800 species. Known for rare wildlife and an
endangered species conservation program, the San Diego
Zoo is one of San Diego's most popular attractions.
Seaworld
500 Seaworld Dr., San Diego CA 92109; Tel.
619.226.3901
The world-famous killer whale, Shamu, shows off a more
playful side with high jumps and audience-wetting flicks
of the fin in Shamu's Happy Harbor, while beluga whales
and polar bears stay cool in Seaworld's Wild Arctic.
With everything from pink flamingos, coral reefs and
bottlenose dolphin interaction programs, Seaworld is the
undisputed San Diego zoo of the sea. Also, with a scary
shark tank, a thrilling rapids ride and the new Haunted
Lighthouse 4-D show, Seaworld elicits the "Oohs" as much
as the "Ahs." |
