San Diego County
The first European explorer to land in California, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, came ashore in San Diego in 1542. Imagine 70 miles of sun-drenched coast, an inviting ocean and a year-round daily forecast of 21°C and you’ll understand why this southernmost stretch of California is all about outdoor fun. Discover top theme parks and attractions like SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park and LEGOLAND California Resort. Relax at legendary retreats like Hotel del Coronado, find art and culture in San Diego and surrounding cities like luxurious La Jolla . Enjoy world class golf at Torrey Pines and enjoy culture and diversity, all at the edge of a sparkling blue sea.
The City of San Diego
As if all that sunshine is not enough, here’s a waterfront city brushed by perfect breezes, the light just right, the beer perfectly hoppy after a day of wave-and-water fun. Whether you’re stand up paddling on Mission Bay, kayaking into sea caverns along La Jolla’s idyllic shores, savouring a sweet shaved ice in Balboa Park or dining and dancing after dark in the lively Gaslamp Quarter, you’ll find yourself smiling in San Diego.
San Diego Zoo
Visiting this expansive zoo in San Diego’s Balboa Park is more than a chance to see animals from all over the world: it’s a chance to see one of the world’s finest facilities for seeing and learning about rare and endangered species, all in carefully naturalised enclosures spread across 100 acres in Balboa Park. More than 3,700 animals from 650 species are showcased here, including crowd-pleasers like giant pandas and fuzzy koalas and intriguing oddities like naked mole rats.
Plan to spend at least a day at this extraordinary site, and wear comfortable shoes—you’re likely to do a lot of walking. If you have to cut your visit short, no worries: just log on to a collection of entertaining animal cams, which let you see what’s going on with the a variety of species—the koalas and pandas as well as Sumatran tigers, polar bears, California condors and more—even if you’re not in the park.
SeaWorld San Diego
From swooshing and swooping rides to interactive shows and million-gallon aquariums, this is one theme park that truly makes a big, big splash. See—and learn about—the amazing undersea worlds of animals from around the globe, including walruses, sea lions, polar bears and penguins. See (and touch) harmless rays and sharks, and be entertained by Shamu and other killer whales, as well as dolphins, in daily shows and presentations. Climb aboard a host of rides, too, including Manta, a high-tech roller coaster that has you twisting, diving and turning like a ray.
Legoland California
It’s hard to say who enjoys Legoland more: the little ones running around in a magical world created by 60 million LEGO plastic bricks, or their parents who get a kick out of it too. Walk through Miniland USA for a visual and structural jaw-dropper: expansive miniaturised recreations of Washington D.C., New York and San Francisco, as well as scenes from Star Wars. There’s also a chance to go behind-the-scenes to look at the sound stage and models used during the The Lego Movie. While the focus here leans towards making little ones smile, there’s plenty to entertain older visitors too: the park has more than 60 rides, shows and attractions, including three roller-coasters.
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