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San Diego Vacation Guide

Known for its family-friendly attractions, its proximity to Baja Mexico and its gorgeous coastlines, San Diego makes a perfect Southern California escape. Whether you're looking for fun in the sun, sporting events or plenty of interesting shopping, you're sure to find it all in sunny San Diego.

San Diego

Neighborhoods in San Diego

SeaWorld - Mission Bay - Shelter Island

The area includes a wide range of lodging choices, from family-friendly motels to secluded romantic hotels and luxurious resorts. Park facilities include free barbecues, fire rings and sports courts. Water-lovers take note: the area includes more than 27 miles of bay shoreline and 17 miles of oceanfront beach — just the sort of place you'd expect to find Shamu and all of his aquatic friends.

Gaslamp Quarter

This rejuvenated historic downtown neighborhood is well known for its shopping, nightlife and historic buildings. Take a short stroll to Horton Plaza, an enormous 7-level, multi-block shopping center full of colorful boutiques and big-name department stores. Catch San Diego Chargers football or San Diego Padres baseball at Qualcomm Stadium. After dark, visit the area's hip bars and funky clubs.

Mission Valley - Hotel Circle

This popular tourist area offers easy access to popular attractions including SeaWorld San Diego Adventure Park, the home of Shamu. Hop on the San Diego Trolley and take a short ride to Old Town and downtown San Diego, or ride all the way to the Mexican border. As you might expect, you'll find plenty of lodging options in the Hotel Circle area, ranging from budget motels to full-service resorts.

Carlsbad - Encinitas - Del Mar

This trio of North San Diego County coastal villages includes a major theme park as well as a number of funky beach-town sights. Carlsbad's the home of Legoland California, but visitors also flock to the area's famous flower fields each spring. Funky Encinitas offers trinket shops and cafes by the beach. Nearby attractions include the Flying Leathernecks Aviation Museum and Mission San Juan Capistrano.

San Diego Travel Tip

Best known as a family-friendly destination, San Diego draws most of its visitors between June and September, during school vacations. To get the best deals — and avoid the crowds — plan to visit San Diego between November and February. You'll find sunshine most of the year, but expect pleasant spring weather as well as reasonable hotel rates from Easter through Memorial Day.

San Diego Activities & Attractions

Balboa Park
America's largest urban cultural center, 1,200-acre Balboa Park is San Diego's arts hub. The park is home to the famous San Diego Zoo, as well as 15 museums and a number of tempting restaurants. The Old Globe Theatre puts on more than a dozen plays each year.
Sea World
San Diego is home to a variety of family-friendly theme parks and attractions. Visit Shamu and his friends at SeaWorld San Diego Adventure Park, or explore Legoland's 50+ rides, shows and attractions ...all based on the colorful interlocking bricks.
San Diego beaches
More than any other Southern California region, the San Diego area is known for its beaches. If you get tired of sunning yourself and watching the waves, you can take surfing lessons, explore sea caves in a kayak or visit to a marine sanctuary.
Tijuana
Take a two-nation vacation with a daytrip to Tijuana. Most contracts prohibit taking rental cars to Mexico, but that's no reason to stay north of the border. Take a guided bus tour, or ride a trolley from downtown to San Ysidro and stroll into Mexico.

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