San Diego Things to Do

Bordered by Mexico to the south, desert mountains to the east and more than 70 miles of beach to the west, San Diego is an obvious destination for nature enthusiasts. Travelers are drawn to San Diego's mild climate which lends itself to unlimited outdoor activities, and with more than 300 days of sunshine per year, visitors have very little reason to retreat indoors.

San Diego Harbor Excursions and Whale Watching
Approximately 25,000 gray whales pass San Diego in their 7,000-mile annual migration from the Bering Sea to Baja California. This fully narrated, 3½ hour adventure through San Diego Harbor allows close-up views of the mammoth California gray whale. For more information, call 800-442-7847.

San Diego Zoo
Conveniently located in the heart of San Diego's acclaimed Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo is flourishing with some of nature's most imperiled wildlife and fascinating exhibits. For a heightened experience, visitors can upgrade from the Guided Bus Tour to the Skyfari Aerial Tram. Located at 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park. For more information, call 619-239-0512.

Parks
Downtown offers more than a dozen parks ranging from the North and South Embarcadero Marina Parks with harbor views to the Horton Plaza Park in the heart of the city. Mission Bay Park is the largest man-made aquatic park in the country and offers a wide range of recreational activities including paths for jogging, beaches for lounging and playgrounds for children. For more information, call 619-276-8200.

Golf
Golf Digest names San Diego "One of the Top-50 Golf Destinations in the World." Golfers can chose from 92 golf courses in San Diego County, offering everything from a seaside setting to challenging desert mountain terrain. Downtown's Balboa Park includes an 18-hole golf course. Home of the Buick Invitational PGA Golf Tournament, the Torrey Pines Golf Course, in La Jolla, is one of the most respected courses in southern California. To play the famed Torrey Pines or one of its 23 partner courses, call 800-905-0272.

Concerts on the Green
A free live music event, Concerts on the Green takes place on Fridays in El Cajon, just 15 miles from San Diego. The concerts feature jazz, country and Latin beats, and are presented each May through September. For more information, call 619-401-8858.

As California's second largest city, San Diego has made significant contributions to the artistic and cultural dialogue that permeates this important coastal state. The following attractions are examples of San Diego's growing enthusiasm for the arts and will turn the heads of both locals and tourists alike.

Balboa Park
Ornate Spanish-style architecture and gardens fill the 1,200-acre Balboa Park, where visitors explore the Museum of Man, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Timken Museum of Art and Spreckel's Organ Pavilion. For more information, call 619-239-0512; located at 1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101.

Museum of Photographic Arts
Visit the Museum of Photographic Arts with its more than 9,000 images representing the entire history of the medium, its aesthetic movements, and technological advancements. Located at 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101. For more information, call 619-238-7559.

The Museum of Making Music
The Museum of Making Music presents an interactive journey through a century of musical instrument innovations that helped shape American popular music. Located at 5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad, Ca 92008For more information, call 877-551-9976.

Andy Warhol's Dream America
Opening June 17th at the San Diego Museum of Art, this exhibition presents more than 125 memorable screen prints by the pioneering Pop artist, offering a broad and thorough overview of Warhol's printmaking career. Located at 1450 El Prado, San Diego, 92101. For more information, call 619-232-7931.

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A beautiful place to live and a versatile place to vacation, San Diego is a magnet for inspired chefs and enlightened taste buds. Beautiful landscapes coupled with a gentle Mediterranean climate makes San Diego an especially suitable place for alfresco dining. The following venues were hand-picked to provide travelers with an exciting menu for dining out.

Temecula Wine Tasting Tour with Grapeline Tours
Translated roughly as a "place of the sun," the Temecula Valley is home to nineteen wineries and has been a significant wine production center for more than a century. These tours give visitors an insider view of Southern California's premier wine region aboard spacious deluxe shuttle coaches. Tour includes tasting tickets for four wineries. For more information, call 951-693-5463; located in Temecula, CA 92591.

Krakatoa
With mid-century furniture, cozy dining rooms and a wooden deck, Krakatoa used to be a house in San Diego's Golden Hill district but is now a charming neighborhood café. Serving a light menu of salads, sandwiches and pastries, Krakatoa is a delightful place to enjoy a cup of coffee or break for lunch, while capitalizing on free wi-fi service. Located at 1128 25th St. For more information, call 619-230-0272.

Boulevard
This lively restaurant, housed in the 1889 French-style Audiffred building, boasts a romantic waterfront setting and an extensive wine list amongst a Belle Époque interior. Boulevard's menu selections include Prime Rib Kurobuta and California Lamb prepared multiple ways. For reservations, call 415-543-6084.

Café Chloe
Appealing to the romantic side of both locals and tourists, Café Chloe is a chic café and wine bar in San Diego's urban East Village. Applauded for her lively French menu and inventive presentations, Chef Katie Grebow has modeled her café after the European tradition, which includes remaining open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located at 3671 Fifth Ave. For more information, call 619-232-3242.

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Vacations are never quite complete without an appropriate amount of shopping; and what better way to shop in San Diego than outdoor shopping? The following indoor/outdoor shopping experiences offer a genuine variety of environments from seaside boutiques to the Mexican bizarre.

Seaport Village
Located one mile from the cruise docks, the Seaport Village is San Diego's landmark for waterfront shopping and dining. Three distinctive plazas were designed to capture the ambience of Old Monterey, Victorian San Francisco and traditional Mexico. Filled with specialty shops and charming boutiques, this seaside setting will remind travelers of Cape Cod. Located at 879 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, 92101. For more information, call 619-235-4014.

Horton Plaza
With headliners such as Nordstrom and Macy's, Horton Plaza is a seven level shopping district that twists through more than six city blocks. Adorned with palm trees and more than 172 shops, boutiques and bistros, this open-air mall successfully blends whimsical European styling with historic San Diego textures. For more information, call 619-238-1596.

La Jolla Village
Downtown La Jolla is home to dozens of boutiques, cafes, salons and art galleries. Known as "the Village" to locals, the area has been dubbed the "Rodeo Drive of San Diego." After a day of shopping, guests kick back at one of the numerous watering holes or comedy clubs in the Village. Located in La Jolla, CA 92037.