San Diego is the idyllic, refined pocket of California that seems to provide a genteel combination of fun and maturity. The beaches are the great drawcard for holidaymakers. All are free to the public, safe and the mild climate gives more months of the year over to shell collecting and lounging in the sand.
Things to See and Do
San Diego seems to be the Californian home of activities that belong to a gentler age: A stroll through the historic Gaslamp Quarter downtown is a stroll through refurbished fin-de-ciecle Victorian architecture that now houses quaint boutiques and galleries; Sundays at 2pm in Balboa Park are for picnics and a (free) outdoor concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavillion that has been home to the enormous 32-foot-piped organ since 1914; visiting Julian, a century-old gold mining town in the Cuyamaca Mountains for a self-guided walking tour followed by the Julian specialty of homemade apple pie; taking in the stables and blacksmith's workshop in Old Town; kite-flying in the grassy fields of Mission Bay Park, a 4,600-acre aquatic sanctuary and public parkspace; bidding farewell to the day with a glass of wine and a La Jolla Cove sunset, then welcoming the night on the first Wednesday of every month at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park where the San Diego Astronomy Association sets up huge telescopes to offer guests a great view of all the stars in the night sky.
If you like your holidays a little more active, the San Diego Glider Port off of Torrey Pines Road near the University of California San Diego needs to be on your itinerary. You can take a tandem glide for an adrenaline rush – the gliding itself is amazing, but the running off the edge of a cliff part will scare you witless (or something that rhymes with witless).
Rollerblading or skateboarding along the Mission Beach Boardwalk is an energetic and entertaining way to spend 3 miles, and the people-watching is great. The spectacular scenery isn't bad either.
Tijuana
Don't forget Tijuana. Just over the border is Mexico, where the prices drop, the nights come alive, the people are friendly and there is always something to see, eat, drink, buy and do.
Off the Beaten Path
Back in San Diego, and a little off the beaten track, is the Villa Montezuma: A Victorian-style "painted lady" house with unusual features, this is one of San Diego's haunted attractions, complete with a resident ghost. Carlsbad is a feature too – once simply a railroad stop, it is now a seaside resort thanks to the discovery of its naturally therapeutic mineral springs. Oddly, Legoland is here too, which will please your kids, depending on their tastes. For another piece of local trivia, in the flesh, head to The Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island. It's the largest wooden structure in the United States (and has some heavy-duty fire protection).
Hotels
Hotels in San Diego are pretty varied and price can depend heavily on the time of year you choose to visit. An average price for two people is around $170 per night, per room. In true genteel San Diego style, it's not necessary to stay in a hotel: Family-run Bed & Breakfasts are popular here, and the unique personal service is a major attraction. A little under $120 a night will buy you a secluded garden cottage for you and your beloved, complete with stocked fridge and friendly breakfast conversations with the owner if you choose to go up to the main house.
Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder on the left to find cheap hotels in San Diego.
(Photo:Fotolia/vivalapenler)
