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San Diego
City Guide
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San Diego City Guide
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- Official name: San Diego
- Language: English
- Religion: Catholic
- Currency: American dollar
San Diego Sights and Museums
WHAT TO SEE
- Gaslamp Quarter: A 16-block national historic district that offers visitors a variety of restaurants and shops, as well as an eyeful of Victorian architecture.
- Torrey Pines State Reserve: Although this park is located within San Diego's city limits, it remains one of the wildest landscapes along the Southern California coast, with miles of unspoiled beaches, chaparral, elegant Torrey Pine trees and a lagoon vital to many species of migrating birds.
- Museum of contemporary art: In the posh, scenic suburb of La Jolla, the Museum of Contemporary Art has excellent collections of 1960s and 70s minimalist and pop art, as well as conceptual works and cross-border art from San Diego and Tijuana.
- Old Town State Historic Park: This park is the site of the original pueblo (village) that sprang up in San Diego below the mission and fortress back in the 18th century. It preserves five of the original adobe (mud brick) buildings alongside scores of recreated structures, including a schoolhouse and a newspaper office. It's a pleasant place to soak up some history, browse for souvenirs and perhaps enjoy a Mexican meal. Across from the visitor centre is La Casa de Estudillo, a restored adobe home filled with authentic period furniture which is worth a look. Just off the plaza's north-western corner is The Bazaar del Mundo, a colourful collection of import shops and restaurants, which is open late - a good place for a stroll.
San Diego Entertainment
EVENTS
There's more to the scene in San Diego than sunshine and surf. The Ocean Beach Kite Festival makes the most of the wind, with kite making, decorating and flying competitions in March. American Indian Cultural Days held in Balboa Park in May include Native American dancing, music and art exhibits while things can get a little more raunchy at the Pacific Beach Block Party held on Garnet Ave the same month. The Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off is a popular two-day street bash in June. It's accompanied that month by the three-week Del Mar Fair, a huge county fair held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, with headline musical acts and carnival rides. In mid-July the US Open Sandcastle Competition is held in Imperial Beach, south of Coronado. The Hillcrest City Fest street fair livens up the city's gay and lesbian epicentre in mid-August. The Gaslamp Quarter gets in one the neighbourhood party scene in September during the San Diego Street Scene festival. The Harbour Parade of Lights in December goes one better than a Christmas tree, with dozens of decorated illuminated boats floating in San Diego's harbour.
San Diego Transports
TRANSPORT
The city bus system covers most of the metropolitan area and is the most convenient way of getting around if you're not staying out late at night. Two trolley lines run from the terminal near the railway station at the western edge of the downtown grid. One heads south to the Mexican border at San Isidro, the other heads east through the downtown area to El Cajon. A commuter rail service operates from the Santa Fe depot along the coast north of the city in the morning and evening rush hours. A ferry shuttles between Coronado and the Broadway Pier, on the extreme western edge of the downtown area. There are great cycle routes in Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Mission Bay and Coronado. Some routes on MTS buses have a bike rack, and bikes can be transported without extra charge.
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