The State Preserve of Torrey Pines not only preserves
the trees but the salt marshes and waterfowl refuges
as well. The Torrey Pines State Beach here stretches
nearly four miles, from Del Mar to the sandstone
cliffs of Torrey Pines Mesa.

Also found here is Blacks Beach, located at the
base of the 300 foot cliffs. The cliffs here offer
paragliding, remote control gliding, and even hang
gliding. At the north end of Blacks Beach, clothing
is optional. To be on the safe side, always read the
signs and follow the rules of the beach.

With plenty to offer, Torrey Pines State Preserve is
a great addition to the already vast area of San
Diego. You can visit here from San Diego, as it’s
a short drive away. Torrey Pines has great beaches
and plenty of trails for you to see. As a family
trip, Torrey Pines is a great place to spend the
afternoon on your once in a lifetime vacation.

1. Hitting the beach.
No matter what season you visit, the beach is one area that
personifies the entire San Diego lifestyle. Whether your watching
the tide come in or soaking in the sun, the beach is where the
action is. From Mission Beach to the Belmont Park rollercoaster -
make sure you hit the beaches here.

2. Trying a fish taco.
Although it may sound a bit weird, the fish taco is one
of the best foods in San Diego. Deep fried, battered fish encased
in a corn tortilla is one of the foods that once you try it the
first time – you’ll crave anytime you come back!

3. Going to Mexico.
It’s no secret that San Diego borders Mexico, with Tijuana
being a metropolis in its own right. Visting Tijuana or Baja Mexico
is perfectly safe day or night, no matter what you have heard. Keep
in mind that they have their own laws, bring your passport, then
enjoy everything that this foreign paradise will provide you with.

4. Take a ride on the trolley.
San Diego doesn’t have the best public transit system, yet
they do have the well known trolley. The highways here can be quite
intimidating, making the trolley the ideal way to travel. If you
want to learn more about the city, simply buy an all day trolley
pass – you’ll see more of San Diego this way than you ever thought
possible.

5. Visiting the Pandas.
While Sea World and Legoland has their share of animals, the
San Deigo zoo is no stranger to Pandas. The zoo is a tourist attraction,
with the baby Su Lin, which is quite a feast for the eyes. When you
visit the San Diego Zoo, visit in the morning – when the pandas are
most active.

6. Balboa Park.
After you check out the pandas, take a trip to the jewel of
the city – Balboa Park. The atmosphere is breathtaking here, no matter
when you visit. If you visit on Tuesdays however; you’ll find that
most museums have free admission. After you visit a while, dine at the
Prado Restauraunt and experience great food in a great setting.

7. Gaslamp and the nightlife.
The Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego is the place to be
for dancing, eating, or just people watching. You can experience the
best of life in San Diego here, with food to fit every taste.

8. The Old Town.
While historical San Diego isn’t always apparent, a visit to the
Old Town State Historic Park can bring back the past. There are snippets
of Old San Diego found everywhere you look here. Although there are many
fine restaurants here, make sure you visit the Old Town Mexican Cafe, as
it serves the best Mexican food around San Diego.

Being famous for Shamu the killer whale, Sea World has
the ability to entertain kids and adults for hours.
There are many different animal shows here as well,
along with other amusement park thrills. While Shamu
is a must see, there are other animals here as well,
that you simply have to see.

Sea World also offers an exciting dolphin interaction
program where you can get in the water and play with
the dolphins. This is a great learning experience,
especially for those who love dolphins. Dolphins are
an integral part of Sea World, as there are literally
hundreds of them here.

Once you visit Sea World, you’ll go below the surface
and see life that you may have never before thought
possible. You can feed the dolphins and other mammals,
even count the teeth that a shark has! When you
consider what Sea World has to offer, you simply can’t
compare it to any other amusement park.

On the entertainment side of things, Sea World offers
a haunted lighthouse and several other rides and shows
for you to see. You can even get an all day pass here,
which is great for anyone who is wanting to enjoy all
that Sea World has to offer.

New to Sea World is Believe. This is a new show that
will show you Shamu like never before. It’s a journey
of wonder and magic that you simply must see to believe
and appreciate.

No matter what season of the year you visit, you’ll be
happy to know that Sea World is open year round. It
does close on major holidays though, which isn’t really
a bad thing. As long as you don’t visit on a holiday
you can pretty much expect Sea World to be open.

On a vacation, Sea World in San Diego will have something
to please everyone. The kids will have plenty to do
here, while you experience things that interest you as
well. The neighboring areas to Sea World have plenty
to offer you as well, from dining to many different
sights to see.

When the time comes for you to go on vacation you
shouldn’t pass up Sea World. It’s in a great location
with plenty of activities and things to see. Sea World
can show you the creatures of the sea like never
before – which is reason enough to go.

In Seaport Village you’ll find 14 acres of pleasure
with more than 75 shops and galleries, restaurants,
and eateries on the sidewalk. Even though the area
is primarily targeted towards visitors, locals get
the best of the best with the restaurants and their
out of town company.

The San Diego Pier Cafe is also here, which is one of
the best known restaurants in the area. Located on
the bay, the cafe provides seafood with breathtaking
views.

The Seaport village provides a great place to view
Coronado and the Coronado Bridge, as it overlooks the
harbor. Just a short stroll from the village, you have
the San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park, and
the Gaslamp Quarter.

Providing plenty to do and plenty of things to see
nearby, Seaport Village has it all going on. A visit
here is unlike any other, as the city of San Diego
will always have something unique to offer you and your
entire family.

Among the many animals you’ll find here are the pandas,
giraffes, tigers, and basically any other animal that
you can think of. The animals themselves have plenty
of room to run and play, giving you all the space you
need to view them in their active environment and
best of all – while they are at their best.

Anytime you plan to visit San Diego, you should make
sure you visit the zoo. Kids simply adore the animals
here, while parents find them adorable. Even if you
have never been to a zoo before, the San Diego Zoo
can more than change your outlook.

Once you enter the zoo, you can check out the animals,
get some food, or just walk around. The park is
enormous in size, having everything you can basically
think of when it comes to animals. Once you visit, you
may find yourself hating time when it comes time to
leave!

Throughout the 30 year history of the animal park,
the Noah’s Ark symbol of endangered species has grown
to dozens upon dozens of animals. Now, every Arabian
Oryx found in the wild is the descendant stock from the
San Diego Wild Animal Park.

In the park, there are many different paths you can
take to visit the smaller animal exhibits. Although
the smaller animals are a sight to see, the main
thing to see is the hour long trip on the Bush Line
Railway. Along the railway, you’ll see animals that
you’d never get the chance of seeing anywhere else,
such as the white rhino and the rhinoceros.

If you plan to visit the park in the summer, it’s
always a good idea to visit early. On a normal summer
day, ten – fifteen thousand people will visit the
park. During the winter, the ratio is down as
normally 2,000 people will visit. Although it’s much
colder in the winter, the park is less frequent with
people looking to see the animals the park offers.

You can find the animal park 32 miles north of
Escondido in San Diego. The park is in a peaceful
area, which makes things a lot better for the animals
that live there.

When visiting in the summer, it’s a great idea to walk
a while, then take the railway. After you have took
the railway a bit, you can walk some more. It’s also
good to take plenty of sunscreen with you as well, as
summer at the park can get very hot. Water is great
as well, simply because the summer in California can
be a bit of a scorcher.

The San Diego Wild Animal Park is ran by the San Diego
Zoological Society. The society also runs the San
Diego Zoo, which is one of the most popular animal
parks in the entire world. With the park and the zoo,
the society does more than its part to bring the
best of seeing the animals to you.

The next time you are in San Diego or if you are
visiting for the first time, the Wild Animal Park is
a great place to visit. You can check out some truly
endangered species and learn more about the types of
animals that you’ll see in this once in a lifetime
opportunity.

Every year, roughly 26,000 gray whales will make the
long journey of 10,000+ miles from the Arctic to the Baja
and back. If you look at this journey and compare it to
any other mammal, you’ll notice that the gray whale by
far has the greatest amount of traveling at hand.

If you’ve never experienced whale watching, you’ll be
happy to know that anyone will find it memorable – young
or old. Spotting a gray whale along the coastline is
something that is truly a memorable moment, making you
stop for a second and truly appreciate these awesome
mammals.

If you ask the Birch Aquarium in San Diego, you’ll find
that gray whales are seen most frequently from December
through March. While they travel in dozens normally,
it’s nothing to see pods of them (2 – 3) as they travel
during migration. Throughout the coast of San Diego,
you can easily spot these whales as they are somewhat
slow swimmers.

During their swimming, they will normally dive to a depth
of 100 feet or more for a few minutes, then surface and
blow. Then, they will do a few shallow dives, before
making that deep dive again. When watching whales, figuring
out this pattern makes the success of watching them all
the more fun and exciting.

While there are many common places to watch whales,
nothing seems to compare to the excitement of watching them
from aboard a cruise. There are many cruises that take
place in San Diego, many of which offer unbeatable deals.
From H&M Landing to the Birch Aquarium, cruises are some of
the best ways to see the beauty and tranquility of the
traveling gray whales.

The beauty of the gray whales can also be seen from many
points of the San Diego coast, including the Cabrillo
National Monument on Point Loma or the cliffs of Torrey Pines
State Beach. Along these points, you can see the whales as
they make their travels.

Whether it’s a cruise or just watching from the coast, whale
watching in San Diego is something you truly have to see to
appreciate. You can take your kids, family, or even your
friends. Whale watching can definately be exciting, all you
have to do is plan your day and enjoy everything that the
beauty of the gray whale will provide you with.

As a guest, they will treat you with as one of them,
helping to bring your cruise to life. There are
a few parts to the tour, ensuring that you get the
most out of your time on the cruise.

Tour of the North Bay
On your tour of the North Bay, you’ll see the North
Island Naval Air Station, Shelter Islands, and even
the Naval Sub Base. If you look closely, you’ll
also be able see the Cabrillo National Monument as
well.

The tour of the North Bay is around 12 miles in length
and lasts about an hour. This is a fine tour for
anyone interested in the Navy as well. During your
tour the guides will explain everything to you as
you see it. This way, you’ll always know what’s going
on.

Tour of the South Bay
Your tour of the South Bay consists of the Star of
India, the Naval surface fleet, Coronado Bay Bridge,
and the shipyards. This is a very busy and hectic
area, which makes a tour excellent to see everything
that this area has to offer.

The tour of South Bay is roughly 12 miles in length
and also lasts around an hour. The guides will explain
things here to you as well, ensuring that you know
exactly what you are seeing.

Tour of the Bay
Those of you who are looking to see it all should go
for the deluxe tour of the entire bay. You’ll see
everything covered in the North and South Bay, along
with everything else the bay has to offer. The tour
is around 25 miles in length and lasts around 2 hours.

To get started on your tour, all you need to do is
contact the Harbor Excursion. The price for the tour
is very reasonable, considering everything you’ll be
seeing.

If you happen to live in San Diego, taking the tour is
easier than ever. Those of you who are visiting or on
vacation should give the tour a shot as well. This way
you’ll get to experience everything that San Diego Bay
has to offer you without having to walk around. And
best of all – tour guides will explain the sights to
you – so you’ll never miss a second.

For kids who love animals, there’s the well known
San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Animal Park. The zoo
is located in Balboa Park, while the park is located
a bit north of the city. If you have the time, you
should take a full day for your kids to enjoy the park
and the zoo. If the traditional zoo makes your kids
uncomfortable, the park is a great alternative.

Kids of all ages also enjoy the world famous Sea
World, which is home to Shamu the killer whale and
several other marine animals and exhibits. Sea World
has been a great attraction for kids for many years,
showing them the marine life like never before.

When it comes to the winter months, whale watching is
a very popular activity. You can watch them from
the coastline or take a cruise. Watching the gray
whale is very amusing to kids, openening their minds
to new possibilities.

Balboa Park is a great place to visit as well, as it
has a lot more than the San Diego Zoo. There are
places for kids to explore, with the children’s museum,
the Fleet Science Center, and the Natural History
Museum.

Another popular park for kids is Legoland California,
which is located north of San Diego. There are a lot
of things to see in this park, with a majority of
the park being built from the popular Lego blocks.
Overall, this is one of the best and most quiet options
for younger children.

Hitting the beach is great as well, as San Diego has
many different beaches for kids of all ages. On the
beaches, kids can build sandcastles, rent boogie
boards, or just enjoy the swimming that San Diego so
proudly displays.

Older kids will enjoy the true recreation mode for
San Diego – roller skating and rollerblading. Along
Mission Bay there are great spots, along with
playgrounds and parks. You can fly kites here as
well, which is a great break from the ordinary.

Amusement Parks are a great attraction in San Diego,
with Belmont Park being very popular. There are many
rides here, amusing kids for hours on end. The
Giant Dipper and the Plunge are among the best, for
younger or older kids.

If San Diego is on your family vacation list, rest
assured that there will be plenty for your kids to
do on your stay. They will feel right at home with
the many things to do – while you your mate are
occupied with plenty of things for you to do as
well.

The civic theatre in the Convention Center, offers
2,975 seats for meetings and formal assemblies. This
helps to make the Convention Center the biggest and
best equipped of all performing arts theaters in
San Diego.

With its great views of the water and city, the
Convention Center is also convenient to hotels,
shopping stores, and plenty of entertainment. Within
walking distance you also have the Gaslamp Quarter,
Horton Plaza, Petco Park, and Seaport Village.

Held here, are events such as the International
Auto Show, Boat Show, and many others. The San Diego
Convention Center is located at 202 C. Street, in
downtown San Diego.

Undergoing expansion in 2001, the center doubled
it’s space. It now offers 500,000 square foot of
exhibit space, 90,000 square feet of multi-function
space, 72 meeting rooms, and now 90,000 square foot
of glass enclosed pavilion.

Those visiting the San Diego area or those who reside
here should check with the Convention Center to see
if there is anything going on. The Convention Center
is a great place to visit – especially if there is
something interesting going on.