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San Diego is
the second largest city in California and sixth largest
in the nation. San Diego has both a large conservative and
Liberal population. This combination is a great balance
and makes San Diego a city for every walk of life. San Diego
is an easy place to navigate. Its highways and well engineered
layout makes maneuvering this large city a breeze. San Diego
has been changing rapidly in recent years with the construction
of a downtown (Gas Lamp) baseball stadium, a booming financial
district, tourism on the rise and a new center for U.S.
Trade shows. Another reason for the success of San Diego
during economic downturns is the revenue from the military.
Airport,
Point Loma and Ocean Beach(City of San Diego)
El Cajon, Lakeside, and Alpine
Ramona, Warner Springs, Borrego Springs, and
Julian
Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, and Leucadia
Carlsbad
Rancho Penasquitos and Carmel Mountain (City
of San Diego)
Del Mar and Carmel Valley (City of San Diego)
Chula Vista (South of Downtown San Diego)
Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, and Linda Vista (City
of San Diego)
Coronado (West of Downtown San Diego)
Pacific Beach, Mission
Beach, and Mission Bay (City of San Diego)
Downtown San Diego
Escondido
Fallbrook
Mission Hills, North Park, Normal Heights,
Kensington, and San Diego State (City of San Diego)
Hillcrest
San Ysidro and Otay Mesa (City of San Diego),
and Imperial Beach.
La Jolla, Torrey Pines, UCSD, and University
City (City of San Diego)
La Mesa
Loma Portal, Old Town (City of San Diego)
Mira Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Sorrento Mesa,
and Miramar (City of San Diego)
Mission Valley (City of San Diego)
National City
Oceanside
Scripps Ranch (City of San Diego) and Poway
Rancho Bernardo (City of San Diego)
Solana Beach and Rancho Santa Fe
San Marcos and Vista
Serra Mesa and Tierra Santa (City of San Diego)
Airport,
Point Loma and Ocean Beach(City of San Diego)
Point Loma is a peninsula that shelters San Diego Bay from
storms with its cliffs and hills. A beautiful drive not
to miss is the drive out to Cabrillo National Monument,
with high views of the bay and ocean.
El
Cajon, Lakeside, and Alpine
El Cajon, California is located inland (east) from San Diego,
with La Mesa in between. El Cajon is located in a small
valley. In fact, El Cajon means "the box" in Spanish.
Ramona,
Warner Springs, Borrego Springs, and Julian
Ramona and Warner Springs, California are located in the
rural, uncrowded part of San Diego located among rolling
hills and live oak trees.
Borrego Springs is located in the beautiful Anza-Borrego
Desert State Park, a favorite vacation spot in winter. In
spring, don't miss the desert's beautiful wildflower display.
Encinitas,
Cardiff by the Sea, and Leucadia
Encinitas, California is a beachside city located in northern
San Diego County, with 6 miles of beaches. It is home to
Moonlight State Beach and Leucadia State Beach. The beaches
are full of people in summer surfing, boogie boarding, swimming,
volleyball, and other activities. In July and August Moonlight
Beach hosts Concerts by the Sea.
Neighboring Communities Beach cities Carlsbad, to the north,
and Solana Beach, to the south.
Carlsbad
Carlsbad, California \'Karls-bad\ [German Karlsbad "Charles'
watering place"] : A coastal city in northern San Diego
County, California. Location: 33 07 41.7 N, 117 16 48.3
W. Population 78,247 (2000 census), Inc. 1952. Elevation
44'.
Carlsbad is a mixed use community of homes and businesses
located on the California coast in northern San Diego county.
Carlsbad Village, downtown, is a popular area for shopping.
The beaches are popular for sunbathing, BBQs, surfing, and
camping. Inland, surrounding Palomar Airport, are several
high-tech industries
Neighboring Communities Oceanside, to the north, Encinitas,
to the south, and San Marcos and Vista, inland. Oceanside
and Encinitas are also coastal beach communities. Oceanside,
San Marcos, and Vista Apartments are often lower-cost than
Carlsbad.
Rancho
Penasquitos and Carmel Mountain (City of San Diego)
Rancho Penasquitos and Carmel Mountain are communities in
the northern part of the City of San Diego. See also
Scripps Ranch and Mira Mesa, communities to the south of
Rancho Penasquitos, and Rancho Bernardo, to the north (all
in San Diego, California).
Del
Mar and Carmel Valley (City of San Diego)
Del Mar, California is famous for its racetrack founded
by Hollywood stars in the 1940s. Today it's an affluent
beach town with specialty shops and restaurants. The County
Fair is held at the fairgrounds from mid-June through the
end of the 4th of July weekend. Horse racing begins in mid-July
and runs through Labor Day in early September.
Neighboring Communities Beach cities La Jolla, to the
south. and Solana Beach, to the north. The Winner's Circle
Beach and Tennis, Solana Beach is immediately north of the
Del Mar Race Track.
Carmel Valley Despite the confusing name, Carmel Valley,
in San Diego and inland from Del Mar.
Chula
Vista (South of Downtown San Diego)
Chula Vista, California is located along San Diego Bay ("South
Bay"). Chula Vista has commercial and industrial areas,
with modest homes, along the bay, with newer housing subdivisions
inland.
Chula Vista Although not as big as Downtown San Diego, Chula
Vista has plenty of civic activities. Listen to live music
at Coors Amphitheater at night and during the day soak with
the kids at Knott's Soak City USA.
Neighbors National City is north of Chula Vista. South
of Chula Vista are the communities of San Ysidro and Otay
Mesa, and the city of Imperial Beach.
Clairemont,
Kearny Mesa, and Linda Vista (City of San Diego)
Clairemont is a residential community in northern San Diego
city. Large parks, Tecolote Canyon and San Clemente Canyon,
cut through the community, which is located on top of a
mesa.
Coronado
(West of Downtown San Diego)
Coronado Island is located just across San Diego bay from
downtown San Diego. Coronado, California has a small-town
feel and, with the "Hotel Del" and other resorts,
is a long-loved vacation spot. The west side of Coronado
faces the Pacific Ocean and has one of the widest beaches
in the county. It also has good views of Point Loma and,
in the evening, sunset. Bayside has great views of downtown
San Diego and the bay. Biking around tree-lined streets
is a popular activity. The Silver Strand, south of Coronado,
is a narrow peninsula of sand that separates San Diego Bay
from the Pacific Ocean. A highway and bike path span its
length. Biking, rollerblading, and jogging are popular on
the Strand.
Access You can drive to Coronado (over the Coronado Bridge)
or go by passenger ferry from Seaport Village in downtown
San Diego.
Pacific Beach,
Mission Beach, and Mission Bay (City of San Diego)
Pacific Beach is a beachside community of San Diego city
that's located just north of Mission Bay. "P.B."
attracts a young crowd and many visitors who like to hang
out on the wide boardwalk that sees pedestrians, rollerblades,
and bicyclists.
The younger "party" crowd tends to hang out at
Mission Beach, which is on the Peninsula between Mission
Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
Downtown
San Diego
Downtown is live at night with its Gaslamp Quarter, bayshore
walk, Seaport Village, and Horton Plaza. Besides shopping,
the "Rep" Theatre is at Horton Plaza, as is a
movie theatre and food court.
During the day, don't forget nearby Balboa Park and Museums
and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Little Italy, located along I-5 just north of downtown,
features restaurants, art studios, and boutique shops.
Escondido
Escondido, California is a inland community in north San
Diego County (About 15 miles from downtown San Diego) with
a more-rural flavor than the county's coastal communities.
Central Escondido is a low- and mid-income community with
a commercial, industrial, and residential mix. Outlying
areas, especially south, have well-to-do residential areas.
Escondido means "Hidden Valley" in Spanish.
Escondido is home to the California Center for the Arts,
which hosts concerts, opera, and other events. Don't forget
to see the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park in San Pasqual
Valley. Nearby is San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic
Park, which describes the only battle, fought in California
during the Mexican-American War.
Fallbrook
Fallbrook, California is a rural farm community located
among avocado and other fruit orchards, wineries, thoroughbred
stables, and five golf courses. Fallbrook has a downtown
area with antique shops, boutiques, art galleries, For more
information, see the Fallbrook webpage.
Mission
Hills, North Park, Normal Heights, Kensington, and San Diego
State (City of San Diego)
Mission Hills, Hillcrest, North Park, Normal Heights, and
Kensington are generally north or east of downtown and Balboa
Park. These are mostly older residential communities north
and northeast of Downtown San Diego and Balboa Park. San
Diego State University is in this area.
Hillcrest
Hillcrest
has great nightlife, especially if you're looking for a
young, alternative crowd. San Diego's first suburb, today
Hillcrest is a colorful and diverse community brimming with
coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques.
San
Ysidro and Otay Mesa (City of San Diego), and Imperial Beach.
San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, California are San Diego communities
that lie on the border with Mexico. They are low-income
communities with a residential, commercial, and industrial
mix. It is a busy trade region that sees many people cross
into Tijuana.
Imperial Beach is a funky, working-class small beach town
in the southwest corner of California.
Neighbors Chula Vista is north of Otay Mesa and San Ysidro.
La
Jolla, Torrey Pines, UCSD, and University City (City of
San Diego)
La Jolla, California is a famous, affluent seaside community
of San Diego that was founded above The Cove. La Jolla has
many secluded coves, beaches, and ocean caves. With many
find restaurants, shops, and an art museum, it is a popular
destination. La Jolla is also home to University of California,
California, Scripps Institute, with its Birch Aquarium,
and the Salk Institute.
La
Mesa
La Mesa, California is located in the foothills inland (east)
from San Diego, and west of El Cajon Valley.
Loma
Portal, Old Town (City of San Diego)
Old Town San Diego is where San Diego was founded and first
settled by the Spanish in 1769. Now a State Historical Park,
it features many restaurants, shops, and historically-restored
buildings. Walk to dinner and the small boutiques in the
evening.
Loma Portal is the commercial area just west of I-5 and
Old Town. Because it's a busy commercial area.
Mira
Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Sorrento Mesa, and Miramar (City
of San Diego)
Mira Mesa is a largely residential community in northern
San Diego city.
Miramar Marine Core Air Station is located to the south
and historic Rancho Penasquitos Canyon, a city preserve,
is located to the north.
See also Rancho Penasquitos and Carmel Mountain, communities
to the north, and Scripps Ranch and Poway, communities to
the east.
Mission Valley (City of San Diego)
Mission Valley is located in central San Diego city. The
San Diego river flows down the middle of the valley to Mission
Bay. Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, California's
first mission that was rebuilt here by the Spanish in 1777,
still stands in the eastern end of Mission Valley. Qualcomm
Stadium, which hosts ball games and other events, is also
located here. Along I-8 at the west end of Mission Valley
are several hotels, restaurants, and two large malls. Unfortunately,
I-8 runs down the south side of Mission Valley, where most
of the hotels are, so forget peace and quiet and nice, relaxing
views. However, the hotel rooms are clean, cheap, in a good
neighborhood, and are centrally located to the tourist attractions
and beaches. Hotels south of I-8 are above the freeway.
Generally the hotels north of I-8 are slightly quieter and,
since they are closer to the San Diego River, they are more
lush. If you're looking for a budget or family hotel or
motel, I advise also looking in the nearby Point Loma or
Old Town areas. Old Town is in a nice place and you can
walk around and enjoy it in the evenings (with all its restaurants
and shops).
National
City
National City, California is located south of downtown San
Diego and north of Chula Vista. National City has a mixture
of commercial and industrial areas along with modest homes.
National City is a good place to get a low-price hotel room
near downtown San Diego, which is accessible via the San
Diego Trolley's blue line. However, parts of National City
are not safe at night.
Oceanside
Oceanside is a beachside city located in northern San Diego
county, with 3.5 miles of beaches and Oceanside Harbor.
The beach is full of people in summer surfing, boogie boarding,
swimming, volleyball, and other activities. Oceanside is
located just south of Camp Pendleton, a marine base, in
northern San Diego County. Oceanside is a low-income working-class
city. Hotels don't cost as much as in Carlsbad, a well-to-do
neighbor to the south, yet most Hotels are near the beach
or Harbor.
Oceanside Harbor features fishing and sightseeing cruises
(in winter they have whale watch excursions), with a lot
of interesting shops to visit.
The second Spanish mission in California, Mission San Luis
Rey (1798), is located in Oceanside.
Neighboring Communities Carlsbad, another beach city
to the south, and San Marcos and Vista, inland.
Scripps Ranch (City of San Diego) and
Poway
Scripps Ranch is a well-to-do community full of eucalyptus
trees in the northern part of the City of San Diego. It
has a business park to the north and another one along I-15.
Poway, California is the "City in the Country"
to the north of Scripps Ranch.
See also Mira Mesa, to the west of Scripps Ranch, Rancho
Bernardo, to the north, and Rancho Penasquitos, to the northwest
(all in San Diego, California).
Rancho
Bernardo (City of San Diego)
Rancho Bernardo is located inland on an old Spanish land
grant in the northern part San Diego, California. "R.B.,"
as the locals call it, is a well-to-do retirement and residential
area with multiple golf courses and its own small winery,
The Bernardo Winery (since 1889).
See also Rancho Penasquitos, Carmel Mountain, and Poway,
communities to the south of Rancho Bernardo.
Solana
Beach and Rancho Santa Fe
Solana Beach, California is a beachside city located in
northern San Diego county, just north of Del Mar, with its
race track and fairgrounds. The best restaurants are long
old Highway 101 and (parallel) S. Cedros Ave. This is called
the Cedros Design District for its small shops.
Rancho Santa Fe, California, located inland from Solana
Beach, is home to wealthy and well-known residents who live
among the secluded eucalyptus and citrus groves and horse
stables. The eucalyptus groves were originally planted by
the Santa Fe Railroad, but the wood soon proved unsuitable
for railroad ties.
Neighboring Communities Beach cities Encinitas, to the
north, and Del Mar, to the south.
San
Marcos and Vista
San Marcos and Vista, California are suburban communities
located among rolling foothills slightly inland from the
coast in northern San Diego County. In summer, kids will
enjoy The Wave Water park and adults the Moonlight Amphitheatre
performances. If you or someone needs pampering, The Golden
Door, in San Marcos, was selected the best spa by Travel
and Leisure magazine. San Marcos Restaurant Row If you visit
here, don't forget to dine at San Marcos "Restaurant
Row" on San Marcos Blvd. Restaurant Row features restaurants
with various cuisines (Greek, Japanese, Chinese, Italian,
Mexican, etc.) in an old California setting. Thursday afternoons
they have a farmers market.
Golf:
San Marcos is also home to Lake San Marcos Country Club
with a restaurant and private golf course overlooking a
lake. Twin Oaks and Executive golf courses, also in San
Marcos, are open to the public.
History: Don't forget to visit the Vista Historical
Museum the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum, and the
Rancho Vista Adobe (c. 1850).
Neighboring Communities Carlsbad and Oceanside, beach
cities to the west, Fallbrook, to the north, and Escondido,
inland to the east and south.
Serra
Mesa and Tierra Santa (City of San Diego)
Serra Mesa is located in the central part of San Diego,
California north of Mission Valley. Serra Mesa is largely
a light industrial area located around with a small airfield,
Montgomery Field. Tierra Santa, to the east, is a residential
community of San Diego located along I-15.
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