San Diego

It’s no secret to anyone that the coast of San Diego is the ideal place to watch the annual migration of the gray whale. Looked upon as one of nature’s ultimate spectacles; the migration of gray whales is nothing short of breathtaking. The coastline of San Diego is one of their migratory points as they travel from the waters of the Arctic to the warmer regions of the Baja (California), where females also give birth.

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.

Although San Diego has many things for grown ups to
enjoy, it hasa lot of activities for kids to enjoy
as well. Custom made for families, San Diego has
plenty of public parks, nice weather year round,
several museums, and many things for children of all
ages to amuse themselves with.

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.

Considering how San Diego is one of the best cities in
the United States, its really easy to tell how popular
the city is for tourists. Among the many accomplishments
behind San Diego, let’s take a look at several facts behind
this amazing city.

Fact 1
Inside the city limits of San Diego, more than 1 million
people live there. This makes the city the second largest
in California and the sixth biggest in the entire United
States! For the city to be this big, the residents still
have that hometown experience – which is quite amazing!

Fact 2
No matter what type of year it is, it’s never the wrong
time to visit. The weather is near perfect year round, giving
you the chance to experience everything to offer here. With
an annual high of 70 degrees and a low of 55 degrees,
you can pretty much go swimming year round.

Fact 3
If you visit between December – March, you can catch some
glimpses of the impressive gray whale. All along the coast
or on a cruise, you can catch this very amazing mammal.

Fact 4
If you travel just 23 miles south, you’ll be in the beautiful
city of Tijuana. What was once thought of as dangerous,
happens to be an amazing place of Mexican hospitality,
with great restaurants, shopping, and a pleasing nightlife.

Fact 5
San Diego offers an amazing array of flowers and roses. With
the climate being dry, it’s the perfect conditions for roses,
wild daises, and other exotic flowers. With different flowers
in the winter and summer months, avid flower lovers will fall
in love with everything San Diego has to offer them.

Fact 6
It’s no secret that one of the biggest attractions to San
Diego are the beaches. Make sure you read the signs though,
as the beauty behind the beaches vary almost as much as the
rules do.

Fact 7
When it comes to nightlife, San Diego has something to please
everyone. From country dancing to singing in a bar, the city
has a very happening nightlife. No matter what you like to
do at night, San Diego has it all – and probably a bit more.

Fact 8
The most attractive feature to San Diego is the zoo. The 100
acre zoo here houses almost 4000 animals all of which who have
plenty of room to roam around. With pandas for everyone to see,
the San Diego zoo is reason enough to give the city a visit.

For more reasons than one, San Diego is the perfect city to
visit. You can visit here with family or friends and know that
you’ll always have places to go and things to see. Winter or
summer, San Diego is the one place you’ll never find boring.

The Old Town San Diego Park serves as a way to recreate life in both the early American and early Mexican era of 1821 – 1872. Perfectly situated in San Diego, the park helps to recreate what was once San Diego. No matter how you look at it, a trip to California isn’t complete without a visit to the Old Town.

Around the five adobes of the main complex, there are shops, a museum, and several restaurants. Around the garden courtyard, the La Casa mansion helps to bring back a taste of the Old Town. Just a short hop from there, the museum is full of artifacts that help to reflect on the life that was once the Old Town.

The Old Town also has a blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, and several other historic buildings, including the first newspaper office in San Diego. This is truly a place to visit, especially for those who are wanting to learn more about the history of San Diego.

The city of San Diego was the first Spanish settlement in California. This occurred when a fort and mission were established in 1769. Back in 1769, California was just beginning to get established, therefore it wasn’t near the state nor the size that it is today.

When visiting the Old Town Park, you should make sure to visit the Robinson-Rose House Visitor Center. This center is reconstructed now and displays a model of Old Town and the way it looked back in 1872. The model that is on display was created by Joseph Toigo.

The Old Town Park also offers exhibits of the way things used to be, programs, and even guided tours. You can get a personal tour of the park, with a guide who will show you around and even explain things to you.

During your visit to the park, you can also enjoy a picnic at one of the picnic areas or get something to eat from one of many vendors. There are supplies here as well, including restrooms.

Those living in San Diego can find the Old Town Park on San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street. Being close to the main city, visiting the Park is easier than you may think. If you live in the city but have never been to the park, you should stop by and take a look.

On a vacation or a visit from town, the Old Town San Diego helps to bring back a taste of the past. There is a lot to see here and a lot of historical value. All you need to do is stop by the park and see what you think about the way things used to be.

Located in the Ocean Beach Community, Ocean Beach is actually just south of the entrance to the Mission Bay channel. Located at 1950 Abbott Street, the beach is a very popular location in the summer. During the winter months, couples like to walk the beach and just bask in the presence.

The Ocean Beach is wide in structure, about a mile long. Along the north end of the beach, you’ll find a volleyball court. During the summer, the court is always teeming with people playing volleyball while the sand around it is teeming with people watching.

At the south end of the beach you’ll find the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier. The Pier is open to the public with plenty of walking and fishing available. Located on the pier is a bait and tackle shop along with a restaurant. Although you don’t need a fishing license to fish off the dock, catch regulations are enforced.

If you walk to the south end of the beach you’ll find many restaurants, surfing shops, and many other commercial shops and establishments. Although you can travel to the north end of Ocean Beach, it’s mostly bordered by residents of the ocean area.

The unique part of Ocean Beach is the Dog Beach, located at the north end. This sandy area is where dogs can run and play without a leash – anytime – day or night. Although dog owners are responsible for their dogs and the clean up of them, Dog Beach is actually pretty nifty for anyone who owns dogs.

For your protection along the beach, lifeguards are out each and every day, year round. They are generally on duty from 9 AM until dark although you can check with them for their specific hours of operation. They are there for your protection and very willing to answer any question that you may have.

Keep in mind while on the beach, California beaches do experience powerful rip currents. It’s because of these currents that beaches in California experience over 1,000 rescues by lifeguards every year. To be on the safe side while in San Diego at Ocean Beach, it’s always a good idea to swim near a lifeguard.

For those who like surfing, surfing is permitted at Ocean Beach in designated areas. Scuba isn’t recommended however, because of the lack of undersea life, heavy rip currents, and the surf.

For swimming or enjoying the California lifestyle, Ocean Beach is a great place to go. It is a very popular place in the summer, drawing hundreds of thousands of people. If you long for a taste of the California lifestyle, make sure you visit Ocean Beach in San Diego.