SAN DIEGO

San Diego Walking/Bike Tours

San Diego Car Tours

Others
San Diego is one of the most beautiful cities at the Californian shore and offers plenty of choice to its visitors.
 
If you are interested in golfing this is your happy place. Over 20 courses are spread over the whole area including mountain and beach courses.
People that have a sweet spot for animals or travel with kids easily can spend two days visiting famous San Diego Zoo and its branch the Safari Park in Escondido.
Beach lovers will have issues choosing the perfect beach since there are so many and everyone will be busy exploring the city’s historic districts, sights, and coastal neighborhoods.
 
The first European sailer discovered the scenic shore of San Diego in 1542. His landing is honored with the Cabrillo Monument in Point Loma. With the European invasion the Kumeyaay Indians that were living here for thousand of years were oust from power.
After the first invasion several expeditions came to San Diego and the presidio and mission were founded in 1769 at the cuffs of Presidio Hill, above todays Old Town. With the presidio the first colonists were arriving in San Diego and the Kumeyaay started to put up a fight defending their land and honor against the Spanish. As a result the mission burned down but was rebuilt by 1797 and plenty of Indians were converted or relocated.
When the Mexicans won the war against the Spaniards in 1821, the Mexican province of Alta California was created at Presidio Hill nowadays the Old Town San Diego State Park. After the Mexican-American war in 1850 Alta California became a part of the United States. San Diego’s borders were moved further towards the ocean and the new area was called New Town, today known as Downtown San Diego.
The railroad extension brought more residents to the constantly growing town. Over the decades San Diego developed to the second largest Californian city after Los Angeles with over 1.3 milion people.
 
San Diego No Go’s
There are almost no ‘no-gos’ for San Diego except crossing the border to Mexico!
Many visitors think the closeness to Mexico, in particular Tijuana, is a great opportunity combining their Californian vacation with a daytrip over the border. Well, first of all you have to leave your rental car in the U.S., then you have to wait in line for hours passing the border before you are able to take the bus to Tijuana.
Finally, you will enter the limbo arriving there. With the rising crime and drug wars in Mexico Tijuana turned into a drug hub and I highly recommend skipping your visit. If you are looking for drugs, drinks and prostitution: go there, don’t blame me for not warning you.
 
Similar to San Francisco and all other parts of the U.S. inform yourself about the common tipping procedures and alcohol in public policies.
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THIS IS HOW I WOULD SPEND MY VACATIONS IN SAN DIEGO:
San Diego in 1 Day:
Combined car and walking tour through La Jolla, Mission Bay/Beach, Pacific Beach, Coronado Island, Gaslamp Quarter, Sunset Cliffs/Point Loma and Old Town.
 
San Diego in 2 Days:
Day 1: La Jolla, Mission Bay/Beach and Pacific Beach, Balboa Park, Point Loma/Sunset Cliffs, Old Town
Day 2: San Diego Zoo, Coronado Island, Gaslamp Quarter
 
San Diego in 3 Days:
Day 1: Beach Day in La Jolla with/without Torrey Pines State Park Hike, Point Loma/Sunset Cliffs, Old Town
Day 2: San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park, Coronado Island
Day 3: Walk along Mission Bay, Mission/Pacific Beach, Gaslamp Quarter