San Diego California

The San Diego area can be an incredible place to visit almost any time of the year. With temperatures near the ocean of around 75 degrees most of the time, the climate is ideal for anyone wishing to retreat from the heat in the summertime or escape the chill in the wintertime. San Diego is a destination the whole family can enjoy. San Diego is a place for animal lovers as it is home to one of the finest zoos in the United States as well as the highly popular SeaWorld. Possibly the premier zoo in the country, the San Diego Zoo stretches over 100 acres land. The Zoo is located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California and is one of the largest, most progressive zoos in the world boasting over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species.

The San Diego Zoo features hundreds of displays and habitats as well as several entertainment shows that feature animals. The Zoo is home to many rare creatures that aren't visible in any other zoo on the planet. Being the zoo is so large, they offer a guided tour bus that covers about 75% of the park as well as an overhead sky ride that provides an aerial view of the Zoo and is a quick way to move from opposite ends of the Zoo.

The animal exhibits are often designed around a particular habitat and that same exhibit features many different animals that can be found side-by-side in the wild, along with their native foliage. Exhibits range from an African rain forest to the Arctic tundra. The San Diego Zoo is definitely worth a visit, but you need a full day to really do it justice.

Another wonderful animal park in this beautiful city is SeaWorld. SeaWorld is home to a variety of sea animals, but it's mostly known for its killer whales. The killer whales are housed in Shamu Stadium which is named after the first killer whale ever brought to SeaWorld San Diego. In all, seven killer whales live at SeaWorld San Diego.

One of the most popular attractions at the park is the Shark Encounter, in which guests are carried through a submerged acrylic tube into the sharks' tank. Another popular ride is Wild Arctic, simulating a helicopter ride to the Arctic. After the ride, the guests arrive at a simulated base station, where they can observe polar bears, Pacific walruses, and beluga whales. In addition to those attractions, another popular exhibit is the Penguin Encounter, showcasing a variety of penguins. SeaWorld California also has a thrill ride, Journey to Atlantis, which is a combination roller coaster and splashdown ride.

Visiting the various sites of the city will make many people hungry, and San Diego is a city with many types of culinary delights. San Diego offers a variety of styles and flavors for any diner's tastes. Food styles include Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Greek, Irish, Indian, Mongolian, Mexican, Italian, French and classic American.

The number one destination for tourists and locals is the downtown historic district known as the Gaslamp Quarter. There are plenty of restaurants, bistros, pubs, bars and nightclubs that are centralized in the southeastern part of the downtown area. On the weekends it becomes quite crowded because everyone wants to go to the Gaslamp Quarter to enjoy a night of dining, dancing and the sounds of local musicians.

San Diego is a beautiful city that features attractions that everyone can enjoy. From seeing Panda bears at the San Diego Zoo, to the killer whales at SeaWorld you can be rest assured your visit to this wonderful town will be an entertaining one.

For San Diego hotel rates begin your search here, or you can read more about the San Diego area and look for hotel rates at the Best Western hotels of California website www.bestwesterncalifornia.com. To receive more San Diego information or to read more about San Diego attractions and to look for visitor guides visit the San Diego Tourism site at www.sandiego.org.