San Diego, California — Overview
Sun, surf and exquisite scenery are the qualities most visitors seek in San Diego. Nestled in the southern-most corner of California's coastline, the city is blessed with sun and temperate weather year round. Pristine beaches and blooming gardens are among the unique characteristics of this city. Attractions like SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park incorporate San Diego's casual, outdoor lifestyle in their exhibits, and a laid-back air prevails everywhere. Suntanned, barefoot, bikini-clad surfers and sun lovers fill the city, especially in Ocean, Mission and Pacific beaches, just three of many seaside towns along San Diego's 112 km (70 mile) long coastline. Long stretches of sand are filled with sunbathers who wander to the surf shops, coffee houses and cafes that represent the heart and soul of the Southern California lifestyle. Historic downtown communities like the Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy are now centers for dining, nightlife and the arts. Downtown has grown to incorporate eight distinctive neighborhoods and is the epicenter for all that's cool and hip in San Diego. Music is an integral part of San Diego's heritage and popularity. Budding musicians in all genres develop their talents at San Diego clubs, while well-known acts perform on outdoor stages and intimate indoor venues all around town. Home to dozens of cultural organizations, writers' guilds and artist co-operatives, San Diego is one of Southern California's most important centers for the arts. In addition, thanks to its history of Spanish missionaries here, Spanish influences remain strong to this day, especially as San Diego is barely an hour's drive from the border with Mexico. The evidence of this inextricable connection with its Hispanic beginnings is everywhere, in the mix of Spanish and English used in local slang and in the regional cuisine. San Diego, the eighth largest city in the USA, is far more than one single city; it is a patchwork of cultures, neighborhoods and small, uniquely defined communities - the epitome of the American melting pot. Many travelers come here just to bask in the warmth and experience a Southern California paradise.
