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San Diego

Sunny San Diego

   With its ideal climate, breathtaking scenery and world-class attractions – including Sea World and the Wild Animal Park – San Diego is almost too good to be true. This jewel of a city is an absolute favorite among vacationers. But why just visit San Diego when you can live here and enjoy everything it has to offer year round?
   Locals fondly call their city “Sunny San Diego” for a good reason: The sun shines here 350 days a year. But that’s just half the reason. San Diego is a cosmopolitan city with a laid-back attitude and a sunny disposition. On any given day, you’ll find people of all ages enjoying the outdoors, even in the middle of winter. Here people go outside to walk, jog, cycle, picnic, swim, sail, surf, golf, garden, play tennis and dine in posh outdoor cafés during all four seasons. No wonder San Diegans tend to be happy and fit!

   Year-round mild weather means being able to enjoy fresh-cut flowers and locally grown citrus fruits in December. San Diego County is home to fragrant groves of lemon, orange, tangerine and grapefruit trees that produce even in winter. The county is a major producer of strawberries and avocados. And something is always in bloom, with colorful bougainvilleas, geraniums and hibiscus flowers brightening suburbs and urban areas alike.
   Perched in the southwest corner of Southern California, San Diego is home to some of the most spectacular beaches in the United States. La Jolla Cove is an intimate spot with breathtaking beauty that attracts photographers, scuba divers and sunbathers. Mission Beach is always festive, with people parading along the boardwalk and thrill seekers riding the restored landmark roller coaster. Spacious Coronado Beach offers miles of white sand beaches and magnificent views of offshore islands. Of course, every beach provides the perfect spot to watch a stunning sunset!

San Diego Fast Facts

   Location: San Diego is located on the Southern California coast, about 16 miles north of the Mexican border
  *Total area: 372.03 square miles (324.34 square miles land area; 47.69 square miles water area)
  *Population: 1,223,400
  *Housing units: 469,689
   Average annual rainfall: 10.77 inches
   Average temperatures: 72ºF in summer, 58ºF in winter
*Information provided by 2000 Census

Communities

   Whether you choose to live in the heart of San Diego or in one of its surrounding communities, you're just a short drive away from beaches and mountains. Needless to say, if you move into oceanfront property, you'll be just steps away from the beach!
   San Diego is not one big city. Its a collection of smaller communities, each with its own, distinct personality, bonded by a sense of neighborly pride. Elegant La Jolla boasts upscale boutiques and ocean-view restaurants. Its home to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), one of the top research facilities in the world, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. In centrally located Mission Valley, you’ll find Qualcomm Stadium and major shopping malls. The community of Mira Mesa, to the north of Miramar Naval Air Station, is known for its high-tech sector. Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach are true beach communities where surfing rules the scene. Other San Diego neighborhoods include colorful Hillcrest, tranquil Clairemont, and the family community of Rancho Bernardo.

    Downtown San Diego boasts an attractive skyline and a prime waterfront location. Cruise ships headed for Mexico dock at its port. Bright red trolleys transport passengers to other city points, while ferries whisk both locals and tourists across San Diego Harbor to Coronado Island, which is also accessible by the landmark Coronado Bridge, winner of the “Most Beautiful Bridge” award. The historic, three-masted Star of India, built in 1863 and now the oldest active iron-hulled tall sailing ship, adds a touch of old-world maritime charm to downtown.
   San Diego County consists of several cities. To the south, you'll find Chula Vista, National City and Imperial Beach, located just minutes from both downtown San Diego and Mexico. The second largest city in the county, Chula Vista once was the lemon-growing capital of the world. Today, its a culturally diverse community with 200,000 residents and home to a U.S. Olympic Training Center.

   East County includes the cities of Lemon Grove, El Cajon and La Mesa. These inland communities have warmer weather year round but still enjoy ocean breezes when the wind is right. La Mesa's official city slogan is “Jewel of the Hills,” appropriately named for its rolling-hill surroundings. While its average January high is a very comfortable 68°F, La Mesa broke a record in 1938. On Dec. 8 that year, the mercury hit 100°F!
   North County consists of both inland and coastal cities. Inland you'll find Escondido and Poway, which stretch across fertile valleys of Southern California's coastal mountains. These areas are accented by avocado and citrus groves, and gentle hills. Coastal cities include Del Mar, Solana Beach and Carlsbad. Del Mar’s racetrack and beautiful beaches have always attracted the rich and famous. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz owned a home here. So did Jimmy Durante. Carlsbad boasts more than seven miles of picturesque, natural coastline and fields of flowers that attract thousands of visitors every spring.

Attractions

   In addition to its fabulous beaches, San Diego offers world-class attractions enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. One advantage to living here is being able to use yearly passes to many of these attractions for substantial discounts. Here are some of San Diego's unique attractions.
    Sea World: Home of Shamu, and now Baby Shamu and Grandbaby Shamu, the world's most popular killer whales, Sea World has been delighting visitors since 1964. Shows like the Shamu Adventure and Dolphin Discovery feature talented sea animal performers and their trainers. Equally impressive are the many animal exhibits, including Penguin Encounter, Manatee Rescue and Forbidden Reef. For kids, Shamu’s Happy Harbor – a play area complete with a pretend pirate ship and water mazes – is an absolute must.
   San Diego Zoo: The most well-known zoo in the world, the San Diego Zoo is lauded for its attractive, animal-friendly habitats and lush grounds. The collection of plants and trees is as impressive as the variety of animals on display. Favorite exhibits include Tiger River and Gorilla Tropics; both emulate a rain forest environment. For a bird's-eye view of the zoo, ride the Skyfari Aerial Tram.
   Balboa Park: San Diegans recently voted Balboa Park the city's “Best Park” and the “Best Place To Do It All,” a fitting description for an urban cultural park with 15 museums and more than 85 performing arts and international culture organizations. The Tony-award winning Old Globe, a replica of London's famous theater, presents more than a dozen productions a year in the Shakespearean tradition. The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center delights visitors of all ages through illuminating hands-on exhibits and an IMAX theater. Stop by the House of Pacific Relations on a Sunday afternoon to enjoy music and traditional dances from around the world. Covering 1,200 acres, beautiful Balboa Park is the largest cultural complex west of the Mississippi River.
   Wild Animal Park: This wildlife preserve allows visitors to view animals roaming through large open fields, much as they'd be seen on a real safari, from the safety and comfort of an open-air monorail train. Herds of antelope, giraffe, elephants and other animals co-exist in this natural setting simulating terrain found in Africa and Eurasia.
   LEGOLAND: One of San Diego's newest attractions, LEGOLAND-California is one of four Lego theme parks in the world. The other three are located in Germany, England and Denmark. San Diego's LEGOLAND opened in 1999. Not your everyday theme park, it features interactive attractions; kid-powered rides; robotics testing; building challenges; and, of course, roller-coaster rides. It's a great place for anyone who's a kid at heart!
   Birch Aquarium At Scripps: Here's where to see local marine life in its natural habitat. The aquarium has more than 3,500 fish on display. The Tide Pool Discovery Center allows visitors to touch a variety of tide pool animals. Summer learning adventure programs are offered for children and teenagers.
   Old Town San Diego State Historic Park: To see where San Diego began and get a feel for life here in the 1800s, visit historic Old Town. Several original adobe homes, including La Casa de Estudillo, have been restored and are open to the public. Museums, shops and restaurants abound. Heritage Park displays vintage Victorian architecture.

Recreation and Leisure

   What you can do in San Diego is limited only by your imagination! With an ideal location and mild Mediterranean climate, San Diego and its surroundings offer limitless opportunities to have fun in the sun.
   Miles of beautiful beaches provide the perfect playground for beachgoers. Whatever your preference – swimming, boogie boarding, jogging along the surf, collecting shells, or lying on a beach towel – San Diego's beaches offer the chance to play or relax in spectacular ocean settings.
   San Diego's bays and marinas appeal to boating enthusiasts. Sailing, boating, yachting and water-skiing are popular pastimes for many San Diegans. Some stay in protected bays and harbors, while others venture into open sea where curious seals and dolphins occasionally swim up for a closer look.

   With an abundance of parks, you don't have to go far to toss a Frisbee with friends or fly a colorful kite with your kids. Several lakes throughout the county, including Lake Hodges and Otay Lake, are great for fishing and picnicking.
   In the winter, San Diegans drive up to Laguna Mountain to enjoy snow. At an elevation of 6,000 feet and only 50 miles east of San Diego, Laguna is San Diego's winter playground. Summertime activities include hiking and camping.
   San Diego has several indoor ice skating rinks and countless public and private swimming pools. The city boasts some of the best golf courses in the United States. The award-winning Torrey Pines golf course, with its sweeping ocean views, is home of the Buick Invitational PGA Tour event.
   Enjoy a baseball game at PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres. Watch the Chargers play at Qualcomm Stadium. The San Diego Sports Arena hosts exciting sports events and concerts.

Dining

   From fine dining to casual fare, San Diego offers a wonderful selection of superior restaurants. Talented chefs whip up creative menus to satisfy any taste. The Pacific Ocean provides a steady supply of “fresh catch of the day” for delicious seafood entrees. Waterfront and ocean-view restaurants, including Peohe’s in Coronado and The Chart House in La Jolla, are perfect for romantic dinners. Choices in ethnic cuisine are virtually endless. Try empanadas at a local Argentine restaurant, or kabobs at one of the Persian places. Both California and Continental cuisine are popular in San Diego restaurants.

The Arts

   San Diegans appreciate art. Performing arts events include San Diego Symphony concerts, Playhouse Series for Families shows, the Mainly Mozart Festival and Jazz in the Park. A number of venues throughout the county display stunning visual arts exhibits, from La Jolla galleries to Balboa Park museums. Even Lindbergh Field, San Diego's airport, boasts an impressive collection of art. Talented local artists sell their work at several outdoor festivals held throughout the year.

Housing

   Home prices vary from one community to the next. Naturally, prices for oceanfront or ocean-view properties, being especially desirable, will be higher. But with so many diverse communities to choose from, chances are you can find a place to call home – be it a single-family home, a town home or an apartment – at a price you can afford. San Diego real estate is an excellent investment, because properties here appreciate well. Many residents choose to live in condominiums for affordable, easy living.

Employment

   As you might imagine, tourism is a big industry in San Diego. But the area attracts business in other sectors as well, including high-tech and research. Among the city's largest employers are San Diego Unified School District, Pacific Bell, Sharp Healthcare, Cubic Corporation, Scripps Clinic Research Foundation, Solar Turbines and Atlas Hotels. San Diego County's unemployment rate is 3.9 percent, well below California's rate.

Education

   San Diego County is home to 590 public schools and a large number of private schools. The county has an excellent network of city and community colleges. Four-year and graduate universities include:

• The University of California, San Diego, with outstanding programs in science, engineering, and medicine
• San Diego State University, with excellent business and education programs
• The University of San Diego, known for its top-quality school of law

Maps of San Diego

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