San Diego California climate. San Diego, California. Accommodation and transport

San Diego California is a world-famous tourist paradise with incredible ocean beaches and almost constant sunshine. The city is located in southern California on the Pacific coast near the Mexican border. It is one of the most populated cities in California and the United States. Time difference from - 10 hours.

San Diego is known as the birthplace of California. In 1542, the first European, the Portuguese navigator Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who was in the service of the Spanish crown, disembarked here. The first European settlement was founded in this territory. Over the next centuries, San Diego was successively under Spanish rule until 1850, when California was ceded to the United States after the Mexican-American War.

Regarding the weather conditions of San Diego, Wikipedia reports that the area is characterized by a mild Mediterranean climate. In the area where it is located, there are approximately 146 sunny days a year and 117 days with slight cloudiness. The temperature in the city always stays above 20 degrees, but only a few days exceed 30 degrees when the dry east wind blows from the desert.

The best months to travel to San Diego are July, August and September. This is the best time of year for ocean swimming and water sports. Be aware that in June, fog forms in this part of California and persists throughout the month. Fog, of course, will not hide all the sights of San Diego from you, but it may interfere with your plans to sunbathe on the ocean.

San Diego is a city where everyone will find the type of entertainment or recreation that they need: swimming in the ocean, surfing, yachting, huge amusement parks, a colonial-style old town, a variety of museums, festivals and, perhaps best of all, the theater. . You won't have a problem with what to see in San Diego. The problem will be whether there is enough time to watch everything you want.

San Diego, California attractions

Beaches

San Diego is known for its approximately 70 kilometers of stunning coastline, lined with beaches and coves. Each beach is particularly beautiful and has its own unique features.

• Coronado (Coronado)

The postcard landscapes of the Coronado Island coastline are the essence of San Diego beach culture. The long sandy beaches are covered with fine golden sand, which literally glows in the sun due to the fact that it contains a special mineral. For decades, beaches Coronado is recognized as the best in the USA according to surveys conducted by The Travel Channel, Dr. Beach" and other media. The beaches are also considered ideal for family holidays.

A striking landmark of the island is the Hotel Del Coronado, built in 1887. In 1958, the comedy Some Like It Hot was filmed in the hotel and on the shore nearby.

On this “enchanted island”, as the city's residents call it, you can enjoy swimming in the ocean, relaxing in the sun, unique sunsets or conquering the ocean waves on the surf. You can get to the island by highway, water taxi, or the Coronado Bridge, which is another attraction in itself.

• La Jolla ( La Jolla).

La Jolla Natural Park called the pearl of San Diego. La Jolla beaches regularly top the world rankings. This is a unique coastal area, combining white sand beaches, underwater reefs, secluded coves and high cliffs against which the ocean waves crash noisily. The picturesque rocky shores offer wonderful views of the ocean and the surrounding area of ​​San Diego.

The water off the coast of La Jolla is incredibly clear. The bottom is visible to a depth of ten meters. As a result, La Jolla is one of the best places in the world for diving and snorkeling. The underwater world in this part of the ocean is extremely diverse. The shores of La Jolla are home to fur seals and many birds.

The La Jolla area is home to several interesting museums, countless hotels, restaurants and cafes with excellent cuisine.

• Point Loma Peninsula ( Point Loma).

This is where the history of California and San Diego began in 1542. Cabrillo State Forest was created on the peninsula as a historical tribute to the first European settlers on the California coast. The preserve's rocky shores are home to the famous Point Loma Lighthouse. In this amazing place you can feel the grandeur of wildlife and the spirit of American history.

The peninsula has a harbor for yachts and pleasure boats, from where you can go on a boat trip. Whale watching excursions are organized during the season.

Pictured are the beaches of San Diego.

Gardens and parks

• Balboa Park ( Balboa Park)

This park is currently one of the top ten in the United States. This is an amazing combination of nature and culture. The park includes 16 unique gardens, 15 museums, many music and theater venues, restaurants and shops. In addition, ancient buildings in the Spanish colonial style have been preserved in the park. The park receives approximately 500,000 visitors annually.

You should definitely see the following attractions in the park.

Rose Garden in Balboa Park (Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden).

Japanese friendship garden.

San Diego Botanic Garden.

San Diego Zoo.

Art gallery "Spanish arts village"

• State Nature Reserve Torrey pines state reserve.

The huge park in the north of the city was created in order to preserve the unique pine forests on the rocky shores of the Pacific Ocean. Here you can walk along forest paths, enjoy a cocktail made from a mixture of pine and ocean air, look at sandy canyons and coastal lagoons with clear water.

The photo below shows the fabulous parks of San Diego.

Old Town, San Diego

Most tourists come to San Diego because of the ocean, parks and other natural beauties. But the city has so much more to offer. So make time to explore and experience the history and culture of San Diego.

• Downtown San Diego ( Downtown, San Diego ) .

This area combines the dynamics modern city, an abundance of entertainment and cultural events and the unique flavor of colonial architecture.

If you want to feel the authentic atmosphere of the city, be sure to visit the historic Gaslamp Quarter. Stained glass windows, stucco moldings, columns, carved arches spanning the streets on the second floors, and yes, elegant gas lamps - these are the magical decorations that will surround you. Here, Victorian-style buildings combine unexpectedly well with modern architecture. The neighborhood's atmospheric streets are filled with galleries, theaters, sophisticated boutiques, restaurants, rooftop bars and stylish nightclubs.

• District "Little" ( Little Italy, San Diego).

Located north of downtown San Diego, this area symbolizes the enormous contribution that Italians have made to the culture and history of the United States. It is the largest ethnic enclave in the country. You will find Italian motifs in the architecture and numerous cafes and restaurants. The area hosts several music festivals every year. There are also art galleries and a beautiful city park.

San Diego is located near the Mexican border, on the Pacific Ocean. The city has a unique Spanish-American flavor, which attracts a considerable number of tourists. It has a fairly mild climate, excellent beaches and an incredible number of natural attractions. Just look at Balboa Park with its magnificent gardens and museums or the picturesque La Jolla Bay!

A traveler arriving in San Diego has the opportunity to see how one of the most prosperous cities in the United States lives. Cruise ships constantly approach the berths of the bay, snow-white yachts stand in orderly rows in the local marina, and people leisurely stroll along the city alleys planted with palm trees. San Diego is a haven of prosperity and prosperity, where people know how to enjoy life.

The best hotels and inns at affordable prices.

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What to see and where to go in San Diego?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walks. Photos and brief description.

The very first US aircraft carrier. He served in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf. He served in the US Navy for 47 years. In 1992, the aircraft carrier was decommissioned and turned into a museum. Volunteers from among naval veterans conduct tours for visitors. They talk fascinatingly about the design itself and answer questions.

The Spanish navigator J.R. Cabrillo landed on the Point Loma Peninsula back in 1542. In honor of him, a monument was built on the southern cape in 1939, from the observation deck of which a panoramic view of San Diego Bay and the city opens. Another interesting historical building is a lighthouse from the mid-19th century. Today there is a museum inside it. A walking trail has been laid out on the peninsula especially for tourists.

San Diego City Park is larger than Central Park in New York. On its territory there are 15 museums and exhibitions, 4 theaters, several thematic gardens and a zoo. Many buildings were built at the beginning of the 20th century in the Spanish colonial style. There are also small international cottages where visitors can get acquainted with the culture and traditions of 30 countries.

The San Diego Menagerie is considered one of the most progressive in the world. Its territory is home to 650 species of animals (more than 3,700 individuals). The history of the zoo began after an exhibition of exotic animals in 1915. Many owners simply abandoned their pets after the event ended. To save the animals, the city administration allocated a plot of land in Balboa Park.

The botanical garden unites several territories within its boundaries: the Japanese garden, the Alcazar garden, the children's ethnobotanical garden, the old cactus garden, the garden of friendship and many others. The local diversity of plants will amaze even flora connoisseurs: species were collected not only throughout North America, but were also imported from other regions of the world. There are greenhouses, artificial ponds and picturesque alleys.

Old Town is home to San Diego State Historic Park and Presidio Park. Here you can see what the first settlements of the colonists looked like, dine at one of the many Mexican restaurants and watch folklore performances. Tour buses with guides in historical costumes regularly run around the Old Town.

The exhibition is located on the territory of Balboa Park. The museum has several thematic sections dedicated to the aircraft of the First and Second World Wars, the “golden age of aviation,” modern space technology, as well as other achievements in the field of aviation. The museum has restoration workshops and a library with technical literature. Many exhibits are original, others are copies of aircraft.

The museum opened in 1948. Its exhibition consists of rare ships, each of which has its own unique history. Among the valuable items in the collection are “Star of India”, “Medea”, “Berkeley”, “The Californian”. In addition to ships, there is a variety of marine equipment. The main goal of the museum team is to preserve the maritime heritage of the United States in general and the city of San Diego in particular.

The monument is located on the Point Loma Peninsula. It represents the figure of the Spanish navigator J.R. Cabrillo, who arrived on the shores of Colorado in 1542 and founded the first settlement here. The monument was created in 1939 by the Portuguese sculptor Alvaro de Brey. Near the statue there is a convenient observation deck from which you can admire panoramic views of the city and the bay.

The sculpture made of polystyrene foam and aluminum depicts a sailor and a nurse kissing. The original sculpture was created by the American artist S. Johnson based on a photograph by A. Eisenstadt taken in New York on the day of Japan’s surrender. For many Americans, this famous photo symbolized the end of World War II. Johnson's sculpture is very popular among tourists.

The park is dedicated to the inhabitants of the world's oceans. Its history began in 1964 with the opening of a restaurant with a corresponding theme. The management then decided to create an entertainment area for their clients and purchased sea animals. Literally in the first year of the park’s existence, several hundred thousand visitors visited it. A large number of entertainment shows are held here, involving dolphins, fur seals and whales.

An amusement park in the beach area, created in 1925 by tycoon D. Spreckels. The old carousels from the turn of the century, such as the roller coaster and the “giant scoop,” are still preserved here, but the most interesting for visitors are the new attractions. Belmont also has a swimming pool where swimming competitions are regularly held, a grill bar with a concert venue, and a sports club.

A baseball arena that is home to the San Diego Padres. The stadium was built in 2004 to replace the old Qualcomm-stadium. If a tourist manages to get to the game, he will be able to fully enjoy baseball, as well as the atmosphere that reigns here during the competition. Most spectators don't even look at what's happening on the field. They are passionate about talking to each other and eating burgers.

The church was founded in 1769 by a monk from Spain, Junipero Serra. By 1862 it was already in ruins. Slow restoration of the temple continued until the 1930s. In 1941, San Diego de Alcalá became a parish church. It still exists in this status. In 1976, Pope Paul VI visited the temple. The mission is designated a US National Historic Landmark.

A military cemetery where American soldiers have been buried since the 18th century. The green lawns of the necropolis are strewn with even rows of modest graves with identical white headstones. The place evokes philosophical thoughts. Here you can wander in silence and think about the eternal under the measured roar of the ocean waves. There is an active American Army base next to the cemetery.

The bay is located in the northwestern part of the city. Translated from Spanish, its name means “jewel.” The bay consists of sandy beaches, caves and rocks. In one part of the coast, fur seals set up a rookery, which attracts a large number of visitors. In the bay there is a residential area of ​​the same name, which is considered one of the most prestigious in San Diego.

A picturesque area covered with rocky plateaus, a favorite place for migrating sea birds. Coyotes, skunks, foxes and raccoons are also found here. Sometimes from the shore you can see huge whales frolicking in the ocean waters. The coastal zone of the reserve was chosen by local nudists. Torrey Pines offers biking and hiking trails for tourists.

The lighthouse stands on the peninsula of the same name. It was built in the middle of the 19th century, but due to its not entirely favorable location, it was closed by the end of the century (constant fogs obscured the light emanating from the lighthouse and ships could not see it). Today, the building houses a museum exhibition where you can see the original furnishings, as well as historical maps and documents.

The San Diego Bay Bridge is not only a recognizable symbol of the city, but also an important transport artery. It was built in 1969. Its construction cost almost $50 million. The length of the structure is about 3.5 km, it stands on 27 concrete supports. Some of them reach a height of 60 meters. Thanks to the impressive size of the structure, large ships can easily sail under the bridge.

San Diego is often called the city of beaches and parks, as it stretches for miles along the coastline. In total there are more than 30 beaches suitable for swimming. The most popular and visited are Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Coronado, Torrey Pines and La Jolla. The ocean warms up to a comfortable temperature by mid-May and begins to cool by the end of August.

San Diego, California, is a large city located in the southeastern United States. This city is the southernmost point of the state of California. San Diego is also considered a popular tourist destination in the United States. In addition, it is one of the oldest cities in the United States of America. There is everything you need to relax in comfort: the Pacific coast, attractions and historical monuments, beautiful landscapes, a well-developed network of restaurants and hotels.

Let's take a closer look at what to see in San Diego, and also consider the climatic features and nature of this city and its surroundings.

San Diego: Wikipedia (San-Diego)

San Diego is considered the second most populous city in the state of California, second only to Los Angeles. It is also one of the ten largest cities in the United States of America. San Diego ranks 9th on this list.

Where is San Diego? The city is located on Pacific coast of the southwestern United States near the Mexican border. San Diego is home to more than 1.3 million people. If we take into account all the suburbs, the population is about 3 million people. San Diego ranks 17th on the list of all US cities by population. It is also the oldest city on the entire West Coast of the United States.

The city was founded in 1769 by the inhabitants of Spain, although Europeans were in this territory earlier, starting in the 16th century. San Diego officially became part of America in 1848. Despite the fact that the city is located near the Mexican border, relatively few Latinos live here - 30% of the total population. Most residents are white.

San Diego, California attractions

Museums

• Sea World Theme Park. This place is dedicated to the inhabitants of the deep sea. In 1964, a restaurant on the same theme was first opened here. But the restaurant management decided to create an entertainment area for its guests and purchased inhabitants of the seas and oceans. Literally in the first year, several hundred thousand people visited this park. Currently, it hosts many entertaining shows featuring marine animals, including dolphins, fur seals and even whales.
• . This sculpture represents a nurse and a sailor kissing. The author of this unusual monument is the American artist S. Johnson based on a photograph by A. Eisenstadt, which was taken in New York on the day of Japan’s surrender. This photo for many became a symbol of the end of World War II. The sculpture is very popular among tourists.
• Cabrillo National Monument. This landmark can be seen on the Point Loma Peninsula. The monument is made in the form of the figure of the Spanish navigator J.R. Cabrillo, who sailed to the shores of Colorado in 1542.
• Old Town San Diego. Old Town is home to the famous San Diego State Historic Park and Presidio Park. Here you can see what the first settlements of the colonists looked like. Tourists can grab a bite to eat at one of the many local restaurants serving Mexican cuisine, and also enjoy folk performances. There are frequent excursion buses here, where guides in historical costumes will tell the story of the Old Town.
• Point Loma. A navigator from Spain, H.R., landed on this peninsula in 1542. Carbillo. It was in his honor that a monument was erected on the southern cape of the peninsula in 1939. Next to the monument there is an observation deck, which offers a beautiful panoramic view of the San Diego Bay, as well as the entire city. There is another interesting attraction here - the lighthouse, which was built in the mid-19th century. Currently, there is a museum inside the lighthouse. A walking trail has been laid out on the peninsula especially for tourists.
• Balboa Park. The size of San Diego City Park even exceeds the size of Central Park in New York. On its territory there are 15 museums, 4 theaters, a zoo and several thematic gardens. Most of the buildings here were built at the beginning of the 20th century in the Spanish colonial style. There are also small international cottages in the park, where tourists can get a closer look at the traditions and culture of 30 countries.
• . About 650 species of different animals live on the territory of this zoo. The zoo has existed since 1915, after the establishment of an exhibition of exotic animals. Many owners simply left their pets after the end of this exhibition. In order to save the animals, the city administration allocated a small area for a zoo in Balboa Park.
• Botanical Garden in Balboa Park. This garden combines several areas: the Japanese garden, the Alcazar garden, the garden of friendship, the children's ethnobotanical garden and many others. It contains a wide variety of plants not only from all over North America, but also from other parts of the world. Tourists can admire greenhouses, artificial ponds and picturesque alleys.

Climate and nature of San Diego

• Climatic features

City of San Diego located in the subtropical zone. The city's weather fully corresponds to the climate of the subtropical zone. It is very hot here during the summer months. Summer is long and dry. The average daily temperature in August is about 32 degrees. Since San Diego has a typical Mediterranean climate, autumn and spring are not clearly defined here. As for winter, it is quite mild and short. The tourist peak occurs from the beginning of July to the end of October. At this time, any traveler can enjoy a wonderful beach holiday and get a lot of impressions.

• Nature

The city of San Diego is located between the Cordillera Mountains and the Pacific coast. That is why the flora and fauna here is typical Mediterranean. Walking along the local beaches, you can see Amazon parrots, brown pelicans and California condors, which fly to the very mountain peaks. Every tourist in San Diego can sunbathe under the scorching sun or lie in the shade of tall palm trees. This area is distinguished by its long coastline.

That is why many surfers from all over the world come here every year. It is also worth noting that surfing is very popular in the winter season.

Sights of San Diego

It's only a couple of hours drive from Santa Monica to San Diego. This weekend we went there.

San Diego is a southern city in California that sits right on the Pacific Ocean and borders Mexico. And next to the city itself is Coronado Island; to get to it, you need to drive across a huge high bridge, from which a magnificent view opens: the port, tall buildings, the blue ocean and white sailboats (look at the photos under the article?).

Coronado Island

Coronado Island is very green: everything here is filled with palms, trees and flowers. The streets are full of cafes and souvenir shops, along which tourists in shorts and flip-flops walk, enjoying themselves in the warm sun.

Coronado Island's main attraction is the Hotel Del Coronado, an old hotel that is a major attraction for both the island and the city of San Diego. Hotel Del Coronado looks like a summer fairytale castle with many white balconies and windows under a red roof. It’s true that age is taking its toll, the building looks light, wooden, old and you really want to whitewash it? But inside the hotel is very cool, as if you are in an old movie. Heavy brown furniture, twilight, flowers in large vases and beautiful chandeliers. Anyone can easily enter the hotel right through the main entrance and take a photo on the ground floor in the lobby (and if you don’t know what this hotel is famous for and why tourists come to it, then let me remind you that the excellent American comedy film “On Jazz” was filmed here only girls" with Marilyn Monroe!).

What surprised me was that there was a vegetable garden next to the Hotel Del Coronado! Are there lavender, mint, strawberries and other plants growing right behind the hedge? I don’t know what this is for, I never had time to look at everything properly, but it’s very original.

Well, the best attraction is, of course, Coronado Beach. Wide light sandy beach and blue ocean waves! Very beautiful view! The sand here turned out to be lighter than ours in Santa Monica (ours is more yellow). And what’s strange is that the beach looked completely wild, and not a beach on the territory of a large and famous hotel. No crowds, umbrellas, sun loungers or sellers of pies and ice cream. There are huge stones on the beach, wild grass and flowers grow along the sand. Nobody swam, although it was warm. Maybe the water was cold or the waves were strong... But there were very few sunbathers. But so much the better, you could calmly walk along the ocean and take photographs.

We went to some fish cafe for a snack; my sister chose it on the Internet based on reviews. The cafe turned out to be on a quiet street and we were generally the only ones in it. At first they were even scared, suspicious! But it turned out all the better: we sat, chatted, rested in silence, ate (very edible) and went back to San Diego itself. ?

Seaport Village

The attractions of San Diego (California) attract with their diversity. Our first stop was Seaport Village. This is a “village” with a bunch of small shops, fountains, music, benches and crowds of tourists. I really liked it here, it’s cozy, green, and going to such souvenir shops is much more interesting than ordinary ones, although in most cases they sell everything the same: cups, T-shirts, key chains, etc.

But in this Seaport Village I wandered into a very interesting store with tiles - gift ones! This store sold a huge variety of tiles with inscriptions, drawings, pictures and wishes (just like postcards). An excellent gift and souvenir, and most importantly unusual. And I bought myself one with a picture of a basket of apples and the inscription Stacy`s Kitchen ( Stasina Kitchen). Now this tile weighs honorably in my kitchen in a niche between the cabinets!

And in this port “village” we found an old Penny Machine, which presses coins and squeezes out a souvenir inscription on them. Place a 50-cent quarter and a 1-cent coin into the special slots. You push them into the machine, choose which inscription to squeeze out (there were 5 inscriptions to choose from, but we chose the classic San Diego) and voila - done! A coin coin from San Diego? The photo is also in the gallery below.

Also next to the Seaport Village there is the port itself (which is logical?), where huge ships stand like local attractions, one of which even had a cafe. True, we looked at all this from the car window and decided not to stop, because if we had walked around here too, we wouldn’t have had enough energy for the center of San Diego itself (our female team outweighed us, but the male gender would obviously be interested there? ).

Gaslamp Street

Well, in San Diego you need to go to DownTown on Gaslamp Quarter. This street is also called the Heart of San Diego; it is one of the first streets from which the city began to grow. For some reason, Gaslamp Quarter reminded us of New York with its houses; there is something very similar. There are also many bars, shops, cafes.
What was also surprising was that there are no traffic lights in the center. Cars stop at the Stop strip and pedestrians cross the road. And they cross without fear, just as they walked along the sidewalk, so they continue along the intersection. Many people cross the road anywhere, take it and turn. None of the poles have my favorite button that must be pressed to change the traffic light. In general, freedom for pedestrians! ?
But the most interesting time of the street with lanterns is the evening. The entire nightlife of San Diego is in full swing right here, because bars, including those with live music, will be at every turn. These are the real attractions of San Diego! ?

In general, we wandered along Lantern Street, went to a cupcake bakery, ate sweets, drank coffee and drove back to Los Angeles. This is where our first trip came to an end, although there are a lot of interesting things left in San Diego: Legoland, Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo and Water World, the embankment and a pretty downtown, the cutest fur seals and much more, which I will definitely tell you about in other articles! ?Check out the section.

San Diego, California, is one of the largest cities in the United States, ranking 9th in the ranking. Located in the southwestern United States, bordering Mexico. San Diego is one of the oldest cities on the West Coast. The date of its foundation is considered to be 1769.

San Diego city map

Story

The early 20th century was a turning point in San Diego's history due to the basing of the United States Navy. For a long time, the Port of San Diego was considered the busiest military port in the world. The Port of Coronado is home to many warships and submarines, including several aircraft carriers. The emergence of a military base led to the development of military-related industries, such as defense, shipbuilding and aerospace production.

However, over the past decades the situation has changed significantly. Many military programs were curtailed, which led to economic diversification. Currently, the main areas of activity are: tourism, agriculture and biotechnology development, military production and shipbuilding, development and production of electronic and software, development of telecommunications, financial and business services.

Population composition

It should be noted that, despite its proximity to the Mexican border, the Hispanic population of San Diego is only 27%, African Americans - 7%, Asians - 15%.

Climate

San Diego is rightfully considered one of the best cities in the United States of America. One of the reasons for this opinion is the excellent climatic conditions. More than 200 days a year the air temperature exceeds 21°C, which gave the city second place in the ranking of the best weather of the year. Summer is dry, mostly without precipitation, winter is mild.

Tourism

The attractiveness of San Diego as a tourism destination is due to several factors. These include: a wonderful climate, excellent condition of the beaches, comfortable water temperature, the unusualness of Spanish-Mexican customs and traditions, as well as a variety of attractions. We list the main ones:

1. San Diego Zoo. Known for the diversity of its fauna (approximately 4,000 animals on an area of ​​more than 40 hectares), one of the largest in the world.

2. Wild animal park. Known for safari tours, which provide the opportunity to observe animals in their natural habitat.
3. Balboa Park in San Diego. The park is the largest cultural park in the United States, as it has many cultural and educational institutions. This park reflects the spirit of San Diego and is recognized as one of the most romantic parks in the United States.

4. Sea World amusement park, one of the main attractions of the city, is dedicated to the ocean and its inhabitants.

5. La Jolla area in San Diego. La Jolla is rightfully considered the pearl of San Diego, as it combines the best hotels, restaurants and the most beautiful landscapes for which San Diego is famous.

This is not a complete list of attractions in San Diego. However, it is impossible not to note that this city is famous not only for its masterpieces of art, but also for its natural beauty.

Naturally, the uniqueness of the attractions and the mild climate are the main factors in the attractiveness of San Diego for tourists. However, ethnic characteristics also played an important role.