» San Diego Travel Directory
» San Diego Hotel Reservations

San Diego's Night Sky1

San Diego is the second largest metropolitan area in California. Ideally situated on the sun-soaked southwest Californian coastline and 20 minutes from the city of Tijuana, San Diego boasts plenty of internationally famous attractions and historical sites and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the southern United States. San Diego is home to vast beaches, the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Balboa Park and plenty of museums, parks and a bumping nightlife. Scuba diving, whale-watching, surfing, and hang-gliding are just a few of the many things to do during a stay in the San Diego region.

The city was established in 1769 by the first Spanish religious mission to California and was incorporated as a city in 1850. During World War II, the city saw massive expansion as the military industrial complex started to set up shop. Currently, this cultural hub and mecca of commerce has a population of 1.2 million people.

USEFUL ACCOMMODATION LINKS

• San Diego Accommodations Guide – This provides links to the accommodation guide for San Diego. It is categorized into hotels and motels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, extended stay suites, conference centers and more.
  
• Map of San Diego – This is an interactive map of San Diego and the surrounding area.
  
• Book Accommodations Online – This allows users to securely find and book accommodations online.

ORIENTATION AND CLIMATE

The urban center itself has deep canyons running through it, scattering the area's mesas amidst low-lying parkland. The historical Gaslamp District is located in downtown San Diego. Balboa Park is situated just to the north. The Mission, Ocean and Pacific beaches lay on the west shoreline and reach farther up the coast into the mainland. The upscale community of La Jolla is located just north of Pacific Beach, and Mount Soledad, a large hill in La Jolla, overlooks downtown San Diego and the Mexican flatlands beyond the boarder.

The region receives warm, mild weather all year round and little precipitation. The median monthly temperature ranges from 57ºF (14ºC) in January to 72ºF (22°C) in July during the summer months. San Diego's cerulean skies rarely experience cloudiness, apart from the heavy fog the city experiences occasionally during May and June. Snow and ice are extremely rare in San Diego and excellent road conditions prevail throughout the year.

ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION

	San Diego's Downtown Trolley2

San Diego is a major port city and is easily accessible from anywhere in the world. The San Diego International Airport is located only ten minutes away from the downtown core. The city is also serviced by the Amtrak Railway connected to Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. A limited three-line trolley also services the city and spans downtown San Diego south toward the border. By car, the city and surrounding area is accessible by taking Interstate Highways 5, 8 and 15. However, traffic is usually backed up during daylight hours and parking in the beach communities can be quite sparse. Rental cars are available in droves. The city is also serviced by Greyhound who have a depot downtown. Multiple cruises also depart from the city's ports.

CITY DISTRICTS AND ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

Airport Area/Old Town/Hotel Circle
Directly north of the San Diego International Airport and across Interstate 5 is Old Town, the birthplace and most historical portion of the city. Attractions in the area are mostly of historical significance. The Sheriff's Museum, the Whaley House and an old-time schoolhouse are just some of the sights in the area drawing visitors into this district.

Old Town San Diego3

Old Town also contains a theater, which throws nightly dramatic stage performances and productions. The whole area is only 10 minutes from airport by car and provides a central launching point for visitors to the city. Fine dining and exquisite shopping can also be found in the general vicinity.

Old Town has been a major accommodation center for San Diego since the city's inception over 100 years ago. It offers plenty of chain and independent accommodations ranging from top-of-the-line to more affordable budget facilities. Best Western, Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn are just some of the many hotel chains that provide beds in the area. Budget stays are also available here at the Old Town Plaza Hotel.

The north of Old Town is the densely populated Hotel Circle area and the Riverwalk Golf Course. Scores of accommodations line this strip and provide visitors with countless options as to where they should stay. Again, many of the large chains have hotels along this strip. Some of the best options include the Travelodge Mission Valley with its close proximity to Presidio Park, the Extended Stay America for those looking for more than mere temporary lodgings, the luxurious Residence Inn by Mariott and more. The Ramada Plaza Hotel provides additional upscale accommodations in Hotel Circle.

Downtown

	Downtown San Diego on a Bright Day4

The downtown core is the epicenter of the city. Art galleries, museums, parks, shops, restaurants and accommodations can all be found downtown among the bustle of the city's busy inner core. Downtown contains the historical and ever popular Gaslamp District. A majority of the city's nightlife happens here in the dozens of bass-blasting nightclubs and in the area's many traditional public houses and bars. Some of the city's most popular restaurants are in this area as well.

Due to its historic nature, the Gaslamp District also boasts multiple museums that display the region's rich cultural past. Some of these include the William Heath Davis House Museum, the Children's Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art and an aircraft carrier museum. The Spreckels Theatre and the San Diego Civic Theatre provide nightly performance entertainment. Parking during the weekend can be difficult to find, so many people opt to take public transportation if they plan on visiting the Gaslamp quarter.

Downtown is where a majority of San Diego's hotels and inns are located. Here everything from first-class to budget accommodations are available. Horton Plaza and the surrounding boulevards are home to numerous luxury hotels such as the historic US Grant Hotel, which was built in 1910. South of Horton Plaza on Island Avenue, one will find the decadent Horton Grand Hotel with antiques and fireplaces in the guest rooms. Along F Street, is the Ivy Hotel with its jumping nightclub and fine restaurant.

Balboa Park
Just north of the Gaslamp Quarter is the enormous 1,200 acre (486 ha) cultural nexus known as Balboa Park. Unlike most parks, which mainly consist of large tracts of open land, Balboa Park and the surrounding area offer a complex arrangement of museums, shops, places to check out the local arts scene, restaurants and the gigantic San Diego Zoo, located on the northernmost portion of the park. It is also where the Old Globe Theatre, a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, is situated. Immense gardens and the Balboa Park Golf Course can also be found within its boundaries.

Plenty of accommodations can be found near the park and the San Diego Zoo. For those seeking luxury, the Sheraton Suites San Diego at Symphony Hall provides quick access to the Gaslamp district, downtown and Balboa Park. The Park Manor is situated just south of the park and offers beautiful antique furnishings in each room. Of course, being so close to downtown, dozens of the accommodations there also provide instant access to the park area.

Coronado, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach

San Diego Bay5

Coronado, a peninsula situated south of Ocean Beach, is an upscale community with a small population. It offers a wide range of activities and amenities and is still relatively close to San Diego's inland attractions. The neighborhood is also home to two golf courses and the famous Hotel del Coronado, a five-star luxury Victorian hotel built in 1888. It is the largest beach resort on the Pacific coast and has played host to numerous United States presidents. Folks not looking for something as lush as a five-star hotel, but who still want to stay on Coronado can check into the Coronado Island Mariott Resort or one of the other more contemporary lodgings on the peninsula.

Driving north along the coast will bring visitors to Ocean Beach, Mission Beach and then Pacific Beach respectively. This entire area is a favorite among tourists who flock to the oceanfront to lounge in the many restaurants, surf or swim in the brine or just truly experience the west coast in all its sun-drenched glory.

Ocean Beach doesn't have as many accommodation options as Mission and Pacific beaches, but it does offer some good surf and the Ocean Beach Hotel with its deluxe rooms and Mediterranean-style courtyard. The attractive feature of this hotel is its close proximity to the beach.

	Mission Beach and the Swell6

As Mission Beach is completely surrounded by water, it is popular among tourists and, as such, the area boasts plenty of hotels and rental properties. The Pacific Ocean lies to the west and Mission Bay's calmer waters sit on the east side of this narrow strip of land. Sea World, one of the city's largest attractions, is located on the southeast side of the bay. For beachfront luxury stays, many visitors opt for Bahia Resort Hotel, that offers full-service accommodations, an on-site restaurant and even rental cottages for those not looking to stay in a suite or studio. The Hyatt Regency San Diego Islandia offers spectacular views of the water and provides contemporary accommodations with a Pacific flare. All accommodations in Mission Beach provide near instant access to the Pacific Ocean and Sea World. The downtown core also is only a few moments away by car.

Pacific Beach is one of the most popular destinations in the city because of its sandy shores and good surf. Accordingly, it isn't difficult to find accommodations here. The Best Western Blue Sea Lodge offers affordable stays in contemporary quarters and stunning views of the frothy Pacific. The Catamaran Resort Hotel provides comfortable luxury accommodations and easy access to the area's fine dining, bars, cafés, shops and more.

La Jolla
Just north of Pacific Beach is the sunny seaside resort community of La Jolla. The area offers a mix of upscale restaurants, shops, beaches and specialty attractions. Mount Soledad is located within its boundaries, offering majestic views of the San Diego Valley below. La Jolla is also home to the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, the University of California San Diego and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

There are multiple options for those looking to stay in this affluent portion of the greater San Diego metropolis. Multiple chain accommodations offer a wide range of budget to deluxe luxury stays either directly on the beach or not far from it. The Holiday Inn, the Sheraton and the Hyatt Regency represent only a handful of the dozens of hotels and motels in the area. Bed and breakfasts are difficult, however, to find in La Jolla.

BED AND BREAKFASTS AND ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONS

San Diego is peppered with many alternative accommodation options. For those looking to experience a more homey stay in the city, one of the local bed and breakfasts can provide lodgings in a private residence. Rental properties, cabins and chalets also abound along the water's edge, especially in Mission Beach and the Mission Bay area. Campgrounds and RV parks can also be found throughout the city and most provide all the necessary hook-ups.

For travelers looking to save some money during their trip to San Diego, any one of the area's hostels can provide dorm-style accommodations and modest private rooms at a fraction of the rate hotels and inns are asking. Furthermore, they provide a venue for travelers to rub shoulders with folks from all over the world. Hostelling International San Diego, the Banana Bungalow Hostel and a few other organizations maintain youth hostels in the city. Many backpackers and travelers flock to the Hostelling International facility located right in the heart of the Gaslamp or the USA Hostels facility just down the road.

---

PHOTO COURTESY

1. Ted "Rufus" Ross; c/o Wikipedia Commons; San Diego's Night Sky; San Diego, CA, USA.
2. c/o Wikipedia Commons; San Diego's Trolley System; San Diego, CA, USA.
3. Glen Larson; c/o Wikipedia Commons; A Monument in Old Town; San Diego, CA, USA.
4. Ted "Rufus" Ross; San Diego's Night Sky; San Diego, CA, USA.
5. c/o Wikipedia Commons; San Diego Bay Reflects the Night; San Diego, CA, USA.
6. Mission Beach; San Diego, CA, USA.