The best place to live in the United States is the city of San Diego, which is shrouded in the Pacific Ocean from the west, limited to Mexico in the south and located in California. San Diego, one of the oldest cities on the west coast of the United States, was opened in 1542 by navigator Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and received official status in 1769 by the Franciscans.
Summer time in San Diego is favorable for sea outings and swimming in the ocean, the ocean waves on some days are so big that they attract many surfers to the coast. The main beaches of San Diego are: Torrey Pines, located near the nature reserve, and nudist – south of Del Mar.
In addition to sandy beaches, the city has other attractions, such as: Balboa Park, which houses a large number of botanical gardens, museums, as well as the famous San Diego Zoo, which is home to about four thousand different species of animals; the city symphony orchestra, two opera houses, one of which presents on its stage productions of the famous English playwright William Shakespeare. San Diego is home to the largest institute of oceanography, and in addition, the city is famous for its cuisine, in particular, the preparation of dishes from sea creatures.
An interesting place for cognitive excursions will be the Point Loma peninsula, in the middle of the 16th century the team of the famous navigator H. R. Cabrillo landed on its territory. Not so long ago, a monument was erected on the peninsula in honor of this symbolic event, it is a single complex with an observation deck.
A beautiful ancient lighthouse, which was built in the middle of the 19th century, has been preserved on the peninsula, and today an interesting museum is located within its walls.
There are also interesting religious sites in the city, including the ancient church of San Diego de Alcalá. It was founded in 1769 by a Spanish monk, but in the second half of the 19th century the church fell into disrepair and was almost completely destroyed. It was not until 1930 that it was completely restored, today the ancient church is considered a historical monument of national importance. Many of its elements have been recreated in exact accordance with the original, including massive wooden doors and shutters on the windows.
Nature lovers in San Diego are offered interesting excursions to the Torrey Pines Nature Reserve, which occupies a vast coastal area. This reserve is not distinguished by the abundance of beautiful plants, although rare representatives of the flora are also found here. Its main value is seabirds, the observation of which remains a favorite pastime of tourists. During a walk in the reserve you can meet raccoons and foxes, and the most dangerous inhabitants of these places are coyotes. The park is notable for its spectacular geological formations, at certain times of the year from its coastal zones you can watch whales
The most recognizable symbol of San Diego can be called the Coronado Bridge, its construction was completed in 1969. The length of this bridge is 3,500 meters, for which 27 strongest concrete supports were built, the height of which reaches 60 meters. The bridge is quite high, so even large ships can easily sail under it. From the shores of San Diego Bay you can take great photos of this landmark. A great way to get acquainted with the historical past of the city will be a walk around the Old Town, there are many buildings of colonial times. Popular shops, restaurants and entertainment venues now operate in the historic district. San Diego is a popular tourist city that attracts lovers of active entertainment and excursions. The city has a variety of attractions, among which one of the brightest is the ancient ship “Star of India”. Having traveled around the world, today the ship is under the care of a team of volunteers. Vacationers have the opportunity to look into the cabins of the ship, the main decoration of which are old photos. The city is home to the oldest church in California, the Basilica of San Diego di Alcala was founded in 1769. During its history, it has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt from ruins. In 1775 the church was destroyed by protesting locals, and in 1803 it was severely damaged by the elements. Through the efforts of architects, the basilica was completely restored and today appears to travelers in all its glory. One of the most mysterious sights is the Victorian mansion of Montezuma. Built in 1887, it belonged to the famous musician and medium Jesse Sheppard, and many legends and beliefs are associated with the ancient mansion. Currently, it is a permanent venue for musical evenings, and it also hosts festive events for Christmas. There are dozens of museums in San Diego. Those who are not indifferent to painting will definitely like the Michael Wolf Art Gallery. It presents works by artists from around the world, and the gallery will be interesting for both serious collectors and curious travelers. The San Diego Champions Hall is located in the picturesque garden. This is an interesting museum dedicated to the sporting achievements of the locals.
San Diego is a real find for those who like to visit colorful amusement parks, go shopping and spend nights at noisy discos. One of the most popular holiday destinations for tourists is Balboa Park, it is one of the most beautiful city parks in the country. The area of the park is more than 1,200 acres, on its territory there are a dozen museums, an excellent zoo, important architectural and historical sites. Those who come on holiday with children should definitely visit the San Diego Zoo.
It differs not only by its impressive scale and large collection of animals, but also by its fabulously beautiful design. In total, the zoo has an area of 40 hectares inhabited by about four thousand animals, among which there are quite rare. Visitors to the zoo have a unique opportunity to admire it from a bird’s eye view, there is a suspension road over the park.
For those who want to get acquainted with the diversity of the inhabitants of the underwater world, it is worth visiting the amusement park SeaWorld. Its location is a beautiful bay, the park was opened in 1964. In addition to a huge collection of sea animals, SeaWorld Park can offer its guests an original entertainment program, the park has attractions and playgrounds for children of all ages. Visitors to the park will be able to visit a fascinating tour, see rare sea animals, visit killer whale shows and swim in the pool with dolphins.
Hiking and unusual activities are recommended for visiting Anza Borrego Desert State Park, which is located in the immediate vicinity of San Diego. It is a vast desert oasis, with a huge number of hiking trails. During the tour, vacationers will be able to admire the huge cacti and appreciate the diversity of local fauna, and travelers have the opportunity to go horseback riding in the desert.
San Diego is considered one of the best cities in the world for family vacations, a significant part of its attractions is focused on vacationers with children. The main attraction is the local San Diego Zoo, an incredibly beautiful and interesting place where animals from all over the world gather. This zoo is considered one of the best in the world, it impresses with its scale and beautiful landscaping. In addition to getting to know the inhabitants of the wild world, visitors can visit the interesting theater, where they hold original performances, and the zoo is equipped with many playgrounds and attractions for children.
