San Diego travel guide

Gem of the Ring of Fire

A virtual gem of the Pacific Ring of Fire, San Diego stands out for its diversity of attractions and natural beauty. The eighth-largest city in the United States, with a population of around 1.2 million, San Diego is a center for business in biotechnology and the computer industry; academic life, with a plethora of colleges and universities; the military, with Coast Guard, Marine, and naval bases; as well as leisure and tourism. Bordering Mexico at Tijuana, San Diego has a diverse cultural heritage, which spices up an already exciting menu of attractions to this lovely coastal city. Its port has the largest ship yard on the west coast, hosting international passenger and cargo liners. Then there is the semi-arid climate, making it mild and sunny most of the year, with a few months of winter rain and fog in early summer -- "June gloom," as the locals call it. Locals as well as tourists line the lovely beaches for a variety of water sports including surfing, skin diving, scuba diving, wind surfing, and sailing. Some of the best waves in California are found at the various beaches which line the coast to the north, including Black's Beach. Public transportation in the downtown area, including a state-of-the-art trolley that goes directly to the Tijuana border, is excellent for getting to a variety of world-renowned tourist attractions: the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Old Town, the Gaslamp Quarter, replete with clubs, theaters, restaurants, and shops at Horton Plaza, Balboa Park, and the Harbor. Transportation by car is recommended for visiting the various beach towns.