San Diego From A to Z

Feb 14, 2006 3:17 PM

A is for AEROSPACE. Visitors to the San Diego Aerospace Museum can replicate the Wright brothers’ historic flight at Kitty Hawk by manning the controls of a thrilling flight simulator.

B is for BALBOA PARK. The nation’s largest urban cultural park is home to 15 museums, 12 gardens, and the world famous San Diego Zoo.

C is for CALENDAR. For a complete listing of events in and around the city, the San Diego Official Major Events Calendar is a valuable planning resource found at www.sandiego.org.

D is for DIVERSITY. From the Spanish and Mexican roots of Old Town San Diego to lively Little Italy, the city offers Southern California coastal charm with a cosmopolitan flair.

E is for EMBARCADERO. Downtown’s bustling waterfront is where to find bay cruises, Seaport Village and the Maritime Museum of San Diego, the USS Midway/San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum, and the 140-year-old Star of India clipper ship.

F is for FERRY LANDING MARKETPLACE. Coronado’s bay front shopping and dining complex awaits passengers disembarking the ferries departing frequently from San Diego’s Broadway Pier.

G is for GAMING. San Diego offers eight casinos within 45 minutes of downtown.

H is for HARBOR CRUISE. Whether you choose a one-hour narrated bay tour or a dinner cruise at sunset, seeing San Diego’s spectacular cityscape from the water is a memorable experience.

I is for INTERNATIONAL. San Diego International Airport is serviced by more than 20 airlines, including service between Canada and Mexico.

J is for JEWEL. The sophisticated yet friendly oceanfront town of La Jolla (Spanish for “The Jewel”) is an elegant enclave of shops, restaurants, and galleries.

K is for KAYAK. Adventurous visitors will enjoy guided kayak tours of sea caves in the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, home to seals, sea lions, and dolphins.

L is for LUXURIOUS. From elegant boutique hotels to large and lavish resorts, luxurious accommodations abound for meetings and incentives.

M is for MOZART. Musical performances, dance events, street fairs, gallery exhibitions, and concerts are marking the city’s yearlong celebration of the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth in elegant and unusual settings.

N is for NTC PROMENADE. The renovation of 26 historic buildings is transforming the former Naval Training Center into San Diego’s newest arts, culture, science, and technology district.

O is for OLD TOWN STATE HISTORIC PARK. A six-block area of buildings dating to the 1800s, with quaint shops and restaurants, celebrates the flavors of Mexico.

P is for PADRES. Baseball lovers can enjoy a San Diego Padres game at downtown’s new 42,000-seat stadium, PETCO Park.

Q is for QUALITY. The city’s scenery, sunshine, safety, affordability, accessibility, and variety add up to quality and value for budgets large and small.

R is for RECREATION. San Diego is a recreational paradise offering a spectrum of pursuits ranging from surfing, mountain biking, and boating to more leisurely options, including swimming, strolling, and spa treatments.

S is for SHOPPING. From downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, and Horton Plaza to the boutiques of La Jolla, Del Mar, and Carlsbad, San Diego offers shops for every interest and budget.

T is for TOURS. Organized tours of area attractions include harbor cruises, day trips to Mexico, whalewatching excursions, wine tasting in Temecula, and casino outings.

U is for U.S. PACIFIC FLEET. Sixty ships, more than a third of the fleet’s total, are based in San Diego and can be viewed on one of the city’s many bay cruises.

V is for VISUAL ARTS. Museums abound throughout the city, showing off works in a diverse array of fields, from maritime, aerospace, and natural history to contemporary art, railroads, science, and photography.

W is for WEATHER. With abundant sunshine, mild temperatures, and refreshing ocean breezes, San Diego is a destination for all seasons.

X is XENOPHOBIA. The fear of strangers is what visitors won’t find in friendly San Diego.

Y is for YACHT. For a memorable special event, dining on a chartered yacht while enjoying views of the bay and city is sure to make an impression.

Z is for ZINNIA. The city’s bountiful profusion of foliage and flowers is one of its most attractive features.