California's Relaxed, Sun-Soaked Southern Coast
San Diego is a coastal city in Southern California, in the United States, known for its mild year-round climate, long beaches and a famously laid-back outlook. Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo landed here in 1542, and the city's mission and Old Town heritage tell the story of its early history. Today it is a city of waterfront neighbourhoods, a major naval harbour and one of California's most welcoming places to spend a week.
Balboa Park is the cultural centrepiece: its Spanish Colonial Revival buildings date from the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and now house more than a dozen museums, gardens and stages, alongside the San Diego Zoo. Across the bay, Coronado is home to the Hotel del Coronado, a red-roofed Victorian landmark opened in 1888, and a beach regularly rated among the best in the country. The USS Midway Museum, moored on the downtown waterfront, gives a vivid look at naval aviation.
La Jolla, Fish Tacos and Coastal Trails
La Jolla Cove is a crescent of cliffs and clear water where sea lions rest on the rocks and snorkellers glide through a protected marine reserve. Nearby, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve holds rare coastal pines above sandy cliffs, with trails that reveal the Pacific from above. Pacific Beach and Mission Beach offer boardwalks, surf and beach volleyball, while the Gaslamp Quarter delivers a lively evening scene in restored Victorian buildings. Little Italy and Liberty Station add food markets and creative kitchens.
San Diego's table is a celebration of fresh produce and the sea. Fish tacos, California burritos, sea urchin and locally caught seafood feature on many menus, and the craft beer scene is among the best known in the country. Close to Mexico's culture, the city's Baja-influenced cooking is a signature. For a hotel group, the combination of resort, beachfront and downtown stays gives guests a spread of options, and Los Cabos offers a natural extension for Pacific-minded travellers.
Read the full San Diego guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitSanDiego.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.