California's Best Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

RICHARD CUMMINS / GETTY IMAGES ©

San Diego View of the city from Coronado

GENE BLEVINS / CORBIS ©

SAN DIEGO

San Diegans shamelessly promote their hometown as ‘America’s Finest City.’ Smug?

Maybe, but it’s easy to see why. The weather is idyllic, with coastal high temperatures

hovering around 72°F year-round. Wander the museums and gardens of Balboa Park,

laze on the beaches, then party in the Gaslamp Quarter after dark.

Getting Around

Driving is how most people

get around. MTS has a

metro-area network of

buses, trolleys and trains

(one-way fare $2.25 or $2.50,

day pass $5) with limited

night and weekend services.

Taxi meters start at $2.20,

plus $2.30 per mile.

Parking

Street parking is crowded.

Meters take mostly coins;

central pay stations accept

coins or cards. Valet

parking, public lots and

garages downtown cost

from $10. Overnight hotel

parking runs $20 to $40.

Where to Eat

Hit the Gaslamp Quarter

for creative cuisine,

Hillcrest for casual ethnic

and fusion eats, and beach

towns for seafood and

microbrews. Mexican food

and the city’s famous fi sh

tacos are everywhere.

Where to Stay

Boutique and luxury

hotels are downtown and

in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Old Town and inland

Mission Valley have chain

hotels and motels. Beach

towns nearby kid-friendly

attractions have the

biggest range of lodgings,

from Coronado north to

Carlsbad.

Useful Websites

San Diego.org (www.

sandiego.org) City’s offi cial

tourism site for trip planning

and events.

San Diego Reader (www.

sandiegoreader.com) Nightlife,

arts, entertainment and events

calendar.

Lonely Planet (www.

lonelyplanet.com/usa/

san-diego) Travel tips, hotel

reservations and travelers’

forums.

Trips Through

San Diego: 11 rsrs

For more, check out our

city and country guides.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com

arlsblsbad.ad.

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