Sightseeing in San Diego - what to see. Complete travel guide

San Diego is the best place to live in the US. The city neighbors with Pacific Ocean on the west, with Mexico on the south, and is located in California. San Diego is one of the oldest cities on the west bank of the United States. It was established in 1542 by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. San Diego got the official status of the city in 1769 by the Franciscans.

Summer time in San Diego is great for marine rides and swimming in the ocean. Sometimes the oceanic waves are so big that they attract many surfers to the coast. The main beaches of San Diego are Torrey Pines located near a natural reserve, as well as some nudist beaches located south of the town named Del Mar.

There are also some other attractions on the territory of the city besides sandy beaches. These are Balboa Park, which features a large number of botanical gardens, several museums and the internationally famous San Diego Zoo that is home to approximately four thousands of different types of animals. You may also enjoy visiting City Symphony Orchestra and two opera houses, one of which traditionally organizes plays of the famous English writer William Shakespeare. The largest institute of oceanography is also located in San Diego. Besides this the city is famous for its cooking, especially for dishes made of seafood. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

An interesting place for sightseeing tours will be Point Loma Peninsula. It was on its territory that the crew of the famous seafarer H. R. Cabrillo landed in the middle of the 16th century. Not so long ago, a monument was erected on the peninsula in honor of this symbolic event. It forms a single complex with a viewing platform. There is also an old beautiful lighthouse, built in the middle of the 19th century. Nowadays, it houses an interesting museum.

There are excellent religious sites in the city, among which is the old church of San Diego de Alcalá. It was founded in 1769 by a Spanish monk. However, already in the second half of the 19th century the church came to desolation and was almost completely destroyed. Only by 1930, it was completely restored. Today, the ancient church is considered a historical monument of national importance. Many of its elements including massive wooden doors and shutters on the windows have been recreated in strict accordance with the original.

Lovers of nature are offered exciting tours to the Torri Pines Reserve. It occupies a vast coastal area of San Diego. This reserve is not distinguished by the abundance of beautiful plants. However, rare species of flora are found here, as well. Its main value is seabirds, monitoring of which remains a favorite entertainment for tourists. While walking through the reserve, you can meet raccoons and foxes. Coyotes are the most dangerous inhabitants of these places. The park is remarkable for its spectacular geological formations. At certain times of the year, whales can be observed from its coastal zones.

The Coronado Bridge is the most recognizable symbol of San Diego. Its construction was completed in 1969. The length of the bridge is 3500 meters. 27 strong concrete supports at least 60 meters high were built for it. The bridge is quite high, so even large ships can easily swim under it. From the banks of San Diego Bay you can make excellent photos of this landmark.

An excellent way to get acquainted with the historical past of the city is a walk around the Old Town. Many colonial buildings survived there. Currently, the historic district delights with popular shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.