With a subtropical climate and beautiful surroundings, San Diego is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in California. The city is located on the California coast, south of Los Angeles. San Diego is almost on the border with Mexico, near Tijuana.
Although California doesn’t immediately make you think of San Diego, it is seriously worth a visit to this southern city. The residents of the city affectionately call their hometown ‘America’s finest city’. With the Mediterranean climate, palm trees and an almost always pleasant temperature, it will certainly not be a punishment to live here!
Demographics
Along with Tijuana on the other side of the border, San Diego forms an urban area where millions of people live. San Diego alone has more than 1.3 million inhabitants and can call itself the eighth largest city in the country. In the north the city borders Orange County and in the south the Mexican border. The ocean is west of the city and just east is the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
History
The original inhabitants of the area where San Diego is located was formerly the land of the Indian tribes who lived in the border area with Mexico. The first settlers to enter the San Diego area were the Spaniards in the fifteenth century. They claimed the area and called it San Miguel.
Later, in the early seventeenth century, Sebastián Vizaíno, a Spanish explorer and diplomat, was sent through Spain. He explored the area and named it after Saint Didactus, known in Spanish as San Diego. In the years that followed, Spanish missionaries established a Franciscan settlement here called Misión San Diego. It fell under Mexican control after New Spain seceded from Spain and it wasn’t until 1850, after the Mexican-American War, that it was in the hands of the US and San Diego officially became a city.
In the early twentieth century, the city hosted the World Expo twice, in 1915 and again twenty years later. In the world famous Balboa Park all kinds of houses have been built in Baroque style for these exhibitions.
Today
San Diego’s economy consists primarily of agriculture, telecommunications, and biotechnology. Tourism is also an important source of income for the city. The city can be divided into a number of different districts. You have the downtown area, the Gaslamp Quarter and the famous Balboa park. This park is the showpiece of the city with truly beautiful gardens, colonial buildings and of course the famous San Diego Zoo. So you should definitely not miss Balboa Park when you are in San Diego!
Sea world
After the Second World War they started tackling the coast of San Diego. Amusement parks were built and beaches and hiking trails were built. This is also San Diego’s most famous attraction: Sea World. Our Dolphinarium can still suck on this!
Here you can watch spectacular shows with sea lions and orcas every day. You can not imagine whether these beautiful animals can do it. Looking for a fun challenge? Then walk for a day with the dolphin trainers of Sea world for just under five hundred dollars. If this is a bit too expensive for you, it is also possible for a mere hundred euros to get a step closer to the marine animals of the park and get acquainted with the walruses, belugas and even polar bears. An unforgettable experience!
The Orange County
On your way to San Diego you will pass the coast of Orange County. This beautiful part of California is known for the famous Disneyland theme park that has provided the necessary entertainment here since 1955. A few years ago, the region became even more famous because of ‘the OC’, the well-known drama series about the ups and downs of a couple of rich children. Orange County is definitely the place for people who want to retreat after all the bustle of the city. The vast, tropical-looking beaches and the azure blue sea are especially popular with surfers and artists.
