San Diego

San Diego is the second largest city in California, offering an ideal climate with coastal temperatures around 75°F (24°C), miles of beaches, and a location directly across from Tijuana. It is home to the world-renowned San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and a significant U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet presence. Unlike the hustle of Los Angeles 100 miles northwest, San Diego provides a laid-back atmosphere with easy access to desert canyons and rocky tidepools.

English is the predominant language, with Spanish as the second most widely spoken. Store signs are often bilingual, and many businesses have Spanish-speaking employees. The city has a strong military and maritime heritage, and has become a center for wildlife conservation.

San Diego enjoys near-ideal weather most of the time, though 'May Gray' or 'June Gloom' blankets the city in clouds. The hottest month is typically September (highs of 77°F). From late summer into fall, the Santa Ana winds bring hot, dry air from the desert, increasing wildfire risk, particularly in mid-September through October. Coastal fog is common from September through April.

Car travel is the most efficient way to navigate the large, sprawling metropolitan area. If you want to 'see it all', rent a car. Public transportation (Trolley, Coaster, buses) can be used with enough planning and time. Unlike Los Angeles, San Diego freeways are referred to by their route numbers (e.g., I-5) rather than names. The address grid is unique: everything is east of the ocean, and downtown uses 'west' only west of 1st Avenue.

San Diego is famous for its Mexican food, particularly rolled tacos (beef or chicken in a fried corn tortilla with guacamole and cheese) and the jam-packed carne asada burrito (without rice or beans). Another local variant is the California burrito, which includes French fries. The city also boasts a thriving craft-brewing scene with an emphasis on highly-hopped beers, featuring local breweries like AleSmith, Stone, and Karl Strauss. A medium-sized beer generally costs $4-5 in a restaurant.

Bars and clubs can stay open past 2AM but cannot sell alcohol after this time. The best bar scenes are in the Gaslamp Quarter (Downtown) and Pacific Beach. Happy hour specials are very popular, offering some of the cheapest deals in the city. Many specialty craft beer bars are scattered throughout town.

San Diego offers a wide range of accommodation. Luxury highrise hotels are in Downtown, while beachside resorts line Coronado, Ocean Beach, and La Jolla. Budget travelers can find downtown hostels and many chain motels along Hotel Circle in Mission Valley. Vacation rentals are common along Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. Note that lodging becomes extremely expensive and scarce during Comic-Con.

The main area code is 619 (downtown, south bay, eastern suburbs), 858 (north of Mission Valley), and 760 (far northern suburbs). Ten-digit dialing is mandatory. Wi-Fi is available at numerous internet cafes and all San Diego Public Library locations. Out-of-state visitors should ask for an 'internet only' card to avoid a $32 non-resident fee.

San Diego is considered one of the safest cities in California, though property crime exists. Avoid walking in Southeast San Diego or Barrio Logan (near the Coronado Bridge) at night. Gangs are less present than in Los Angeles. In an emergency, call 911. For non-emergency police matters within city limits, dial +1 619-531-2000 directly.

San Diego is the best U.S. city for a quick trip to Mexico. Take the San Diego Trolley's Blue Line to the border (San Ysidro) to reach Tijuana in about 45 minutes. Other options include the small border town of Tecate (brewery), or drive north to Carlsbad (Legoland) and Del Mar. About 60 minutes northeast is Temecula Wine Country with about 30 wineries.