San Diego is the second-largest city in California. With a 2000 census population of 1,223,400, it is also the seventh-largest city in the United States. The city covers an area of 329 square miles (852 square kilometers). It is 16 miles (26 kilometers) north of the Mexican border.

San Diego is considered the birthplace of California. The first European explorer, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, sailed into San Diego Bay in 1542 and claimed it for Spain. He named the place San Miguel. Cabrillo sat out a storm for six days before continuing northward. In 1602, Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno changed the original name to San Diego in honor of the saint. In 1769, Father Junípero Serra established the first Franciscan mission there.

San Diego did not grow as quickly as other settlements. The ranch owners prospered, but the town had only a few hundred residents. The gold rush bypassed San Diego, as did the first rail link to southern California. The whaling industry thrived between 1850 and 1870, but the city continued to lack an industrial base.

It wasn't until aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss built the first airplane that could land on water that the city began to grow. San Diego soon became the center for naval aviation.
 

The Spirit of St. Louis, the aircraft Charles Lindbergh flew on his first solo transatlantic flight, was built there in 1927. World War II also had an enormous effect on San Diego, when the United States chose the city for the naval command center after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (1941). The presence of the command center resulted in an increase in everything from industry to population.

Today, San Diego is the home of the largest naval air station on the West Coast and the headquarters for many Pacific Fleet operations of the U.S. Navy. It is home to major aerospace, electronic, and shipbuilding industries.

Farm products are processed there and then shipped throughout the United States and the world. Sporting goods, clothing, rugs, furniture, and office equipment are manufactured in the area. San Diego has also become a center for marine and biological research.

Tourism is big business in San Diego. The city and surrounding area attract visitors year-round. With 70 F (21 C) temperatures, low humidity, constant sea breezes, and numerous beaches and parks, San Diego is a popular vacation destination.

Because San Diego grew slowly, the city shows careful planning. The 1,200-acre (490-hectare) Balboa Park is only minutes from downtown. It includes numerous cultural organizations; 15 museums; various performing arts groups, including the Globes Theatres; and the famous San Diego Zoo. One of the largest zoos in the world, San Diego Zoo has 4,000 animals, representing 800 species. The zoo made headlines in 1999 when it became the birthplace of a giant panda cub. The Giant Panda Research Station and an innovative polar bear exhibit are among the zoo's features.

Car rental
Road trip
Cruises
Limo service
Google maps

California
guide, hotels

Los Angeles
guide, hotels

San Diego travel
    guide

San Diego

Getting around and info

Cafes, restaurants

Nightlife

Anza-Borrego Desert
Balboa Park

San Diego Zoo (coming soon)

Downtown and Coronado
Hillcrest, Ocean Beach, Point Loma

Mission bay, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, La Jolla

Old Town and Presidio
Tijuana

La Jolla Beaches

San Diego golf

San Diego Museums

Mission Beach
Surfing, Kayaking
Kids
Travel practicalities

Hotels in San Diego

Travelodge

Days Inn - Get our guaranteed best available rates in San Diego

Ramada - Best rates available in San Diego


Vacation rental