One of San Diego's biggest attractions, this superb zoo has a worldwide reputation, a colorful history and an enlightened zoo management program.
April 7, 2006 (Press Release) --
San Diego Zoo
One of San Diego's biggest attractions, this superb zoo has a worldwide reputation, a colorful history and an enlightened zoo management program. It hosts more than 3000 animals in beautifully landscaped grounds in the northern part of Balboa Park, northeast of downtown San Diego, and also runs a free-range 1800 acre (720ha) Wild Animal Park, 32 miles (50km) north of the city in Escondido. The zoo and associated park breed endangered species in captivity for re-introduction into their natural habitats. Its successes include the Arabian oryx, Bali starling and Californian condor.
Highlights of the zoo include the Tiger River bioclimatic exhibit, which realistically re-creates an Asian rainforest environment, and Gorilla Tropics, which does the same with an African rainforest. Other gems are the Sun Bear Forest, where Asian bears frolic, and the African Rock Kopje, where klipspringers display their tremendous rock climbing abilities. Kids can touch small animals at the children's zoo, and you can peek at the zoo's latest arrivals in the nursery. This is a wonderful institution; anyone remotely interested in the natural world should set aside a full day to explore it.
Old Town
This area was the site of the first civilian Spanish settlement in California, known as the Pueblo de San Diego. A plaza was laid out here in the 1820s, and within 10 years it was surrounded by huts and whitewashed villas. It remained the center of San Diego until 1872, when the city's focus moved to the current downtown area. In 1968, Old Town became a State Historic Park, archaeological work was undertaken, the few surviving original buildings were restored and ruined structures were rebuilt.
The area is now a touristy pedestrian precinct, but the open plaza with its shady trees is a pleasant place for a stroll, as long as you don't take it too seriously as a historical site. You'll get a good idea of San Diego's metamorphosis by visiting the 1820s Casa de Carrillo, the oldest house in San Diego, located just north of Old Town: it's now the pro shop for the Presidio Hills Golf Course. Old Town is 2.5 miles (4km) northwest of downtown.
Hotel del Coronado
This much-loved San Diego institution, commonly known as Hotel Del, is in the oh-so respectable seaside suburb of Coronado, just across the bay from downtown San Diego. It's a quirky timber building with a facade replete with conical towers, cupolas, turrets, balconies and dormer windows. Its cavernous public spaces reflect the architects' experience designing railway depots, though the acres of polished wood give the interior a warm old-fashioned ambiance. Opened in 1888, the hotel was where Edward (then Prince of Wales) first met Mrs Simpson and where parts of the 1959 Marilyn Monroe movie Some Like It Hot were filmed. Guided tours are available.
Coronado is joined to the mainland by a spectacular 2 mile (3km) bridge and also by a long narrow sand spit that runs south to Imperial Beach. A ferry runs to Coronado from San Diego's Broadway Pier.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
One of San Diego's biggest attractions, this superb zoo has a worldwide reputation, a colorful history and an enlightened zoo management program. It hosts more than 3000 animals in beautifully landscaped grounds in the northern part of Balboa Park, northeast of downtown San Diego, and also runs a free-range 1800 acre (720ha) Wild Animal Park, 32 miles (50km) north of the city in Escondido. The zoo and associated park breed endangered species in captivity for re-introduction into their natural habitats. Its successes include the Arabian oryx, Bali starling and Californian condor.
Highlights of the zoo include the Tiger River bioclimatic exhibit, which realistically re-creates an Asian rainforest environment, and Gorilla Tropics, which does the same with an African rainforest. Other gems are the Sun Bear Forest, where Asian bears frolic, and the African Rock Kopje, where klipspringers display their tremendous rock climbing abilities. Kids can touch small animals at the children's zoo, and you can peek at the zoo's latest arrivals in the nursery. This is a wonderful institution; anyone remotely interested in the natural world should set aside a full day to explore it.
Old Town
This area was the site of the first civilian Spanish settlement in California, known as the Pueblo de San Diego. A plaza was laid out here in the 1820s, and within 10 years it was surrounded by huts and whitewashed villas. It remained the center of San Diego until 1872, when the city's focus moved to the current downtown area. In 1968, Old Town became a State Historic Park, archaeological work was undertaken, the few surviving original buildings were restored and ruined structures were rebuilt.
The area is now a touristy pedestrian precinct, but the open plaza with its shady trees is a pleasant place for a stroll, as long as you don't take it too seriously as a historical site. You'll get a good idea of San Diego's metamorphosis by visiting the 1820s Casa de Carrillo, the oldest house in San Diego, located just north of Old Town: it's now the pro shop for the Presidio Hills Golf Course. Old Town is 2.5 miles (4km) northwest of downtown.
Hotel del Coronado
This much-loved San Diego institution, commonly known as Hotel Del, is in the oh-so respectable seaside suburb of Coronado, just across the bay from downtown San Diego. It's a quirky timber building with a facade replete with conical towers, cupolas, turrets, balconies and dormer windows. Its cavernous public spaces reflect the architects' experience designing railway depots, though the acres of polished wood give the interior a warm old-fashioned ambiance. Opened in 1888, the hotel was where Edward (then Prince of Wales) first met Mrs Simpson and where parts of the 1959 Marilyn Monroe movie Some Like It Hot were filmed. Guided tours are available.
Coronado is joined to the mainland by a spectacular 2 mile (3km) bridge and also by a long narrow sand spit that runs south to Imperial Beach. A ferry runs to Coronado from San Diego's Broadway Pier.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
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