Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Delightful for the variety of its landscapes, Cuyamaca Rancho is a lush, cool contrast to the dry coastal areas nearby. Though less spectacular than other California parks, its 33 sq miles (85 sq km) embrace meadows with spring wildflowers and forests of oak, willow, sycamore and pine. Wild animals include deer, raccoon and bobcat, plus plenty of bird life. A popular 3.5 mile (5.5km) hike climbs the 6500ft (1950m) Cuyamaca Peak, which provides panoramic views. There are several campgrounds in the park, and most of the well-defined hiking trails are open to mountain bikes and horses.
Highway 79 runs through the center of the park, which can be approached from the south via Descanso on I-8, or from the north via the old goldmining town of Julian. Unless you want to rely on infrequent buses heading inland from San Diego, you'll need a car to reach the park, which is roughly 50 miles (80km) east of San Diego.

Tijuana, Mexico
As a Mexican city, Tijuana is neither typical nor attractive, but as border towns go, it's almost an archetype, with gaudy souvenir shops, noisy bars and sleazy backstreets. Visiting Tijuana is a real eye-opener, largely because of the shocking contrast between the two sides of the border. You'll immediately notice the potholes in the sidewalk, the poverty of the street peddlers and the chaotic atmosphere, especially compared with orderly, affluent San Diego. Though more respectable than it once was, Tijuana has never really overcome the 'sin city' image it acquired during Prohibition in the US. In time-honored tradition, it still attracts young Americans, who can legally get drunk at the ripe ol' age of 18 instead of waiting to reach 21 at home.
Tijuana is located a stone's throw from San Diego's southern suburbs, and the two cities are so interdependent they can almost be viewed as a single urban area. Approximately 70% of Tijuana's economy is based on 'frontier transactions' like tourism and another chunk comes from factories assembling products for the US market. Meanwhile, San Diego depends on Tijuana for a cheap labor supply and promotes the city as if it were a tourist attraction of its own. That said, Tijuana is a significant city in its own right, with a rapidly growing population, unofficially estimated at 1.4 million, two universities and plenty of offices, factories and housing developments. It is, much to the surprise of many daytrippers, one of the wealthiest cities in Mexico.
Attractions include Avenida Revolución, Tijuana's tourist heart. It's a raucous strip of seedy bars and dance clubs, tacky souvenir shops, cheap restaurants and street photographers with zebra-striped burros. Less stressful and ultimately more rewarding is the Museo de Las Identidades Mexicanas, which hosts excellent exhibits on Mexican culture. Fast moving jai alai matches, a hybrid between tennis and handball, are held at the Frontón on Avenida Revolución, while bullfights take place on Sundays from April to October at the famous Plaza Monumental near the beach.

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