A WEEK IN SAN DIEGO
Henry Nowicki...21 September 1998
San Diego is a traveler's delight as it has the weather, attractions, activities, accommodations, lively inhabitants, blue Pacific and, to top it off, is located right next door to Mexico for that international touch. A map (Ref 1) of the area will quickly show the city's convoluted shoreline composed largely of a huge bay mouth bar that encloses a large body of water that is so desirable on a rather straight coastline typical of California and indeed the whole west coast of the lower 48. These port characteristics have certainly endeared the area to the US Navy's liking. In fact, I have come here to board a navy ship, the USS Peleliu (Ref 2), to teach some college courses aboard the vessel while it cruises the briny blue.
Chances are the traveler will arrive by car and will have ready mobility to explore the region and utilize outlying motel/hotel type accommodations as the principal attractions are widespread (Ref 3). If one arrives by air (Ref 4), it is still good as the San Diego International Airport (SAN) could not be closer to the center of the city. In fact, the airline pilots continue to point out that they are landing almost between buildings in the final approach to Lindbergh Field. But it is safe enough and within a mile or two there are all sorts of accommodations if you like to be in the center of things. I chose a hotel in the airport/old town area, not only for its proximity but also for its location near the city's original site of an inland mission and its colorful restored Old Town district.
The first night was spent in Old Town for dinner and roaming the historic district in the balmy evening air. Fortunately, it was replete with Mexican music and a haunting South American Inca quintet with their flutes and percussion instruments.
The first full day was devoted to the San Diego Zoo (Ref 5) and was a full day indeed. The world-famous zoo has a little of everything but put together in a charming way. The evening was spent along the waterfront principally in the Seaport Village area. A symphonic presentation was conducted on a pier and was finished off with fireworks.
The second day was for a bit of Old Mexico; however, that term cannot be used for Tijuana (Ref 6) as its character is more of a modern Mexico as its recent growth has demonstrated. In any event, it certainly makes a full day trip. The trolley is the way to go from San Diego and a connecting bus ($1) at the border makes it an easy journey.
The third day's choice was a bit more difficult as there are a great many activities (Ref 7) that have to be considered. Sea World and Mission Bay won out and it was a full half day that could have been extended very easily. I enjoyed the polar bears frolicking in and about the pool the best. One can see them from underwater windows which makes it all the more appealing. All of the shows seem to be world class entertainment.
The fourth day started with a round of golf at the Presidio Hills short course in Old Town. It's my type of course where one only has to use a putter and wedge. No lost balls here. Then, a visit to the Cabrillo Light followed by a trip over the bridge to Coronado and the Navy Base. For me, it was time to visit the USS Peleliu and get acquainted with this huge amphibious ship (820' in length, 3,000 persons on board, etc.). The Coronado bridge, incidentally, gave the navy much concern before it was built as its destruction could have blocked the only entrance to critical navy facilities further to the south; however, a solution was devised that permitted the central portion of the bridge to float and thereby ease the potential problem of clearing the entrance in an emergency. I am told that the bar at the southern portion of the bay can be detonated and thereby provide an alternate exit for warships to the south. Interesting proposition.
The fifth day is for La Jolla (Ref 8) and Ocean Beach. The Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography has a first rate museum and aquatic exhibit that should be visited if time permits.
The sixth day includes visits to Balboa Park and its museums. I especially enjoyed the Aero Museum...so much so that I visited it twice. You might guess that I am a pilot. In the late afternoon a visit to the Maritime Museum at the embarcadero is recommended. The Star of India sailing ship is on display along with two other vessels that makes for a few hours of high interest. You also might not guess that I am a licensed ocean vessel operator. In any event, San Diego seems to have enough of everything that would make me come back for repeated visits.
References:
San Diego Map
San Diego Port Maps
Satellite Image
USS Peleliu (LHA-5)
San Diego
Old Town
San Diego International Airport
San Diego Zoo
Tijuana, Mexico
The Tropics Shoreline
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