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The City

With an estimated population of a bit more than 1.4 million people, San Diego ranks as the second-largest city in California and the eighth-largest in the United States. The city is home to the nation's largest military community that together with a diversity of neighborhoods provide San Diego with a unique flavor.

The heart of San Diego is the historic Gaslamp Quarter where Victorian-style buildings and modern skyscrapers meet. Here, you will also find the city's coolest restaurants, theaters, art galleries, concert venues and fashion boutiques. Neighboring the Gaslamp Quarter is East Village, San Diego’s largest downtown community and home to PETCO Park, San Diego Padres' baseball stadium. It is also the center for luxury hotels, foodies and live music.

North of downtown is Old Town, which has preserved the city’s Spanish and Mexican heritage, where some of the its first houses can be seen. Adjacent to Old Town is Uptown, a pedestrian-friendly area that consists of North Park, University Heights, and Hillcrest. This area, particularly Hillcrest, serves as a center of the city’s gay and lesbian community.

Further west, between the airport and La Jolla, is the scenic coastal area, which encompasses beach communities such as Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, both famously popular with surfers and students. If you continue north, you will eventually reach a stunning piece of coastline that belongs to La Jolla, home to some of the most beautiful and safest beaches in Southern California. It is also where you will find one of the region’s most affluent communities and some of the best – and most expensive – dining.

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Do & See

Unlike the sprawling L.A., San Diego has the feel of a compact city, and it can be tempting to stay downtown. A lot of people, however, think of San Diego in terms of the whole county, which leaves a lot more to be explored.
The regional terrain is extraordinary in itself and varies from the Pacific coastline in the west to the Sonoran Desert in the east. Those who travel to the northeast will come across snow-capped mountains, while travelers who visit the south will find themselves just 15 minutes away from the Mexican border.
This impressive landscape variety makes the city a top spot for outdoor activities that include: hiking, surfing, biking and sailing. Plus, the long list of family-friendly attractions - LEGOLAND, the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, the New Children's Museum - proves that San Diego has something for everyone.

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Dining

Street food in San Diego is synonymous with fish tacos, and most locals couldn’t enjoy a Padres game without one. There are quite a few food trucks dedicated to them, but it doesn't stop there. The city offers too many exciting dining options to pass up. Little Italy is an obvious choice for contemporary Italian cuisine, while the Gaslamp Quarter continues to attract cutting-edge chefs who are eager to make a culinary statement. Feeling like some Mexican food? Try the Old Town area. To experience local drinking culture, make sure to also visit the wine-making district (the vineyards are located in the North County, just 45 minutes from downtown) and the abundant artisan breweries.

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Cafes

Whether you just want a regular black coffee or a signature espresso with a pastry to-go, San Diego knows how to please its coffee crowd. The city is known for its abundance of coffee houses and it has everything from simple and inexpensive cafés to well-established coffee chains, with some of the best and most loved places concentrated around Balboa Park.

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Bars & Nightlife

San Diego’s nightlife suits a wide variety of tastes, and there is no shortage of hip hangouts. From the legendary jazz clubs to jet-set bars, many venues are just waiting to be discovered. During the summer, the night comes alive even further when the usual bars and clubs are complemented by tons of outdoor concerts, theater and cinema, and since you're in one of America’s best microbrewery scenes, why not taste some local beers? Just remember that the legal age to consume alcohol in the U.S. is 21, and under California state law, alcoholic beverages may only be sold until 2 a.m. (sales start again at 6 a.m. of the following day).

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Shopping

San Diego is a great city for heart-warming retail therapy. The very accommodating climate provides the perfect backdrop for open-air shopping centers, and there is an endless variety of top quality malls, luxurious brands, and vintage shops to choose from. Hipsters are also very well served with many small designer boutiques, retro bookstores and record shops.

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Tourist Information