San Diego is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in southern California less than 30 kilometres from the international border with Mexico. The city is a popular visitor destination renowned for its idyllic climate, deep water harbour, 110 kilometres of pristine beaches and its variety of world-class family attractions, including Sea World, Legoland, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Belmont Park amusement centre and Balboa Park, a popular urban cultural park. Attracting over 30 million visitors each year, San Diego also appeals to tourists interested in exploring the rich cultural heritage of the city as it was originally settle by the Spanish in 1769, making this the oldest European settlement and the birthplace of California. Home to the ‘Old Town San Diego State Historic Park’, which today is recognised as California’s most visited state park, visitors can enjoy the rare opportunity of experiencing the history of this Mexican ‘pueblo’ and visualize its transformation into an early American settlement. The park includes several original adobe buildings which date from the period between 1820 and 1870, a museum and retail facilities. The Spanish influence can also be seen in the Franciscan Mission San Diego De Alcala which was founded in 1769 and named after the Catholic Saint Didacus. Saint Didacus was a Spaniard who was more often called San Diego, and from whom the current city is named.
San Diego is California’s second largest city after Los Angeles and is home to approximately 1.3 million residents. The city is located on San Diego Bay, a beautiful, deep-water natural harbour which is the home of the United States Navy’s ‘Pacific Fleet’. San Diego occupies the northern reaches of the bay which is also bordered by the cities of Chula Vista, National City, Imperial Beach and the resort city of Coronado. Although San Diego was originally centered in the ‘Old Town’ district, it was decided in the 1860’s to relocated the city to the bay front to facilitate further economic development. The new location was immediately a success and the ‘Old Town’ is today protected as the ‘Old Town San Diego State Historic Park’. San Diego enjoys a large and vibrant tourist industry which is catered for through its many attractions which include the Balboa Park which is one of the oldest cultural centres in the U.S.A. The park attracts locals and visitors alike and offers not only well tended landscaped gardens but many museums, galleries and cultural centres, plus several recreational locations. The park also contains major attractions such as San Diego Zoo and architectural highlights such as the Casa de Balboa and the Botanical Building which is a large greenhouse built in 1915. For those that are interested San Diego also holds the largest collection of historic ships in the U.S.A. at the San Diego Maritime Museum, while the USS Midway Museum, which is located downtown at the Navy Pier, allows visitors access to specific areas of the ship including the bridge, the captain’s quarters and the engine room. For visitors wanting to enjoy major events why visit during the summer months and witness the popular Comic-Con or the Street Scene, San Diego’s music festival. During January each year San Diego also hosts the Black Film Festival, which is one of the largest black film festivals in the country.
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